167 An Indirect Kiss

CHAPTER 167

She blinked several times, registering what it just said in her mind. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his remark. Lovers fight!

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. White-Fire said what?!" she asked, getting herself back.

"I am pretty sure you heard me quite well, master."

"Why you…"

It really knew how to shut her up and make her speechless. After meeting Jareth, she didn't think there was someone who could make her shut up like him, but here she was being rendered speechless by her beast companion.

"Yes, I am your master right?"

"Yes. Where are you going with this, master?"

"Good, as your master, it is right to obey me. So tell me what happened."

"First, that would be you abusing your rights as my master and two you are not yet my master."

"But…You just said so yourself that I am."

"Yes, but you have not activated the contract. Only then can I be bond to you and your wish, my command. For now, I can choose to just ignore you."

"I think I preferred how you were before. You were so cute, but now you can communicate with me. Who knew you were such an annoying little pet."

"I feel hurt, master. First I am not a pet. I am your beast companion. Secondly, I am not annoying, just to those who I dislike. Thirdly, I am not little and fourthly, you love me still."

"You cunning little beast! Why, yes, I do love you."

"Now tell me already. Do you want to see Jareth using this opportunity to bully me?"

"It sounds nice, but no. I would bully whoever bullies my master."

"I feel proud of having you."

"Of course you should. So many try to tame us when we come out of the forest peak but it is almost impossible. The best way is to be our human companion, which again is not easy."

"Okay, I have heard. I am lucky to have you. Now tell me already."

"Fine, it was after you passed out and he noticed the poison was spreading fast. He took out a bottle containing a bluish liquid and poured some of its content in your mouth. Your mouth wasn't open, so it spilt out."

"Oh my goodness! I wasted it. How then did he find another one?"

"Were you even listening to what I earlier said?"

"Yes, I have."

"Clearly, you haven't. If you have, then you would recall I said small. He poured some of the contents in your mouth," it repeated.

"Alright, I get it now. He put the others later in my mouth by pushing my lips open, right?"

"Now I know his frustration when you jump into conclusions," it said with a sigh.

"Hmm…"

She puffed her cheeks into a pout at its remark and tilted her head to the side.

"Grow up, master. Well, that's what mother would say right about now."

"White-Fire just spoke to you, right?"

"Yes. We are linked, no matter where we are."

"Do you still need me to explain it to you?"

Her mind drifted up a bit and her eyes widened as the realization hit home. "Oh my… there is only one way he could have given me," she said in shock. Her face became flushed in an instant.

"Then…That w–would mean t–that we…we shared an indirect kiss!" she finally blurted out.

"You still call that an indirect kiss? An indirect kiss would be sharing the same cutlery set or water gourd and all that. He kissed you."

She stopped walking again as her mind delved far into her thoughts.

"Master! Master, Astrid?" The little cub called out in her mind but she couldn't hear it. It was as though she blocked him out completely.

'How did she learn how to do that? ASTRID!'

Jareth who was behind noticed her abrupt stopped and called out to her.

"Astrid! Is anything the matter? Why did you stop?" Jareth asked as he moved in and closed the gap between them.

He gently placed a hand on her shoulders, startling her in the process. She jolted in surprised and whipped her head to her side and saw that it was only him.

"Ahh, Jareth you scared me there."

"What happened, why were you so lost in thoughts that you didn't hear me call you?"

"It is nothing, Jareth."

"How can it be nothing when your face is all red?" He asked with concern laced in his tone.

"I said, it is nothing, Jareth. Believe me," she said with a calm voice.

He removed his hand from her shoulder are pressed it against her forehead.

"Astrid, you're hot. I think it is your injury. You haven't fully recovered yet. Drop it let it walk. You'll only end up hurting yourself."

"I am alright, Jareth," she said evading his hands and walking hurriedly ahead.

Astrid was bent on avoiding him whichever way she could. How could she bring herself to tell him?

'I have to avoid him for now lest he noticed how flushed and shy I am. On the other hand, I was right. Jareth would never take advantage of me. He did that to save my life and nothing else.'

She let out a sigh of relief at her thoughts.

'I am glad I didn't confront him the moment Snow told me he did. It would have been way more embarrassing than this.'

'How can one be so stubborn like this?' Jareth couldn't help but think sigh at the thought.

He shook his head and continued walking. Due to his sharp eyesight and little White-Fire's flame, he could see the part where she got stabbed, turn red.

'Her wound! It has opened. She is exerting much force on her body. Damn it.'

He ran up to her and without saying anything, he picked her up.

"Whoa!" she screamed at the sudden feeling of being carried.

"Jareth put me down," she demanded in a serious tone.

He paid her no heed and kept on walking with both Astrid and the little White Tiger in his hands. Little White-Fire opened its eyes at Astrid's yell and looked at the awkward situation.

Not wasting any more time, it jumped down and walked by Jareth's side.

"Hey, Snow, why did you come down?"

"Who is Snow?" Jareth asked, looking confused by the sudden name change.

"Little White-Fire. I found that name too long and all, so I changed it."

"Weren't you the one who named it little White-Fire at first? Why didn't you think it was to long back then?"

"How is that your business, put me down this instant, Jareth."

Astrid commanded and started squirming in his arms, trying to free herself.

"Stay still."

"No, let me down."

"No. If I do, you would end up picking Snow up. Haven't you noticed that you have opened up your wound?" His voice went a bit higher as his brows furrowed at her.

"Don't you use your brain? It is risky with what you are doing. I am trying to talk some sense into your head and all you can do is throw a tantrum. Grow up, Astrid."

"I am grown," she protested and puffed her cheeks at him.

"Are you sure? Because to me, you are behaving like a little child, right now. How could you not notice your wound opening up?"

"That was because I was…so engrossed with my thoughts and conversation," she muttered the last few words to herself but he caught it.

'Haha hahaha…' the little White Tiger burst into a laughing spree through their minds.

She turned her head to the side and glared at the little beast. As she moved, she felt a sharp pain at her side and winced.

Jareth who had been watching Astrid long before now caught sight of her wincing in pain.

As quickly as the pain came, she returned her expression to normal. She didn't want him getting any clues whatsoever, but that was too late. Jareth had noticed everything.

It was at this moment that she felt something warm against her skin, underneath her bandage. Her hand reached for her side to check it and when she brought it back up, she was shocked.

She had been stupid enough not to pay any heed to his words and that was the result.

His eyes darkened and he pressed his lips into a thin line the moment he saw the stain of blood on her fingers.

Unconsciously, her gaze moved up on its own to look at him. She knew he wasn't happy and she was sat for making him worry.

"I'm sorry," she finally found her voice to apologize.

He didn't pay her any heed but instead, he returned his gaze to the path, looking forward and continuing with their journey. She felt hurt being ignored like that. She really didn't mean for this to happen.

"I am sorry, Jareth. I really didn't mean for any of this to happen."

He shot a cold gaze at her, sending shivers running down her spine. "You didn't? And I am supposed to believe what you said?"

"YES."

Her eyes opened wide as she dared to look him in the eyes. His perfect green eyes were now a darker shade, showing all the anger he felt within.

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