Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 687 153.2 - Sleep here tonight

Irina's voice, though slightly breathless, carried a resolute determination as she leaned closer to him, her hands still pressed against the bare warmth of his chest.

"You... you are going to sleep here today," she said, her words steady despite the faint tremble in her lips.

Astron's sharp purple eyes locked onto hers, his expression shifting. For a brief

moment, she saw a flicker of surprise, but it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a narrowed gaze. His lips curved ever so slightly, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Really?" he asked, his voice low, a subtle challenge laced in his tone.

Irina's fingers tightened instinctively against his chest as her own resolve solidified. "Yes," she said firmly, her fiery gaze meeting his unflinchingly. Her heart raced, but she didn't back down. Not this time.

Astron's silence stretched for a moment, his narrowed eyes studying her. She could feel the weight of his gaze, the sharpness of his presence as if he were dissecting her words, her intent, her very soul. But she didn't waver.

She had already decided.

Her mind raced, but her resolve didn't falter. At this moment, nothing else mattered- not the judgment of her family, not her mother's sharp words, not even her own doubts. She'd already crossed the line, already boarded the ship. And now that she was here, she wasn't going to backtrack. She couldn't.

"I've made up my mind," she continued, her voice growing steadier. Her hands slid slightly upward, tracing the hard planes of his chest as if to anchor her conviction. "I don't care what anyone else thinks. Not my family, not the world. Right now, I just... I want you here."

Astron's gaze softened slightly, though his piercing intensity remained. He leaned his head back against the wall, exhaling quietly. "And why do you think I'd stay?" he asked, though his voice lacked the edge it usually carried. It was a question, but not a refusal.

Irina tilted her head, her hair falling over one shoulder as her hands pressed more firmly against him. Her lips curved slightly, her fiery red eyes glowing with renewed determination. "Because I won't let you leave."

Her words hung in the air, bold and unrelenting, her confidence born from the fire burning inside her. She wasn't sure where this courage had come from-perhaps from exhaustion, from desire, or simply from the fact that she couldn't let this moment slip through her fingers. Tomorrow, she knew she might falter, hesitate, or overthink. But tonight? Tonight, she couldn't let him walk away.

Astron's smirk widened slightly, though the faint glint in his eyes betrayed a flicker of something deeper-amusement, curiosity, or perhaps something he wouldn't name. "You're not going to let me, huh?" he said, his tone dipping into something teasing yet still carrying a weight of seriousness.

"No," Irina replied, her voice unwavering. Her hands slid up to cup his face, her thumbs brushing against the sharp lines of his jaw. Her lips hovered just inches from his as she whispered, "You're staying. Here. With me."

Astron's expression shifted again, his smirk fading into something softer, something almost unreadable. His hands moved from her waist, one trailing up her back to rest gently between her shoulder blades, the other brushing against her arm as if grounding her in her own certainty.

"You're sure about this?" he asked, his voice quieter now, though the weight of his question carried no less intensity.

"Yes," she answered without hesitation, her gaze locking onto his. "I'm sure."

For a moment, neither of them moved, the weight of her decision hanging in the charged air between them. And then, slowly, deliberately, Astron's hand slid up to rest lightly against the back of her head, his fingers threading through her hair.

"Then I'll stay," he said simply, his voice carrying no doubt, no hesitation.

Irina exhaled, relief and anticipation flooding her all at once. She leaned forward, her lips brushing against his once more, her kiss a mixture of gratitude and the unspoken emotions she couldn't yet put into words. Tonight, nothing else mattered. Nothing except this.

Astron's sharp eyes softened as a rare smile curved his lips, a quiet warmth that seemed to melt the usual intensity of his features. He leaned forward, his breath brushing over Irina's skin, sending a shiver down her spine. His voice, low and rich, carried a calm certainty as he spoke.

"To be frank," he murmured, his lips close enough that she could feel the faint vibration of his words, "I don't really have anything to do. For the first time in a while, it feels like I have time-time to do whatever I want."

Irina's chest tightened, her heart pounding as his words sank in. There was something unguarded about his tone, something that made her breath hitch. Astron wasn't one to indulge, to linger, and yet now... now he was choosing this. Choosing her. "And now that I've made a promise with you," he continued, his voice quieter, more deliberate, "I'll comply with whatever you want."

Irina blinked, her cheeks heating as she stared into his eyes. There was no teasing in his expression, no challenge-just sincerity. It left her breathless, and unsteady. Her lips parted, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.

"The time has started?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound composed.

Astron nodded, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in his gaze. But before she could respond, she narrowed her eyes playfully, biting her lip. "But I made my plans for the whole week..."

He tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Then let's say this is an extension," he replied smoothly.

Before she could process his words, Astron shifted. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, his chin resting lightly on her right shoulder. The warmth of his body against hers was immediate, enveloping her in a way that made her breath catch. She froze for a moment, her heart pounding as his embrace tightened just enough to make her feel secure without overwhelming her.

For some reason, being hugged like this... it made her feel something she hadn't expected.

Safe.

She let her hands drift down, resting against his chest as she leaned into him, her cheek brushing against his. The weight of his presence, the steadiness of his breath, the way his arms anchored her-it was unlike anything she'd ever experienced. Her thoughts wandered, unbidden, to her life at the Emberheart Mansion. She'd always been surrounded by people-servants, advisors, knights, and her ever-watchful family. She was the heir of one of the most powerful families in the world, the daughter of one of the strongest Awakened beings alive. She was constantly in the spotlight, held to impossibly high standards, bearing the weight of endless expectations.

And yet, for all her strength, all her power, she had never felt this safe.

It was strange, almost unnerving, how this one person could strip away the layers of her armor so effortlessly. In his embrace, the world outside the training room faded into insignificance. The weight of her lineage, her responsibilities, her mother's expectations-all of it seemed to dissolve, leaving only this moment.

This man.

Her lips parted slightly as the realization hit her like a quiet storm, the words forming in her mind as if they'd been there all along: No matter what happens, this guy will

come to my side. He'll be with me. Always.

Was this a delusion?

Was this really how he thought?

She didn't know completely.

But so what?

Did she really need to know what he was thinking all the time? Wasn't she allowed to

dream on her own as well?

And most importantly...

The way he was acting right now....Wasn't he showing the biggest change for her

sake....Then, isn't this enough?

Irina's fingers curled against Astron's chest, her lips parting as her voice slipped out in a barely audible whisper. "You... can you make another promise?" Her words hung in the air, trembling with the weight of her unspoken fears and desires. She sought affirmation, something tangible to hold onto, yet the moment the question left her lips, doubt clawed at her. Her mind flashed to the vision she'd seen before the memory that didn't belong to her but lingered like a haunting specter.

Estelle.

Astron had made a promise to her once, hadn't he? A promise he couldn't keep. The thought sent a pang through Irina's chest. What if asking for another promise dredged up those painful memories? What if it brought something heavy, something that destroyed this fragile moment she'd fought so hard to create?

Her breath hitched, her thoughts spiraling. What if asking ruins everything? The question she wanted to ask pressed against her lips, a desperate plea to know:

Will you stay by my side, no matter what happens? But she swallowed it, forcing it back. The words lingered unspoken, too risky to voice.

Astron tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze narrowing as he looked at her, "What kind of promise?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. Irina froze, her heart racing. She met his eyes for a fleeting moment before shaking her head quickly, her voice tight. "Nevermind. Just... stay here." Astron's expression softened, but only for a moment. Then, without warning, he moved. His arms tightened around her, and before she could react, he scooped her up, lifting her effortlessly from the ground.

"Wha-?" Irina gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as she found herself cradled against him in a perfect princess carry.

Astron's eyes gleamed with a hint of teasing as he looked down at her. "It appears that

your mind is no longer working," he said smoothly, though his tone carried a rare warmth. "You must be tired."

Irina's face flushed, her lips parting in protest, but the words died in her throat. The

closeness, the strength in his arms, the quiet certainty in his voice-it was all tooNôv(el)B\\jnn

much.

He began walking, his steps slow and deliberate, his hold on her steady and firm. Her hands tightened slightly around his neck, her breath hitching as she felt the steady

rhythm of his movements.

"Put me down," she managed to mumble, though her voice lacked conviction.

Astron glanced at her briefly, his lips curving in the faintest smirk. "No."

Irina huffed, her face burying against his chest as she muttered, "You're insufferable."

"Perhaps," Astron replied, his voice carrying a teasing lilt. "But I'm insufferable and carrying you. So, I'd say I have the upper hand."

Her chest tightened, but this time it wasn't frustration-it was something softer,

warmer. Despite her protests, despite her embarrassment, she didn't want him to put

her down. The steady beat of his heart beneath her cheek, the strength of his arms holding her securely-it felt safe.

For the first time in a long while, Irina let herself relax completely, surrendering to the moment. Whatever questions lingered in her mind, whatever fears she hadn't voiced,

they could wait.

Because right now, she didn't need promises. She didn't need words.

She had him.