Page 157 of Crucible

“Actually, I could use a little more body heat.”

The tent is intensely quiet for a few seconds, and when Khalil’s dumb ass doesn’t catch on to what Aurelia is asking, my irritated gaze travels to him. He seems to be caught in a trance, staring at Aurelia, but he must feel me watching him because his gaze shifts to me, and I buck my eyes.

His brows shoot up, and then he bolts into action, crawling from where he was lounging with his back against the tent’s pole near the opening. His blood-stained shirt is already gone, and his skin is clean again as if he washed up in the lake.

When Thorin rolled over, he left a spot open that was just big enough for Khalil to fit. He slots right in, and I try to remember not to act jealous and possessive when he takes Aurelia in his arms, and she rolls right over to him.

Like the handsy asshole he is, Khalil starts rubbing on her ass even though he’d just told me to keep my hands to myself.

Rolling onto my back, I stare up at the ceiling. It’s not dark yet, but it will be soon. Khalil’s already set up a few chem lights around the tent so that I don’t wake up in the dark and lose my shit again.

“Seth?” Aurelia asks. I can tell by her groggy tone that she’s finally falling asleep after only a few minutes of Khalil massaging her butt.

Noted.

“Yeah, babe?”

“Are you okay now?” she asks in a tone that isn’t mockingly sweet like she’s taunted us with before. It’s genuine.

Rolling over until I’m pressed against her backside, Khalil hisses and yanks his hand away when I inadvertently trap it between Aurelia’s ass and my cock. Ignoring him, I kiss her bare arm. “Perfect,” I answer just as earnestly.

“What happened?”

“Cages trigger him,” Khalil answers because he knows I won’t.

I can’t.

My gaze travels from Aurelia to Khalil in silent thanks.

Aurelia stiffens at the answer, and when she speaks, I rub my eyes tiredly because fuck me, she’s sounding wide awake again. None of us are going to sleep until we’re sure she’s out cold, and I’m tired as fuck. “Where did you find a cage?”

“Inside the van. I’m guessing it was for you.”

Her head lifts from Khalil’s arm where it had been resting, and she frowns. “Why would they have a cage for me? They couldn’t have known we’d cross paths.”

“Judging by the filthy blood and semen-stained mattress I also found inside, you weren’t the first girl they drugged.”

“And they live on this mountain?”

I can hear the fear in her voice, so I roll over to mold myself against her back before pressing a kiss to her shoulder.

“No. We’re the only ones who live on this mountain, Sunshine.”

“They’re drifters,” Khalil answers. “They were just passing through.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“By the way, we’re never getting a dog,” Thorin grumbles out of the fucking blue.

“I’m confused,” Khalil snaps. “Are you sleeping or just being a dick pretending to?”

Thorin makes over-the-top snoring noises.

Aurelia’s the only one who laughs, but I do crack a strained smile while Khalil rolls his eyes.

“Dick,” he grumbles.

“Been a long time since we’ve snuggled for warmth, eh, Thor?”

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