Page 10 of Princess for the Space Cowboy

“Let’s not speak of goodbyes just yet because we’ll see you at breakfast,” Hunter says, giving me a look that tells me she’s coming to fetch me if I don’t listen.

I nod a few times. “Yes, I’ll be there.” I watch as she walks away, turning to wave like a crazy person.

I wave back, my mouth pulling up at the corners, even though I don’t have too much to smile about.

I go back inside and get ready for bed. Ten minutes later, I’m crawling under the covers. There is no way I’m sleeping tonight. I’m too wound up.

I consider turning on the television but decide against it. Instead, I choose to read my latest romance novel. Thankfully, I downloaded a boatload of books onto my Kindle before leaving the Mainland. I turn out my sidelight, fully expecting to finish the last couple of chapters of my book and even start the next one, but I don’t.

Against all odds, I fall asleep within minutes. Worrying about imminent death must be tiring.

I’m woken up when a hand is clamped over my mouth. I’m confused, disorientated, and panicking. I kick my legs, dislodging the sheets, and throw out an arm. The glass of water I placed next to my bed earlier smashes on the floor. Whoever is there grabs my wrist, keeping a hand tightly over my mouth.

I try to scream and continue to kick wildly. My eyes are wide, but I can’t see much of anything.

“Get her under control,” someone whispers so softly I can barely hear them.

The person holding me down grunts.

I’m on Draig Island. I’m supposed to attempt a mind-bond in the morning. What the hell is going on? Is it a prank? It doesn’t feel like a prank. It has to be one. This can’t be real. Maybe it’s an initiation. Training. Something! Surely!

Another set of hands grabs my wrists and ties them together. A third person does the same to my legs. There are at least four of them…I think.

“Not a word or I will knock you out,” someone says into my ear. Then he sniffs at my neck. He makes a noise I don’t like.It sounds like he enjoyed the smell of me, which is weird and seriously ick. What a creep!

I struggle against my bonds, but it doesn’t help. The hand moves away from my mouth. I try to scream, but a wad of fabric is stuffed into my mouth before I can make so much as a peep.

What is going on?

What is this?

I think I’m being kidnapped. I throw my head forward and bash it against his head. It hurts when my forehead connects with his. Even though it is pitch black, I see stars for a few seconds.

“Don’t!” he growls under his breath. “You’ll only hurt yourself.”

Unfortunately, he’s right. My head throbs a little. Then I am being thrown over his shoulder like a sack of dirt. My bound arms dangle down his back, and I moan into my gag when I discover that he is naked.

Why?

What the hell!

What is going on? I yell into my gag, making as much noise as I can. It isn’t much. Not nearly enough, at any rate. I’m on the edge of all the bungalows. Away from most of them. One of the ladies told me I was lucky to be on the edge of camp because I wouldn’t have to hear Skylar and Fang’s noisy sexcapades.

Lucky? Huh! Being far away from everyone else is hardly lucky. Not at this moment. Not when I’m being abducted. Then I’m being carted away to god knows where by god knows who. Why would they even want me?

It feels like we’re moving fast. The men are almost completely silent. It’s very dark, but I think I can make out two shadowy figures behind me. That means that there’s at least one ahead.

I fight and squirm. I try to get my hands free, but I can’t. Whatever they have tied me with is too tight. It’s digging into me, rubbing my skin raw.

I eventually give up. It isn’t helping. Even if, by some miracle, I managed to get my hands free, what then? I wouldn’t be able to get away. There are too many of them. They’d recapture me immediately.

I decide to save my strength. I might need it.

Might! I will need it. I’ve been abducted by a bunch of men. I hate to think what their intentions are. I shudder at the ones my mind settles on. None of them are good.

No!

No!