Page 47 of Wrapped in Their Arms

“Maybe youshouldn’tpush them away,” she said gently.“Maybeyou need to face them.”

“Face them?”he growled.“Nowwhy the fuck wouldIwant to do that?”

“Because talking about what happened to you canhelp,”she said.“Ifelt better afterItold you andBrightabout what happened to me today in the…”Shehad to swallow hard before she could finish.“Inthat weird rejuvenation lab.”

Burn’s shoulders sagged.

“I don’t…Idon’t know.”

“What happened to you—after?”she asked quietly.“Afterthey left?”Sheknew he would understand what she meant and he did, but when he answered, his voice was low and hoarse.

“The pirates must have thoughtIwas dead.Ifelt likeIwas—Icould barely fucking move.Itwas like half of me had been amputated afterIlost my twin.Isomehow managed to drag myself into theO2safe room—they have those on the older shuttles, in case of a hull breach,” he added.

Noelle put a hand to her mouth.

“I’m so sorry—that’sawful.How…how long were you in there?”

He shrugged, his massive shoulders rolling.

“Who fucking knows?Days?Maybeweeks?Iwas lost inside myself—numb without my twin.Ican't even explain what it's like, losing half of yourself.Whenyou can hear someone’s thoughts and feel their feelings all your life, and then they’re suddenly just…gone.”

“I’m so sorry,”Noellewhispered again, tears pricking against her eyes.

She reached out and gently slid her smaller hand into his.Hispalm was calloused and hot against hers, but he didn’t pull away.

“It was a long time ago,” he said roughly.

“That doesn’t mean it doesn’t still hurt.”Shelooked up at him, her voice soft.“What… what happened to your mom?Didanyone ever find her?”

“Yeah.Idid.WhenIwas sixteen,Iwas able to go looking for her.Trackedher for a year, only to find out she died not long after my fathers did.Herheart couldn’t take the separation—the breaking of theSoulBondshe had with them.”

He sighed, the sound heavy with sorrow.

“I still don’t understand whyIwas the only one who survived.WhydidIlive when my twin died?WhyamIstill here when everyoneIlove is dead?”

“Noteveryone,Ihope,”Noellesaid softly.“Burn,I’mso sorry for what you went through, butI’mglad you’re here with me andBright.”

She pushed to her knees and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“Come here—Iwant to hug you.”

At first, he sat stiffly, allowing her embrace but not returning it.Shepressed close, resting her cheek against the top of his head as he just sat there.

Then, at last, it was like a dam breaking breached inside him.Witha low, broken sound,Burnturned into her, burying his face between her breasts.Hisarms came around her, thick and strong, clinging tight.

“I…Icouldn’t save them,” he whispered.“Couldn’tsave them.”

TheDarkTwin’sshoulders trembled as he huggedNoellefiercely.Hewasn’t exactly crying…but he wasn’t far from it either.

She stroked his hair, murmuring soothing nothings.

“It’s okay…You’resafe now…You’renot alone.”

They sat like that for a long moment.Themetal floor was hard on her knees butNoellebarely noticed.Shejust wanted to take some ofBurn’spain away—wanted desperately to ease this ancient ache that had burdened him so long.

Then a voice on the other side of her whispered,

“I want to hug you too.”