Page 47 of Crucible
I can see the question in her eyes, though—the uncertainty—when she does what I tell her.
Safe, but for how long?
Instead of asking or giving us the third degree, Aurelia exhales, her shoulders slumping, then picks up the food and starts to eat.
None of us speak, content with watching her slowly consume her second helping of stew. I don’t know if it’s the horrible taste or if we stole her appetite, but she eats like she’s on autopilot.
When she’s done, I take the empty bowl from her and set it aside before giving her two of the painkillers and making her down the entire glass of water.
“Take off your dress.” Her gaze shutters immediately at my command, and it’s all I can do not to roll mine. “Relax. No one’s fucking you tonight. Your dress is filthy, and so are you,” Iremind her. “You’ll sleep better after you shower. One of us can loan you some clean clothes until your dress is sorted.”
Aurelia still doesn’t move from the spot she’s in, and Seth waves his hand in front of her face. When he starts snapping his fingers, her eyes shift up and to the side to glare at him in irritation.
She’s heard every word. She doesn’t want to undress in front of us.
Tough shit.
We’ll be committing far worse atrocities to her body soon enough.Staringwill be the least of our sins.
Since I don’t want to break our new toy before we’re done taking it out of the box, I exhale loudly and say, “There’s a bathroom by the stairs.”
The stark relief in her eyes is enough to cement me as a monster.
Aurelia nods and stands, and I force myself to stay put as the distance between us grows. The blanket is still around her shoulders for protection as much as warmth, but it’s ineffective. The memory of her warm mouth and perfect tits are forever imprinted on my brain.
I blame my distracting thoughts for not seeing her sway.
I’m even more annoyed that Khalil gets there first. He’s already lifting her from the floor where she collapsed by the time I’m even standing.
“Aurelia.” The demanding way he speaks her name belies the gentle touch he places on her cheek. He could never fool me, though. There’s a trace of alarm hidden underneath. He’sconcerned.
Our songbird doesn’t respond. She doesn’t make a sound. At first, I think she’s just being stubborn as usual, but it takes me a moment longer to realize she’s limp in his arms.
My stomach sinks when we realize she’s unconscious.
AURELIA
“Cassieeeeeee!”
The mountain’s gale picks up my scream and carries it off where it’s lost forever. Never to be heard.
It’s been five minutes since I heard Cassie calling for me, five long minutes since I chose to leave the safety of the plane to find her. With the blizzard, I have no idea which direction I wandered or if it was even the right one. Cassie’s been alarmingly silent ever since.
Each step forward costs me everything.
The minutes tick by, but the storm goes on.
So do I.
I can’t feel my hands, face, or feet, but I keep going because it’s all I have. The hope is that Tyler and Cassie are alive, and I’m not on this cursed mountain alone.
Harrison’s too-large coat is heavy on my shoulders as it sweeps my ankles. I knew I’d never survive without some protection, so I took my dead bodyguard’s long coat and the axe I found in what was left of the cockpit before I set out to find my assistant.
Sucking in the thin mountain air, I ignore my ravaged throat and call out for her again. “Cassieeeeeeee!”
Only the howling wind answers back.
I don’t know if something happened to my assistant or if I’ve wandered too far. I’m already turning to switch directions when I hear a deep, rumbling sound that would have sent a chill down my spine if I weren’t already in the early stages of hypothermia.
