He turned and stormed off.
Mr. K's bark face could register little emotion, but it did look angry in that moment, and his branches jerked and slapped around like live wires. "Stupid boy!" He locked eyes with Lucy. "Be careful around him. I've felt his rage. He burns it like fuel."
Hunter? Really? She'd never seen him angry before. Sure, he made an art of deflecting, but that didn't translate to rage. Lucy left the enclave, and found Hunter on the shore staring at the moon.
She rested a hand on his arm. "You want to talk?"
"You have anything new to tell me?"
"Well, no." She dropped her hand and stepped away from him.
"You know a way out?"
"No. I just want to talk. You don't have to be so angry."
His body shuddered, but he didn't turn to look at her. "No? Then what am I supposed to be? Happy? Happy that for every day I spend in this valley, hundreds of children suffer out there? Happy that I get to spend all of my time with you, talking to you, falling in—" He paused. "I am happy here. I don't want to leave, but there are people out there who need me. All I can think of is spending another minute with you. Why can't I think about anything else?" His face fell in sorrow and confusion, and he shook his head as if clearing his mind.
She pulled him around to face her. "I understand. I feel this pull to stay as well. I don't know whether it's... this," she waved her arm between them, "or something in this valley." On impulse, and because she needed to, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
He stiffened, then relaxed into her and rested his chin on her head. "We've spent nine days in this valley."
Nine already? Lucy had lost track of time during her recovery. Beleth had said the kids only had a month to live. One month, and we're stuck in a valley with no exit. What can I do? This is just too much. All of it. She tightened her arms around Hunter, comforted by his strength and nearness.
His hands ran up her back, careful to avoid her injuries, and his lips moved against her forehead as he spoke. "And each day, I've thought of kissing you."
Her breath caught in her throat. He'd spoken her own thoughts. She leaned back to look him in the eyes. With all the horrible events that had taken place, all the bad that had happened, Hunter had been the only good.
More than good. "Then what are you waiting for?"
She wanted to protest the departing warmth as his hands moved off her back. But then he cupped her face and leaned in. The mint of his breath mixed with hers, and all else fell away as their lips touched.
Chapter 94 – Lucy
Hunter's kiss made every other kiss she'd experienced the equivalent of being slobbered on by a dog. His soft but firm lips, his body pressed against hers, his scent and taste, the way his fingers wove into her hair when he deepened the kiss—all of it sent Lucy's senses spiraling.
With a sigh he pulled away and stroked her face. "You're so beautiful, you know that? Not just on the outside, but inside too. I've met a lot of women in my life, but none that compare to you."
Lucy didn't like thinking about Hunter with "a lot of women," but nothing could shake her from her happy high. She shivered in the night air, and he wrapped his arms more tightly around her while she rested her head on his chest. Night had fallen, but she didn't want to leave his arms. She wanted to be closer, to explore these new feelings, but....
"It's late. We should get some sleep."
He released her slowly and stepped back. "We should. You're right."
Neither moved or broke eye contact.
"Goodnight." Lucy's throat didn't want to form the words.
"Goodnight."
She pulled herself from his gaze by force of will, and left him to stare at the moon while she went back to camp.
Luke waited for her, a dramatic frown on his face. He spoke in their secret language, as if the trees would betray their secrets. Well, maybe one might, but she doubted it. "Lucy, are you sure about this?"
Great. Just what I wanted to talk about after the most perfect kiss ever. "Sure about what?" She wasn't about to make it easy on him.
Luke rolled his eyes. "You know. Him. The I-like-to-stare-at-the-moon-and-am-so-sexy-with-my-green-eyes-and-silver-hair him."
She sat by the fire and stoked it with a stick. "He has a name."
Luke sat by her. "I know. Just, don't you think you should take it a little slower?"
"How slow? It's not like we just met."
"Well, it kind of is. You've only known each other for a few days. How much do you really know about him?"
"I know enough. Okay?"
"Not okay. What's enough? Do you know where he was born, or where he grew up? Do you know anything about his life until now?"