Page 209 of Crucible
“No. It’snot. Maybe it’s a good thing I’m staying because the first thing I’d do if I ever went home is find Zeke’s brother and make him wish he’d never been born.”
I smirk at that. “If anyone can do it, Sunshine. It’s you.”
She peers up at me. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
Aurelia chews her lip like she thinks I might regret it once she asks me whatever is on her mind. “Are you sure those thoughts were Zeke’s and not yours?”
I stagger back a step, breaking our connection. “What?”
“I don’t want to upset you. It’s just that…it sounds like you suffered just as much as Zeke did. Maybe even more. Everyone’sworried about Zeke and what Isaac did to him, but what about you?”
“What about me? I’m just a door in Ezekiel’s head that he pulls open when he can’t deal.”
“Not to me. You’re real tome, Seth.” Aurelia sighs and shakes her head with a somber look in her eyes. “It’s just not fair.”
“What’s not fair, beautiful?”
“Zeke had a mom and a dad, he has friends, he had a childhood, he has memories outside of the cult, but what about you? What do you have?”
I stare at this beautiful girl and wonder how she still doesn’t know what she means to me. “I have you,” I tell her openly. “And you love me. I don’t care about the rest. Just don’t go, Sunshine, and I’ll be whole. Stay for me, and I’ll stay for you.”
“I won’t go, but Seth…I want you to live whether I’m around or not. You can’t put this on me—”
I wrap my hand around her neck, and she doesn’t blink an eye when I tighten my hold. “Ever, Aurelia,” I say through gritted teeth. “You can’t leave me. You promise?”
“Yes, Seth. I promise.”
That damn mouth of hers drives me crazy even when she’s being sweet, so I don’t hesitate to devour it. At some point, I back her against the wall and sneak my hand into her leggings. Aurelia’s not wearing panties, so there’s nothing keeping me from petting her sweet pussy until she purrs. I’m still lazily toying with her clit when Thorin walks in. I can tell it’s him because he brings his fucked up, hating-ass mood into the room with him.
“Do you two want to fuck or help me clean?” he snarls.
Aurelia and I pay him no mind as I quickly make her come before freeing my fingers and licking them clean. Pulling away, I catch the taunting smirk she tosses Thorin’s way before giving him her back.
“Be nice,” I whisper with a pinch on her ass.
“He started it,” she mumbles while swatting my hand away.
“Wolf.”
“Seth, did you hear something?”
My gaze bounces between Aurelia and Thorin. The former is back to scrubbing the walls, washing away the words Bane had written in our blood.
Death to the immortals.
The suds and blood run down the wall soaking the line under it. The one Zeke had written.
Bless the Savior.
The rest trickles down to the last line. My line. The one that Aurelia seems fixated on.
The promise that it ends is what makes life beautiful.
“Actually, I think I’ll go see if Khalil needs help,” I tell them before backing away for the door. Aurelia and Thorin are already bickering by the time I reach it.
“Stop following me, Thorin.”
