Page 28 of Passions Ignite

They found a small, sheltered area on the edge of the clearing, far enough from the fire to feel safe. The ground was soft and covered in pine needles, and the trees provided anatural barrier from the wind. Zoey cleared away some of the debris, making a space for them to sit.

“This will do.” Zoey motioned for Lux to sit.

Lux lowered herself to the ground with a sigh and leaned against a tree trunk. “It’s not exactly the Ritz.”

Zoey managed a small smile. “It’s not, but it’s better than nothing.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation settling over them like a heavy blanket. Zoey could feel the exhaustion tugging at her, the adrenaline that had kept her going now fading away. But she forced herself to stay alert because she knew they couldn’t afford to let their guard down.

“We should gather some supplies.” Zoey glanced back toward the crash site. “Anything we can use to make this more comfortable.”

Lux nodded, though she didn’t move. “I’ll stay here.”

“I’ll be quick,” Zoey said, getting to her feet. “Just sit tight.”

Zoey made her way back to the wreckage, her eyes scanning the debris for anything useful. The sight of the destroyed chopper was a sobering reminder of how close they had come to death. The fuselage was crumpled, and the propellers had snapped like twigs. The engine, now a twisted heap of metal, lay smoking in the distance.

Zoey found a few items—a blanket, first-aid kit, satellite phone, bottle of water—scattered among the wreckage. She gathered them and moved quickly as the heat from the wreckage subsided.

Zoey watched Lux closely as they settled into their makeshift camp. Despite the pain and exhaustion, Lux maintained a calm demeanor.

Lux’s composure under pressure was something Zoey admired. It was reassuring in the midst of all the chaos, and itmade Zoey feel stronger, like she could handle whatever came next because Lux was there beside her.

She handed Lux the bottle of water she’d found, and Lux took it with a small nod of thanks. Zoey sat next to her, close enough that their shoulders brushed.

She could feel the warmth of Lux’s skin even through their clothing, and it sent a subtle thrill through her. The chemistry between them, which had been there since they met, seemed to hum more intensely now.

“Phoenix Ridge,” Lux said after taking a sip of water. “Do you think anyone saw the chopper go down? They’d send a team, right?”

Zoey nodded. “They should have. The fire crews are always on alert for things like this. If they saw the smoke, they’d start moving.”

Lux looked thoughtful. “Phoenix Ridge has the best fire department, they know the terrain and know how to get in and out of the forest safely.”

“I’ve heard that,” Zoey said.

“Phoenix Ridge is a tight-knit community,” Lux said, a hint of a smile touching her lips. “They take care of their own. And anyone who’s lost out here becomes one of theirs until they’re found.”

Zoey felt a warmth in her chest at the thought. “That’s good to know.”

Lux turned her gaze to Zoey, studying her face. “What about Forest Vale? What was that like?”

Zoey felt a tightness in her throat, an instinctual reaction to the question. She didn’t want to talk about her previous station. The memories were too raw, too complicated. She looked away, pretending to focus on a nearby tree. “It’s not important. What matters is that we’re here now.”

Lux’s eyes lingered on her for a moment longer, sensing the unspoken tension. But she didn’t press. “You’re right. We’re here, and we’ll get through this.”

Zoey was grateful for the change in topic. “We will,” she said and met Lux’s eyes again. “We’ll stay put, keep ourselves safe, and wait for rescue.”

“And if the fire gets too close, we move.”

Zoey felt her heart swell at Lux’s words. “Exactly. We’re in this together.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, the connection between them growing stronger with each shared glance, each reassuring word.

Zoey could feel it in the way Lux looked at her, the way their hands occasionally brushed against each other as they shifted positions.

She had just one thought now. Stay alive. Every other one shouldn’t matter—or so she hoped.

11

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