Page 191 of Crucible
The knowledge forces me to slow down again until I’m sneaking between the trees. I spot a deer about a hundred feet away, watching me as it chews grass.
An idea forms.
Khalil, Seth, and Thorin are closing in fast, and I know it’s only a matter of time before they find me.
Picking up a sizable rock, I sneak closer until I’m within throwing distance, and then I chuck the rock at the deer. It takesoff when the stone hits the ground, so I tiptoe in the opposite direction.
“She’s over here!”
Thinking it’s me, I hear my guys giving chase after the deer. I even spot Seth leading the pack about thirty feet away.
I use the cover of their footfalls to sprint the other way, but they realize they’ve been played much too soon. I can hear them gaining on me again until one of them stumbles and groans like they’re in pain. Against my better judgment, I pause.
That sounded like Khalil.
“Will you stop fucking around?” Thorin gripes. “We need to find her.”
“Fuck you, Thayer. I stubbed my goddamn toe.” I roll my eyes at that drama queen while Seth laughs like a maniac. “It’s not fucking funny,” Khalil snaps. “That shit hurts.”
Seth laughs even harder, and then I hear a fist connecting with flesh, followed by the sound of them fighting. Instead of using the distraction of their own testosterone to put a little more distance between us, I let a laugh slip, and I don’t have to wonder if they heard me.
“You better run fast, little wolf, because we’re coming for you!” Thorin roars.
Shit.
I really am too stupid to live.
The bushes next to me began rustling, making a fuck ton of noise before two rabbits burst free and run for cover in another.
And now I know why this area seems so familiar.
The meadow.
I actually made it all the way to Thorin’s furthest hunting ground.
Thorin must succeed in breaking up the fight because I hear the three of them running again. I spot the same rabbits darting from the bushes again, and I know where they’re heading. Forsome fucking reason, I think it’s a good idea to follow them like I’m a rabbit being hunted.
As I suspected, my furry friends make a mad dash for the meadow, where they disappear in the surprisingly tall grass. I slow just inside the edge of the meadow and gawk, my hands brushing the wild grass and occasional flower as I venture deeper.
Thorin hadn’t exaggerated the beauty of the meadow. It’s a sea of white, pink, and purple flowers, while the blue, orange, and yellow butterflies flitting over them only add to the variegated display.
“Aurelia!”
The pissed-off sound of my name ends with a terrified gasp from me.
No more than thirty feet away, Thorin emerges from the forest line to my right, and I drop onto my belly and start crawling before he can spot me.
“I fucking saw you, you piece of shit!”
Fuck.I belly crawl faster. I can still lose him in the grass. I can—
“There you are.”
Gasping, I peer up and scream when I see Khalil standing over me. I hadn’t even seen or heard him enter the meadow. They must have split up at some point.
Divide and conquer.
“No!” I spring to my feet so I can run, but I don’t get more than a step before I feel his hand wrap around my hair. A second later, I’m being yanked back so fiercely it’s a wonder my neck doesn’t break.
