287 I Cannot Trust Him

CHAPTER 287

"Fine, I would. You see, I have managed to study these men during their guard hour before and if I am correct, which I know I am, once they leave to get high, another set of guards cover up for them."

"Basically speaking, we would have been caught if we had gone at that point in time, thinking it was free."

"Exactly. Astrid you get my point. But once they are done, they return to their post and soon after sleep off."

"Such a lousy guard system just like their lousy leader," Jareth remarked his scorn without bothering to hide it.

"Which I like, because we can use it to our advantage. Or would you have preferred a tighter security system?" Cari questioned Jareth.

Jareth had to admit and hand it over to Cari. He was a step ahead of this time because he let his anger cloud his mind and judgment.

"Can we be on our way before anyone notice our absence?"

Both men turned their heads to look at Astrid and nodded in agreement.

At the end of it all, they successfully escaped and scaled the fence without being caught or found out by any of the guards.

At the dead of the night, Jareth led them through some narrow path he found when he ventured to the min forest for his test.

It was situated through a bushy path and they decided to take it as it would shield them from wandering eyes and even cover up their tracks when the guards were sent to chase after them.

After walking for three hours, Jareth was more than sure they had gotten very far from the Outlaw's village and they could rest for a few hours before they continued their journey again.

They did not set up camp or light any fire. Immediately everyone brought out their cloak and settled themselves on the ground to sleep.

Snow and Cari immediately took their positions and within the blink of an eye they were already fast asleep. Only Jareth and Astrid stayed awake, each one unable to sleep.

"Hey, would you please take watch while I go and ease myself?" Astrid's voice made him open his eyes from his forced slumber.

He gave her a silent nod and stood up, waiting for her to do so as well.

He led her down a different path further into the bush till he was sure she would be safe to relieve herself while he was on the watch out.

As quickly as possible, Astrid finished and adjusted her gown on her body then went to meet him where he stood.

As soon as he heard her footsteps he turned around to look at her. "Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I would need you to please try and get some rest. You haven't rested all day, Astrid and the stress on your mind today was much. I would have asked you to erect a barrier but I do not want to stress you and expose your powers to Cari so I would keep watch tonight."

As enticing as her offer was, Jareth could not still agree with her. He held her hands and brought them together in fron to his face, then closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

By the time he opened them back, she could see them filled with different emotions. He was showing her his insecurities and fear without voicing it out.

He pressed his lips to her knuckles while maintaining eyes contact all through and gently moved her hand towards their chest. Right now they were so close together with only an inch separating them.

"I cannot sleep with him by your side, Astrid. I would not sleep or be at peace until you are far from him."

"Jareth," she was about to protest when he interrupted her.

"I am sorry but I cannot trust him, especially not what I heard today."

Astrid's brows creased at Jareth's half confession and she narrowed her eyes at him, oping for a better explanation. "What did you hear?"

"That is not a cause for concern. I would tell you about it later. For now, I need you to trust me and sleep, okay?"

She hated being left in the dark but now, she had no choice but to follow his instructions blindly. Biting down on her lower lip, she nodded her response to him.

He knew he had warned her countless times and till now, she failed to realize what she was doing.

'Old habits do die hard, don't they?" Jareth muttered under his breath. He had been dying to kiss those soft lips of hers since but he had to refrain himself from doing so and now here she was, doing the forbidden act.

He was battling with himself so that he would not do something stupid and claim her lips once more like how his heart was yearning for him to.

After some seconds of battling with himself, he freed her lips using his thumb and hugged her.

"Let us go."

****

Before dawn, Jareth already woke Astrid up and asked her to wake Snow so that they leave at first light. She woke him up using their mind link and the little beast rose up, yawning his tiredness away.

Astrid was about making her way to Cari when Jarewth stopped her before her hands touched him.

She shot him a confused look and he shook his head at her then pulled her away from him.

He had been watching them all night and knew that Cari refused to sleep since, perhaps he was scared of them running away.

So the moment he finally drifted off to sleep, Jareth began calculating till it was thirty minutes later when he knew Cari would be far too tired to wake up and went to wake Astrid up.

This was their chance to actually escape from everyone and everything and every living being.

"This is our chance to leave, Astrid and we must do it now. Trust me on this."