Page 23 of Passions Ignite

Zoey exhaled, her mind racing as she weighed the options. She could feel the pressure mounting, the weight of responsibility crushing her. She glanced back at the fire. The flames licked higher into the sky, driven by the fierce wind that showed no sign of letting up.

She couldn’t deny that Lux had a point. The fire was moving fast—faster than she’d ever seen—and if they didn’t do something drastic, they would lose control of the situation completely.

But the idea of flying the helicopter closer to the fire made her stomach churn. It was a huge risk, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to take it. “You’re being reckless,” she said, finally voicing the thought that had been circling in her mind since Lux had first suggested the plan.

Lux met her eyes, unflinching. “Maybe. But I’d rather be reckless and give us a fighting chance than sit back and watch the fire win.”

There was a fire in Lux’s eyes that matched the one below them—burning, intense, and impossible to ignore. Zoey felt her heart skip a beat and her breath catch in her throat. Despite everything, despite the dire circumstances, there was an undeniable pull between them, something electric that made her pulse race and skin tingle.

But she couldn’t afford to let herself be distracted by those feelings now. She had to focus on the task at hand, on making the right decision for everyone involved.

She glanced back out the window, her eyes tracing the flames’ path as they devoured everything. She could see the ground teams moving, tiny figures against the vast landscape, working tirelessly to create firebreaks and evacuate anyone still in the area.

It was chaos, pure and simple, and the wind wasn’t helping. It was pushing the fire in unpredictable directions, making it even harder to contain. Every second that passed, the fire gained more ground, and the stakes climbed higher.

Zoey felt the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She knew what Lux was asking of her, knew the risk they would be taking if they followed her plan. But she also knew that sometimes in situations like this, you had to take risks. Calculated risks, sure, but risks nonetheless.

She turned back to Lux. “Fine,” she said. “We’ll do it your way. But you better hope this works or it’s going to be hell.”

Lux’s eyes lit up, and Zoey could see gratitude there, too, mingling with her resolve. They were in this together now, and whatever happened next, they would face it side by side.

Zoey took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. They were about to dive headfirst into the heart of the fire, into the unknown, with nothing but their skills and guts to guide them. She only hoped it would be enough, even though her gut screamed at her. Zoey’s hands gripped the edge of her seat, her knuckles turning white.

The helicopter vibrated under them, a constant reminder of how close they were to the danger below. She could feel the heat from the fire even at this altitude, a suffocating presence that clawed at her nerves. The sky was a haze of smoke, thick and oppressive, making it hard to see anything.

Lux leaned over her, reaching for a switch just above Zoey’s head. The scent of her, a mix of sweat and something distinctly Lux, filled Zoey’s senses, overwhelming her.

The closeness was intoxicating, and for a moment, Zoey forgot about the fire, about the danger, about everything but Lux’s presence. The proximity made her heart pound, and she was acutely aware of Lux’s breath against her cheek.

They were close, too close. Zoey could feel Lux’s warmth, the steady rise and fall of her chest as she reached for the switch. Her lips were just inches away, and for a heartbeat, Zoey wondered what it would be like to close that distance. To give in to the pull she felt every time Lux was near.

But then the helicopter jolted, a reminder of where they were and what they were doing. Zoey snapped back to reality, her face heating up as she realized how easily she’d been distracted. Lux’s hand brushed against her arm as she adjusted the switch, sending a jolt of electricity through Zoey’s body.

Lux didn’t seem to notice the effect she had. She was focused, her eyes sharp and alert, taking in every detail of theirsurroundings. “We’re losing altitude. We need to climb,” Lux said.

But before she could make the adjustment, the helicopter shuddered violently. The engine sputtered, and Zoey’s heart leaped into her throat.

“Something’s wrong,” Lux said.

Zoey’s breath quickened as she fought to keep the panic at bay. She could feel the tension radiating off Lux and see the concentration etched into every line of her face.

For a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them, the roar of the helicopter fading into the background. Zoey’s pulse raced as her hands moved with practiced ease over the controls.

“Keep it steady,” Lux instructed, leaving no room for argument.

Zoey gripped the controls, her palms slick with sweat as she tried to keep the helicopter level while Lux worked on something behind her. The helicopter jerked again, and Zoey’s stomach lurched, fear clawing at her insides.

“I need you to hold it steady for just a few more seconds,” Lux said.

Zoey could barely breathe, her attention split between keeping the helicopter in the air and the unbearable closeness of Lux. Her heart pounded and her skin tingled with the awareness of Lux’s presence. Every time Lux moved, every brush of her arm or leg against Zoey’s, a shiver rippled through her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lux straightened, her eyes meeting Zoey’s. “It should hold for now,” she said. “But we need to get back to the main strategy.”

Zoey’s relief was short-lived as Lux’s words registered. The argument they’d had earlier flared up in her mind again, and the tension between them thickened. “You’re still pushing for that?”

“We have to,” Lux said, her tone leaving no room for debate. “If we don’t get ahead of this fire now, we won’t have a chance later. We can’t afford to wait.”

Zoey shook her head, anger bubbling up inside her. “And what about the people on the ground? If we crash, they have to fight the fire without us while trying to save us and any civilians. Our priority should be landing as quickly as we can to help bring people to safety.”

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