Page 37 of Obsession

"Did your Drexian training prepare you for this?" I asked, licking the last of the juice from my thumb. "Living off the land, finding hidden caves?"

He shook his head. "The training helped, but honestly? I'm mostly remembering what I included in the design." His expression sobered. "I wanted it to be authentic.”

“I don’t know what the real hunt was like, but this feels like a test to me.”

Kann raked a hand through his hair. “I only hope Zav can find a way to shut it down and get us out.”

I realized with a start that I had barely thought about Zav since we'd been on the run, and when I had it had only been to hope that he was working on fixing the holochamber. The Taori engineer who'd caught my eye seemed like a distant fascination compared to the very real, very present Drexian beside me.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "For keeping us safe so far."

Kann's golden eyes caught what little light reached us, seeming to glow in the darkness. "Always."

That simple word sent a shiver through me that had nothing to do with the mountain's chill, but I pulled the cloak tighter around me nonetheless.

I forced my thoughts back to our situation. This wasn't the time to be daydreaming about my friend. And Kann had always been a friend, even if he was starting to feel like something more.

I was sure it was the stress of the situation that was muddling my feelings. I needed to focus on surviving this simulation, on finding a way out. But as Kann peered out of our hiding spot, checking if the coast was clear, I couldn't help but notice how the dim light played across his features, highlighting the strong lineof his jaw, the sexy stubble that always covered his cheeks, his full lips.

I jerked my head away. What was wrong with me? Kann was working hard to keep us safe, and I was fantasizing about running my hands down his scruff and wondering what it would feel like tickling the inside of my thighs.

“Britta!” I scolded myself, not realizing I’d done it out loud until Kann twisted his head to stare at me.

“Are you talking to yourself?” Before I could answer, he gave me a panty-melting smile. “I do it all the time. It’s the only way I can be sure to win an argument.”

I mumbled some sort of thanks that was incomprehensible, but he didn’t seem to care. Okay, so the guy was hot, built, brave, kind, funny, and a bit goofy? Was I being punked? And how had I not noticed all this about him until now?

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Vyk

“This changes nothing.” I leaned forward and peered at my fellow instructors across my desk, letting my gaze slide from Fiona to Volten to Ariana.

A fire burned in the hearth sending warm light dancing across their faces and making the steel blades adorning my wall glint. It did not make any of them appear less irate.

Fiona was the first to react, which did not surprise me. Her arms had already been folded over her chest and now she tossed her head so that her wavy, blonde hair flew behind her shoulders and narrowed her eyes at me. “You can’t be serious.”

I wanted to remind her that I was almost always serious, but I only cocked a brow at her, which made her huff out an exasperated breath.

Volten bent at the waist and pressed his palms to the surface of my desk. “Are you actually telling us that having Kann and Britta trapped inside a running holo simulation doesn’t alter our plan for rescuing Sasha?”

“They’re part of the team,” Fiona said, flailing one arm in the air.

Despite Volten’s flashing eyes and Fiona’s barely controlled temper, I remained calm. It was my job to lead the rescue team and retrieve the missing human pilot. It was not my job to make everyone happy. I had learned that when I was with Inferno Force. A true leader could never worry about pleasing everyone.

I wished I could please Fiona, considering the fact that pleasing her was one of my favorite pastimes, but I would have to make it up to her later. Maybe I would tie her up and tease her with that feather I had from…

“Well…?”

I allowed my thoughts to be snatched from their enjoyable meanderings and focused on Fiona’s question, although I had no idea what she had asked me. Before I could admit that I had not been listening and incur her wrath, Ariana cleared her throat and stepped forward.

“He’s right.”

Fiona swung her head toward her best friend and Volten straightened, his attention fully on his mate and fellow Wing instructor.

“Before you say that I’m agreeing with the commander because it has to do with my sister, I’m not.” She drew in a long, steady breath. “I agreed with him when I was told to wait, even though it was physically painful to know that my sister might be suffering in a Kronock prison, and I wasn’t acting. But I did it because I knew that Vyk puts the mission above all else. He wouldn’t delay unless there was a reason, and the only reason that will suffice for him is mission success. So, if he says that we have to continue with the plan in order for it to succeed, then he is speaking without letting emotion play into it.”

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