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fully awake。
This time I opened my eyes at once。 Nothing had changed—I still could see the dull blue light through
the round hole； I still could not see if Jared was outside it。 Someone was ing this way—it was easy to
hear that the footsteps were ing closer。 I pulled my legs away from the opening； moving as quietly as
I could； and curled up against the back wall again。 I would have liked to be able to stand； it would have
made me feel less vulnerable； more prepared to face whatever was ing。 The low ceiling of the cave
bubble would barely have allowed me to kneel。
There was a flash of movement outside my prison。 I saw part of Jared’s foot as he rose silently to his
feet。
“Ah。 Here you are；” a man said。 The words were so loud after all the empty silence that I jumped。 I
recognized the voice。 One of the brothers I’d seen in the desert—the one with the machete； Kyle。
Jared didn’t speak。
“We’re not going to allow this； Jared。” It was a different speaker； a more reasonable voice。 Probably
the younger brother； Ian。 The brothers’ voices were very similar—or they would have been； if Kyle
weren’t always half shouting； his tone always twisted with anger。 “We’ve all lost somebody—hell； we’ve
all lost everybody。 But this is ridiculous。”
“If you won’t let Doc have it； then it’s got to die；” Kyle added； his voice a growl。
“You can’t keep it prisoner here；” Ian continued。 “Eventually； it will escape and we’ll all be exposed。”
My heart pumped hard and fast as I understood what the brothers were saying。 Jared had won。 I was
not to be tortured。 I was not to be killed—not immediately； anyway。 Jared was keeping me prisoner。
It seemed a beautiful word under the circumstances。
I told you he would protect us。
“Don’t make this difficult； Jared；” said a new male voice I didn’t recognize。 “It has to be done。”
Jared said nothing。
“We don’t want to hurt you； Jared。 We’re all brothers here。 But we will if you make us。” There was no
bluff in Kyle’s tone。 “Move aside。”
Jared stood rock still。
My heart started thumping faster than before； jerking against my ribs so hard that the hammering
disrupted the rhythm of my lungs； made it difficult to breathe。 Melanie was incapacitated with fear； unable
to think in coherent words。
They were going to hurt him。 Those lunatic humans were going to attack one of their own。
“Jared… please；” Ian said。
Jared didn’t answer。
A heavy footfall—a lunge—and the sound of something heavy hitting something solid。 A gasp； a choking
gurgle —
“No！” I cried； and launched myself through the round hole。
CHAPTER 16
Assigned
The ledge of the rock exit was worn down； but it scraped my palms and shins as I scrambled through it。
It hurt； stiff as I was； to wrench myself erect； and my breath caught。 My head swam as the blood flowed
downward。
I looked for only one thing—where Jared was； so that I could put myself between him and his attackers。
They all stood frozen in place； staring at me。 Jared had his back to the wall； his hands balled into fists
and held low。 In front of him； Kyle was hunched over； clutching his stomach。 Ian and a stranger flanked
him a few feet back； their mouths open with shock。 I took advantage of their surprise。 In two long； shaky
strides； I moved between Kyle and Jared。
Kyle was the first to react。 I was less than a foot from him； and his primary instinct was to shove me
away。 His hand struck my shoulder and heaved me toward the floor。 Before I could fall； something
As soon as he realized what he’d done； Jared dropped my wrist like my skin was oozing acid。
“Get back in there；” he roared at me。 He shoved my shoulder； too； but it wasn’t as hard as Kyle’s push。
It sent me staggering two feet back toward the hole in the wall。
The hole was a black circle in the narrow hallway。 Outside the small prison； the bigger cave looked just
the same； only longer and taller； a tube rather than a bubble。 A small lamp—powered by what； I couldn’t
guess—lit the hallway dimly from the ground。 It cast strange shadows on the features of the men； turning
them into scowling monster faces。
I took a step toward them again； turning my back to Jared。
“I’m what you want；” I said directly to Kyle。 “Leave him alone。”
No one said anything for a long second。
“Tricky bugger；” Ian finally muttered； eyes wide with horror。
“I said get back in there；” Jared hissed behind me。
I turned halfway； not wanting Kyle out of my sight。 “It’s not your duty to protect me at your own
expense。”
Jared grimaced； one hand rising to push me back toward the cell again。
I skipped out of the way； the motion moved me toward the ones who wanted to kill me。
Ian grabbed my arms and pinned them behind me。 I struggled instinctively； but he was very strong。 He
bent my joints too far back and I gasped。
“Get your hands off her！” Jared shouted； charging。
Kyle caught him and spun him around into a wrestling hold； forcing his neck forward。 The other man
grabbed one of Jared’s thrashing arms。
“Don’t hurt him！” I screeched。 I strained against the hands that imprisoned me。
Jared’s free elbow rammed into Kyle’s stomach。 Kyle gasped and lost his grip。 Jared twisted away from
his attackers and then lunged back； his fist connecting with Kyle’s nose。 Dark red blood spattered the
wall and the lamp。
“Finish it； Ian！” Kyle yelled。 He put his head down and hurtled into Jared； throwing him into the other
man。
“No！” Jared and I cried at the same moment。
Ian dropped my arms； and his hands wrapped around my throat； choking off my air。 I clawed at his
hands with my useless； stubby nails。 He gripped me tighter； dragging my feet off the floor。
Click； click。
I’d only heard the sound once before； but I recognized it。 So did everyone else。 They all froze； Ian with
his hands locked hard on my neck。
“Kyle； Ian； Brandt—back off！” Jeb barked。
No one moved—just my hands； still clawing； and my feet； twitching in the air。
Jared suddenly darted under Kyle’s motionless arm and sprang at me。 I saw his fist flying toward my
face； and closed my eyes。
A loudthwack sounded inches behind my head。 Ian howled； and I dropped to the floor。 I crumpled
there at his feet； gasping。 Jared retreated after an angry glance in my direction and went to stand at Jeb’s
elbow。
“You’re guests here； boys； and don’t forget it；” Jeb growled。 “I told you not to go looking for the girl。
She’s my guest； too； for the moment； and I don’t take kindly to any of my guests killing any of the
others。”
“Jeb；” Ian moaned above me； his voice muffled by the hand held to his mouth。 “Jeb。 This is insane。”
“What’s your plan？” Kyle demanded。 His face was smeared with blood； a violent； macabre sight。 But
there was no evidence of pain in his voice； only controlled and simmering anger。 “We have a right to
know。 We have to decide whether this place is safe or if it’s time to move on。 So… how long will you
keep this thing as your pet？ What wil