Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 119846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
The middle head’s eyes glittered with warning, the other two heads nodding in agreement like macabre puppets. Noelle’s whole body went tense, a pulse of anxiety thrumming in her chest. She didn’t like being so close to the huge, three-headed troll creature—didn’t like it one bit!
“We hear you,” Bright said, frowning.
Burn stood close to her, silent but bristling, his fists clenched at his sides.
Noelle wondered if he was about to say something defiant—tell the Trollox exactly where he could shove his warnings—but thankfully, the Dark Twin held his tongue.
“Good, then do as we say,” the middle head told them. Then, with a heavy, shuffling gait, the Trollox turned and lumbered away, his footsteps making the floor vibrate beneath their feet. The stink of him lingered—a sharp, sour blend of sweat, musk, and something metallic—almost bloody.
For a long moment, none of them spoke. Noelle let out a slow breath of pure relief—so the Trollox hadn’t heard their plans for escape.
This can’t go on, she thought, her heart still pounding. We can’t stay here. We have to find that key, and soon.
Burn glanced at her, his dark eyes softer for a moment.
“Don’t worry, baby. We’re going to get out of here. I promise.”
Bright nodded, but his usual smile was missing, replaced by a grim line of determination.
“He can’t keep us forever.”
Noelle managed a nod, though she wasn’t sure she believed them. She felt impossibly small, lost in the vastness of this alien mansion, her collar still cold and heavy at her throat. Her breasts still ached and her whole body felt hot and restless with need—a need that made her feel weak, dizzy, and more than a little afraid.
What was going to happen to them?
She had no idea and not knowing was maybe the worst thing of all.
42
NOELLE
They lingered in the hallway for a moment, none of them wanting to go off alone.
“Well, I guess we have no choice,” Bright said at last. “Let’s try to get some sleep and we’ll plan some more in the morning.”
Burn nodded, scowling.
“Stay alert, both of you. If anything happens—shout. I’ll come running.”
To her surprise, Bright bent and swept her up in his arms as easily as if she weighed nothing. “Hey!” she protested, but he just smiled gently.
“Burn carried you earlier—now it’s my turn to hold you,” he said, his hazel-green eyes warm and earnest. “And don’t even try to say you’re too heavy. You’re not.”
Burn just grunted his agreement, brushing a callused hand over her shoulder in silent comfort.
Noelle let herself relax into Bright’s arms, soothed by the way both males seemed to want to share her protection, not fight over her.
They really are willing to share, she thought. Neither of them is trying to claim me for himself. I never thought I’d feel so safe in such a strange place.
Bright carried her back to the rooms they’d been given and put her down reluctantly. They said goodnight, each of them pausing for a moment—reluctant to part, even for a few hours. Burn squeezed her shoulder and Bright pressed a soft kiss to her temple. Then she slipped into the vast, dimly lit bedroom that was now hers.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, the silence hit Noelle like a weight. The enormous space seemed to echo around her, swallowing her up. Everything about the room was on a giant scale—an immense bed draped in thick blankets, a wardrobe that could have doubled as a walk-in closet back home, and plush purple carpeting that muffled her footsteps. Though at least it wasn’t as deep as the carpeting outside in the hall, which made walking difficult.
It’s like falling into a fairy tale. Or a nightmare, Noelle thought.
She wandered to the adjoining bathroom, curiosity mingling with her anxiety. The bathroom fixtures were oversized, alien, and utterly baffling.
The bathtub alone was as tall as her chest, with strange, spiraling pipes and glittering handles shaped like curling vines and crystalline spheres. It took her several minutes to figure out which combination of knobs made hot water flow—the first one turned on a blast of icy water and the second one shot out steam, but the third combination finally rewarded her with a cascade of warmth.
Noelle dragged a heavy wooden stepstool over to the edge and climbed into the tub, feeling a flush of relief as the hot water closed over her aching limbs. The bath was so big she could stretch out completely and still not reach either end.
I could swim laps in here. It’s even bigger than the Kindred bathing pools back on the Mother Ship, she thought.
She let herself float, closing her eyes, the weightlessness soothing her for a moment.
But she couldn’t drift forever. She needed to get clean, she reminded herself.
There were bottles lined up along the edge of the enormous tub—oversized, with bright alien glyphs on the labels. Noelle sniffed the contents carefully—one smelled like mint and honey and a strange alien spice she couldn’t name. Another reminded her of crisp apples mixed with a floral essence which was nice.