Page 37 of Wrapped in Their Arms

The second the dwarf opened the cell door,Burnthrust his bound hands forward.

“Take these fucking things off!”he barked.“Now!”

“Ah yes,Ididmake some promises, didn’tI?”the dwarf said coolly.Heappeared unbothered as he produced a small silver fob from his robes.“AndNoellehere has beenmostcooperative.Butjust so we’re clear—if you try to harm me, this—”Heheld up the fob “—sends a direct signal to the guards.”

“Just take off the fucking cuffs,”Burngrowled again, impatiently.

To his immense relief, the dwarf obeyed, slotting a small metal key into the manacle locks.Thefirst cuff fell fromBurn’swrist with a heavy clink, and the second followed moments later.Brightwas freed a breath after him.

Burn didn’t wait.

He pulledNoelleinto his arms, wrapping her tight against his chest.

“Fuck, baby…” he whispered into her hair, his voice breaking.“Youscared us so much.Youdon’t even know…”

She was stiff at first, then melted into him, her arms sliding around his back as though she needed to touch him as badly as he needed to touch her.Herhead tucked under his chin, her warm, ripe scent surrounding him, and for a moment everything else—his fear, his rage, the memories—dissolved under the raw relief of just holding her.

She was here…she was alive.Andfor now, that was enough.

Bright came behind her and wrapped his arms around both of them.Burnshifted to make space so that the curvy little human was cradled between them.Ahh…that was even better.Itfelt right to have her between himself andBright—perfect to hold her this way in their double embrace.

“My lady…Noelle,”Brightmurmured, his voice tight.“Areyou really all right?BurnandI—we had terrible feelings of worry about you while you were gone.”

“You did?”Hervoice was small as she looked up at them.

Burn nodded.

“We had the feeling you were in danger,” he said.“Thatyou might be…might be fucking dying.”Heswallowed hard and closed his eyes.“Andwe couldn’tdoanything…couldn’tgetto you.”

He wasn’t crying—hewasn’t.

But his vision blurred and his throat burned and his whole body felt like it was finally exhaling after holding in the scream of a thousand losses for too damn long.

Noelle’s arms tightened around him and she pressed her face to his chest.Herbody was warm and soft between them, but she was still trembling faintly.

“What happened to you?”Brightasked gently.

“Yeah, what did that little orange fucker do to you?”Burnadded, his voice like gravel.

“I…Ican’t talk about it,” she whispered.“Notyet.Please—Ijust want to rest.”

“Okay, sweetheart,”Brightsaid, brushing her hair back gently.“Thenlet’s rest.”

Burn guided her down to the floor, holding her close the entire way, andBrightfollowed.Noellecurled between them like she belonged there, her body pressed toBurn’sside, one hand resting on his chest.

He covered it with his own, anchoring her there andBrightdraped himself against her back and threw and arm over both of them, his own hand landing onBurn’sabdomen.

As they settled into silence,Burnkept his eyes open, watching the cell door, his arm wrapped tightly aroundNoelle’sshoulders.Hestill didn’t know what had happened to her.

But he knew this—he would never let her out of his sight again—not if he could help it.

And if that little orange freakevertried to take her again,Burnwas going to tear the fucker limb from fucking limb.

20

BRIGHT

Bright didn’t know how long they lay like that—tangled together on the cold metal floor, both their bodies curved protectively aroundNoelle, holding her as though they could shield her from whatever had happened.