Page 56

21

LUX

Lux shifted slightly, trying to sit up without putting too much pressure on her injured leg. The movement didn’t go unnoticed. Zoey glanced over her shoulder, her eyes softening as she met Lux’s gaze.

It had been an hour since the landslide incident, and her leg felt slightly better.

“How are you feeling?” Zoey asked, carrying a tenderness that Lux had grown to crave.

Lux managed to smile, though it was laced with discomfort.

“Better, I think. The leg still hurts, but it’s not unbearable.”

Zoey scooted over to meet Lux. “There should be a river close by. We could find something to eat maybe?”

“More berries?”

“Yeah,” Zoey responded.

Lux didn’t care for fruit at the moment. She wanted to reach out, pull Zoey closer, and let her know how much she meant to her. But she held back, her mind wrestling with the tension between desire and caution.

But they were both exhausted, physically and emotionally. The last thing she wanted was to push too far, too fast.

Zoey shifted slightly, adjusting to look at Lux more directly. Her hand moved to Lux’s cheek, and she leaned in, pressing her lips gently against hers. The kiss was soft and tentative, but it sent a rush of warmth through Lux’s body, waking something deep inside her. At that moment, Zoey’s touch was everything she needed—gentle reassurance filled with a quiet passion impossible to ignore.

But just as quickly as it started, the kiss ended. Zoey pulled back, her expression a mix of affection and concern.

“You should rest,” she said softly. “I’ll go get us some food, okay?”

Lux nodded, though she wasn’t ready to let Zoey go. “Be careful.”

Zoey smiled, that familiar warmth returning to her eyes. “I will. I’ll be back soon.”

Lux watched as Zoey walked away.

Once Zoey was gone, Lux lay back down, her thoughts spinning in a thousand different directions. The kiss lingered on her lips, and the memory of Zoey’s touch sent sparks of desire through her.

Lux tried to push it aside, reminding herself they were still in a dangerous situation. But it was hard to ignore how her body responded to Zoey, how her heart seemed to beat a little faster whenever she was nearby.

She tried to focus on anything else—the sounds of the forest outside and the faint crackle of the fire—but it all circled back to Zoey. Lux closed her eyes, willing herself to calm down. No matter how strong they were, now wasn’t the time to get lost in her feelings.

After what felt like an eternity, Zoey finally returned. Lux opened her eyes, sitting up as best she could. But when she saw what Zoey was carrying, her breath caught in her throat.

She held a dead rabbit by its hind legs. Lux stared at it, shock rippling through her. “You…you hunted it?”

Zoey blinked, then let out a small laugh, though she seemed uncomfortable. “He was badly injured in the landslide, he was crying in pain. He wouldn’t have survived. It was a kindness.. and, I didn’t want him to go to waste.” she explained, setting the rabbit down on a flat stone.

Zoey seemed to sense Lux’s unease, and she quickly moved to change the subject. “I also found some fruit.” She pulled a small bundle of berries from her pocket. “They should help keep us going.”

Lux’s tension eased a little at the sight of the berries. She was grateful for Zoey’s thoughtfulness, even in such dire circumstances. “Thank you.”

Zoey handed Lux a few berries and sat beside her, taking one of Lux’s hands in hers. Lux looked down at their joined hands, her heart swelling with emotion. She could feel the warmth of Zoey’s touch and the steadiness of her presence, which brought her a sense of comfort she hadn’t felt in a long time.

After a while, Zoey shifted. “We should probably build a secure shelter,” she said. “Something that will keep us safe through the night.”

“We lost most of the stuff at the previous camp, Zoe,” Lux said. “We don’t have much here anymore.”

“Luckily, I was more than just a girl scout.”