Page 123 of The Hunter's Empire

"I was hoping for 'heroic.'"

"I stand corrected." She smiles through her tears. "You look heroically terrible."

"That's better."

For the first time since the jet fell from the sky, the weight pressing against my chest finally begins to ease. The nightmare is over.

At least… that's what I tell myself.

As we make our way toward the resort, Elysian Haven feels strangely unreal after days spent surviving in the jungle. Farther inside, music drifts through the open courtyards as preparations for the wedding continue despite everything that has happened.

Life hadn't stopped while I was gone.

"I still can't believe you're thinking about the wedding." I murmur.

Aurelia gives me an amused look. "Of course I am."

"I disappeared for days."

"And now you're back." She squeezes my arm gently. "That means I get to worry about both."

I can't help smiling. "Only you could make that sound reasonable."

"It's a gift."

Halfway across the dock, I glance back. Keith and Nico remain near the shoreline, speaking quietly while the rest of Keith's men secure the area. I can't hear their conversation, but neither man seems willing to give the other an inch.

As though sensing my attention, Nico looks up. Our eyes meet and for a brief moment, the island comes rushing back. The cave. The jungle. The arguments. The kiss.

A hundred words catch in my throat. None of them leave.

Aurelia gently nudges my arm. "Come on. I'm sure your very intense eye contact can survive another hour."

I blink, tearing my gaze away. "What?"

She smiles knowingly. "I've been talking to myself for the last thirty seconds."

"I was listening."

"Were you?"

"...Mostly."

She laughs but doesn't press the subject.

Together we step inside Elysian Haven. The polished marble floors, warm lights, and familiar voices feel almost surreal after sleeping on stone and fighting to survive.

For the first time in days, I should feel safe. Instead, all I can think about is the man I left standing on the dock.

Chapter 26

Zora

The sound of someone humming pulls me reluctantly toward consciousness. It is entirely too cheerful for eight o'clock in the morning.

I bury my face deeper into the pillow, determined to ignore it, but a second later the unmistakable sound of my suite door opening reaches me. Whoever it is doesn't bother knocking. The footsteps are light, confident, and completely unbothered by the possibility that I might still be asleep.

I already know who it is before she speaks.