Page 69 of Third Offense

The hit took Auric off-guard and blood splattered across his lip, but it wasn’t nearly enough violence to bring me satisfaction for his grievances.

You sent her off with that asshole? Alone?

After coming back from a day-date in the fucking sky?

What the hell are you even thinking?

“Novak,” Auric warned as the air shimmered behind him, suggesting that his wings were about to reappear.

Mine were freely spiked against my back, the blades sharp and deadly.

I wouldn’t kill Auric, but I’d make him feel pain if it woke him the fuck up.

“Listen to me, Novak. Something’s wrong,” he began. “None of this is—”

I didn’t give him a chance to finish his sentence.

I stabbed at his feet with my razor-sharp feathers, making him dance for me.

He easily jumped out of range of the deadly weapons, then his wings burst into existence, propelling his body at me in a straight-on attack.

With my weight off-balance, it was fast enough for Auric to catch me in the face with his fist.

Pain exploded across my jaw as I growled and twisted, locking my arm around his neck.

Have you lost your fucking mind?I snarled as he ducked his chin to keep me from cutting off his airway.Why don’t you just spread her legs for him, hmm? Or did he already fuck you in the ass and now you’re his bitch?

Auric might not be able to hear me.

But heunderstood.

And he overpowered me with a rare show of force, flipping me onto my back as he pummeled me with punch after punch.

“Wake the fuck up, Novak!” he demanded. “None—”

Punch.

“Of—”

Punch.

“This. Is. Real!”

It was an odd thing to say, something that sank into me as I attempted to block his powerful blows.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen him like this.What the fuck is wrong with him?

The guards shouted, attempting to break us up, but Auric roared at them and shoved them away.

The small reprieve left me dazed as I stared at the broken sky, squinting at the strange patterns in the air that danced back and forth.

What the fuck is that?I wondered.

Something felt off.

I couldn’t place what it was, but it probably had something to do with being punched multiple times in the face by my pissed-off commander.

Struggling to my feet, I shook off the strange feeling as best as I could.I’m going to kick your ass,I growled as I launched for Auric again.