166 Overprotective, Jealous Baby

CHAPTER 166

He cleared his throat, indirectly clearing his thoughts and spoke to her. "Well, I can always avoid them and manage somehow."

"Your father would be mad at you, you know."

He lightly chuckled before replying her, "Yeah, I bet that old man would kill me if he were to see me now."

"How can you still joke when things are dire? You should leave me now and not get yourself in too much trouble."

"Astrid, it is my decision. So stop blaming yourself. I still have not kept my word about taking you out of the forest yet. Till then, you are my responsibility, silly girl."

He ruffled her hair with his hand and got up.

"Hey, I am not a kid, you know."

"That is good because it would be awkward if I did kiss a kid."

The moment he made mention of the kiss, her cheeks became hot and red.

'It never gets old, does it?'

He picked his bag from the corner and turned towards her. "Time to go, Astrid."

"Where to?"

"You still have to leave the forest and your journey to the valley of lost souls just began. Don't tell me you forgot about that already?"

"No, I didn't."

"Good, then get up let us go. You would take a rest later. We still have a long way to go."

He turned his back towards their exit and quickly turned back to face her, "Oh, and do wake up your little overprotective, jealous baby."

His gaze moved to her side where the little White Tiger-Phoenix beast laid peacefully, then back at her.

Her flushed face lit up at the mention of the little cub. Jareth shook his head at her doting behaviour.

"I bet a lot happened between you two while I was unconscious."

"You got that right. Well, what are you waiting for?"

"Right on it."

She stretched her right hand towards the little beast and gently poked at its stomach."Hey little one, it is time to go."

"Let me rest some more, Master."

"Oh come on, Jareth wouldn't like the idea. We need to keep moving."

"Like I care if he does! I want to rest some more. I need my precious sleep."

"Hehe hehe," She giggled out, completely forgetting she was having a discussion with her beast in her mind and so Jareth couldn't hear them.

"Astrid, what's so funny?"

Her eyes opened wide and she stopped moving at once. She looked like a child caught stealing. Slowly she turned her head to the side, to look at him.

He arched his brows at her, awaiting her answer.

She let out a small cover-up smile, trying to ignore his question. Jareth smiled back at her and said, "Spit it out, Astrid."

His smile dropped immediately and he became serious. Seeing her decoy couldn't work, she dropped her smile as well and told him the truth.

"Nothing much, it is tired and wants to rest some more."

"It is okay. I would just have to carry it while we walk."

"No."

"Yes."

"I said, no."

"I said, yes."

"Urgh!" He pinched his nose bridge as his eyes shut close. 'Does she love to test my patience so much?'

"Look Astrid, you are not fully recovered. You cannot carry it. It would have to walk on its own."

"But I want to!"

"You are doting on it too much and spoiling it. It should be the one carrying you."

The next minute, the little beast got up from where it slept and gave Jareth a deathly glare. "Is he blind or what, Master? Can't he see that I have not grown enough to the stage where I can carry you?"

"Pfft! Hahaha ha-ha," Astrid burst into a fit of laughter at the little beast's remark.

Looking at the laughing Astrid, Jareth's brows furrowed. He hated their mind communication as they could gossip him whenever they wanted.

'This little brat must have said something, for her to be in such a state.'

"ASTRID!" He growled.

"Sorry. Okay, come on little one, let us go," she said getting up.

"Master!"

Before it could protest once more, Astrid bent down and scooped it in her arms. With the little beasts successfully cradled in her arms, she bent down, trying to pick up her bag and ended up wincing at the pain from her injuries.

Jareth rushed forward and picked the bag up before her hands could get to it. He gave her a stern look of 'I warned you, look, see what you have done to yourself.'

"I am fine, thanks. Let us be on our way then."

He wanted to reply to her, but decided against it and glared at the sleeping little beast in her arms.

Not waiting for him, she proceeded forward, leaving him behind to his thoughts.

"Master," Little White-Fire called out.

"Now about that, stop calling me master."

"But, you are my master, master."

Astrid couldn't help the smile form on her lips as she stared at its relaxing form in her arms. "Call me by my name, little White-Fire."

"Okay, master."

"Little White…Ahh!" she sighed inwardly. "Tsk tsk tsk, I also need to change your name. That name is suited for your mother and not you."

"Then what would you call me? Give me something more unique and different," it requested with glee laced in its tone.

"I'll call you Snow Fire."

"What's up with the fire every time, master? You seem addicted to it."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are, master."

"I'll prove to you that I am not."

"How?"

"By changing your name, of course, I would just call you Snow. I would have named you Frost but Elder Glacier already bears it. You have almost the same whiteness of fur as the Elder."

"I like snow anyway. It has a nice ring to it. Snow!"

"Look at you all giddy about a name. I bet Jareth would scold you for faking being asleep."

"I am not faking. I am tired, master. I am at a stage of growth, so I need more rest."

"No wonder you feel weightier than before."

"Is someone complaining?'"

"How could I?"

"Better, I need to grow up quickly, so that I can protect and carry you."

"And Jareth."

"No, just master."

"Why? I thought you also loved Jareth, what happened to the love you have for him?"

"You misunderstand, master. I do not love him, it is you who does. I simply liked him."

0_0

Astrid didn't know what to say. Did this little beast just point out the fact that she likes Jareth? How did it even comprehend that?

She shook her head to brush off the thought and asked, "What really happened between you two while I was unconscious?"

'Hmm, should I tell her that he took advantage of her while she was knocked out?' the little beast contemplated, completely forgetting that Astrid could hear its thoughts as well.

"Wait, what do you mean by he took advantage of me?"

"OOPS!"

"Snow!"

All of a sudden, the little White Tiger-Phoenix beast became silent.

Astrid gently stroked its fur and spoke to it again.

"Snow, you know better than to lie to me."

"Who is lying? I never lied. I just didn't say anything. I still need my sleep for healthy growth, master," the little beast said, propping its head up.

"Why you little…"

Seeing as the words seemed to get stuck in her mouth, Astrid sighed and let it be. It looked at her once more and then closed its eyes to sleep.

They walked on in silent with Jareth at the back. He was also lost in his own thoughts with the events that have been happening and completely ignored the team in front of him.

'He took advantage of me; can my day get any worse than this? How do I ever look him in the eyes? But if he did take advantage of me, what did he do? Then again, that doesn't sound like what Jareth would do.'

She was having complicated thoughts about the issue and after some time, the little White Tiger beast couldn't take it anymore since their minds were linked and spoke up revealing the truth to her.

"You can ask him about how he gave you the antidote if you are so worried."

"I do not think he would answer that. You tell me."

"Why me? I wasn't the one who took advantage of you," it protested.

"Snow, he won't tell me," Astrid said, trying to reason with the little beast.

"He won't or you, master are just too embarrassed to ask him yourself."

"Well, I–I…" she sighed, feeling defeated. "Since you know, shouldn't you just tell me and save me the trouble of asking him myself?"

"No, mother said not to get involve in your lover's fight."

0_0....