Page 125 of Third Offense

Because if they all turned out to be assholes, I’d enjoy killing them.

Only a groan from Auric had me stilling, my lethal focus shifting to the man I’d admired all my life.

He slumped over, his hand going to his head.

I remained outside the cage, aware that this might be a trap.

But as his turquoise gaze met mine, I realized this was real. And he was truly waking up. “Fuck,” he muttered. “My head is killing me.”

I leaned against the enchanted bars, ignoring the zap that hummed across my skin.That’s what happens when you let a guard take you down,I said with a look.

He grunted, likely reading the mocking words in my gaze.

Then he gradually pulled himself off the ground. Because I wasn’t fucking helping him. I’d saved him by coming this far. He could take those last few steps himself.

Besides, he’d earned a little pain for falling into Netiri and Iston’s trap.

He started toward me, his expression shifting as various emotions seemed to settle over his features.

Amusement.

Confusion.

Sudden dread.

He froze. “I didn’t do it, Novak. Netiri’s lying. I would never—”

I grunted, grabbed him by the back of the neck, and yanked him the rest of the way out of the cage. His eyes widened.

And I silenced his concern with a kiss meant to punish.

A kiss meant toclaim.

A kiss meant to remind this asshole that I knew him. That I trusted him. That I would never doubt him.

He grabbed me in kind, returning the embrace, our teeth clashing, our souls melting.

And only when I knew he truly understood, I released him.

He muttered something about blood, making me lick my lips.

Then he glanced at Gaia beside us, her expression giving nothing away.

But Kyril was staring at the ceiling, his brows pulled down as Clyde chittered at him.

Shit’s about to hit the fan,I translated, grabbing Auric by the shoulder and propelling him own the hallway.Time to go.

He grunted, and rubbed his head again, but he managed to stumble ahead while the others followed.

I followed him up the stairs, toward the destruction I’d left in that bookshelf, and into the library.

Then down the massive hall toward kitchen.

Where we ran into Layla, Ketos, and Zian.

My eyebrows lifted.Good to see you’re alive,I thought at the powerful being. Then I glanced at Zian.But were are Sorin and Raven?

He opened his mouth as though to reply, but a roar from the hallways told me the Nora Guards hadn’t just breached the barrier, they’d entered the palace.