Page 147 of Wrapped in Their Arms

“TheGoddesscame to us both,” he said.Hisdeep voice was quiet, but it carried weight.“Shetold me to quit it with the self-pity routine.”

He looked atBrightdirectly.Themuscles in his jaw worked for a moment before he added,

“I’m truly sorry for what we had to do to each other, back at theTrollox’splace.”

“I’m not,”Brightsaid, without hesitation.

Noelle blinked at the force behind those two words.Burnlooked startled too, butBrightkept going, his voice firm.

“I love you,Burn—as a friend but also more than a friend,” he said.“Whatwe did, it didn’t make us less in my eyes—it made usmore.”

“Well…”Burnrubbed the back of his neck, clearly caught off guard.“I, uh, didn’t think of it that way,” he admitted.

“I know,”Brightsaid gently.“Becauseyou were too busy feeling upset that we got a little closer than we ever had before.”

He leaned in a little, andNoellecould see the pain and earnest longing in his eyes.

“ButIdon’t care how close we have to get—Ijust don’t want to lose you again.”

Burn’s dark gaze shimmered suddenly, a deep shine of unspoken emotion glistening in his eyes.Hisbroad chest rose in a deep breath, then he muttered,

“I don’t want to lose you either.”

And with that, he took a step forward and wrappedBrightin a fierce, bone-cracking hug.

Bright went willingly into his arms, clutching him back just as tightly, their enormous bodies locked together with a desperate, wordless affection.Itwas rough and raw and real, and something about it madeNoelle’sthroat tighten and her eyes sting with tears.

It did her heart good to see this—to see them coming back together.Aftereverything the three of them had been through—everything they’d done to survive—theDarkTwinand theLightTwinhad found their way back to each other at last.

When both men turned their heads and reached for her wordlessly, she didn’t hesitate.

She walked straight into their arms and let them wrap around her like the safest cocoon in the galaxy.Burn’shand slid down her back, warm and solid, whileBright’sfingers found her waist and held her with quiet caring.Theircombined scent surrounded her—spicy and dark and grounding—and their heat sank into her bones.

And in that moment,Noelleknew she was exactly where she was meant to be.Shebelonged to them.Andthey belonged to her.

She closed her eyes, resting her cheek againstBurn’schest asBrightrubbed her back in slow, comforting circles.Asense of calm settled in her heart.Shehad come through fire and darkness, pain and captivity, and found something precious waiting on the other side.

But she wasn’t done—not quite yet.

After a long moment, she pulled back gently.

“I need a quick rinse,” she murmured, her voice husky from emotion.“AllthatEarthdirt and adrenaline needs to come off.”

Burn nodded, brushing a thumb down her cheek.

“We’ll be right here, baby,” he rumbled, his voice low and certain.

“We’ll be waiting for you, sweetheart,”Brightagreed.

Noelle gave them both a lingering glance—Bright, with his hazel eyes soft and full of light…andBurn, with his brooding gaze and fierce loyalty—and then turned and slipped into the adjoining bathroom.

83

NOELLE

The shower was hot and fast, steam curling aroundNoellelike a cloud as she scrubbed away the grime and terror of the day.Sheslicked her hands down her body, and took a deep, steadying breath.

It was time.