Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 689

Chapter 689 154.2 - Morning

The warmth of the tea in Irina's hands grounded her as she sat across from Astron. The quiet weight of his presence filled the room, the faint scent of lavender mixing with the rich aroma of the tea. Her initial embarrassment began to ebb, replaced by a lingering curiosity and a slow, creeping sense of recollection.

As she took another sip, her gaze flickered to Astron. His composure, his calm demeanor-it was impossible to ignore. And with it, fragments of last night began to piece themselves together in her mind.

She remembered the moment he had carried her, the strength in his arms as he navigated the hallways of the Emberheart. Mansion. She'd been too exhausted to protest, her body too drained to do much more than rest against him. Yet, even in her haze of fatigue, she'd felt safe-an unfamiliar but comforting feeling.

'He laid me on the bed,' she thought, her cheeks warming slightly at the memory. His movements had been deliberate, careful. He'd settled her onto the plush mattress as though she were something fragile, his touch gentle as he ensured she was comfortable.

Her fingers tightened around the cup as the next memory surfaced.

They hadn't simply parted ways after that. Astron had stayed, sitting beside her on the edge of the bed. She could still remember the faint glimmer of exhaustion in his usually sharp eyes, the subtle tension in his posture that spoke of a day spent pushing himself to his limits. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

And yet, even with that fatigue, he'd remained.

They had talked for a while-soft, quiet words that seemed to fill the room with a rare sense of peace. His hand had brushed against hers at one point, a light, fleeting touch that had sent warmth spiraling through her. And then, as if drawn by some unspoken understanding, he'd allowed himself to relax, his head tilting back against the headboard.

'I was tired, she thought, her lips curving into a faint smile. 'So was he'

Her mind wandered further, recalling the subtle touches that had followed. Nothing overt, nothing rushed-just light caresses, hands brushing over shoulders and arms, the occasional shift of weight as they sat close to one another. She hadn't felt the usual tension of expectation or propriety. There had been no urgency, no demand for more. Just the quiet comfort of his presence, his scent, his warmth.

Her exhaustion had eventually caught up with her, pulling her into sleep before she could even realize it. The last thing she remembered before drifting off was the sound of his steady breathing beside her, a rhythm that had lulled her into rest. And then there was him-beside her, resting as well. The memory of his still figure lying beside her returned, and her chest tightened at the thought. Astron, who rarely let his guard down, had chosen to stay. Not because he had to, but because he wanted

to.

Her gaze flickered to him now, sitting across from her, his hand resting casually on his cup. His expression remained composed, but she could see the faint lines of weariness in his features, the subtle reminder of the toll yesterday had taken on both of them.

Irina's gaze lingered on Astron, his composed demeanor a stark contrast to the whirlwind of thoughts still swirling in her mind. She took a small sip of her tea, the warmth soothing but doing little to quiet the growing sense of unease mixed with an odd comfort she didn't want to name.

"Are you still tired?" she asked suddenly, her voice softer than she intended. Astron looked at her, his sharp purple eyes narrowing slightly before he shook his head. "No," he replied, his tone even. "Not anymore. I slept quite well, in fact."

Irina blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the simplicity of his answer. "You... slept well?" she echoed, her cheeks heating slightly as she thought back to the quiet moments they had shared before sleep overtook her.

Her thoughts turned inward. I slept well too, she realized, a fact that surprised her. It had been a deep, peaceful sleep, unbroken by the usual tension or unease she often carried. Was it because of that bastard? Or was I just that tired?

She didn't know. But the thought made her heart twist slightly, a part of her reluctant to admit how much his presence might have helped.

Her lips parted as if to speak again, but then something struck her. Her expression shifted, her eyes widening slightly as she leaned forward. "Wait... what time is it?" she asked, her voice tinged with sudden urgency.

Astron raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her shift in tone. "It's 10 A.M.," he said smoothly, his lips curving into a faint smirk as he took another sip of his tea.

"Ten?" Irina repeated, her voice rising an octave as the weight of the time hit her. Her eyes widened further, and she sat upright, the blanket slipping off her shoulders. "Ten?!"

Panic surged through her. If my mother finds out about this...

She could almost hear the sharp tone of her mother's voice, the disapproving look in her eyes. It wasn't just about missing breakfast-it was about the principle of it. Her mother's strict rules left no room for negotiation or leniency. If something's time had passed, it had passed. There were no second chances.

And now, not only had Irina missed breakfast, but Astron had too. The two of them hadn't shown up, and if her mother found out why...

Her stomach twisted at the thought, but then-

RUMBLE.

Her face burned as her stomach growled loudly, betraying her hunger in the silence of the room. Irina froze, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red as she clutched her blanket tighter.