Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
“Yeah, we’ll see how useless I am when you need to get off. Cabin rule number seven—keep those pretty fingers away from our pussy, Aurelia.”
Her miffed gaze flicks to me. “We’re not in the cabin.”
“You heard what I said.”
I shove away from the tree and stalk away from Aurelia before I strangle her ass for real. Thorin comes after me while Seth stays with Aurelia. I hear her tell him that she has to use the ladies’ bush, and he cackles like her corny joke is hysterical. I don’t even realize I’m fighting a smile until I hear Thorin cough to hold back a laugh.
The moment we’re out of sight, I turn and hit Thorin in the jaw. Since he was expecting it, he’s quick to parry, and the next thing I know, we’re fucking each other up until there’s blood in the snow, and we can barely stand. After he sends a vicious knee to my gut, I roll several feet away and try to keep from coughing up my stomach.
Thorin groans in pain as he crawls to his feet while holding his shoulder. “You…” He pants. “Done?”
I don’t answer until I catch my breath and stand. “The fuck are you doing bringing her all the way out here, huh? Does she know how close she is?”
“No. Do you think I’m an idiot?”
“Yes!”
“Fuck you, Khalil. Aurelia doesn’t know shit, but she will if you keep bitching about it.”
“Don’t kid yourself and don’t underestimate her. Aurelia pays attention. You might as well have drawn her a fucking map. Anybody could walk by. Did you think about that?”
“Of course I did. I also promised her that I would kill anyone who tried to help her, and I’d make her watch.” His jaw, which is already turning red, clenches as he steps toward me. “Do you think we’ve given her any reason to doubt my word?”
“Do you really think Aurelia cares about anyone but herself?” Thorin doesn’t respond, but he doesn’t have to. I’m right. Per fucking usual. “You shouldn’t have brought her out here.”
“It’s done. Now tell me about the search.”
I blow out a breath, and now that I’ve seen Aurelia, touched her, and heard her voice, the exhaustion returns, and I think about the return journey.
Hell, I don’t know if I can make it.
“CAF called the search with a promise to revisit if new evidence arrives. Something like spotting a girl that looks awfully like our superstar way out in the middle of nowhere, looking like she doesn’t fucking belong.”
“Lay off, all right? No one’s around but us.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No one’s taking your toy from you, Khalil. Relax. Let her have some fun.”
“Oh, so you’re Prince Charming now?”
“You really want to do this, Khalil?”
“I want to know how you could be so selfish! I explicitly told you two to stay inside. Are you trying to get us caught?”
“I was trying to find a way to make life easier for all of us.”
I pause my pacing. “So you were trying to get caught.” The only possible way to un-fuck ourselves and regain a little peace is to let Goldilocks go, and that’s not happening. Ever.
“No, you idiot. I was trying to make Aurelia happy.”
“What the fuck does she need to be happy for? We’re not! It’s called solidarity.”
“Weren’t you the same one that said Aurelia’s the answer?”
“And I still believe that.”
“Then what the fuck is your problem, Khalil?”
“I don’t want to lose her!” My shout echoes through the forest, and a flock of squawking ravens burst from the canopy while Thorin stares at me like I’ve lost my mind.
My heart maybe, but not my mind. My thoughts have never been more clear.
Shit, what the fuck am I saying? “I—”
“Khalil.” Thorin shakes his head. “It’s okay. I know. I feel it, too. We won’t lose her, brother. Whatever it takes.”
The words my heart is bursting to echo evaporate when I hear Seth’s desperate shout from far away. “Sunshine! Sunshine, where are you?”
Thorin and I don’t spare each more than a confused glance that turns into panic before we take off after them. When we reach the last place we saw them, Seth appears out of breath and looking ready for war. He pays us no mind as he picks up Thorin’s abandoned crossbow and takes off back the way he came without even sparing us so much as a glance.
“Seth. Seth, stop!” He does, but I can tell he doesn’t like it. His entire body is vibrating with the need to follow Aurelia wherever she’s gone. “Tell us what’s going on,” I demand. “Where’s Aurelia?”
“She was taken.”
“Taken?” Thorin echoes. “By who?”
“Don’t know, don’t care. Now, are you going to keep wasting time, or are we going to go kill some shit before they get away?”
Thorin and I make eye contact, and then he grabs Aurelia’s hunting bow.