Page 85 of Laken's longing

We could be stuck in his clothes for days!Isley screeched in panic as they swung from the woollen thread his sugar glider clung to, trying to decide if it was worse being caught naked or being stuck while Jupiter did…

Erm… yes… okay, maybe not my best idea.

Best idea? It’s the worst ever.

Outside the building, the icy January winds lifted the fur on its tiny body as Jupiter picked up his pace. Unable to see which direction they were going, Isley huffed in frustration.You’re gonna have to climb higher up so we can see where we’re going. You might be able to leap off near Laken’s car if Jupiter’s heading to his.

Good plan.

His animal sounded way more confident than Isley, but then what was new? They reached the top of Jupiter’s shoulder, tiny paws gripping tightly into the brown wool.

Yes, look, there is Laken’s car.

Isley prepared for his glider taking flight when a dark van screeched to a halt in front of them.

“What the fuck,” Jupiter muttered, jumping back to avoid his toes getting run over.

His glider chirped and barked its alarm at Jupiter as the doors opened and four masked hulking men jumped out, grabbing a frozen Jupiter and tossing them effortlessly into the back of the van.

Jupiter landed with a loud crack, his head bouncing off the metal side of the van, his body going floppy as the scent of blood rose. The sugar glider clung on when the men crowded back in, uncaring they were stepping on Jupiter’s booted feet.

“Did you have to throw him so fucking hard?” a gruff voice growled, making the fur on the sugar glider stand up.

“He wanted him, we got him. And out cold means no drugs, which means he’ll wake up far easier for when the fun begins.”

The man that spoke held such malice in his voice, if Isley had been in human form he would have peed his pants. He was almost thankful his terror was holding him in animal form.

“Think he’ll let us play with him when he’s finished? This one’s real fucking pretty.”

“Fuck knows, he’s had a hard on for this one for a while, far as I can tell. And I doubt he’ll be so pretty when the boss has finished with him.”

They all laughed at that, sending Isley’s blood pressure through the roof. Isley wasn’t sure which one was talking when they all sounded so scary, but none of it made sense except that Jupiter was in serious trouble.

Hold on. Don’t let go no matter what,Isley sobbed in terror. His little heart was beating so fast, his animal vibrated against Jupiter’s shoulder as it burrowed into the dark wool to camouflage itself.

We can’t let them hurt him.

Isley agreed with his animal. They loved Jupiter like he was their brother. Something haunted his eyes, and Isley had gotten more sense of that as his sugar glider made friends with Jupiter.

We’re going to have to figure it out alone for now. Laken knows we’re with Jupiter and he’ll come looking for us.

He just needed to keep Jupiter safe until then.