Page 68 of Wrapped in Their Arms

“Yes…as a matter of fact, itis.Thatsuits our purposes quite well—leave the collar on her.”

Noelle’s cheeks went dark with humiliation andBurnfelt a protective fury blaze in his chest, hotter than any flame.Hestepped in front of her without even thinking, putting his own body between her and theTrollox’senormous bulk.Hecould feel the force of the enormous creature’s presence, but fuck it—he’d take on a whole clan of the bastards if he had to.

TheTrolloxcocked its middle head, a ripple of amusement passing over its lumpish face.

“Ah, so we see you’re protective of your little mate, are you?”Themiddle head barked out a laugh so loud it rattled the stage floor.“Neverfear, we won’t touch her.Weknow some of our kind like to use humanoid females as receptacles for breeding an heir, but we’re too big for that.Why, our cock is as big around as your thigh, little male!”

He roared with laughter, spittle flying, andBurnbarely kept himself from snarling outright.

“No, no, my little friend,” theTrolloxcontinued, glancing over atBurnwith a sly wink.“Don’tworry—we have other plans for the three of you.Muchmore…excitingplans.”

As he spoke, a huge purple tongue flicked from between the tusks of his middle head, flickering out and curling back in a gesture that madeBurn’sskin crawl.Theleft head tittered and the right one finally blinked awake and stared at them with bleary confusion.

Burn squared his shoulders, meeting theTrollox’sgaze head-on.

“Whatever your plans are, you’d better keep your distance fromNoelle.She’snot here for your fucking amusement.”

TheTrolloxlaughed again, the sound booming through the auction chamber.“You’llfind out what amuses us soon enough, my brave little bodyguard,” he said.“Butfor now, let’s get you settled into your new accommodations.Wecan’t wait for our little piggy-wigs to see their new home.”

He turned, motioning for a pair ofSkowguards—those disgusting, mouth-faced freaks in their tattered black robes—to come forward and herd them off the stage.

Burn reached forNoelle’shand, careful not to startle her, and feltBright’ssteady presence at his back as they followed theTrolloxoff the stage.Thethick metal pain collar prickled coldly against his skin—a constant, humiliating reminder of who was in charge.

Fuck this.I’llfind a way to get us out.Idon’t care how big this bastard is or what kind of sick game he’s playing—he’s not touching her.He’snot touchingeitherof them,Burnvowed, jaw set, muscles tight as steel cables.

But as the doors of the auction hall closed behind them and the noise of the auction faded,Burncouldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get a hell of a lot worse before they got better.

37

BRIGHT

The back compartment of the shuttle was a cold, metallic cage—every surface dull silver, scratched and scored from years of use.Thebench seats lining either side were hard as stone and big enough for twice as many prisoners to spread out in ease.Nevertheless, the three of them sat close together.

Bright could smell the acrid sting of disinfectant, mingled with the sour tang of fear-sweat and the faint, lingering aroma of blood—probably from prisoners who hadn’t been as lucky as they were.

If you can call being sold to aTrolloxlucky,he thought grimly.

As soon as the shuttle door sealed behind them with a hiss and the deep voice of theirTrolloxmaster growled,

“Behave and don’t try anything!”Brightcould feel the tension in the air spike.

The moment the engines began their low, shuddering rumble,Burnwas already reaching forNoelle’scollar.Brightwas right there with him, his fingers moving to the delicate filigree at her throat, desperate to help set her free.

But the second his skin made contact with the metal, agony exploded through him—a biting, crackling current that ran down his arm, up his neck, and deep into his brain.Hejerked back, a hoarse cry torn from his throat asBurnshouted, “Fuck!”beside him.

“They must be set so we can’t touch them in any way,”Burngrowled, flexing his hand.Hiseyes were red with frustration and pain,Ragesimmering just beneath the surface.

Noelle’s voice trembled.

“We have to stop—Ican’t stand watching the two of you get shocked trying to get my collar off.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, big and dark and luminous in her golden-brown face.Shelooked so vulnerable in the shimmering green gown with her bare skin exposed,Brightthought.

He felt a weight settle over him, heavy as iron chains.

I’m supposed to protect her.Weboth are.ButIcouldn’t even get a collar off her throat.AndI’mthe one who surrendered us to theSkowin the first place.

He dropped his head, raking a hand through his hair.