Page 138 of Crucible

All of me.

He wants all of me.

Not just the palatable parts.

Does Thorin even know what he just offered me? Total and unyielding acceptance, which I’ve always dreamed of but never got, no matter how many people screamed my name or claimed to love me.

“Now, go to sleep,” he orders. “We’ll train some more in the morning.”

Thorin, apparently done talking for the night, reaches over and shuts off the lamp, plunging the room into total darkness before he can see just what his words have done to me.

KHALIL

The search is over.

I’m so fucking relieved I don’t even notice the tired ache in my muscles as Seth and I climb from the helicopter. It takes off immediately as we start the short trek down to the edge of the valley, where we left the Ski-Doos.

It’s dusk by the time we arrive, and—minds on the same thing, the same want—Seth and I waste no time hopping on and speeding across the frozen valley. The ride is over in twenty minutes, but it feels like a lifetime until we reach the base of our mountain.

“Do you think Sunshine misses us?” Seth asks the moment we shut off the snowmobiles.

My gaze flicks to him. He’s been talking about Aurelia nonstop from the moment it was safe to do so. “I doubt it, Seth. She hates us, remember? I don’t think two days is enough time for her to forget that.”

Who knows what kind of mood she’s in after being stuck with Thorin? Who knows what kind of moodhe’sin after being stuck with her?

It doesn’t slow my steps as we hike up to the cabin.

Seth practically runs there. He’s already bounding up the steps to the front door by the time I reach the clearing.

He leaves the front door open, so I walk right through once I reach the cabin. I can hear him calling for Aurelia, but I don’t see him, so he must be in the basement.

I start for Thorin’s room when I spot the note left on the console table by the door. Seth must have missed it in his haste, so I read it.

Gone hunting. Don’t wait up.

- Thor

Aurelia’s with me.

I read the last line that was written like an afterthought several times and wonder if I’ve stepped into one of those multiverses Zeke is always going on about.

“Sunshine!” Seth yells as he rushes up the stairs. “Sunshine, we’re home.”

“She’s not here,” I tell him tightly. Handing him the note, I push past him rather than wait for what he has to say about it and go downstairs.

As much as I want to track them both down and shake them for being so reckless, I haven’t showered in two days, and I’m crawling out of my skin.

I stop by the laundry room to grab a fresh towel and swear when I see there are none left. They’re all soiled and piled up in the corner, along with the rest of the laundry. “This fucking girl.”

Backing out, I strip off my clothes as I go into the bathroom directly across and shower anyway. When I’m done, I walk my naked ass out, dripping water, and find Seth pouting on the couch. He looks up and over at me, his eyes bugging when they land involuntarily on my dick.

“Dude!” He slaps his arm over his eyes. “A little warning when you’re swinging that thing around?”

“You’ve seen it before, Seth.”

“Not. Without. Warning.”

Rolling my eyes, I walk into my room and search my drawers for clean clothes, only to realize I’m out of everything. Boxers included. I can’t even find a clean pair of socks.

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