Page 16 of Wrapped in Their Arms

“Come on,Burn,” he said softly.“Youknow it’s the only way.”

“I don’t fucking like this!”theDarkTwingrowled and for a momentNoellewas sure he was going to launch himself at theSkowagain.Butafter a long wordless moment, where dark blue eyes clashed with hazel green, he finally nodded.

“Fuck it.You’reright.”

He let his blaster fall to the floor with a metallic clunk and straightened up, though his big hands were still clenched into fists at his sides.

“Good.”Brightnodded and his broad shoulders seemed to relax.Clearlyhe’d been ready to fight to the death if he had to—ifBurncouldn’t be talked down,Noellethought.Atleast that dark fate had been taken off the table—though their future wasn’t exactly looking bright at the moment.

“I’ll hold back, but we keepNoellebetween us at all times,”Burngrowled.

“Agreed,”Brightsaid nodding, then he turned to theSkow.“We’reready.”

The commander motioned.Twomore creatures entered the ruined shuttle, holding heavy manacles.Theylooked like iron but pulsed with some kind of dull, green energy that madeNoelle’sskin crawl just looking at them.

TheSkowclamped them aroundBurn’sandBright’swrists.Thecuffs hummed ominously, buzzing with restrained force.

Then one of theSkowgestured to her.

“And the female?Shouldwe manacle her as well?”

“She is tiny and weak—she stays unbound,” the commander said.“Fornow.Getthem moving!”

Noelle barely noticed the chill that crept over her as they were marched through the hole in the ship’s hull and down the long, accordion-like tunnel connecting the long-range shuttle to theSkowship.Herthoughts were a dizzy mess, her body cold and numb.

Dios, this isn’t happening.Iwas supposed to besafe.Iwas supposed to be hiding fromBranson… starting over.HowdidIend up as someone’s intergalactic property?

She risked a look back.

The long-rangeKindredshuttle—their ship—was still there, battered and torn.Itfelt like she was leaving any sense of safety and control behind.

At least she still hadBurnandBright.Thetwo huge warriors flanked her as they walked, and even bound, their massive bodies felt like living shields.

Noele swallowed past the lump in her throat.

HolyVirgin, please let this turn out okay.Idon’t know what’s waiting for us on that ship, but ifIhave to face it… at leastI’mnot alone.

And then they reached the end of the accordion tunnel and theSkowship swallowed them whole.

9

BURN

The cuffs hummed aroundBurn’swrists like angry insects—a low, electric vibration that crawled under his skin.Everystep he took down theSkowship’s corridor felt like an echo of the past.Hisflesh felt too tight—like his bones were trying to burst through his skin.

He walked withNoellewedged between him andBright, both of them crowding her protectively as theSkowshoved them forward.Theplace stank of ozone, cold metal, and something sour—fear, maybe, or old blood.Itwas hard to tell in a ship like this.

His muscles trembled—not with weakness, but with the effort it took not to explode.

Because his mind wouldn’t fucking shut up…wouldn’t stop throwing images at him.Notwhole memories…not stories.Justflashes of the past.

He remembered a scream—his mother’s scream—high and sharp, echoing down a metallic corridor.

A blinding red light…then darkness.

Hands gripping his shoulders…pushing him…pulling him.Hecouldn’t tell which.

A voice in his ear…