“Wait a minute. We haven’t stolen anything.” I gripped the bars tightly, barely two feet from the Spurn. “We had just arrived from First World when you captured us. You didn’t find anything on us, right?”
His shiny yellow eyes widened, looking even more alien with their lack of lashes and brows. He hadn’t expected me to answer back but something told me he’d registered my comment. With one last look, he turned and walked away.
Sighing, I banged my hands against the bars, wishing desperately for an axe, or energy ball, or something to get us out of here.
A few boring days later, I’d just finished my small portion of a sweet fruit they had given us. The rough-skinned produce and its juice was all we’d had to eat or drink since arriving, but for some reason I hadn’t felt hungry or thirsty.
I paced our tiny cell and then slumped back into my mesh, closing my eyes. This was the only way to escape Lucy and Samuel’s constant face-sucking. They were driving me insane with a combination of both nausea and jealousy. It would have been nice to have my own distraction from the boredom.
My eyes flew open as an explosion of voices broke the silence. The noises drifted in through the small window at the back of the room. I jumped off my mat. If I sat there any longer I think my butt imprint would become permanent.
“Can you hear what’s happening out there, Red?” Brace had moved to the front of his cell. His question was perfectly acceptable until he added, “You should step away from that window.”
He didn’t look worried, but his tone was stern, commanding me to obey ... not likely. Ever since he’d dropped that dream bombshell on me and then refused to elaborate, our conversations had been a little heated.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m fine here, Brace, but thanks for your concern.” I love an over-the-top use of sarcasm.
Brace was a pain in both my butt and my heart. When I was on Earth, he’d appeared in my dreams, and neither of us knew why. He’d recently informed me that he had dreamed of me too. But that was all the information he’d given.
Since meeting in the flesh we’ve had major unresolved chemistry. I alternated between wanting to kiss him senseless and restraining myself from punching him in the kidneys.
The problem was I knew something was up with him.
I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was, but I didn’t fully trust him. Yes, he’d saved my life, and given me a hell of a first kiss, but he was hiding something.
I hate secrets.
My curious nature struggled to accept or leave them be and I was determined to figure out what his secret was.
That’s if he didn’t keep distracting me with his face. Brace was ... gorgeous. There was no other way to put it. Every other man paled in comparison … well, for me anyways. And Lucy was more than vocal about how hot he was.
On quiet nights, when I examined my feelings closely I had to admit that he might already own my heart.
I was still facing him, but my refusal to move had his chiseled features dropping into stern lines, highlighting a dark captivating beauty. His brown hair was short again but it still fell messily across his forehead. He was a giant man, and in this cell he almost reached the roof. Six and half feet easily. He shifted slightly to one side as Lucas moved to stand next to him.
My eyes flicked across to the blond; he wasn’t as tall or as broad as Brace, but he had an icy beauty that was interesting all the same. Lucas, who is the next Crown Emperor of First World, had decided to join us for this planet-jumping journey. I still didn’t know what his end game was and I was pretty annoyed to be surrounded by such secretive men.
Mostly, I went out of my way to avoid Lucas since he believed I was his to-be-crowned Empress. And even though I’d done my best to set that straight, he was still here. Besides, any interest I could have in Lucas disappeared the moment Brace entered my world. He eclipsed everything else.
“Abby, you haven’t moved,” Brace said, his tone still stern.
I shook my head in his direction, my full lips curving up. I hated being told what to do.
“I might just have a quick look,” I said as I moved closer to the window.
I was tall enough that if I grabbed on to the bars and pulled myself up I’d be able to see out.
“Abigail, get your ass away from that window.” Brace was right at the forefront of his cage now. He gripped the wooden slats. “Samuel, Lucy ... get over there and stop her.”
Lucy laughed out loud. “Brace, I’ve seen Abbs fight. Trust me when I tell you, I’m not getting in her way – my nose is just too perfect.” She crinkled said perfect nose.
She was referring to our fight classes on Earth, where I may have broken a few of the girls’ noses.
“All four of those incidents were accidents,” I said in my defense.
She snorted.