Razul’s growl is quieter this time. “No.”
The Arachnoid sighs. “Throw me her dress. She’s going to need to be out of it in a second, anyway.” He tilts his head. “It’s going to hurt her if you don’t.”
“It’s fine,” I murmur, wriggling the smock over my head. My blush spreads down my neck to my chest, but being momentarily naked is the least embarrassing thing that’s about to happen.
Razul looks down at me as I hand him the bundled-up dress, and the intensity of his gaze makes my breath catch.
He tosses the fabric at Sylvus.
The arachnid snatches it out of the air, then holds it to his nose and takes a deep breath. He shudders as if with disgust,then hooks a fang over the edge of the syringe body. As he bites down, dark purple venom splashes through the tube in pulses.
Sylvus affixes a plunger, then tosses it to Razul.
He easily supports my weight in one arm as he catches it.
Sylvus says gently, “Celeste, turn off your translator for a moment.”
The Arachnoid watches me until I obey.
Then he and Razul have a quick, intense conversation in their native language. Razul’s bass tones vibrate against my ear, and even though he’s agitated, I find them oddly soothing.
Sylvus strides by and leaves the room. It’s like a cloud over the sun has vanished, and the air lightens again.
Razul gestures at his ear, and I turn my translator back on.
“What was that about?” I ask.
“Just something personal,” he says, an unreadable expression on his face. “Nothing to worry about. Are you ready?”
I take a deep breath. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Razul gently sets me down on a silk hammock nearby, then grabs the restraints Sylvus left. I try to relax as I let him move my body, binding my forearms together behind my back with a compression sleeve. Mitts wrap my hands, and a similar sleeve binds my calves together.
I manage a wry smile. “Do you really think I’m going to go delirious?”
Something dark flickers through his eyes. He leans over my ear. “I hope so.”
A shiver runs down my spine, pooling at my core, and I arch into the silk behind me.
This is crazy. I’m crazy.
I need this so badly.
I need my brain to turn off so I can justbe.
“I’ll do my best to hold still,” I offer, trying to not look at the giant syringe in Razul’s hand.
The slightest smile crosses his lips. “No need. You won’t have a choice.”
His legs, which end in two hook-like toes, rise to clamp around my upper arms, holding my shoulders in place. His hand folds over my face, covering my eyes and applying warm, broad pressure.
That pressure sinks deep into my nervous system as if by magic, forcing me to relax. My breath deepens. My heart slows.
I can imagine Razul holding one of his caimites like this, covering their eyes to soothe them, holding just firm enough to steady them but not so hard as to cause pain and panic.
Something clicks deep in my core. This isn’t justlikeRazul holding one of his animals.
It’s the same.
