Page 163 of Crucible

“Check the tent,” Thorin orders.

A few seconds pass, then Aurelia says, “He’s not in there.”

“Where would he have gone?”

“I don’t know. Seth!”

“Shit,” Khalil swears. “You don’t think—”

Thorin growls, “Isaac.”

Shit. This is really getting out of hand, isn’t it? I still don’t leave the cage.

“How the fuck could they have found us?”

“I don’t know. Start looking for tracks. We weren’t gone that long. If we leave now, we can catch up.”

“I’m coming with you,” Sunshine says.

“Like hell you are,” Khalil snaps.

“Like hell you are,” she mocks. “I’m coming.”

“This isn’t a game. We’re not hunting rabbits. Isaac is dangerous, Aurelia. We know what we’re walking into. You don’t.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit, Thorin. Am I one of you or not?”

“Why the hell are we wasting time arguing?” Khalil snaps. “We need to go get Seth!”

Seth.

Not Ezekiel.

I rub my chest and try not to be so easily won over.

“Why are you yelling at me? Seth doesn’t even like you like that.”

“Really, wolf?”

“Fine. I’ll go get him.” I hear snow crunching as if Aurelia is indeed leaving the camp.

“You don’t even know where the hell you’re going!”

“Are you coming or not?”

I raise my brows higher and higher as I listen to them bicker and turn on each other at the very thought of me being gone.

“Can we stop and think first, Aurelia?”

“No! They’re getting away.”

“And what is your plan of attack, hmm?”

In a voice so cold it sends chills down my spine and raises goose bumps everywhere else, Aurelia answers. “Attack.”

“You were just crying over us doing the same when we thought you were taken.”

“That was yesterday. Why are you always bringing up old shit, Thorin?”

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