CHAPTER 177

"Good," he whispered gently on her lips and kissed her again, more fiercely this time, till she relaxed and finally returned his kiss slowly.

His lips left hers and trailed soft kisses around her mouth and down her throat, sucking and tasting the exposed flesh.

"Ahhh~" She didn't know when she let out a moan and quickly covered her lips with her hand.

She felt like crying but at the same time, she felt good too. Her body tingled in ways she couldn't explain and when he moved his hand on top of her breast a bit, she let out another soft moan.

"Aahhh… umm, ahh."

Hearing her moan like that sent his hormones into an overdrive. giving him a hard-on. 'Damn it!' he cursed inwardly.

Now was not the time. He didn't want to scare her or anything.

He stopped what he was doing and his gaze went back to hers. He was met with the same emotion-filled, wide eyes like his. Quickly, both of them disengaged and sat apart from each other.

No one had the guts to speak as everywhere became silent, save for the snoring of the little beast.

\u003cAuthor: *Clears throat* Now you are quiet. I wonder what happened to the daring behaviour just now?\u003e

He never really intended for any of this to happen. All he wanted to do was to just shut her up and help her get her mind off the issue and not feel embarrassed.

He didn't know what to do if the air was awkward around them, so he thought he would help her relax a bit with a kiss, but who would have known that his simple gesture would lead to something else?

\u003cAuthor: I would!\u003e

Now, trying to prevent an awkward atmosphere, brought the awkward moment.

You would say they did it anyway the previous night, but then again, she was under the influence of the aphrodisiac spell and acted rather boldly, groping him and all.

Unfortunately, now both of their head's where clear and it became too embarrassing. His simple tease backfired on him just the same way her evil thoughts backfired on her.

After minutes, Astrid was the first to speak, breaking the silence.

"Did we…" she paused. She couldn't bring herself to say the words. It seemed like a heavy weight in her mouth, so she kept silent.

Jareth turned in her direction to look at her. Somehow, she being shy made him feel better. 'At the very least, I am not the only one.'

After some pondering on it, she tried again. "Did you… you know… Did w–we do it?" she finally managed to blurt out.

With a smile on his face, he replied her with a question of his own. "What do you think?"

She shot her head in his direction and their eyes met. "Well, I–I do–don't know," Astrid stuttered softly.

"What if I told you we did?" he asked her, watching her face closely.

She had a downcast look about her whole being. As much as he loved this quiet side of hers, he didn't like her feeling bad.

'But wait, she would really feel bad if we did it? I thought she liked me! Or is there another reason as to why?'

"Is the thought of having sex with me that bad?" he managed to ask even though he feared for what her answer would be. It would be a huge blow to his ego if she said yes.

"No. It's just…"

He sighed, releasing the breath he never knew he was holding in. "Wouldn't you feel it if I did?"

"I guess so."

"So?"

"I don't. Meaning you didn't?"

'Is she still asking me that? Gosh, Astrid! I am not a scoundrel who would take advantage of you like that.' he lamented in his mind.

"Did you?" She asked again, pulling him out of his train of thoughts.

"No, I did not. Relax, I would never take advantage of you."

"Thanks. But you, you know…"

"Foreplay?" he asked, smiling to himself.

"I had to relieve you, lest the spell does something worst if you weren't taken care of. I am sorry if I did what I shouldn't have, but I couldn't risk anything happening to you."

She gave him a nod, showing her understanding and kept her head down, avoiding his gaze.

"Besides, if there is anything, you took advantage of me. You were whispering seductively and telling me you want…"

"STOP!!" She yelled and covered her ears with her hands.

Jareth wasn't expecting it this time and she ended up waking the little beast.

"Master, why are you so loud in the morning?" It asked with sleepy eyes. "AWWHH!!" It yawned and walked up to them.

"Snow, you're awake."

"Yes, thanks to your shout, master. What happened?" It asked as its curious big eyes scanned her body for any injury or new pain.

When it found none, but only his master's flushed cheeks, it turned its gaze right at Jareth who had been ignored since.

"What are you looking at me for? I didn't do anything."

It snarled at him and went closer to Astrid, then licked her face lovingly, making her giggle.

"Haha haha… Stop it, Snow, haha."

'Is it trying to make me jealous? What a cub!' he whispered to himself and rolled its eyes at the master and beast duo.

"Since you, two have time to play, get up let's be on our way," he instructed and made his way towards his bag.

"Killjoy."

"I couldn't agree more with you, master."

"Let's go before he gets all grumpy."

"Hmm!"

"You want me to carry you?" Astrid asked the little beast when she noticed it looked at her with puppy eyes.

"Yes, but he wouldn't allow it and we have the issue of your injury to worry about."

"Oh, that? It is healing perfectly. No need to worry."

"Still, heal well first, then you can carry me. You have more years ahead to."

"Haha haha, look at you being all cute. Unfortunately, then you would be as big as your mother, so it would be the other way round. Let us go, Snow."

Astrid got up and picked her things then followed closely behind Jareth as they continued their journey.

–––––––––––

~HUMAN KINGDOM~

It was already noon and time for the challenge between Prince Owen and Cullen. Cullen arrived at the training grounds first and was greeted by the soldiers he met there.

"We greet Young General," they chorused upon his arrival.

"Greetings, you can get back to your training now," he casually replied with a wave of his hand and went over to the weapons rack to pick his weapon.

While he awaited the arrival of the King and Prince, he decided to train on his own and walked down to the archery training area.

Some of the soldiers present spared with one another using several weapons in their fights. While some watched and other chatted as they cleaned their weapons, awaiting their turn for a spar.

Minutes later, Prince Owen arrived at the training grounds with his bodyguard, Ian.

"Greetings, Prince Owen."

"Yes," he raised his hand slightly above his head as he acknowledged their greetings. His gaze scanned around and soon found their target. Owen watched as Cullen released his hands from his arrow and it hit its mark, effortlessly.

Before he could say or do anything, Cullen took three arrows from his quiver and strung them at once on his bow. His aim was precise and sure. He stretched his bow and squinted his eyes. After some seconds, he released the arrows.

SWOOSH!

Each arrow hit the centre of the red mark on the training board.

"Yayy!!"

CHEERS!!

Whistles and shouting erupted from the soldiers immediately the arrows made their mark. Amidst the shouting and cheering, only one caught his attention.

Cullen turned the moment the cheering was dying down, but one person's clap resounded. It was slow and loud giving off an odd vibe.

His gaze met with that of Prince Owen as the latter strode forward towards him.

"Wow, impressive."

"Greetings, Your Highness. You flatter this lowly servant too much," Cullen said with a bow.

"Nonsense! I am not the only one who thinks so too. Look around you. They are all cheering for their young General."

True to what he said, al the soldiers had a brilliant smile on their faces as they stared at him in awe.

"Even I am not compared to you in archery," Prince Owen added.

He had a smile plastered on his handsome face but deep down, he was boiling with rage.

'What a show-off. He couldn't just wait for his father to arrive before showcasing his skills. All he wants is to make me look bad in front of my subordinates.' Prince Owen said in his mind.

"That was truly magnificent!"

All heads turned in the direction of the domineering voice that praised the Young General. Immediately, their eyes landed on the figure standing a few feet from them.