Chapter 155 GIVE ME BACK MY FIRST KISS!

Chapter 155 GIVE ME BACK MY FIRST KISS!
KIARA
How was I supposed to answer that? And the craziest part of all... why was the prince even talking to me in the first place?!
"I’ve got the solution," he said out of nowhere, slamming his fist into the tree right beside my head. I shrank back, startled.
My heart was thundering while I stared at the golden flashes in his eyes, suddenly way too excited.
"Sol...u...tion..." Oh no. I’m stuttering again. I hate when I get like this.
I could feel sweat sliding under my clothes, and all I could think about was running.
"Since that idiot Kaden couldn’t convince her, you will. You’re going to walk in there and tell her you can’t do it without me because you and I..."
He went quiet for a second. Then he frowned at me, leaning in a little, while I trembled from head to toe.
He was... too impressive. Secretly, I’d always thought he was the most handsome man in the world.
The few times I’d seen him before, I couldn’t even bring myself to look him in the eye. And now I had to fight not to drop my gaze like I always did.
"Fine. I know what you want. All right... for the sake of my magic, I’ll give it to you..." he said suddenly, huffing as he planted both hands on either side of my head, boxing me in completely.
"What I want?" I swallowed, feeling so small in front of him.
“You want what all women want... I’m willing to make you my lover. Payment settled," he said, like it was as obvious as his own name.
"Your... lover?" My jaw didn’t hit the floor only because it felt stuck. "And Venesia...?"
I asked just to ask, because... how did he even get there?!
"Ahh, I get it. You’re the type who pretends to be innocent but knows how to do the math. Okay, so now we negotiate..."
He stepped back and circled with those smooth, quiet steps, like he was examining my "request."
I wasn’t negotiating anything!
"Does that handsome prince seriously think... we’re in love with him?" my wolf asked, tilting her head with interest.
"You're crazy. No way!"
"Wait, Your Majesty, I don’t think you understood me... The witch..."
I lifted my hands, trying to explain.
My fingers were shaking, my palms felt slippery like they’d been rubbed with oil, but I forced myself to stay patient.
"Fine. The Arcane Pearl position is yours if you pull it off. Venesia’s worth less than my magical development... just don’t even dream I’m going to be showing you off," he said, like he’d decided everything all by himself.
He turned back to me, and suddenly he was walking straight toward me like he was sure I wouldn’t move.
I should’ve run. I know I should’ve. But that magical aura pinned me in place, and his hands went straight into my dark hair.
Before I could even react, he lifted my chin, and that perfect face filled my vision.
I gasped when his lips met mine and started moving with practiced ease.
A warm, wet tongue slipped into my mouth, deepening the kiss, and my eyes went wide while my hands just hung there at my sides, useless.
I forgot how to breathe while that mouth claimed mine.
Then he caught my lower lip and sucked in slow tugs until a quiet moan escaped me.
Air wasn’t getting to my lungs... and it definitely wasn’t getting to my head either, because I should’ve pushed him away.
Prince or not... this was my first kiss!
The rush of adrenaline flipped into something dizzy and weak. Black dots danced in front of my eyes and my whole body sagged into his arms.
"What the hell?" I heard him curse, right before everything went dark.

When I finally came back to myself, I looked around, still confused.
This was clearly the infirmary.
White curtains surrounded my little space, and I just lay there staring at the patterns in the high ceiling.
What was all that with the Arcane Prince? Did I dream it?
"No. That male kissed us... and it felt... mm... strangely really good..." Mina answered shyly, and she used the moment to let all those vibrating sensations roll through me again.
"You fainted from the shock and he brought you to the infirmary. He watched from the woods until a nurse found you at the entrance," she told me, filling in what happened while I was "out."
Of course. A mage wasn’t allowed to be roaming wolf lands, even with his status.
My fingers went to my lips. They were still tingling from the slick, experienced press of his mouth... and the way his tongue traced along mine, leaving me breathless.
My first kiss... with the Arcane Prince... WITH THE ARCANE PRINCE!
I started breathing too fast again, and I jolted when the curtain was pulled open all at once.
"Ah!"
"Kiara!" I exhaled when Isabella rushed in looking worried and wrapped her arms around me.
"One of the assistants came to the dorm and said you were in the infirmary," she blurted, pulling back and lifting the sheet to check me over.
"No, no, I’m fine... Oh, Goddess, they didn’t call my mom, did they?" I could already picture the drama.
"Your mom was in a meeting with the headmaster, apparently. That’s why they came for us," Isabella said, sitting on the bed like she could finally breathe.
"Was it that idiot Miska messing with you?" Harper’s serious voice cut in, and I hadn’t even noticed she was standing at the foot of the bed.
Miska’s name snapped me right back to why I’d run in the first place.
"No, but... I had an accident because..."
I told them quietly what I’d found out about Miska. Both of them frowned, but Isabella more than anyone.
I knew about her trauma with an abusive father.
We all knew Miska was under pressure from her family, but I don’t think any of us imagined it was like that... not that horrible.
"It was brutal... I’m not excusing how she acts, but... I felt sorry for her," I admitted, lowering my head.
The silence turned tense, each of us lost in our own thoughts.
"So you hit your head on a branch or something in the woods? Who brought you to the infirmary?" Harper finally asked, and they both looked at me, doubtful.
I was awful at lying, but I still looked away and said I didn’t know...maybe a guard.
"Mmm... suspicious," Isabella murmured, lifting an eyebrow, and my nerves tightened.
I swear she was staring at my mouth.
Were my lips swollen... like William’s every time he disappeared with Darius?!
Heat rushed up my cheeks and, thank the Goddess, the nurse walked in and saved me.
I don’t know why I didn’t tell them about the Arcane Prince... or the old woman in the cabin.
I felt stupid. Even I didn’t know if I believed that craziness.
I told myself I wouldn’t see him again.
I wasn’t even sure about that suspicious old woman’s offer. Still... I’d learned the Crown Prince was stubborn.
And somehow he’d gotten it into his head that I was crazy about him, like all those witches who were always chasing him.
Because the next day... the second I opened my eyes in my room, the first thing I saw were those two predatory pupils staring at me, intense and unblinking.
"Don’t even try to faint today... I haven’t kissed you yet..."