Page 58 of Wrapped in Their Arms

Bright andBurnboth roared—Burnstaggering,Brightgritting his teeth—but they stayed standing, somehow.

The agony seemed to last forever.Whenat last the shock ended,Noellelay on the floor panting, her cheek pressed against the cold tile.

“BlessedVirgin,” she whispered.Herwhole body was trembling with the aftermath.Shehad never felt such all-encompassing pain—it wasawful.

She reached for her own arm—just to ground herself—but the moment her fingertips touched bare skin, a smaller jolt shot through her.Notas strong as before, but still enough to make her cry out.

“Ow!”Shejerked her hand away.Wasit just some kind of aftershock?Shetried again…and got another zap.“Dios!What’shappening to me?”she gasped.“Whycan’tItouch myself?”

“Oh, sorry sweetie,” the alien said breezily, waving a webbed hand.“That’san anti-self-contact collar.Can’thave you er,entertainingyourself before the big show, now can we?”

“What?”Noellegaped at the alien.“Howis just touching my arm ‘entertaining’ myself?”

The alien just shrugged.

“It’s standard.Don’ttake it personally.”

Noelle felt sick—so now she couldn’t touch her own body in any way?Herskin felt like a live wire—like her body was now a trap.

Bright andBurnreached for her at the same time, each hooking a big hand under her arms.Toher shock, their touch didn’t trigger anything—not a single shock or jolt of pain went through her.

Apparently they can touch me, butIcan’t touch myself,she thought bitterly.

“Good, very good!”the alien chirped.“Nowthen, up we go.Wemust get you ready for theAuction.Andno funny business,unless you’d like another taste of my little toy.”Itwaved the silver remote with a smile that didn’t reach its shiny black eyes.

And then it turned and swept toward a corridor on the far side of the room, its silver robes swirling behind it like smoke.

Noelle’s body still trembled.Herneck throbbed and her skin felt wrong.Everystep down that sterile hallway felt heavier than the last.

What else is waiting for us in this place?she wondered.

And the bigger question was—would they survive it?

30

NOELLE

The alien with the floating silver robes and flickering headdress swept ahead of them, her fingertips trailing sparkling motes of light through the air as she pushed open a tall arched door.Itwas definitely more female than male,Noellethought—though maybe it was some other sex, who knew?

“Come along, you three.Chop-chop!Timeis money.”

Noelle swallowed hard as she walked betweenBrightandBurn, both warriors staying close enough that their heat radiated against her arms.Themoment they crossed the threshold, she realized they’d entered a dressing room — or something like it.

The chamber was bright and chilly.Shinywhite tiles gleamed underfoot, polished so clean they looked almost wet.Againstone wall stood a long row of 3-Dviewers, each with a cushioned bench and a visor hanging from an articulated metal arm.Theopposite wall was lined with racks of clothing, shimmering with fabrics of every color — silks, satins, leathers, laces—in all shapes and cuts.

The alien hummed to herself, browsing the clothing racks with an air of theatrical importance.

“Now let me see, the three of you must match.We’relooking for aesthetic unity…buyer appeal…visual drama…”Sheflicked through hangers rapidly.“You’llneed a theme.Yes…oh, oh,yes.I’vegot it!”

She turned abruptly, triumphant, and pulled a long, shimmering gown made of green fabric from the rack.Itglowed like iridescent beetle wings, catching the cold light as she draped it over one arm.

“For the female,” she declared.

Noelle’s stomach tightened.

“Uh…” she began.

But the alien wasn’t listening.Shewhirled again, grabbing two small pieces of dark leather from a lower rack — leather scraps, really, more like loincloths than clothing.