Chapter 20：Shadow and Moon

"What the heck!" Brione burst and mindlessly turned her head.

She froze… Not breathing at all.

*Click *Click *Click

The fast shuttering of the camera seemed to be in unison with the thumping of Brione's heart. Realizing what just happened, Brione quickly turned her head back to the front.

"I see… It seems that you like kissing me instead of getting kissed by me," Cedric teased.

She touched her lips and whispered, "What just happened?"

"You kissed me," Cedric whispered near her ear.

Her face soured as she scoffed, "You call that a kiss?!"

"Well, though you did kiss me on my chin it's still a kiss, right? But if you feel it's not, I can give you a better kiss if you turn again. Let's make it right this time and kiss you on the lips directly," he whispered seductively in her ear making Brione flinch.

She had a fear of kissing on the lips. She could manage to do a kiss on the cheeks but never on the lips! Just imagining kissing someone on the lips would make her vomit!

"Sweetheart, are you with me? Should we make it right? I am ready to kiss you anytime, anywhere," Cedric continued to flirt when she remained silent.

She scoffed and mumbled, "I told you, I want to live a long life. You are cursed, aren't you? So I won't take that risk."

She then heard Cedric's loud laughter from behind her. Oh, how she wanted to turn her head and witness it but she would rather not. She was afraid that their lips would touch if she moved carelessly!

"This forest seems boundless. Have you roamed the whole area?" Brione asked, trying to change the topic.

"Hmm, not completely, but I've been to nice areas. Don't worry, I will show it all to you," Cedric answered.

"Won't we get lost?" Brione kept the conversation going to distract herself from what she was feeling. Cedric's closeness and the intimacy between them were causing butterflies in her stomach which was a new feeling for her.

"Why do you worry so much? Trust me we won't get lost. Besides, I have my people look over us in case we do get lost," Cedric nonchalantly said.

"So there is a possibility of us getting lost?" Brione questioned followed by a scream and a closing of her eyes in startle and fear when Cedric suddenly reigned Blaze to run fast.

"Relax, I'm holding you," she heard Cedric whisper. She unconsciously hugged Cedric's arm to feel safer. After riding for a while the horse started slowing down before stopping.

Upon seeing her still closing her eyes, Cedric said, "You can open your eyes now". When she opened her eyes the sight in front of her made her gasp.

They had stopped in front of the most fascinating tree Brione saw her whole life. It was otherworldly! The tree resembled a huge umbrella, as the leaves only grow at the end of branches, pointing upwards. (E/N: Google Dragon's Blood Tree for reference)

"I've never seen such huge a tree," Brione exclaimed.

Cedric got down and secured Blaze first before he signaled Brione to come down. She was too excited and almost jumped off Blaze but Cedric caught her, wrapping his arms on her waist.

"Careful!!" Cedric chided. His face was so close to Brione that he was very tempted to kiss her and taste her heart-shaped lips.

"Can I kiss you?" Cedric asked.

Brione reflexively said, "No!"

She saw Cedric heave a long sigh before he finally let her go and declare, "Alright, I will just make you ask for it I guess."

"Huh?" Brione breathed, trying to bring her heartbeat back to a normal rate. She ignored him and grabbed her mobile phone and started taking a selfie instead.

"This tree doesn't have a name yet as I couldn't think of a good name," Cedric commented.

"Oh, it's a new discovery! Can I name it? I will think of a good name and let you know as soon as I decide," Brione excitedly said.

"Sure and I will reward you with a kiss if the name you suggested is good," Cedric casually replied.

"Ah, stop with the kissing topic. You're ruining my mood!" Brione scolded with a pout. Cedric chuckled, enjoying her cute expression.

Cedric looked at his watch and said, "Two more hours before lunch. Come and take walk with me. I will introduce you to my friends."

"Friends inside the forest? Are they fairies?" Brione asked in jest.

"Hmm, they have saved my life so for me they are considered as fairies…" Cedric said meaningfully.

"Seriously?!" Brione exclaimed.

"Yeah, it happened a year ago. If not for them, I would definitely be dead," Cedric opened up.

Brione got curious and wanted to know more about it so she asked, "Why? What happened?"

"Hmm. I will tell you some other time," Cedric answered plainly. He wanted her to spend almost all of her time together with him so he decided to let Brione get curious about a lot of things about him. He would take advantage of her curiosity and make her fall for him.

Brione's mouth twitched hearing his plain answer. She knew that if she asks more, this cunning Prince would definitely use it to his advantage and get something from her in return.

She inhaled and exhaled loudly and instead of asking and worrying about him, she decided to enjoy the fresh air and scent of the trees, leaves, and flowers around her.

"Come with me," Cedric said, grabbing Brione's hand as he led the walk. Then after some time, he stopped at a spot and howled.

"Hey, are you calling wolves? Why are you howling? Stop it! That's scary!" Brione scolded him and she was about to nag some more but halted after seeing the white and black wolves approach them.

'Oh my God! They are real wolves?'

She immediately hid behind Cedric's back and unconsciously clenched her hand on his shirt scrunching it.