Page 25 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

After a moment, Arkon nodded. “Alright. Let’s check it out.”

After he untangled me from the harness, we carefully made our way back down to the cave entrance. As we stood before the dark opening, a cool breeze wafted out, carrying unfamiliar scents.

I peered into the darkness, a mix of wariness and curiosity stirring within me. “What do you think formed this tunnel?”

“I’m not sure,” Arkon replied, his eyes scanning the entrance. “But whatever it was, it was big.”

A bead of sweat tickled the back of my neck, but I didn’t dare move to wipe it away. But another tremor, albeit smaller, made the decision for us.

“We don’t have much choice,” I said, steeling myself. “Shall we?”

Arkon nodded, taking the lead as we stepped into the unknown darkness of the cave.

ARKON

The air shifted around us, cooler and damper than outside. Rocks crunched under my boots as I moved forward, Samira close behind.

“Stay close,” I muttered.

The passage narrowed, forcing us to squeeze through single file. My shoulders scraped against the rough stone walls.

As we pushed deeper, the darkness thickened. My Vinduthi eyes adjusted, revealing strange, twisted rock formations. Bulbous protrusions dotted the walls like frozen bubbles.

“Arkon, I can’t see a thing,” Samira whispered.

I reached back, taking her hand. Her fingers curled around mine, warm and soft. A jolt ran through me at the contact.

“I’ve got you,” I said, guiding her forward.

We inched along, the passage twisting and turning. My free hand traced the wall, feeling for any hidden dangers. Samira stumbled, and I pulled her closer, steadying her against my side.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

I grunted in response, far too conscious of her body pressed to mine.

The tunnel opened into a small chamber. Faint light filtered through cracks in the ceiling, revealing more of the cavern.Crystalline structures jutted from the ground, refracting the meager light into prismatic patterns.

“It’s beautiful,” Samira breathed.

I nodded, scanning for threats. The crystals cast eerie shadows, playing tricks on my eyes. But nothing moved in the darkness.

We pressed on, following a wider passage. The ceiling rose higher, dotted with glowing blue crystals. Their soft radiance illuminated our path.

“Some sort of mineral reaction?” Samira mused.

“As long as it’s not toxic, I don’t care,” I replied.

The passage widened further, spilling into a vast cavern. I let out a low whistle. The ceiling soared overhead, lost in shadow. More of the glowing crystals studded the walls, bathing the space in ethereal blue light.

“We should rest here,” I said, eyeing a defensible corner. “Set up camp for the night.”

Samira nodded, exhaustion clear on her face. We made our way to the alcove, our footsteps echoing in the cavernous space.

I helped Samira lower herself to the ground, then began unpacking our meager supplies. As I worked, my gaze kept drifting to her. She looked small and vulnerable in this harsh environment.

A fierce protectiveness welled up inside me. I pushed it down to better focus. Yet her presence lingered in my mind, an inescapable awareness, drawing me toward her.

“Let me check that arm,” I said, kneeling beside her.

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