Chapter 18: unexpected Happenings

Astrid’s p.o.v

“The Little cat then went down from the tree, deciding that it was no longer going to be scared…” the voice had a calming effect which made me want to fight to stay awake, just so I could listen to it a bit more

I moved my head to the direction of the voice to see the book that Orion had given me as a gift being read by “Caelum” I muttered, even though I could not really see him as everywhere was dark I knew exactly whose voice it was. Afterall, it was the voice that had made me safe numerous times

I did not expect him to be here, mainly because the last time I was conscious, it was Orion that was in his place.

“Finally” he smiled looking at me with kind eyes, those kind eyes that I had become accustomed to.

“You know, I was starting to think that you wanted us to worry for you. Prince Orion has barely gotten…”

“Caelum” I rushed, going to hug him tightly despite the fact that I felt pain everywhere even with the slightest movement.

“Well, I guess I can’t be mad at you since you are this happy to see me” he chuckled, making me blush as a result.

“How long was I out?” I looked at him, before hugging him tighter. I was just glad I woke up to a friendly face and not…

I did not miss the way he hissed under his breath and pushed me away slightly.

“wha-“

“Two weeks” he said, cutting me off before I could say anything, while handing me a cup of water. “Here, you would need this” he said standing up from the chair, causing me to go to my original position on the bed. “You would need food as you must have lost a lot of energy from not eating all week.”

“I could join you, you don’t need to go through that stress of bringing it…” I did not get to complete my words as the world around me started to get dizzy.

“There would be no need for that.” He said, suddenly appearing beside me and holding me by my waist. “You just take your rest, I’ll handle it, and we can’t have the prince worrying about you now, can we?” he said making me snort.

“Please, that Bastard would not give a rat ass If I was to die” I said, rolling my eyes as I got comfortable on the bed.

“and yet he was unconscious for the most part after saving you and then he is badly injured and still healing as a result of the whole ordeal, are you sure he would not bat an eyelash?” he smirked, not smiled but he actually and genuinely smirked, shocking me in the process. “or are you trying to convince yourself otherwise” he said, coming close to me and invading my personal space in the process.

“Ca…caelum?” I called causing my heart to race fast for some reason. It was the same feeling I felt when I was around Orion.

‘am I…. a whore’ I thought as I gulped, trying my best to calm my racing heart even though I knew that he could hear it already. ‘how the fuck am I thinking of Orion in this type of situation and even thinking that I liked him!!

What is wrong with you Astrid’ I scolded myself over and over

“let me go get you that meal” he said, leaving me all alone to get it together.

I tried as much as possible to calm my flaming cheeks but nothing seemed to work.

“you are just overjoyed that he is here, someone you are comfortable with. That is all and you most definitely do not care for that bastard” I told myself over and over till he walked in.

“are you ready?” he said, placing the food at my side. It was bread and some broth. The sight of it made my stomach rumble and my mouth water ‘could have sworn I was not this hungry before’ “you should know, prince Orion may not look it but he definitely would care if you are in danger” he said dipping the bread into the soup.

“Here” he said, placing the bread close to my mouth. I felt my already calming heart flutter as I went closer to his hands to take it off of him.

“Do you remember what happened though?” he asked when he was sure that I was done chewing.

“To be honest? Yes. I went snooping around and then I fell into some black hole. He tried to save me and then… I don’t really remember what happened from there” I sighed, leaning against the wall as the bed was against it.

“He did save you though, or else… “He had this terrified look on his face as he said it

“you have said that a couple times already” I said with an awkward laugh. “ and you are being overly sweet”

“well I just want you to know that he would be there to protect you, so you don’t have to be fearful of him. And I would do my best to take care of you to make you very comfortable” he placed another morsel of bread dipped in soup and fed it to me..

I tried, I really did as took the bread from his hands with my mouth, but the food did not wish to go down as he stared at me.

I licked my lips as I felt a bit of crumbs on it and I did not miss the way he zeroed in on my lips.

“that is all I want you to know” he said as he cleared his throat and snapped his eyes away.

“that’s bullshit” I said, causing him to look at me a bit more alert.

“how so?”

“ you are just trying to cover up for him because he is your superior or whatever but the guy literally tried to unalive me the first time he met me” I said, a humorless laugh escaped my mouth as I thought back to that moment.

“there is no way he actually can care enough about me, which makes me wonder. Why did he actually do it?” I sighed, “do you think he maybe, in that moment had a bit of humanity and saved me?” I watched as he tried to open his mouth to say something but I cut him off cause I knew that he was just going to defend the Prince all over again.

“it’s fine really, there is no need for you to say anything. I know my place and I would not get too comfortable I know that when he is tired, he is going to trash me aside like I am nothing. I have heard countless stories like that by humans who had Martian Masters. I only hope that when he wants to discard me, he ends it all by just killing me cause I am tired and-“

He cut me off as he pulled me closer to himself with a sheer force I did not expect and placed his lips on mine.

He kissed me…