Page 30 of Kidnapped By the Beast
But then the baby spotted her. It bounded over to the edge of the enclosure, pressing its tiny nose through the vines, making a plaintive little chirping sound.
Lexi bit her lip.
“Oh, come on,” she muttered. “Just look at you, little guy. You’re practically begging for snuggles.”
She looked around. No one was watching. Surely a quick pet couldn’t hurt—right? Sliding through the vine gate, she crouched low and reached out a hand coaxingly.
“Hey, little guy…you want some scritches?” She used the same high, sweet voice she always used for her cat back home and the baby absolutely responded. Apparently the longing for “scritches” was universal, Lexi thought happily as it bounded towards her in a series of adorable lolloping hops.
“That’s right—who’s a good boy?” she crooned as the baby pressed its warm, damp nose into her palm, sighing happily. Lexi laughed softly, stroking the silky fur between its long ears. What a sweet little baby! She wondered if she could coax it to hop into her lap? She could cuddle this cutie all day.
That’s when she heard the growl.
It was low and guttural, vibrating the ground beneath her feet. Lexi froze, her eyes widening. Slowly, she looked up.
From the shadows of the enclosure, another creature emerged. Her eyes grew wide as she took it in—it was freaking enormous.
Its fur was dark green streaked with rust-red, its horns long and curved like a bull’s. Its glowing red eyes locked on Lexi, and the growl deepened into a snarl.
“Oh crap,” she whispered. Her stomach dropped. The thing was massive—bigger than a grizzly bear, towering over her on thick legs. The baby whimpered and darted behind it.
Lexi realized with sick dread that she had just been petting this creature’s cub.
The mother pawed the ground, gouging deep furrows. Then she lowered her massive head and charged.
Oh my God—Ohmygod-Ohmygod-OhmyGOD!
Lexi screamed and ran for the nearest tree, heart in her throat. She grabbed a low-hanging branch and pulled, using her feet to scramble up the trunk as she hung on, trying to get higher. Her fingers were slipping on the slick bark as adrenaline surged through every part of her body. She hauled herself up onto a low branch just as the beast slammed into the tree with a bone-jarring crash.
The entire trunk shuddered and bark splintered beneath the impact. Lexi’s teeth rattled and she almost lost her grip.
“HELP!” she shrieked, clinging to the trunk for dear life. The creature backed up and rammed the tree again, her horns gouging deep grooves in the alien tree. Crack! The branch she was standing on was breaking!
Panic rising in her throat, Lexi climbed higher, scraping her knees and palms on the rough bark in the process. Tears of fear sprang to her eyes.
“Somebody, please—HELP!” she shouted again.
The branch she stood on wavered, groaning under her weight. Oh God, was she going to die here? Was she going to be gored to death by a mother grizzly-rabbit on an alien world light years from home?
It seemed like a distinct possibility.
Below her, the beast bellowed again, rearing back for another strike. Lexi didn’t know how much longer the tree could hold up. How much longer did she have? She should have told her Aunt and Uncle she loved them more often. She should have?—
“Alexandra!”
The roar of Brandt’s voice cut through her panic. She twisted her head and saw him sprinting across the grass below, his golden eyes blazing, his black hair wild around his shoulders. He was shirtless, still wearing just his long sleep trousers and he looked both furious and terrifying—every inch a Beast Kindred.
“Jump to me!” he barked, holding out his arms as he reached the edge of the enclosure. “Now!”
Lexi’s stomach lurched. She glanced down and felt dizzy—the ground seemed a hundred feet away.
“What? Are you crazy? I’ll break my neck!”
Another crash shook the tree, nearly dislodging her. She screamed, clinging harder. The mother beast snarled, its stench rank with musk and rot. Lexi gagged. Her eyes watered from the smell and from sheer terror.
“Alexandra!” Brandt’s voice was thunder. “Jump for me right now. I’ll catch you!”
Her mind raced.
