Page 39 of Obsession

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Kann

Iplucked another handful of berries and held out my open hand to Britta. “Still hungry?”

She eagerly plucked several of the juicy berries that were staining my skin purple with their juice. “I might have to eat an entire bush worth of these to be full.”

I shifted on the ground, the rock beneath me hard and cold. I did not know if there was a bush’s worth of berries for us to share or if we would be staying long enough to need them. My initial hope—that we would be rescued as soon as we were discovered—did not seem to be coming to fruition. I did not want to think too much about why, but it could not be good.

What I did know was that I had to keep Britta safe and distracted. The last thing I wanted was for her to think too hard about why we remained in the simulation, especially because she knew even better than I did all the many ways the technology could fail.

“Once we are sure the hunting party has abandoned their search of this area, I can go out and look for more food.”

Britta shook her head. “It’s too risky. Besides, I don’t think we should split up.”

I grinned at her even though I could only see shadows of her face in the dim light of the cavern. “I am a Blade and served with Inferno Force. Foraging for food is not one of the riskiest things I have done.”

She finished chewing a berry and wiped at some errant juice trickling down her chin. “Maybe not.”

I detected a quiver in her voice. “But if you wish me to stay, I will.”

She exhaled and then flicked her gaze to me. “I’m being silly, aren’t I?”

I shook my head and reached for her hand, covering it with my larger one. “This has not been the easiest couple of days.”

She focused on our hands as she nibbled the corner of her bottom lip. “I guess I’m used to being able to figure things out and fix them, but I can’t fix this. It’s hard to wait and worry.”

I inhaled the cool, loamy air. So much for keeping her too distracted to think about the reality of our situation. “I understand. Blades are not good at waiting.”

She choked back a laugh as she met my eyes. “I guess you wouldn’t be.” Then her expression twisted. “I’m really sorry for getting you into this.”

I closed my hand tighter over hers. “You? I am the one who persuaded you to enter the program with me. If anyone should be apologizing, it is me.”

She shook her head. “But I was the one working on the program. If it’s malfunctioning, it’s clearly my fault.”

“I suspect whatever is happening has more to do with that power surge than any fault of yours.”

She dropped her gaze again. “I hate being stuck in here not knowing what’s going on or how they’re trying to get us out or fix the program.”

I scooted closer to Britta, shifting my hand from her hands to curl it around her shoulder. “I am certain that everyone is working hard to get us out. Zav knows more than either of us about the simulation. If anyone can fix this, it is him.”

Britta made a strangled sound in the back of her throat.

“What?” I asked.

“The whole Zav thing,” she said keeping her head bent, “was a huge mistake.”

My heart tripped in my chest. I had made my peace with her feelings toward the Taori. At least, I had tried to. But what did she think was a mistake—flirting with him or getting my help with it?

I did not trust myself to speak so I remained quiet, hoping she would fill the void. When she didn’t say anything, I steadied my voice. “What was a mistake?”

“I don’t know what I was thinking about any of it,” the words tumbled from her lips as she kept her gaze fixed on the ground. “I made a fool of myself trying to get his attention, and I wasted your time.”

“I did not think it was a waste—”

She twisted to face me. “Come on, you can tell me the truth. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

---