“Now, now—just relax,” he said, completely unfazed.“Injust a moment the bathing attendant will be along to give your skin an extra treatment—Ithink you need it.”
“What attendant?Whatextra treatment?”she sputtered, blinking black goo out of her lashes.“Ijust want to get out of here!”
The goop had gotten into her mouth—bitter, acrid, like scorched toast and chemicals.Shegagged and spit into the muck.
Lupin didn’t answer.Instead, he produced a tiny silver bell from somewhere inside his tunic and gave it a sharp ring.
“Hey now!”he called brightly.“Hurryup—we need an extra rejuvenating skin treatment and the client is already in the tub.Comeon!”
Client?!I’mnot a client—I’ma prisoner!
Noelle turned slowly in the viscous liquid, heart thudding.Shouldshe try to scramble out?Butwouldn’tLupinjust push her in again?
Even if he does,Ihave to try,she thought.
“Okay,I’mgetting out,” she said, and reached for the edge of the pool… just as something slithered around her ankle.
It was slick—like rubber or snake-skin—but strong.Toostrong forNoelleto get free, even though she kicked her legs.
“Wha—?”she gasped and then screamed as she was yanked under.
13
BRIGHT
Bright sat cross-legged on the cold metal floor of the cell, his back pressed to the wall, staring out at nothing.Hishands rested between his knees, still bound by the silver manacles that pulsed faintly every time he so much asthoughtabout touchingBurn.
Across the small cell,Burnwas pacing like a caged predator, each stride sharp and rigid.Hisheavy boots echoed with every step, his jaw was clenched and his fists were flexing as though he wanted to punch the walls.
He’s barely holding it together,Brightthought grimly.NotthatI’mdoing much better.
He kept glancing toward the door whereLupinhad ledNoelleaway.Somethingwas gnawing at his gut—an unease that wouldn’t settle.Thewalls felt tighter…the air was colder.
ThenBurnstopped.Mid-stride, he froze in place—his broad back tense, shoulders rigid.
“Do you feel that?”he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
Bright lifted his head sharply as the feeling of unease that had been hovering in the back of his mind bloomed into something much darker and sharper.
“I do,” he said, his heart beginning to pound.“Noelle’sin trouble.”
Burn was already moving, charging toward the barred door of the cell.Brightwas on his feet in an instant, racing to join him.
The two of them grabbed the bars, rattling them violently.Sparksjumped from the cuffs at their wrists, the metal hissing with warning, but they didn’t care.
“HEY!”Burnbellowed, slamming his fists against the bars.“HEY!LETUSTHEFUCKOUTOFHERE!”
“We need to see our mate!”Brightshouted, gripping the door hard enough to make his wrists ache.“Letus out—NOW!”
But there was no response.Onlysilence… then a voice from the darkness:
“Shut the fuck up!”
Then another, softer, from further down the hall…a sobbing whisper.
“…Mama… please…Mama, come get me…”
Bright’s chest tightened.
