Page 7 of Third Offense

I don’t either,I replied as I fought Vasilios’s compulsion that drew me forward.

Auric couldn’t hear my thoughts, but he could read my body language. I locked my thigh for a moment before I took another reluctant step.

When Ketos gave me an easy smile, I knew he was showing me his power.

Either Vasilios wasn’t compelling him.

Or he can’t.

Either way, I would play along for now.

I found Auric’s gaze once more, telling him my intent with a single look.

We play along and learn more about our situation and location. Then we send that pretty boy with the golden-tipped feathers a message he’ll never forget. Preferably in blood.

Auric seemed satisfied with the murder I bled through my eyes because he fell into step beside me and stopped fighting Vasilios’s pull.

The powerful angel led us to a cliff, a place that normally would make me feel free.

Plenty of room to escape.

No bars masking the scenery.

Except I didn’t have my wings.

Which made this view of the vast ocean and rocky surface below more of a threat than anything else, something the glint in Vasilios’s black eyes told me he knew.

He wanted us to know that this was his territory, one where he was in control.

Ketos simply took in the view, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled the salty breeze. His feathers ruffled in contentment, the royal Noir the picture of ease and comfort. Probably because he frequented this location often.

Which meant he knew the territory well.

He also had his wings, something I was growing increasingly jealous of as Vasilios led us all to the very edge of the cliff.

It was only then that he lifted his compulsion, his message roaring even louder than before.I own this place. And I can own you, too.

He also lacked wings, his feathers a mere faint shadow behind him as the powerful elixir kept them hidden. However, that didn’t seem to impact his confidence in our situation, a reveal that suggested I was right about being able to break the elixir’s hold.

Or perhaps it was being in his own territory that allowed Vasilios to appear so calmly self-assured.

He rolled his shoulders as he faced us, the motion one that was more angel than human. While the Noir had lived amongst mortals for a long time, per Kyril’s information, there were still subtle signs of what Vasilios was, if one knew what to look for.

It made me wonder how much time hereallyhad spent among the humans. He had a nice little fortress tucked away on this cliff, and it was entirely possible he didn’t know this world’s people as well as Kyril had suggested.

Maybe Vasilios preferred to hide.

It was a potential weakness that I took note of for later. Because if he didn’t know this world, then we could escape and hide within it.

Assuming we were able to gather the right intelligence and resources to do so.

“As I’m sure Kyril has mentioned,” Vasilios began, “your version of history is skewed.”

Auric gave the king a flat stare. “He told us Noir are a god-like race of angels, not Fallen Nora.”

Auric’s tone wasn’t one of disbelief, but I could sense he was having a hard time swallowing the explanation.

He refused to look at me, and I suspected it was because he didn’t want me to see the truth of his discomfort.