Page 122 of Wrapped in Their Arms

The enormousTrolloxlumbered down the hall, each of his three heads grinning grotesquely, jagged teeth glinting in the dim overhead lights.Histhick leather vest was stained with some unspeakable substance, and once again—almost mockingly—the biometric shuttle key jutted from the top of his left trouser pocket, gleaming like bait.

Bright’s eyes locked on it immediately.

There it is.Rightfucking there.Gods,Iwant to rip it off his body with my bare hands!

But he didn’t move—not yet.

“Very good,”Thunerumbled, the center head speaking while the left one snickered and the right one licked its lips.“Nobreeding without permission,Isee.You’vebeen very obedient piggy-wigs.”

His beady eyes swept over them, lingering onNoelle’sbare legs, her dress barely reaching mid-thigh.Brightclenched his jaw so hard his molars ached.

Don’t react.Don’tshow any emotion.Justkeep it together.

“Very well,” theTrolloxsaid, clapping his huge hands together.“Let’smake our way down to the play room, shall we?Iwant to see the way your people breed.”

Burn stiffened besideNoelleandBrightfelt the silent current ofRagevibrating off his best friend like a low, subsonic growl.

Hold it together, brother.Don’tbreak yet.Justhang on a little longer,he thought.

Feeling like he was walking a tightrope over a pit of lava,Brightturned and began leading the way down the long corridor.Hisbooted feet made soft scuffing noises on the stone.Behindhim, he could hearBurn’sheavy tread, thenNoelle’slighter footsteps.Thune’slumbering gait brought up the rear.

The hallway felt too narrow…the air felt too thick.

His heart thudded in his chest like a war drum.

It’s now or never.Wehave one shot.Weblow this and we’re dead meat.Literally.

Every step toward the hidden staircase felt like walking into the jaws of a beast.Andin a way, it was.Thunewasn’t just a monster—he was a predator who saw them as livestock fit only for entertainment and food.

But he doesn’t know what we know.

Bright tightened his jaw, forcing calm.Justa few more steps.Justa few more minutes.

They had a plan.

He just hoped it would be enough.

BlessedGoddess, let us make it out alive,he prayed and hoped his prayers would be answered.

67

NOELLE

Noelle’s palms were sweating as she gripped the banister and began descending the dark stone stairs that led to the so-called “play room.”Thecold of the steps soaked up through her bare feet, and the damp, musty scent of earth and mildew hit her nose like a warning.Dimorange lights flickered along the ceiling in metal sconces, casting long, distorted shadows that danced over the narrow staircase like writhing ghosts.

BlessedVirgin, please protect us!

She clutched the wooden railing tighter and tried to have confidence.

You’ve got this.Youhaveto have this.It’sonly everything riding on your shoulders.Nopressure.

The image of the headless bodies dangling in the freezer came rushing back without warning.Sheflinched as though slapped, squeezing her eyes shut for half a second—but the memory still flashed behind her eyelids in grotesque, high definition.Thegreen-scaled skin…the congealed brown blood…the ragged stumps where their heads should have been.

Don’t think about it.Don’tpicture it again.Justbreathe…just breathe.

The plan was simple, but so much could still go wrong.Still, it was the only chance they had.

Noelle swallowed hard as they reached the bottom of the stairs.