Page 8 of First Offense

Unfortunately, all I found lurking in the hallway were black-winged Noir.

Disgusting peasants. They reeked of sewage.

I rubbed my jaw and shook my head. No way could I leave Layla unguarded at any point, not with the way the Noir kept poking their heads out to sniff the air.

Layla was fresh meat, and all these animals wanted a taste.

Including the icy-eyed Noir standing sentry at his door a few paces down.

Novak.

I met and held his gaze, the former Nora Warrior one I knew very well. He used to be mine. A lethal soldier with razor-sharp feathers—at least when he allowed that part of himself to be displayed. He’d been the elite of the elite.

Until he forgot his place and challenged a direct order.

Myorder.

And for that, he Fell.

Not by my choice, or even by my sentence.

That wasn’t how our world worked.

Sin painted our wings black.

He folded his arms and just watched me, his upper body a wall of carved muscle. I waited for him to speak or to acknowledge me as his superior, but he held my gaze instead—an alpha challenging a fellow alpha.

I knew how to make him kneel, and I reminded him of that by stroking the hilt of my dagger. His gaze followed the movement, his lips quirking up at one side into a dark smirk.

Then he returned to boldly holding my stare.

I see,I thought, narrowing my gaze.Someone thinks this is the land where he’s king.

Well, I’d have to set the record straight.

I pushed off the door just as it opened behind me. “I’m hungry,” Layla said, her blue eyes hard. She’d tied her thick fuchsia hair up into a knot on top of her head. “Can we eat something?”

“I’ll give you something to eat, baby,” a male voice said from across the hall.

“Fuck off,” I snapped at the random Noir, then glanced to where Novak stood, his icy eyes on Layla.

She didn’t seem to notice, her arms wrapping around her exposed midriff.

That damn outfit was going to get her hurt. It hid absolutely nothing and showcased every fucking curve. I hadn’t thought to make her change, too caught up in the moment of witnessing her Fall from grace.

Damn black wings.

I hated them.

I hatedher.

“Get your ass back inside,” I demanded. “Now.”

She huffed and took a step back.

“Ah, come on, man. Let the girl eat. I’d love to watch those pretty lips—”

I turned toward the voice and sent my fist into the Noir’s jaw. He fell backward on a whoosh of air, out cold from a single punch. “Anyone else want to play?” I asked. “Because I’m dying to draw some Noir blood.”