Page 15 of Passions Ignite

“Come on, Zoey. Think,” she said aloud.

She leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples in frustration. She couldn’t do this alone; she needed to talk to Lux and get her input to find a way to make this work. As much as she wanted to prove herself, she knew that this wasn’t something she could tackle on her own.

Zoey let out a deep breath. They had to get on the same page, for the sake of the team and the people they had to protect.

But first, she needed to get Lux Valentine out of her head, as ironic as it all sounded.

5

LUX

Lux stood in front of the simulation room, the hum of machinery filling the space as her pilots gathered around.

The room was dimly lit, the large screens on the walls displaying various terrains and fire scenarios they would be navigating today. She ran a hand through her hair, her mind going back to Zoey and their spat in command ops.

She hated that it was still gnawing at the back of her mind, even as she tried to focus on the details in front of her.

Oh, and obviously how attractive she found Zoey. That wasn’t distractingat all.

“Listen up,” Lux said. “Today, we’re running through a series of scenarios that could realistically happen, given the current fire season. I want everyone to treat this as the real thing—no cutting corners, no messing around.”

She walked over to the control panel, her fingers hovering over the buttons as she set up the first scenario. The screen flickered to life, showing a dense forest with thick smoke rising from the treetops. The simulated fire spread rapidly, with several hotspots scattered across the terrain.

“Let’s start with a basic containment strategy,” Lux said. “We’ve got a fire line here”—she pointed to a section of the screen—“and I want you to establish a perimeter around it. Remember to coordinate with the ground team and keep an eye out for any spot fires.”

The pilots moved to their stations, their fingers flying over the controls as they began the simulation. Lux watched them closely, noting their movements and decisions as they navigated the scenario. She could see the tension in their shoulders, the way they leaned forward, fully immersed in the task.

As they worked, Lux’s mind drifted back to Zoey. She couldn’t shake the image of her standing tall and defiant in the meeting, her eyes flashing with determination. Lux found herself annoyed by the way Zoey had challenged her.

She wasn’t used to being argued with when it came to tactics, and, to an extent, it excited her. She tried to push the thought away, focusing on the simulation.

“Jay, you’re coming in too hot,” Lux called out, her eyes on one of the screens. “Pull back and give yourself more room to maneuver.”

Jay nodded, adjusting her controls as she pulled the helicopter back. Lux nodded in approval, her attention shifting to another pilot. “Jeanine, you’re drifting off course. Stay focused on the target area.”

Jeanine corrected her flight path, her movements precise as she guided the helicopter back into position. Lux continued to monitor the simulation, her eyes scanning the screens for any signs of trouble.

But even as she worked, she found herself replaying their argument over and over in her mind, analyzing every word, every look. Lux was used to conflict—she thrived on it, in a way—but this felt different. Zoey Knight was different.

It wasn’t just the argument that bothered her; it was the way Zoey had looked at her, the way her lips had curved into a slight smile when Lux had finally agreed to work with her. Lux found herself drawn to Zoey in a way that she hadn’t expected, and it was unsettling.

She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. “Focus,” she muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowed.

The first scenario ended. “Nice work, everyone. Let’s move on to the next one.”

She set up the next simulation, this one featuring a residential area on the edge of a forest. The fire was closing in on the homes, and the pilots needed to work quickly to protect the structures and evacuate any residents.

As the simulation began, Lux’s eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. Time was ticking by, and she knew they needed to get through several more scenarios before the day was done.

The pilots worked efficiently, coordinating their efforts as they tackled the fire. Lux could see their progress, the way they communicated and adapted to the changing situation.

Her mind wandered back to Zoey. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, there was something about Zoey that intrigued her, something that made her want to know more. She found herself wondering what Zoey was doing right now, whether she was thinking about their argument too. Whether she was thinking about her.

“Chief V!” one of the pilots called out to Lux, pulling her out of her thoughts. “We’ve got a flare-up in sector three. Should we divert resources to handle it?”

Lux blinked, forcing herself to focus. “Yes, divert two units to sector three and make sure they coordinate with the ground team. We need to contain that fire before it spreads.”

The pilot nodded, relaying the instructions to the rest of the team. Lux watched as they executed the plan, their movementsprecise and efficient. She felt a sense of pride in the way they handled themselves under pressure.

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