BLOOD AND MOONLIGHT

Chapter 21: Lines Crossed

The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled light over the camp. Evelyn woke to the muted sounds of the camp stirring to life, the clatter of weapons and the low hum of conversation setting a familiar rhythm. She blinked against the brightness, her mind slowly catching up to the reality of the new day.

The night before felt like a dream—a wild mix of adrenaline, danger, and the lingering heat of Luka’s kiss. As she pushed herself up, the cool morning air brushing against her skin, Evelyn’s thoughts drifted back to the moment they had shared by the fire. The memory of his touch, his breath mingling with hers, sent a flutter through her chest that she couldn’t quite suppress.

Evelyn glanced around, her eyes searching for Luka. He was already up, talking with Raine and a few of the other leaders near the center of camp. Evelyn’s heart did a little flip at the sight of him, his posture strong and commanding as he gave directions. She watched him for a moment, a soft smile playing at her lips despite herself.

She forced her thoughts back to the task at hand. There were still rogue factions to contend with, and alliances to solidify. Whatever had happened between her and Luka, it couldn’t be allowed to distract her from their mission. Evelyn rose to her feet, brushing the dirt from her clothes and steeling herself for another day of negotiations and strategy.

As she made her way over, Luka spotted her and waved her over with a welcoming grin. “Morning,” he said, his voice bright but laced with an undercurrent of something else—something unspoken that hung between them like a heavy curtain.

“Morning,” Evelyn replied, her tone carefully neutral. She nodded to Raine, who gave her a knowing look that suggested she had noticed more than Evelyn would have liked.

“We’ve got reports of another rogue gathering north of here,” Raine said, her voice businesslike as she handed Evelyn a map marked with scribbles and arrows. “Looks like they’re rallying some of the disillusioned factions that didn’t buy into our peace talks.”

Evelyn studied the map, her brow furrowing as she took in the marked locations. “We need to move quickly,” she said, her mind already mapping out a plan. “If they’re bringing in defectors, it won’t be long before they have the numbers to mount a real threat.”

Luka stepped closer, his arm brushing against hers in a way that sent a jolt of awareness through Evelyn. “I’ll gather the scouts and get some eyes on them,” he offered. “We need to know exactly what we’re up against.”

Evelyn nodded, her fingers brushing his arm in a brief, deliberate touch that sent a thrill up her spine. “Good idea. Be careful out there.”

Luka’s gaze lingered on her, his expression softening. “Always,” he promised, his voice low and intimate, as though the words were meant only for her. He turned to Raine, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her smirk suggesting she had noticed more than just strategic discussions between the two.

As Luka walked away, Evelyn forced herself to refocus, pushing aside the distraction of his presence. She and Raine spent the next hour strategizing, working out contingencies for different scenarios. The camp buzzed with activity, the energy shifting from tense anticipation to a focused determination.

By midday, Luka returned with news. “The rogues are definitely gearing up for something big,” he reported. “They’ve got at least fifty fighters, and they’re setting up camp in a valley that gives them plenty of cover. It’s going to be a tough fight.”

Evelyn’s mind raced as she absorbed the information. She could feel the weight of the decisions they had to make, the lives that would hang in the balance. “We’ll need to hit them hard and fast, before they can mobilize fully,” she said, tracing a route on the map. “We’ll divide into two groups—one to engage directly, and the other to circle around and cut off their escape.”