Page 33 of Claimed by the Savage Dragons
‘Fuck you,’ Brax says clearly, giving us both a pointed look. ‘Yes. Sooner rather than later if it’s going to take in time.’
Something beeps and he pulls out a phone from his pocket with an impatient noise. ‘Drey is already asking me for an update. Luckily, there was a storm rolling in when I was flying here. I’ll tell him you’re fine, but we’ll be delayed by the weather. That should buy us a day or so.’
‘Why not just you?’ I whisper to Tor, not sure of this other one. He’s hot, but he seems like more of an asshole than Tor is.
‘It won’t work,’ Brax says with a snort. He gives his friend an almost pitying look. ‘Tor doesn’t have the standing in the faction these days.’
I wonder what he means, but Tor says nothing.
‘Without me, princess, you’re just a pretty set of holes. They’ll keep you alive. Barely. But you’ll wish they hadn’t.’
I shiver at his words and make my decision. He’s a dick, but he’s right. It’s not just about survival, but quality of life.
I pull the sweater and the tank top smoothly over my head in one and watch both sets of eyes darken.
I stand there for a moment in front of them, not sure what to do next.
‘The rest,’ Tor whispers, and I’m sort of grateful for the order as I unbutton the pants and let them fall, stepping out of them and standing in front of the two men completely naked. I stare at the floor, wrapping my arms around my middle and feeling like a prize cow at the County Fair.
‘You have the run of the facility, but don’t try to leave it.’
I frown at him in confusion.
‘Your two minute head start,’ he looks at his watch, ‘begins now.’
‘What?’
His grin is wide. ‘We’re predators, little female. No matter your species, we like a chase. Whether for food or a decent fuck.’ He looks me up and down and lets out a low growl. ‘And it’s more likely for the scenting to take after a little Hide and Seek.’ He looks at his watch again as I stare at him. ‘Ninety seconds. We catch you, we fuck you.’
Nope, I’m not a cow. I’m a rabbit, I realize as I turn tail and run for the nearest door. A helpless, naked little rabbit.
I shake my head at my rotten luck as I sprint down another concrete corridor, trying to ignore the way my stomach and other things clench at the idea of them catching me.
All the hallways look the same but I’m sure I haven’t been down this one before. My suspicion is confirmed when it leads to a set of metal stairs that spiral upward. Vaguely, I hear the door at the end of the tunnel, and I run up, taking two at a time until they end. There’s another door which I burst through, finding myself in a long room of whirring machines with pipes and wires all over.
I look around in wonder. I’ve never seen anything like this, so many electrical things from before the Fall, and all of them working, all of them in what looks like pristine condition. I didn’t know things like this still existed.
A sound echoes from somewhere behind me, breaking me out of my amazed stupor and I scramble forward, breathing hard.
Another noise. He’s close. Too close!
I duck behind one of the machines as I hear the door to the room bang open.
‘Where are you?’ I hear Brax say. ‘I know you’re close. I can hear your heart fluttering inside your chest.’
He walks slowly through the room, and I stay still in my hiding spot, my hands over my mouth, willing my heartrate to lower and hoping he can’t hear myinsanely loudbreathing.
Jesus, I sound like I went into the Barelands and got my lungs burned.
I peer out into the room carefully just in time to see Brax go through another door, and I let out a small sigh of relief.
I get to my feet and run back the way I came, down the stairs, almost slipping and falling to my death. But I get to the bottom and hold my breath, listening.
There’s nothing to indicate that either of them is close. I know it’s only a matter of time. They’re going to catch me and do…whatever they’re going to do.
But why should I make it easy for them? If Icanescape this place, shouldn’t I? One last ditch effort not to become a dragon plaything?
I slink down the corridor slowly and spy a door I didn’t notice before. I open it quietly, cringing as the sound still echoes off the walls.
