Chapter 37
brIGHT
The back compartment of the shuttle was a cold, metallic cage—every surface dull silver, scratched and scored from years of use.
The bench 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 a Trollox lucky, he thought grimly.
As soon as the shuttle door sealed behind them with a hiss and the deep voice of their Trollox master growled,
“Behave and don’t try anything!” Bright could feel the tension in the air spike.
The moment the engines began their low, shuddering rumble, Burn was already reaching for Noelle’s collar. Bright was 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. He jerked back, a hoarse cry torn from his throat as Burn shouted, “Fuck!” beside him.
“They must be set so we can’t touch them in any way,” Burn growled, flexing his hand. His eyes were red with frustration and pain, Rage simmering just beneath the surface.
Noelle’s voice trembled.
“We have to stop—I can’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. She looked so vulnerable in the shimmering green gown with her bare skin exposed, Bright thought.
He felt a weight settle over him, heavy as iron chains.
I’m supposed to protect her. We both are. But I couldn’t even get a collar off her throat. And I’m the one who surrendered us to the Skow in the first place.
He dropped his head, raking a hand through his hair.
“I’m so sorry,” he said in a low voice. “I thought that once we were sold off, we’d have a better chance of getting free than we did of escaping the Skow. But now…” He shook his head, helpless, shame knotting his gut. “I don’t know.”
“It’s not your fault,” Burn growled. “It wouldn’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 he wants with us?” she asked, her voice so small Bright barely caught it over the drone of the engines.
“Well, he promised not to try and fuck us, anyway,” Burn pointed out, the corners of his mouth twitching in a humorless smile.
“Yes, but what if he wants to… to eat us?” Noelle’s voice dropped to a whisper, fear plain in her eyes. “Like a giant in a fairytale?”
Bright’s heart squeezed tight. He’d heard horror stories about Trolloxes—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. But over Noelle’s head, he caught Burn’s eye and saw the same flicker of worry that he felt himself reflected there.
Burn reached for Noelle’s hand, his big fingers curling around hers.
“Don’t worry about anything, baby. Whatever that big bastard wants to do, he’ll have to get through us first. Bright and I will defend you to the end.”
Bright nodded, squeezing Noelle’s other hand in his.
“That’s right, my lady.” He let his voice drop low as he looked her in the eyes. “Burn and I will kill or die for you, if we have to. Anything to keep you safe.”
Noelle’s eyes filled, her lips trembling.
“You don’t have to say that,” she murmured, and Bright saw everything she felt for them shining in her gaze—fear…hope…longing. “It’s not like the three of us are really a couple… er, a throuple, I mean. Besides, I’m way too old for you two.”
Burn’s growl rumbled out, low and possessive.
“You’re a gorgeous, Mature Elite—and as long as we’re together, you’re ours.”
“Exactly,” Bright agreed.
“Besides, baby,” Burn growled softly. “You weren’t acting like we weren’t together back on that auction stage.”
“Burn!” Bright chided him, shooting him a warning look. “She didn’t have a choice—she had to do… what she did.”
“You mean she had to suck our cocks,” Burn said bluntly. “Yes, but she did a damn fine job of it.”
“You’re going to make our lady feel uncomfortable,” Bright warned, but to his surprise, Noelle shook her head.
“It’s all right, Bright—I don’t mind. And… I didn’t mind what I did at the auction, either. I think…” She bit her lower lip, her cheeks blooming and going dark. “I think I actually wanted to do it.”
Gods, she’s brave. And so damn beautiful when she blushes like that. Bright squeezed her hand again, feeling a warmth spark between them, despite the cold metal at their throats.
“Mmm, I thought you were smelling hot, baby,” Burn rumbled, grinning.
Her blush deepened.
“I was hot. I don’t know why. My body feels… different ever since that awful fertility and rejuvenation treatment I had.”
“Maybe it changed your body chemistry somehow,” Bright speculated, though he hated the idea of anyone—especially Lupin—changing Noelle in any way.
She was perfect before. She’s perfect now.
“I don’t know, but whatever it did—” Noelle started to say, but at that moment the shuttle lurched, slowing to a stop.
The floor vibrated beneath their feet, and a heavy CLUNK sounded as the engines shut down.
The back doors hissed open, bathing the compartment in cold blue light and the overwhelming stench of the Trollox’s breath.
The middle head leaned in, yellow eyes gleaming.
“Now then, my little piggy-wigs,” it chortled, voice thick with glee. “We’re here at your new home. Why don’t you come and see?”
Bright felt a knot form in his stomach, hard and heavy as a stone. He squeezed Noelle’s hand, forcing a smile.
Whatever happens next, we face it together.
With Burn at his side and Noelle between them, he stood, head held high, and stepped into whatever nightmare awaited them.