Warrior's Heart

Chapter Thirty-One

Arielle could only stare at him as if she'd never seen him before. "Why do you laugh?"

"Because of this foolish notion you have of all of these women who are supposedly in love with me. It is beyond ridiculous. And you are a fool for believing it."

His voice grew harder with each word and his smile faded. "Thorin, why would I lie about this? I told you, Elwin confessed. It was Gamella who told him where to find me."

"Gamella. Is she all you can think of? I've had more than enough of hearing you whine about her."

"What are you about?" She shook her head. "Why are you so angry with me?"

"Because you are obsessed with that woman! All you care about is that I shared her bed! It's tiresome."

"I don't care one fig that you slept with her, Thorin. I care about the fact that because of her, you almost died."

"Because of her. Do you not hear how... how stupid that sounds?" His voice rose, bouncing off the walls until it was like thunder. "Do you not hear how childish that sounds? And that's what you are, you know. A child."

Her heart sped up and for the first time since she first met Thorin, fear coursed through her. She'd never seen him so angry, had never see his eyes glow with such fury, his body tremble with it. She glanced down at his hands, the hands that were big enough to crush her if he so chose.

"Thorin, I—"

"You are but a scared little girl," he sneered, striding toward her even as she backed away. She didn't want to back away, didn't want to show him any fear, but she couldn't help it. She was terrified to her core and he had become a stranger to her.

"Thorin, what are you doing?"

"Why am I even here with you?" He shook his head, a cruel smile coming to his face. "You are scared and naive and so damn hesitant... I have to do everything when we are in that bed and it's a waste of my damn time!"

"Please, stop... I don't know what you're about, but you told me you would never, not ever, say things like this!" Her eyes stung but she fought to hold back the tears.

Eyes.

That was it. Thorin's eyes were different. Oh, they were still blue, but there was something else. They seemed almost bluer. Brighter. They glinted in a way she'd never seen before. Something was wrong, and it was why he was not acting like himself.

"I've promised many things in order to woo a woman into my bed, but usually, it is worth the price."

"You went to see Gamella, you said?"

"Again with this? Are you joking?" His voice thundered around them and he pinned her up against the wall, his hands on either side of her shoulders, just as he did that first morning they woke up in the Blue Mountains. Only this time, there was nothing loving or playful about him.

"Did she offer you anything when you were there?"

"I have grown tired of this subject! And I have grown tired of you, little girl." He grabbed her by the shoulders. "You need to go. Now."

"Go? No, Thorin, wait..." She fought against him as he dragged her across the stone floor, but her bare feet were no match for the smooth stone. "Thorin, you do not want to do this!"

"I should have left you in Mirkwood. I should have let you rot in the rain."

"Thorin, did you have anything to eat or drink at Gamella's? Please, it's important you tell me."

"I need tell you nothing."

She tripped down the back steps, jerking free of his grip as she hit the stone hard on her knees. "Thorin... please..."