168 I Would Heed Your Words

CHAPTER 168

The more she looked at him, the more she felt a pain in her heart.

"Astrid, do you even take me seriously?" Jareth asked.

"What!"

"Do my words mean a thing to you? Do you even care about how I feel when you disobey me or when you chose to risk your life without thinking of the consequences?"

She couldn't reply to him. Although his words meant a lot to her and she cared about him, it was just that she ended up doing what she wanted and thought was right.

She still had a lot to learn and her behaviour earlier on was wrong on so many levels.

"I do not think you are sorry, Astrid," he concluded from her silence.

"I am. I truly am."

"Then, prove it."

"How?"

"If you do not even know how to, then what are you sorry for?"

"For not listening to you earlier on."

"It isn't just about earlier on, most times you do not. You always want to defy me."

"It isn't like that. Just that sometimes we both have different opinions and views."

"And you do not want to listen to mine."

"And you do not want to listen to mine either. What about me?"

"I listen to you. I give in to your demands, Astrid, but you do not."

"But I said I am sorry."

"Sorry is not good enough. Prove it. Stop being so stubborn and listen to me. I cannot afford to lose you, so stop risking your life. The next time something like this ever happens again I would not hesitate to clip your wings and tie you to me."

The once cold eyes that returned to his normal shade of colours, darkened again. He sounded possessive just now and she could not refute any of his words but nod slightly.

"Better. When I find a deeper dent at the side of the tunnel, I would let you treat your wound, eat and rest, alright?"

"Okay," she replied him quietly.

He noticed the change in her tone and directed his gaze to her. 'Is she sulking because I quarrelled with her? I only want her to keep in mind the dangers of her actions.'

He let out a soft sigh, his gaze now fixated on her face. 'Perhaps I should apologize for being cold just now, but I do like how cute she is right now. Oh well, I love her cheerful side more.'

'Can he just stop looking at me? His stares feel like they would bore a hole through my head. I do not want to look at him and meet up with those cold eyes again. I don't like seeing him that way.'

She recalled the look he gave her and trembled slightly. She did not even realize she had bit down on her lower lip when she shivered at the thought.

"Astrid," he called out calmly, his eyes softening as he did.

She looked up at him with her lower lip still between her teeth. Jareth who had finally come to a conclusion with himself and decided to apologize was not prepared for the sight at all.

BADUM! BADUM!

Since she was close to his chest, she could feel his heartbeat as it pounded hard against his chest.

He waited for her to kindly release her lips but she didn't. The look in his eyes changed again. Although his eyes darkened, this time around it was not from anger.

She understood why and should probably stop doing that, but the look he gave her made her all the more nervous. Unfortunately for Jareth, biting her lower lip was a habit she had when she was.

He stopped in his tracks, his lips a little bit opened as his gaze lingered there. He found it hard, but after some seconds, he didn't succumb to his lust and moved his gaze back to her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he apologized after some seconds of staring at her eyes.

"No, I understand."

'Finally, she released you. You are swollen from all her biting. Tsk, this woman…' he trailed of in his thoughts.

"I did not mean to scold you… Okay, I did but it is all for your good. I would not always be with you, so you should learn to take care of yourself."

"I understand. I would heed your words."

"Good, but why then are you still sulking? You do not like me lecturing you?"

"No."

"Silly child."

"I am not a child," she protested and folded her arms on her chest.

"You are not just a child, you are behaving like a pampered one."

She did not bother to reply to him and puffed her cheeks at him. His lips curved up into a side smile at her behaviour.

"Okay, you are a grown-up woman," he said, finally coaxing her.

"That's better." She replied him with a smile, her face brightening up at his remark.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head at her but she was too busy smiling with her eyes closed to notice it.

'Women, one can never stop learning when it came to the feminine race.' he said to himself in a muffled voice and continued walking.

––––––––

~HUMAN KINGDOM - BAYARD'S STUDY~

The doors pushed open and King Bayard walked into his study room. The large room was filled with various things, starting from small to big.

There were bookshelves with loads of books, four chairs and a big table towards the other end of the room, with one close to the window and the other three at either side of the table.

On one of the chairs sat a young man as he patiently awaited the arrival of the King.

The moment he heard the doors open and the footstep following closely behind, the young man got up on his feet and turned to greet the King.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," he said with a bow.

"Rise, Cullen."

He walked past Cullen and went to take his seat on the chair close to the window. "Have your seat, son."

He gestured towards the chairs for him to take a seat. Cullen did as he was old and thanked King Bayard.

"What can I do for His Majesty?"

"We would come to that later, but first how are you? I heard from your guardian about what transpired. Hope there wasn't any terrible injury?" King Bayard asked.

His emotions betrayed him as his words conveyed his concern for his young general.

"All is well, Sire, thank you for asking."

"Good, good, good. I am glad to hear that."

"Thank you, Sire. I heard you wanted to see me, Your Majesty. What is wrong? Is anything the matter?"

"No, nothing is wrong my young general. In fact, it is just a matter of learning and teaching."

"A matter of learning and teaching…?" Cullen repeated.

"Yes, Cullen."

"Okay your majesty, I am all ears. Your wish is my command."

"Excellent."

"Your Majesty, Prince Owen is here," one of the guards stationed outside the study room announced.

"Let him in," King Bayard ordered with a clear domineering voice.

Swiftly the doors to the big study room opened, ushering in the young Prince.

He walked briskly into the study and stopped only when he had gotten to one of the chairs. His gaze trailed off to the side and his eyes met with the young man seated before his father.

"My Prince," Cullen said, acknowledging him with a slight bow of his head.

"Youngest General," he replied and his gaze went back to his father. All through, King Bayard had quietly watched the short greeting between the two men.

Although Cullen was famous and lived in the palace due to the fact that he was Lady Lorelei's ward, he and Prince Owen had never been the best of friends, just acquaintances.

On one hand, Cullen didn't like him for his flings and lack of responsibility.

While, on the other hand, Owen didn't particularly like him because of his achievement at such a young age and felt that he would be proud due to that and probably steal his women from him.

"Father," he said with a bow and raised his head. "You sent for me."

"Yes, do take a seat."

"Okay."

He moved to the right-hand side of the King and pulled out a chair to sit on. When he had attuned himself, he looked at his father again, awaiting his next words.

"Now that you two are here, I would begin."

"What assignment do you have that involves him being here?" Prince Owen questioned.

"Are you daft or are you stupid? Your job is to listen and carry out whatever I tell you to do and not question what I do."

At the scolding from the King, Prince Owen stopped blabbering and kept his mouth shut. He felt so embarrassed by his father's words and didn't look at Cullen, lest he embarrasses himself more.

"As from this day, Cullen would be your personal trainer. You are to train him in the art of swordsmanship, archery, spear fighting, hand to hand combat and everything there is to be the best soldier," King Bayard ordered.

"Father!"