Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 684 152.2 Don't Escape

"....Don't escape...."

Irina's breath mingled with his, the faint lavender scent of his presence intoxicating and grounding her all at once. Her body moved with a will of its own, every ounce of hesitation burning away as she closed the gap, her lips brushing against his with a softness that sent a shiver down her spine.

For a moment, everything stopped-the echoes of the arena, the weight of exhaustion, the rational whispers in her mind-all silenced by the warmth of the kiss.

Her lips pressed fully against his now, tentative but firm as if she feared he might vanish if she let go. Her hands, trembling moments before, steadied against his chest, feeling the solid strength beneath her touch. His heartbeat, steady and strong, thrummed against her palms, matching the frantic rhythm of her own.

It had been so long-too long-since they had shared something like this. Her mind flickered back to that night under the moonlight, where the stillness of the world had allowed them a fleeting moment of vulnerability. She hadn't touched him like this since then, hadn't allowed herself to feel this close.

But now? Now, her restraint crumbled.

'Was I always this weak?' she thought, though the question lacked any real venom. Instead, it carried a raw honesty she rarely let herself feel. 'Or... did I just miss this? Miss him?"

Her body betrayed her further, leaning into him as though seeking to erase the distance that had lingered between them for weeks. It wasn't just the fight, the adrenaline, or the heat of the moment-this was something deeper, something she hadn't let herself acknowledge until now.

'I was craving this,' she realized, the admission crashing into her like

him.'

wave. 'Craving

Astron didn't pull away. His body tensed at first, as though caught off guard, but he didn't stop her. Slowly, hesitantly, his hand rose, fingers brushing against her back. The touch was light, almost as if he feared breaking the fragile moment, but it sent a spark through her all the same.

Her kiss deepened slightly, her desperation breaking through the careful mask she usually wore. This wasn't about pride or power or even winning-it was about something far more vulnerable. And though she'd never admit it, not even to herself, she didn't want this to end.

When she finally pulled back, just barely, her breath came in soft, uneven gasps. Her face flushed, her lips tingling from the kiss. She didn't dare meet his gaze at first, fearing what she might see there. But when her eyes flicked upward, she found him looking at her, his purple eyes wide and unreadable.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Astron seemed genuinely caught off guard. His calm, unshakable demeanor had cracked, and beneath it, she saw something raw- something real.

She swallowed hard, her cheeks burning as she realized the weight of what she'd just done. "Don't..." she whispered, cutting him off, though she wasn't sure what she was asking for. "Just... don't say anything."

Astron's eyes narrowed slightly, the faint flutter of his dark lashes betraying a fleeting hesitation before he composed himself once again. Irina could see the shift, subtle but unmistakable-the moment he began to regain his control, steadying the cracks in his usually unshakable demeanor.

'He's getting a hold of himself,' she thought, a pang of annoyance and something else entirely tugging at her chest. Just like he always does."

But even as the calm returned to his features, his piercing purple eyes locked onto hers once more. The intensity in them made her stomach flip, drawing her in as if the entire world had faded again. They weren't just looking at her; they were seeing through her, leaving her utterly captivated.

Her breath hitched as her hands began to move, her body acting without permission. One hand slid down from where it had rested, her palm pressing gently against his chest. Beneath her fingers, she felt the unyielding strength of his muscles, firm and robust in a way they hadn't been before.

"This is different,' she realized, her thoughts swirling. 'He wasn't like this back then... during the finals.'

Her memory flickered to their previous battles, how he had moved with speed and precision but lacked the sheer physical power she now felt beneath her touch. His body had changed, and improved, just like his strength and speed. And yet, as her fingers lingered, her thoughts drifted to another possibility.

'Or is it me?' she wondered, her cheeks warming further. Am I... noticing him more because... I've fallen for him?'

The thought made her heart stutter, but she pushed it aside, letting herself focus on the moment instead. Her other hand moved almost instinctively, fingers tracing the line of his neck with a delicate touch. His skin, smooth and warm beneath her fingertips, was damp with the sweat of their intense fight, yet it only added to the strange allure he seemed to exude.

She swallowed hard, her fingers swirling gently against his skin, collecting a small droplet of sweat. Without thinking, she brought it to her lips, tasting it with a soft flick of her tongue. The saltiness mixed with something she couldn't quite place-a lingering trace of lavender, perhaps, or maybe just the intoxicating effect he seemed to have on her senses.

Astron's reaction was immediate, though subtle. His eyes twitched, the faintest flicker of tension passing through his otherwise composed expression.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

Astron's question lingered in the air, his steady, low tone laced with a tension Irina couldn't ignore.

But instead of embarrassment clawing at her, she felt something else entirely-a spark of exhilaration. The moment his composure cracked, however subtly, a sense of triumph flooded her. The thrill of seeing him caught off guard outweighed the mortifying reality of her actions.

'So even he can't completely keep his cool,' she thought, her confidence rekindling as she leaned in slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's wrong? Not so

composed?"

The faint tremble in Astron's body didn't escape her notice. Barely perceptible, but it was there, a small sign that she'd managed to unsettle him in a way few-if any-ever could. Her confidence surged at the realization, and when his sharp purple gaze locked onto hers, his words came with an edge of dry provocation.

'Finally,' she thought, her lips curving into a sly smile. Finally, I'm winning.

"I wasn't expecting you to have such... preferences."

Irina didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her smirk unfaltering

as she leaned closer. "So what if I have?" she murmured, her voice low and teasing. "Do

you have a problem with it?"

Before he could answer, she moved again. Her head dipped, her forehead brushing lightly against his as her face lowered toward his neck. The faint scent of lavender grew stronger, mingling with the warm saltiness of sweat. Her lips brushed against his skin, soft and deliberate, before she buried her face fully against his neck.

"I don't hear you complaining," she added, her words muffled against his skin. Astron's breath hitched, a sound so quiet that anyone else might have missed it. But Irina was too close, too attuned to him now to miss even the faintest reaction. Her hands shifted slightly, one still pressed against his chest, the other moving to rest lightly on his shoulder as her lips found his neck.

She kissed him there, softly at first, her lips testing the sensation before her tongue flicked out, tasting him. The warmth of his skin mingled with the odd, lingering sweetness of lavender, and for a fleeting moment, her mind stuttered at the absurdity

of it all.

'Lavender?' she thought, her brow furrowing as she lingered against him. 'Why does he taste like lavender? That doesn't even make sense.'

The realization made her pause, but only for a moment. The taste wasn't unpleasant-n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

strange, yes, but it was undeniably him, and the sheer intimacy of the act sent another jolt of adrenaline through her. She pressed closer, letting herself sink into the moment, the weight of the arena and the world outside falling away.

To be frank, she also doesn't have such preferences, and this action is something that she had never thought that she would do. And in fact, if someone were to say that she would do something, she would even feel repulsed by that.

Irina's thoughts spiraled as she lingered against his neck, the taste of lavender and salt. on her tongue, her senses heightened to an intensity she hadn't expected.

"To be honest, I don't even have preferences like this, she thought, a flicker of self-awareness breaking through the haze. "This isn't me. This is something I'd normally hate. If someone told me I'd do something like this, I'd laugh. No, I'd be

disgusted!

But disgust wasn't here. Not even close. Instead, she found herself leaning into the moment, enjoying it in a way that felt entirely out of character. The intimacy, the warmth of his skin, the strange allure of the lavender-like taste-it was all so foreign

yet so... good.

'His sweat doesn't taste bad. No, it's not just that-it's almost like it's... pleasant?" She frowned slightly against his neck, her thoughts racing. 'Wait. Can sweat even taste good? Or is that something unique to him?"

Her fingers brushed against his chest again, tracing the lines of his muscles as her mind wandered. 'It could be related to whatever's changed about him recently,' she reasoned, her thoughts drifting to his sharper features, the way his skin seemed to glow even after their battle. His body's different. His aura's different. He's more... everything. Handsome. Refined. Even charming-damn it.'

Her lips hovered over his neck, but her mind kept pulling her into deeper musings. 'Could that have affected this, too? His sweat? That would... actually make sense!

A bold idea began to form, fueled by her curiosity and the lingering heat of their

closeness.

"What if?" she murmured aloud, her voice barely audible against his skin.

"What if?" Astron repeated, his voice steady but low.

SWOOSH!

But then, before she could even think she acted.

Since her mind played a certain scene...

BITE!

And then she bit him on his neck.