Chapter 56

Chapter 56
From the other side of the mountain,





Diana, Andrew, and the leader of the trolls arrived at the next clearing on the backside of the devil forest. Diana’s facial expression sank faster than a penny on a pond; her skin became icy and pale as white itself. Yes, she was worried. She was worried about Tommy and shocked at the same time at her fear earlier when Andrew was almost killed.

 

And she thought, How could he smile as nothing happened? She was so anxious, and even deep pain unnerved her, and now, looking at the man winking at her like he knew exactly what she was thinking made it more embarrassing.

 

You better stop smirking, Andrew, I am not happy! She said to herself mentally, knowing that her sire could hear her.

Andrew faked a cough and winked back at her, which made her roll her eyes exaggeratedly.

 

A few minutes later, the leader of the troll frowned and halted. “Sire, I think we can't go further.”

Andrew nodded his head in agreement. “That's what I thought as well. We will wait for the rest. Scout and alarm me if you find something. The old troll nodded and left for the nearby small trail.

Andrew stood near the gigantic snow-covered tree and scanned their surroundings. "Diana, we have to camp here.”

She met his gaze and hesitated for a moment before releasing a long, irritating breath as she raised her brow.

“We will wait for the troll.”

“But why?” she asked and took a deep breath, clutching the sword between her fingers. 

“Because they are slow, and they are—with children and older trolls with them.”

“We can't just quit Andrew; Tommy might be in danger.” Quitting was never easy. And yes, she was just trying to have a conversation. And she knew her sire wouldn’t take it well. There would be questions. Demands. And annoyance and irritation, too. Actually, it probably wouldn’t even register since irritation was classified as an emotion and Andrew fucking Lawvosky was a robot.



“We are not quitting, but we are sensible enough to consider that they are slow creatures.” He watched as she moved away from the small clearing and then followed him until they were out of earshot from the old troll. “Why are we adjusting to them? It's their fault, they enchant us," she asked tersely. She knew she was being unreasonable, and guilt ate her.

He turned, crossing his arms, making sure the old troll couldn’t hear him.

“Do you seriously want to risk those kids just to find that dog?”

She glared at him, and Andtrew knew he’d backed her into a corner. She adored little kids, humans or not; he knew that. She’d never do anything to hurt them. Except leave them, apparently. Well, one thing was certain. He wasn’t going to let her go without a damned good fight! Diana took a breath, staring at him, noticing how his deep blue eyes glittered behind his lashed. He really did have the Clark Kent thing down to a fine art. He was highly intelligent and had little patience—or skill, frankly—for small talk. He liked jazz music, didn’t dance, had never smoked, and rarely drank. Aside from blood, Diana swallowed hard, trying not to think about the fact he hadn’t shaved that morning, and his stubble was incredibly sexy. Because thinking Andrew was sexy was plain stupid. So, snap out of it.

She stepped closer and shrugged. "Fine, but I’m not the one abandoning them.”

It was a low blow. She shot back, her teeth clenched tightly.

Was he even breathing? Diana's thoughts ran wild as she turned around, looking for something as an excuse not to look at him again, expecting some monster to attack them, yet none came. Though the snow and wind could have frozen any earthly matter, the sun still rose and illuminated the slopes as if proud of illuminating their every tiny feature. Her useless petticoat was covered in blood, as were Andrew's expensive breeches.

 

His brows came together. "Good," Andrew said in a soft voice. He didn’t look convinced, and his mouth twisted a little, but his throat charred when a burning sensation in his throat grew. He wanted her, and he couldn't deny it. The mate bond was calling them.

“How are you really?”

She ignored him.

A few minutes later, he added, “About earlier, it was reckless for me to fight those creatures without proper nourishment.” His gaze narrowed, and then he raised a curious brow as though the idea of her actually having a personal life was surprising.

“If you must know,” she said, keeping her voice low. "Do you think I'm fine, Andrew? You have me worried there for fuck’s sake.”

He raised a brow.

She said it hotly, holding on to her building embarrassment. “And can you stop smirking at me? You have no idea how worried I was." Diana added back with a precise irritated tone that sounded like a mother telling her child not to jump into a tall building. She was furious and confused at the same time. Her feeling was making her question her own decision-making. "I'm so worried that I may lose you anytime, and I—I'm so scared," her eyes closed at her statement, and she hurried her pace, giving more distance to each other before she would turn around and kiss the man who wanted nothing from her.

He sighed. “Diana!”

She ignored the hint of vulnerability in his voice, figuring she was imagining it, and turned, striding back towards the clearing where the older troll had left. She turned her head and avoided eye contact, yet she couldn't help but stare at him again. His rugged features were charming. His hair, which glistened in the little sunlight illuminating the canopies, and his face were carefully structured. But he seemed rather cold as he gritted his teeth.

She didn’t relax though; she couldn’t when she knew Andrew was near, silently listening to her every word. Making judgements, of course. Thinking he had all the answers. Believing he knew everything about her.

"Hey, Diana, wait! Please stop!" Andrew's deep voice blared, making her look up from her boots to meet his eyes.

It was one of his annoying qualities. Like the way he didn’t talk much. Diana was sure she regularly spoke ten words for each one he said. Over the months, she’d become accustomed to his silences, or the way he could concentrate so effortlessly and give things his complete attention. He had a charitable nature, generously giving to several local organisations, including a sizable donation to the local veterans’ home every year. So, he had his flaws, but Andrew Lawvosky was generally a good man but an asshole at the same time.

 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry. I'm just trying to make you smile, I'm just teasing you okay, and I'm sorry! See? I'm fine, and remember that I will never leave you okay? I go wherever you go. You are my sired. You and I will never be apart. You are mine, forever." Andrew said and noticed how rigid she was and was on the verge of crying. He never thought of her as an emotional person. "It won't happen again, but I know that I won't be killed that easily, okay? I've been headless before, but look at me now, I'm still alive." He whispered into her ear while placing a hand on her shoulder—a gesture that calmed her down.

Diana sighed, but her body relaxed as she looked up and nodded at him. "I'm not used to this," the sharpness in her tone quickly got his attention as she gestured an invisble line between them. “This thing between us, Andrew. I'm too worried about you while fighting back there, and now I'm worried about you all the time; how could you be so careless? And now Tommy is missing. How could I not worry more?" She muttered before walking forward further, leaving her discomfort behind.

 

He glanced at her. "You are worried about me?" Andrew's thoughts were fascinating; no one has been worried about him before. Nobody... he was just some powerful myth, but now knowing that Diana was worried made him smile. His voice was soothing, somewhat comforting. “I know and I’m sorry.”

She looked up, meeting his gaze. His stare softened.

 

Sighing, she pushed strength into her knees and walked towards him, saying, "Of course I’m worried. Are you out of your freaking mind?" she replied, drawing in a shallow breath. She was beyond embarrassed, but she had long known that it's better to be ashamed than this worried. Then she suppressed a sigh. There was no point in any kind of cross-examination with her fear. After all, she was quite free to tell herself a pack of lies, but she knew it wasn't a lie. She was really worried earlier. The fear was eating her alive, thinking that Andrew might not survive. And the man has the nerve to smile at her like she was just a joke? "Will you shut it and stop smiling, you jerk? This isn't funny."

 

Andrew laughed. His laughter echoed the clearing, and the nearby small animals scampered around from the surprised disturbance. He merely offered her a wolfish grin, and for some reason, his defiance in the face of her menace both irritated and excited her.

 

Andrews' laughter was like the rainbows in her skies, and yet it irritated her as much as she hated to admit it. How could he laugh like there was just ice cream in the nearby park? But she couldn't deny the fact that there were some primitive urges and needs that wanted her to acknowledge them. She felt like devouring this man all over, like she wanted to be licked, praised, and sated; she felt like moaning, like she wanted it harder and faster. She wanted him inside her, right here right now; she wanted to feel and taste him.

 

Dammit! How could I think such a thing about this stranger? What the fuck is wrong with you, Diana? What on earth am I thinking?

She felt disgusted already. "Dammit! Andrew, stop laughing!" She begged, but the hidden rumour in her tone was palpable, and he was sure Andrew was teasing her! It was indeed a beautiful payback, and in a second, she joined his laughter. Their gales echoed, and even the trees and the earth joined their laughter as the trees with their branches and the wind played along.

 

Then, with seriousness in her expression, a minute longer hung in the air as the humour in her voice was gone; vanished was the laughter. Andrew stared at her for a long moment. Gazed at her lips.

 

She knew that he was assessing what she said. Weighing the possibilities, considering her worries.

The wintry wind comes louder than usual, yet it chills into their bones, bringing crispness to their air. The howling of the wind swept across the land with bold honesty, a rawness that brought one's soul into the gentle cloud-filtered rays.

 

"So what happens now?" she asked.

"We have to wait for the trolls."

"Do you think we can trust them? What if they attempt to kill us again with their so-called Mumbo jumbo hallucination?" Diana blushed, remembering her stupid illusion, and she just hoped she had enough power to shield her mind from Andrew.