Page 96 of First Offense

They both nodded as Zian ran his fingers up and down my naked thigh.

“So you trust them?” I asked, my wings bristling at my back. What I wouldn’t give to be able to extend my wings for a short flight. I missed the air on my feathers and the wind in my face.

Not that I had much experience with it all.

I’d grown up in the system, which limited my time in the sky. But my few experiences were ingrained in my memories, and I couldn’t wait to experience them again.

“I trust Novak,” Zian said.

“Same,” Sorin agreed.

“And if Novak trusts Auric, then it means they’ve come to some sort of understanding,” Zian continued.

Clyde whispered his agreement into my mind, saying the two had discussed Novak’s Fall at length. When I said that out loud, Sorin and Zian snapped their attention to the little guy and demanded to know more.

But Clyde just flicked his whiskers at them and darted into his hole.

“I guess that means you’ll have to talk to Novak,” I said, frowning.

Sorin and Zian shared a look, then scowled at the space Clyde had just occupied.

“At least he told us about the plan.” I cleared my throat. “And what Novak has told Layla and Auric.”

“Auric must have confided something big for Novak to reveal what he knows,” Zian remarked after a long, tense minute.

“Something about our Fall,” Sorin muttered.

Zian dipped his chin in agreement. “That’s my guess.”

“Maybe you can ask him today,” I suggested. “Since Clyde says we’re finally going outside.”

“I hope he’s right,” Sorin said. “And I hope there isn’t a culling.”

“Hmm, well, on that note, maybe we should just stay here instead,” Zian said, his tone lazy as his fingers dipped between my thighs, making me purr all over again. “I’ve been rather enjoying our little predicament.”

Sorin grabbed his wrist and licked Zian’s fingers clean, all the while watching me.

Fuck, my mates knew how to kill me.

“I’ll endure this kind of imprisonment any day,” I admitted, my body humming to life once more. I loved that they knew how to entice me and how they never seemed to grow tired of playing.

Always indulging.

Always attentive.

Alwaysmine.

Sorin’s lips met mine, his hands already roaming.

We knew not to waste this temporary luxury by fretting. Just as we knew to enjoy it while it lasted. Death lurked around every corner, and our skills would forever be tested. Because the Reformer wasn’t done with us yet.

We wouldn’t be safe until we escaped. And even then, we’d be on the run.

And then what?I wondered as Zian’s lips skimmed my breast.

Oh, that’ll be a question for another day...

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