Chapter 6: Kiss!

Everyone woke up, and I got out of bed. I immediately touched my face. I breathed a sigh of relief when I felt the most important thing on my face. I'm still wearing my mask.

I looked outside. The sunlight was already very bright.

Wait... Why am I in bed?! The last thing I remember last night was being in a corner of the cave.

"Tsk, you took so long to wake up! Eat already!" Yvy shouted at me as she handed me my food.

I glared at her.

I took the food she gave me and quickly finished it. Afterward, Celestina helped me change into an armor suit like theirs.

"Your Highness, be careful, and you too, Astra," Venus reminded us.

I only smiled at her.

We're separating now to speed up our search. Once everyone has completed and obtained the gems, we'll meet again in this cave. But if it's been thirty days and no one has returned, those who haven't arrived at the meeting place must leave; that's Havoc's order.

Angel approached Havoc and me.

"Be careful, dear prince... Please come back on time," she said softly, her voice filled with worry. Havoc only nodded at her. Damn, this guy! He's so insensitive. She likes you, dumbass.

"Do your best to get the gems. But if you've run out of time, retreat. Our mission is not only to take the gems but also to go back safe on time," Havoc said seriously.

I looked at Trevor when I felt his gaze. He smiled at me.

"Take care, Astra," he said.

I smiled at him and was about to wave goodbye when Havoc grabbed my hand and started walking away from the team.

"Let's go," he said, his voice colder than ice.

We were heading in a dark direction. The clouds were incredibly dark, and the thunder and lightning were raging. I swallowed hard and stopped walking.

I closed my eyes at a loud clap of thunder. Gosh!

"Are you sure we're going there, Havoc?" I asked, trying to hide the fear in my voice.

He also stopped walking and coldly turned his head to me.

"Are you scared?" he asked.

"What? I'm not! I'm just asking, what if we're lost, you know!" I said irritably.

Another loud thunderclap, and I screamed.

I immediately hugged Havoc when the surroundings lit up when lightning struck. It was followed by another deafening thunderclap that made me scream again. I buried my face in Havoc's chest because I was too scared to see the lightning.

When things calmed down, I looked around and closed my eyes again when a strong lightning bolt flashed.

"You're scared," Havoc stated.

I glared at him and pushed him slightly, but I didn't let go of his arm. He might leave me here!

"Where are we, Havoc?!" I asked, holding his arm tightly.

He didn't answer, so fear welled up in my heart again because the place we were heading to was getting darker and darker.

"Be ready, we're already in the territory of the Darkians; we'll get the gem of darkness from their king," he said.

My grip on his arm tightened as a strange wind blew.

"Who's there?!"

I almost had a heart attack when the scary voice echoed.

"Where did that voice come from?" I asked Havoc, my voice trembling. He looked around, searching for the source of the voice.

His jaw tightened, and without saying anything, he lifted me up. He covered my mouth with one hand to prevent me from making any noise. We disappeared, and in an instant, we were on top of a large tree covered with large, broad leaves. He released me and sat me on a branch.

He can teleport!

Why didn't he say he could teleport? We should have done this earlier! I was about to throw a tantrum when he covered my mouth again.

His red jewel eyes made me shut up; they were scarier than the thunder and lightning earlier!

"Keep your mouth shut," he whispered in a low tone, but terribly cold as ever. I just glared at him and silently obeyed.

A short time later, we heard a strange noise below the tree. We looked down, and I almost screamed at the ugly and terrifying appearance of those creatures if Havoc hadn't stopped me. He kissed my lips, which made me shut up for real!

Havoc kissed me!

The crown prince of the Empire just kissed me!

He's my first kiss!

My eyes widened in shock; I froze for a moment. His red jewel eyes stared at me passionately. I swallowed and quickly turned my face away to break the kiss. I touched my lips; they were so soft.

"Why?" I asked softly.

He could have used his hand or power to make me shut up, but why did he kiss me?! He's a traitor! He betrayed Angel, who loves him!

He didn't answer. He turned his face away from me and focused his gaze below where the strange creatures were causing a commotion. I still hadn't recovered from what he did. Because it was dark, I couldn't see his face clearly.

"You're so loud," he murmured.

"You kissed me!" I shouted irritably at him.

Oops! I immediately covered my mouth when I realized what I'd done, but it was too late because blazing fire arrows were already showering down on us!

I could only scream as I almost got hit by a burning arrow.

Havoc cursed out loud as he grabbed me and teleported again.

We teleported to a dark, scary place behind a rock formation. I immediately sat down on the floor as my body weakened, my limbs trembling. I think we were far from the creatures we encountered earlier because I could no longer hear any sounds or noises except for my heartbeat and heavy breathing.

Holding my arm, Havoc bent down to see my face.

"Are you hurt?" Havoc asked with a hint of concern.

He held both my arms and hands while looking at me, as if searching for any injuries.

I was so scared.

I didn't know this mission was this dangerous! The sides of my eyes grew hot. I'm scared...

It's only our first day, but I almost died earlier; what about the next day?

I pursed my lips as I watched Havoc's eyes seriously scanning my body. The flashback of what happened ran through my mind, the struggles he had when he protected me from the Darkians.

I wiped my cheek as tears flowed down.

I want to go home...

My mother would probably allow me to change our plans a little. My life is more important than her plans, right? I can't take this mission seriously and go on with my plans. I can't use any weapons and can't even control my powers! Yvy is right; I'll just be a hindrance to them.

"Damn it..." he softly cursed when he saw my tears start to flow down my cheeks. He pulled me closer as he hugged me tight to comfort me.

I rested my head on his chest.