Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 686

Chapter 686 153.1 - Sleep here tonight

"You're really unfair, you know that?'

Irina froze, her lips still brushing against his neck as a sound she hadn't expected reached her ears.

A chuckle.

It was low at first, soft, like the faintest ripple across calm waters, but it grew richer, resonating from his chest as though it came from somewhere deep and untouched. The warmth of it rolled over her, and for a moment, she couldn't move, couldn't breathe.

Astron chuckled.

Her mind reeled. She had seen him smile before-once under the moonlight, a quiet, subtle thing that had stolen her breath. And again, more recently, with this new, sharper face of his, a fleeting moment that had unsettled her in ways she still couldn't name. But a chuckle?

Never. Not once.

It wasn't the cold, calculated laugh she might have expected from someone like him. No, this was raw, unfiltered, like it had slipped past his usual control. There was no mask here, no detachment- just pure, unguarded emotion, and it echoed in her ears like a melody she didn't know she needed to hear.

Her breath hitched, her body still pressed against his as the sound settled between them.

Irina froze as Astron's hand moved with deliberate precision, his fingers brushing along her jawline before settling gently beneath her chin. The touch was firm but not forceful, carrying just enough weight to guide her, and her breath hitched as his voice, deep and authoritative, broke the silence. "Raise your head."

The words echoed in her ears, the tone commanding yet laced with an undeniable warmth. It sent a shiver down her spine, her body obeying before her mind could catch up. Slowly, Astron lifted her chin, his touch steady, his movements deliberate, until her gaze was locked with his.

His face had shifted completely, the chuckle from moments ago replaced by a seriousness that made her heart skip. The intensity in his eyes, those star-like purple orbs, left no room for her to look away. Yet, even with his stern expression, she noticed the faint curl of his lips-the slightest upward tilt that betrayed his composed demeanor.

Irina's chest tightened. How could he do that? How could he transition so effortlessly from lighthearted to commanding, from open to unreadable, and still hold her entirely in his grasp? It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all, and yet, she couldn't stop the warmth spreading through her chest. His thumb grazed her bottom lip, a feather-light touch that left her trembling. Her lips parted instinctively, her breath catching as she felt his fingers trace the soft curve with a tenderness that made her chest ache. Her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out all other sound.

And then he moved.

Astron lowered his head slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. The moment stretched between them, the anticipation thick and electric, until finally, his lips brushed against hers. The touch was light at first, testing, but it carried a quiet intensity that left her breathless.

He kissed her, and this time, it was him who initiated it.

Irina's eyes fluttered shut as the kiss deepened, her body leaning into his as though drawn by some invisible force. His lips were soft, yet the pressure he applied was firm, his movements slow and deliberate, giving her no choice but to match his rhythm. Her hands, still trembling, slid up to his shoulders, gripping tightly as if afraid he might pull away.

But he didn't. Astron's other hand moved to the small of her back, drawing her closer against him. The heat of his body seeped into hers, and she felt her mind go blank, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of him. His lips were both demanding and gentle, coaxing a response from her that she couldn't have held back even if she wanted to.

It wasn't just a kiss. It was a statement-a claim, a reassurance, and an unspoken promise all at once. Irina felt it in the way his hand steadied her, in the way his lips lingered, in the way he held her as though nothing else mattered.

When he finally pulled back, his movements slow and measured, she found herself breathless, her eyes opening to meet his once more. His face was close, his gaze locked onto hers, and she felt the weight of his presence all over again.

"That," Astron murmured, his voice softer now, though no less certain. "Is the result of your own actions."

Irina stared at him, her chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. Words eluded her, her mind struggling to process the meaning behind his actions, his words. But one thing was clear-he wasn't hiding anymore.

And neither could she.

At the same time......

She couldn't hold it back any longer.

Her chest heaved as she stared at him, the weight of everything her life, her family, her responsibilities-crashing down like an avalanche. The Emberheart Mansion, the family name, the endless expectations, the suffocating legacy. Her mother's sharp words, the demands of the world around her, the unrelenting pressure of her Awakened life.

All of it could burn.

They could all burn.

Because in this moment, none of that mattered. Nothing else mattered.