The Hunters

Chapter Twenty-Five

 "Lied?" I repeated in confusion, my brows furrowed as I shifted uncertainly on my feet. "What did you lie about?"

I tugged his hands when he struggled to respond, his eyes quickly lifting to meet mine. Nodding slowly, he admitted, "The agreement with Ghost. I don't want just sex with you. H-he wants to help you by making you lose control. He said he...will break you, so you know how vulnerable we all are. That you aren't invincible. B-but I don't like that. You're...special. You're strong and beautiful and...breaking. I can see it in your eyes. I can't ever let you be hurt again."

I tensed at his words, realizing that others could see my pain. See the agony I couldn't seem to escape since being dragged into that cave. König tugged me closer, my neck straining to maintain sight of his masked face. "I-I want to help you heal. So that you're going into this mission at your best," he continued, my eyes widening at his declaration. "I-I want to pursue an actual relationship with you. I want to wine and dine you. I want the pursuing and games."

König was so incredibly sweet, his words soft and heartfelt. This was a man built entirely of emotions, whereas Ghost hid his. He stuffed his emotions deep within in order to present himself as unbreakable. I'd done the same thing for years, before finding a happy medium: my unit, the fort...my relationships. While my heart warmed at König's breathtaking interest in me, he added, "And I especially don't want to share with Ghost. Everytime he touches you, I see red. I want to kill him."

My lashes fluttered in surprise. "W-wait, what?"

König sighed, his hold on my hands squeezing as he tugged me forward. I gasped as I collapsed into his arms, feeling him quickly securing me in a warm hug. His body surrounded mine with ease, his thumbs stroking my arms while he pressed me into him. "I-I'm not sure yet what I'll do. But I know...more than anything, I want you. H-however short our time together might be."

He thought that one or both of us were going to die, and he likely wasn't wrong. I felt guilty not being able to tell anyone what little I knew about the mission. We were going to the Middle East; based on the paperwork I sneakily read in my mother's office, bound for Afghanistan. Our target was so powerful that his name was redacted even from her documents. Whoever he was, his bunker seemed to be the most guarded place on Earth. This was a suicide mission, and I could tell by my mother's expressions that she wasn't handling my assignment well.

Mulling over his words, I asked nervously, "Will this...affect you in the field? Your focus?"

"Without a doubt," he admitted, my eyes flickering upward to see that his eyes were warm with reassurance. "We'll both be in the front. I'm going to prioritize your safety over my own. But that's my decision, not anyone else's, and I stand by it."

König's confidence built with every word, my heart fluttering in my chest as we maintained eye contact. My decision was surprisingly easy to reach and I squeezed my arms around his torso, offering, "Want to get breakfast with me? Maybe find somewhere...secluded, so you can eat around your mask?"

König released a trembling, pleased breath as his eyes sparkled: he was smiling behind his sniper mask. After a brief, tight squeeze that popped my back, he released me only to then take my hand in his. I led him to the mess hall when he waited for me to take the lead, amazed by how giddy I was feeling. Like I was a teenager with my first crush.

Glancing back at him, I realized that we were crazy. We were risking it all to hold hands and enjoy what remaining time we had of our lives. If our relationship was discovered, we could be reprimanded. Punished for breaking the implied rules not to force romantic relationships with your fellow unit members. Maybe...it would result in us being removed from the mission?

While we grabbed our trays, I looked König up and down. Was this his ultimate plan? Was it Ghost's? Is that why they were both so public about their intentions with me? If the three of us were removed from the mission, would that prevent the others from going?

I grabbed an energy drink to go along with my disappointing scrambled eggs and watery oatmeal, the toast unbuttered and burnt. While König grabbed his items, I asked softly, "How much longer do you have on your contract?"

"Mid-April." His response was simple, yet heavy with emotion.

"Are you going to renew?" König shrugged and followed me out of the barracks, watching me while I debated where to go. Deciding that the woods were best, I grabbed a blanket from the laundry mat before leading him to an isolated spot where we'd be hidden by the trees.

König held my tray while I placed the blanket on the ground, sitting down beside me while we looked down the hill at the base. Taking the tray back, I informed him, "Mine's end of May. I don't know what my decision will be."

"Why?"

Removing my gaiter, I took a bite of the eggs, grimacing at their lack of seasoning. "I grew up on a base. The military's all I've ever known. But...being a POW almost killed my Mor. This mission isn't helping her either. I'm killing her."

I looked up at König when he didn't respond, hearing him release a string of German curses beneath his breath. His eyes were wide and I furrowed my brows, asking, "What's wrong?"

"You're...atemberaubend."

"I'm what now?"

"Breathtaking," he translated, his voice light in astonishment. My cheeks warmed to an overwhelming level and I dropped my gaze, focusing on my terrible food as I tried not to smile.