Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest-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.

"It's you," she whispered, her voice low but trembling with emotion. Her fiery red eyes bore into his, glowing with a heat that no flame could match. "Only you!"

Her slender hands rose, cupping his face with a reverence that belied the storm of emotions raging inside her. The heat of her palms seeped into his skin, her fingers trembling ever so slightly as they brushed against the sharp lines of his jaw. Her body was already hot, worn out from the fight, her energy drained and aching for rest. But none of it mattered. Not now.

"Come here," she murmured, her voice husky, commanding yet vulnerable all at once.

And then she kissed him.

It wasn't gentle or hesitant. It was fierce, unrelenting, born from a place f raw desire and possessiveness. Her lips crashed against his with a hunger she hadn't allowed herself to feel until now. This wasn't a kiss of innocent affection or restrained longing. This was something deeper, something primal-a need to claim him, to make it known that he was hers.

Astron's body stiffened for a fraction of a second, but only just. His composure melted as her fervor enveloped him, and his arms instinctively tightened around her, pulling her closer. The heat between them grew, their bodies pressed together as though trying to erase the space that still dared to exist. Irina's fingers slid from his face to tangle in his dark hair, gripping tightly as if afraid he might pull away. Her lips moved against his with a fervor that matched the fire coursing through her veins. She tilted her head. deepening the kiss. pouring every ounce of her frustration. her passion. her need

into it.

This wasn't about expectations or the weight of the world anymore. This was about her. About him. About the undeniable connection that had simmered between them for far too long.

Astron responded in kind, his own restraint slipping as he matched her intensity. His hand moved from her back to her waist, his grip firm but not rough, grounding her in the whirlwind of emotion. The other hand slid to her neck, his thumb brushing against her pulse, which beat wildly beneath his touch.

Time seemed to freeze, the world outside the training room fading into oblivion. There were no whispers of duty, no chains of obligation. Just the two of them were lost in the fire they had ignited. Irina pulled back just enough to catch her breath, her forehead resting against his as she panted softly. Her eyes, bright and unyielding, locked onto his, her voice trembling with determination and desire.

"I don't care about them," she said, her tone raw and fierce. "Not the mansion, not my family, not the world. None of it matters. You hear me? It's you, bastard. It is you."

She didn't give him a chance to respond, surging forward to claim his lips once more. This time, her kiss was slower, but no less intense, her actions deliberate as if carving her feelings into him with every movement. Her body burned with exhaustion and desire, but she didn't care. She couldn't

care.

Because in this moment, he was hers. And nothing else mattered.

Irina's breath was ragged as she pulled back again, just barely enough to speak, her lips still brushing against his. Her fiery red eyes blazed with unrestrained passion, her exhaustion forgotten, her focus entirely on the man in front of her.

Her body burned hotter than ever, her Emberheart lineage igniting a heat that seeped into every fiber of her being. It wasn't just the lingering adrenaline from their spar or the weight of her feelings -it was the sheer presence of him, the way his hands steadied her, the way his lips answered her

every movement with equal intensity.

Slowly, deliberately, she shifted, her knees sliding against the ground as she climbed over him. Her thighs straddled his hips, her body rising until she knelt above him, her gaze bearing down on him with an intensity that made his calm exterior falter for a moment. Her hands pressed against his chest, her fingers curling into the damp fabric of his training attire.

Their lips met again, and this time, the kiss was wild, consuming, filled with an urgency she couldn't name. Her body moved instinctively, leaning into him as though she could imprint herself on him entirely. Her hands slid lower, brushing against the planes of his chest, her touch firm yet trembling with the intensity of her emotions.

Her fingers curled around the edge of his shirt, tugging at it as a low growl of frustration escaped her lips. The fabric clung to his skin, damp and taut, and it felt like an obstacle-something that didn't

belong there.

"This," she murmured against his lips, her voice husky and demanding, "is in the way

Astron's gaze met hers, his purple eyes darkening with an intensity that matched her own. He didn't. speak, but the slight curl of his lips and the way his hands moved to rest on her waist told her he

wasn't going to stop her.

Her fingers gripped the hem of his shirt, her movements hurried yet deliberate. She leaned back just. enough to tug at the fabric, her breath catching as more of his skin was revealed. The pale, jade-like glow of his body beneath the dim lighting of the training room made her heart race faster. Her hands traced the newly exposed skin, her touch lingering as if trying to memorize every detail. Astron's hands tightened on her waist, his touch grounding her even as it sent shivers through her. "Irina," he murmured, his voice low, a quiet warning that was betrayed by the faint hitch in his

breath.

But she didn't care. Not about his hesitation, not about anything else. Her lips descended on his again, silencing whatever he might have said, her fingers splaying against the bare expanse of his chest. Her touch was more confident now, emboldened by the fire coursing through her veins.

She pulled back briefly, her lips swollen and her breathing uneven as she looked down at him. Her hair fell around her face in wild waves, her eyes fierce and unrelenting. Her hands slid lower, brushing over the hard lines of his abdomen, her touch exploring, possessive.

"You......you are going to sleep here today"

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