Page 13 of Wrapped in Their Arms

The lights in the cabin dimmed as the net leached more energy andBrightswore under his breath.

Noelle was still quiet, but she was breathing hard, her eyes flicking fromBurntoBrightand back again.Hereached over again and gently wrapped his fingers around her much smaller hand.

She twined her fingers with his andBrightsqueezed gently.

“Don’t worry, my lady,” he said quietly.“Nomatter what happens—we won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Her eyes softened, just for a moment and she gave a short, jerky nod.Shedidn’t say she was scared—she didn’t need to.Brightfelt her fear in the way she gripped his fingers and refused to let go.

“Here they come,”Burnmuttered.

Bright looked up.

A ship had appeared just ahead of them—black and jagged, with wide talons and glowing red engines.Itresembled a spider crossed with a war-bird—the prow angular and sharp and its underside lined with docking tendrils that unfolded like claws.

The com crackled and a voice came through, raspy and sibilant.

“UnidentifiedKindredvessel.Youare caught in aClass-FiveSkowliannet.Powerdown your engines and prepare to be boarded.”

Burn didn’t answer.Hejust flicked a switch that sent the ship’s emergency beacon pulsing and pushed his chair back from the controls with a snarl of frustration.

“Nothing else we can do,” he said grimly.“They’vegot us.Let’sget ready to fight.”

Bright unclipped his harness, his mind spinning.

Why here?Whynow?WhythisFoldpoint?

And then he remembered something…a casual conversation from days earlier, back in theDockingBay.HeandBurnhad been talking to another warrior—Jarin, aBeastKindredfriend of theirs.

They’d mentioned their destination—TherimFive—and somehow the information had gotten to theSkow.

Bright felt it in his bones.Thiswasn’t random—it was deliberate.Butwho could have told?NotJarin—he was a true friend and besides, noKindredwarrior would ever betray another that way.Butthen who or how had the information gotten out?

His speculation would have to wait however, because a moment later the ship rocked as theSkowlianvessel clamped onto them.Mechanicalarms latched onto the hull, digging in with metallic screeches.Amoment later, the emergency override kicked in and the shuttle vents hissed because theSkowwere slicing their way inside.

A rush of cold air filled the cabin.

Bright rose, moving to put himself betweenNoelleand the breach.Burnstood beside him, tall and dangerous, fists already clenched, a blaster in one hand.

They wouldn’t go quietly,Brightswore to himself—they wouldn’t go without a fight.

But thiswasn’tgoing to be a fight they could win.Notif even a fraction of what he’d heard about theSkowwas true.

Hold on,he thought grimly, glancing down atNoelle’sterrified face.We’llfind a way out of this—wehaveto.

He just didn’t know how they were going to do it.

8

NOELLE

A sharp screech split the air—metal grinding on metal, awful and jagged, like claws being dragged down the side of a steel drum.Noellewinced and grabbed the back of the nearest seat for balance as the floor beneath her feet vibrated.

“Dios—what the hell is that?”she gasped.

“They’re cutting their way in.”Bright’svoice was grim.

“Whatever happens, don’t let them take us without a fight,”Burngrowled.