Chapter 16

SIXTEEN

“ A bsolutely not,” Dravek said, his tone resolute. He stepped back from the table strewn with maps and blueprints, crossing his arms over his chest with a stubborn set to his jaw. “I am a trained warrior. No one else in this rebel band is as experienced as I.”

Ylara’s eyes flared, and without missing a beat, she closed the gap between them. Standing nose-to-nose, her hands clenched at her sides. “And that’s precisely why we need you here, Dravek. You and Zora are too important to risk in a skirmish that might leave us leaderless. Zora should be in the lab, creating the botanical weapons that might give us a chance. And you—” she jabbed a finger into his chest, “you’re the one who strategically keeps this entire operation running.”

Dravek’s eyes darkened, his voice a low rumble. “I didn’t join this fight to stand by while others bleed and die. I will not let people walk into danger without me at the front.”

Zora watched them, her emotions a tumultuous mix of pride and tension. She knew Dravek’s strength, his unwavering dedication. And Ylara… she respected her fierce determination to protect them both. As the two locked eyes, Zora could feel the weight of all they risked, all that hung in the balance.

Finally, she stepped forward, placing a calming hand on Ylara’s shoulder. “Ylara,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “Dravek and I are capable. We’ve faced countless dangers before and emerged stronger each time. I’ll continue my work in the lab until it’s time, but make no mistake. When the battle comes, we will both be there, side by side, fighting for the Xuevis people—my people.”

Ylara’s shoulders slumped slightly, her fierce gaze softening as she looked between them. She took a breath, letting her hands relax. “Spoken like a true queen,” she murmured, a trace of admiration in her tone. “I apologize for my short-sightedness.”

Zora shook her head, smiling gently. “No, don’t apologize for caring about us,” she replied. “You are a selfless and honorable leader, Ylara. There’s no one I’d rather go into battle with than you.”

Beside her, Dravek cleared his throat, his lips quirking into the faintest hint of a smirk.

With a laugh, Zora rolled her eyes. “Okay, maybe Dravek. But no one else.”

As hours of intensive strategic plotting and preparations for battle wound down and the rebels settled in for a few hours of rest, Zora was unable to sleep. Her mind raced with thoughts of the coming conflict, the weight of responsibility, and... Dravek. Always Dravek. The memory of his touch, the warmth of his skin against hers, haunted her in the most delicious way.

She slipped out of her quarters, padding silently through the rebel base. Without consciously deciding to do so, she found herself heading toward the exit that led to the surface. Perhaps some fresh air would help clear her head.

As she emerged from the hidden entrance, the cool night air of Xuevis caressed her skin like a lover’s touch. Zora shivered, drawing her light jacket closer around her shoulders. The twin moons of Xuevis hung low in the sky, bathing the landscape in an ethereal silver glow. She took a deep breath, allowing the scents of her ancestorial world to fill her lungs—the sweet perfume of night-blooming flowers, the earthy aroma of the nearby forest, and something else... something uniquely Xuevisian.

Lost in thought, Zora didn’t immediately notice where her feet were taking her. It wasn’t until she saw the soft glow of bioluminescent flowers that she realized she had wandered into the sacred grove Ylara had mentioned earlier that day.

The flowers pulsed gently in the darkness, their light seeming to respond to her presence. They ranged in color from soft lavender to deep indigo with delicate, translucent petals that looked almost crystalline in the moonlight. Zora reached out, her fingers brushing delicately against a petal. To her amazement, the glow intensified at her touch as if the flower recognized her.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” A deep, familiar voice said.

Zora startled, spinning around to find Dravek standing at the edge of the grove. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, memories of their shared intimacy flooding her mind. In the soft light of the flowers, his usually stern features were softened, his eyes holding a warmth that made her breath catch.

“Dravek,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t expect to find anyone else out here.” She drank in the sight of him, noticing how the moonlight silvered his dark hair and accentuated the strong line of his jaw.

He stepped closer, moving with a grace that belied his imposing stature. “I couldn’t sleep,” he admitted. “There’s too much on my mind.”

Zora nodded in understanding, unconsciously leaning toward him. “Me too. I thought some fresh air might help, but...”

“But it’s not that simple,” Dravek finished for her. He was close now, close enough that Zora could feel the heat radiating from his body. It took all her willpower not to close the distance between them and seek comfort in his embrace.

Instead, she turned back to the flowers, needing a moment to compose herself. “Do you know the legend behind this grove?” she asked, grateful that her voice remained steady.

Dravek moved to stand beside her, his presence both comforting and electrifying. “Ylara mentioned it briefly,” he said, his voice low and intimate in the quiet night. “Something about the flowers responding to emotions?”

Zora nodded, a small smile in her expression. “It’s said that the strength of the glow reflects the depth of feeling between two people. Lovers come here to declare their intentions, to see if their emotions are in harmony.”

She felt rather than saw Dravek tense beside her. When she glanced up at him, his expression was one of intense concentration as if he was wrestling with some internal struggle.

“Zora,” he said finally, his voice low and rough with emotion. He turned to face her fully, his eyes searching hers. “I... I’m not good at expressing myself. On Tharvis, emotions are seen as a feebleness especially for those in positions of power. But being here with you has changed everything.”

Zora’s heart raced, hope and fear warring within her. “What do you mean?” she asked softly, hardly daring to breathe.

Dravek ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration that was becoming endearingly familiar. “I find myself... confused. Overwhelmed. The way I feel when I’m with you, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.” His eyes dropped to her lips for a moment before meeting her gaze again. “I can’t stop thinking about you, about the time we’ve spent together.”

Heat bloomed in Zora’s cheeks at the memory of their intimate night. “I think about it too,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “About you.”

Emboldened by her words, Dravek reached out, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The simple touch sent sparks skittering across her skin. “I like spending time with you, Zora. More than I ever thought possible. But these feelings, this attraction... it’s all new to me. I don’t know how to navigate it.”