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“They’re handling the evacuations,” Lux countered. “But if this fire spreads any farther, there won’t be anything left for them to come back to. We need to think bigger, Zoey. This is about more than just the immediate danger. And I can fly this helicopter into anything. She’ll hold, I know it.”

Zoey’s hands tightened on the controls, her jaw clenched as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. Lux’s determination, her unwavering focus on the fire, was maddening. “You’re not thinking about the risks,” Zoey said. “If we push too hard too fast, we could lose everything.”

“And if we don’t, we’ll lose even more,” Lux shot back. “This isn’t just about saving a few lives today. It’s about preventing a disaster that could affect hundreds, maybe thousands, in the long run.”

Zoey’s frustration boiled over, her emotions a chaotic mess inside her. She understood where Lux was coming from; she really did. But the thought of making the wrong call and leaving anyone behind, of not doing everything they could to save as many people as possible, was unbearable. Again.

Lux’s eyes softened, just a fraction, as she saw the conflict on Zoey’s face. “I know you care about them, Zoey. I do too. But sometimes we have to make the hard calls. We have to look at the bigger picture.”

Zoey looked away, her gaze fixed on the flames below. The fire was a living thing, hungry and relentless, and it wasspreading faster than they could keep up with. She knew Lux was right and knew they needed to act fast if they were going to have any hope of stopping it.

But that didn’t make the decision any easier.

Lux reached out, her hand brushing against Zoey’s arm, sending a shiver through her. “Trust me on this,” Lux said. “We can do this. Together.”

Zoey turned to meet her gaze. The conviction in Lux’s eyes made Zoey’s heart ache. Despite everything, despite the fear and the tension, she wanted to trust Lux. Wanted to believe that they could pull this off.

“Fine,” Zoey said. “But if this goes wrong…”

“It won’t,” Lux said.

9

LUX

Lux’s fingers drummed against the console as the helicopter hovered over the blazing forest. The flames were fierce, their orange and red hues licking at the sky.

The heat was stifling, even inside the cockpit, and she felt sweat trickling down her back and adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Zoey sat beside her, her eyes fixed on the chaos below and her brow furrowed with concern. Lux couldn’t help but glance at her, the tension between them palpable. Zoey’s decision to prioritize the ground team’s evacuation had been a point of contention.

Now, as she watched the flames grow stronger, Lux couldn’t shake the feeling that they were losing control.

“They’re almost clear,” Zoey said.

Lux nodded, but the tension in her chest didn’t ease. She was too aware of how quickly the situation could turn. The fire was unpredictable, and every second they spent in the air felt like a gamble.

The radio crackled to life, and a voice filled the cockpit. “Ground team is clear. All personnel evacuated.”

Zoey let out a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding, and Lux felt a small measure of relief. But it was short-lived. The flames were spreading faster now, fanned by the wind.

“We need to move in,” Lux said. “We can’t let this get any worse.”

Zoey nodded, her eyes finally meeting Lux’s. There was something in her gaze—concern, maybe, or regret. Lux couldn’t tell. All she knew was that they needed to act fast.

“Let’s do it,” Zoey said.

Lux adjusted the controls, guiding the helicopter closer to the fire. The heat was like a physical force pressing down on them, making it hard to breathe. The flames roared, and sweat beaded on Lux’s forehead.

Zoey was focused, her hands steady on the controls as they maneuvered the helicopter into position. Lux could feel the tension between them, the unspoken words that hung in the air. She knew Zoey was worried—about the fire, about the people, about the risks they were taking. But there was something else there too. Something Lux couldn’t quite put her finger on.

The helicopter shuddered, and Lux glanced at the console, her stomach twisting as she saw the warning lights blinking. The heat was affecting the electrical systems, and they were losing control.

“Lux,” Zoey said.

“I see it.” Her hands moved quickly over the controls as she tried to steady the craft. But the helicopter was unresponsive and jerking violently as more systems failed.

“We’re going down,” Lux said.