Page 58 of Crucible

None of us moves to give her space.

I can tell the moment she remembers the night in the den. The night we found her. We’re crowding her, circling her just the same. The fear that we might repeat that night doesn’t paralyze her, though. It feeds her need to self-destruct.

“Because it’s the twenty-first century, you sexist shithole? You want me to cook and clean for you like I’m your maid, and when I’m done, spread my legs like I’m your whore. What’s next? Bear your child? That’s basic bitch, shit. I’m AureliafuckingGeorge. I can ruin your life with one tweet. Find someone else to iron your drawers.”

“Trust me,Au-re-li-a. You’re not our first choice either. A reptile would be more pleasant than you, but I don’t see anyone else around to warm our beds, do you?”

“You can’t just—”

“This again,” I interrupt. “We can’t keep you. Blah, blah. It’s wrong. Blah, blah. We’re crazy caveman psycho creeps. Blah, blah, fucking blah. Now that we’ve established thatagain,move your ass and start making us happy.”

For a moment, Aurelia just gapes at my inability to give a fuck. “No.”

“No?” Khalil echoes. The dumbass actually looks shocked.

“No!” she repeats.

“Cabin rules, Aurelia. Remember? Rule number four isdo what you’re told.”

She clears her throat and steps closer to me until I’m looking down my nose at her. “Fuck you. Okay? Fuck your rules. Fuck your house. Fuck your mother for having you. And fuckthat.I’m not about to break my back washing your dirty drawers in a contraption that looks like it was made in the eighteen hundreds! You want to punish me? Fine. But do it knowing that I have a better imagination than you. Everything you do to me, you’ll feel three-fold. It’s in your best interest not to piss me off because Iwillget out of here, and I’llnever—”

The rest of the venom she spews is cut short when I seize a handful of her curls in my fist so hard she cries out and then reaches up to try to pry her hair free.

“Listen to me, you insufferable pain in my fucking ass. I hope you do come at us with everything you have. Go ahead. Make it interesting. We’ve been bored up here for nine years. These wilds haven’t tamed us, and neither will you. We’re overdue for a challenge.”

“I’m not your entertainment!”

“You’re whatever we say you are,” I bite back.

I start moving for the bedroom door, but Aurelia can’t fight me and keep up with my long strides at the same time, so she falls to her knees.

Ignoring the demanding pang in my chest to help her up, I keep going instead of stopping.

“Fuck.” Khalil huffs. I can feel him and Seth on my heels as I drag Aurelia, screaming and kicking, through the cabin by her hair. “Yo, Thorin. Maybe you want to chill a little?”

I don’t want to hear it.

This is his fault for being too soft with her.

I made it clear to him that if Aurelia stays, she needs to learn her place and fast before I change my mind about letting her stay.

Did he listen? Did any of them? Now it’s up to me to be the biggest asshole.

Either we get through to Aurelia once and for all, or we put her down forever. I’d rather not have an innocent woman’s blood on my hands when I could have her coming on my cock instead.

We reach the kitchen, and I let go of Aurelia’s hair and leave her sobbing on the floor.

Khalil’s soft ass walks over to help her up, but one look from me has him backing off with an eye roll.

I stalk over to the stove and feel my ire grow, realizing Aurelia let the fire go out. I hastily rebuild the fire, throwing some kindling and a log inside before grabbing the box of matches and lighting it.

For a while, I just stand there with my back to them all and watch the flames as the fire grows. I bide my time, giving Aurelia just enough to save herself. Hearing her shift on the floor behind me, I wait for her to tell us she’s sorry and that she’ll try harderto show us her gratitude. I already know she won’t, but I stay where I am anyway.

Before Aurelia even speaks, I know her remorse has been tossed out the window.

I give myself permission to do the same.

“Okay, I’ll cook for you,” she says sweetly. “But only because you’re such a gentleman, Thorin. Your mother must be proud.”

---