Page 69 of Wrapped in Their Arms

“I’m so sorry,” he said in a low voice.“Ithought that once we were sold off, we’d have a better chance of getting free than we did of escaping theSkow.Butnow…”Heshook his head, helpless, shame knotting his gut.“Idon’t know.”

“It’s not your fault,”Burngrowled.“Itwouldn’t have done any good to fight them—we just would have gotten ourselves killed.”

Noelle curled in on herself, shivering because she couldn’t even touch her bare skin to try and warm up.

“What do you think hewantswith us?”she asked, her voice so smallBrightbarely caught it over the drone of the engines.

“Well, he promised not to try and fuck us, anyway,”Burnpointed out, the corners of his mouth twitching in a humorless smile.

“Yes, but what if he wants to… toeatus?”Noelle’svoice dropped to a whisper, fear plain in her eyes.“Likea giant in a fairytale?”

Bright’s heart squeezed tight.He’dheard horror stories aboutTrolloxes—about what they did to smaller species.

Goddess, don’t let it come to that,he prayed and forced a reassuring smile, though it felt brittle and wrong on his face.

“I doubt that’s what he wants,” he said quickly.ButoverNoelle’shead, he caughtBurn’seye and saw the same flicker of worry that he felt himself reflected there.

Burn reached forNoelle’shand, his big fingers curling around hers.

“Don’t worry about anything, baby.Whateverthat big bastard wants to do, he’ll have to get through us first.BrightandIwill defend you to the end.”

Bright nodded, squeezingNoelle’sother hand in his.

“That’s right, my lady.”Helet his voice drop low as he looked her in the eyes.“BurnandIwill kill or die for you, if we have to.Anythingto keep you safe.”

Noelle’s eyes filled, her lips trembling.

“You don’t have to say that,” she murmured, andBrightsaw everything she felt for them shining in her gaze—fear…hope…longing.“It’snot like the three of us are really a couple… er, a throuple,Imean.Besides,I’mway too old for you two.”

Burn’s growl rumbled out, low and possessive.

“You’re a gorgeous,MatureElite—and as long as we’re together, you’re ours.”

“Exactly,”Brightagreed.

“Besides, baby,”Burngrowled softly.“Youweren’t acting like we weren’t together back on that auction stage.”

“Burn!”Brightchided him, shooting him a warning look.“Shedidn’t have a choice—she had to do… what she did.”

“You mean she had to suck our cocks,”Burnsaid bluntly.“Yes, but she did a damn fine job of it.”

“You’re going to make our lady feel uncomfortable,”Brightwarned, but to his surprise,Noelleshook her head.

“It’s all right,Bright—Idon’t mind.And…Ididn’t mind whatIdid at the auction, either.Ithink…”Shebit her lower lip, her cheeks blooming and going dark.“IthinkIactuallywantedto do it.”

Gods, she’s brave.Andso damn beautiful when she blushes like that.Brightsqueezed her hand again, feeling a warmth spark between them, despite the cold metal at their throats.

“Mmm,Ithoughtyou were smelling hot, baby,”Burnrumbled, grinning.

Her blush deepened.

“Iwashot.Idon’t know why.Mybody feels… different ever since that awful fertility and rejuvenation treatmentIhad.”

“Maybe it changed your body chemistry somehow,”Brightspeculated, though he hated the idea of anyone—especiallyLupin—changingNoellein any way.

She was perfect before.She’sperfect now.

“I don’t know, but whatever it did—”Noellestarted to say, but at that moment the shuttle lurched, slowing to a stop.Thefloor vibrated beneath their feet, and a heavyCLUNKsounded as the engines shut down.Theback doors hissed open, bathing the compartment in cold blue light and the overwhelming stench of theTrollox’sbreath.