Chapter 19 : A pinch of Romance in the air

We were running through the woods, jumping over the bushes at break neck speed. I turned around and saw that two lycans had followed us into the woods. Why did it have to be the woods? And why the goddamn lycans again? I swear, I can’t seem to catch a break.

Both of us increased our speed, which turned out to be a big mistake. Stephanno was doing fine, but I was still new to this stuff. I mean, I started training only a few weeks back as opposed to other guardians who had their training from six years old. I lost my balance and tripped on the roots of a gigantic tree and went straight down. Stephanno stopped and looked back and saw me lying in the ground, swore loudly and traced his steps back.

But it was too late already, the lycans were already on us. I had gotten myself tangled in the trees roots, which were now swirled around me like a python.
Both of them attacked at the same time, ignoring my existence completely and going for Stephanno instead. He expertly dodged their attack and rolled to the ground. The larger of the two went straight for his neck, but Stephanno blocked it in the nick of time, but the lycan had got his right hand instead which he had raised to block the attack. I winced sharply as I saw thick red blood flowing from Stephanno’s right hand. He fought like a wolf, prancing and dodging. It was like this was not his first time fighting with lycans.

I quickly untangled myself from the roots and rushed towards Stephanno to ensure he was safe. But the other lycan jumped on me before I couldn’t make my way to him. I raised my hands protectively over my head, bracing myself for the pain to come, but it never did. I slowly opened my eyes and found that the lycan was lying helplessly at the roots of the same tree were I was laying just a few moments ago.

I looked up and saw a hand extended towards me, I quickly grabbed it and pulled myself up. I sighed with relief when Stephanno’s sweaty face came into my view and I locked eyes with him. He looked at me intently for a slit of a second, then quickly pulled his hand back, breaking the moment. I looked around and found the other lycan lying dead on the ground. Stephanno took out two full grown lycans in the time it took for me to close and open my eyes. It was like he was raised in the forest with animals instead of humans.
“Let’s go…..There is cave nearby.....a shortcut” he said, and I nodded meekly and followed after him.

How the hell did he know there was a cave around here? He seemed to be knowing his way around the woods, which was surprising as he could never have entered this deeply inside the fire sect. But he went on turning left , then right as if it was his own home.
I remembered the first time I had been in this woods. Stella, Justin and me were so lost that we had ended up circling the same place many times.

Stella….tears started threatening to break out of my eyes. She had been my roommate, and also my best friend, the only friend I had made except for Justin. It was only a few days back, we had both sneaked into the guest house where Dominic’s concubines resides and we had swapped their compact powder for sneezing powder, emptied their conditioner bottle and filled up that bottle with toothpaste instead. We had a blast when Savannah couldn’t get the toothpaste of her hair and Laya ended up sneezing wildly for the whole day.
Dr John will get her treated , right? Nothing will happen to her. Speaking of Dr John, I wonder if he made it out alive. Even if he didn’t, the water sect has healers too, right. Okay, relax Jess, nothing is gonna happen to Stella.

We soon came across a waterfall, a huge magnificent, glorious waterfall. I could stare at it mesmerized for an entire day. We soon made our way downwards, climbing down from using the help of rocks. I willed myself not to look down, as it was very steep. we soon reached towards the mouth of the waterfall. We were getting showered on by the splashes of water from the waterfall. I frowned. I hadn’t even heard, much less seen the waterfall the last time I was here. I guess, we were really deep into the woods, which immediately led me to wonder, how Stephanno knows about this place? Fire sect and water sect have been at odds with each other since its very existence, so I doubt the fire sect just allowed Stepahnno to roam around their woods and admire its scenery. I wanted to ask him, but I held my tongue. I was already in ice thin trouble with Stephanno. Until we are on a more solid ground with each other I can’t pester him with questions or he will just ice me out again.

Stephanno took of his white shirt which was now covered with blood and water and threw it on the ground. My eyes took in his well carved body drizzling in the crystal droplets of the water fall, his broad shoulders, his eight pack abs and his muscular arm….Holy crap! His arm was still bleeding from the lycan’s bite. I cursed myself for not taking care of it earlier and immediately took a step forward.

He raised his eyebrows as I approached him but didn’t move away. I was wet to my bone, my already tight black top, hugging tightly to my body, emboldening my curves. I bent my knee and took the shirt he just threw and tore it. I got up and hesitantly took his right hand. He was watching me intently, while I turned the piece of cloth into a bandage and wrapped it around the bite mark tightly, stopping the bleeding. I caught my breath as I saw how close were standing, my heart thundering. An involuntary shiver escaped from my mouth as the cold hit. God! I was wet and shivering like an idiot in front of my crush....perfect!

I shyly stepped away, leaving his arm. Hhmm, wait a sec, was I blushing? Why was I being shy? I frowned, I wasn’t being my normal self. Me…being shy? That is absolutely unheard of…
He searched my eyes, looking for something in it. I stared back at him hesitantly. Then he blinked, cleared his throat and said, “ See the cave over there, right at the edge of the waterfall?”
I nodded taken aback by his sudden change of attitude.
“That’s the way out…..There is a tunnel behind the cave.
It will soon take us directly into the water sect.”

I nodded at him and followed after him into the cave, my heart still thundering. I sighed, was I the only one who felt something? How can he be so indifferent towards me? Why won’t he claim me as his mate and put an end to this agony?
I was preoccupied with my agonizing thoughts I didn’t pay much attention to the surroundings. I slipped over a rock, which was slimy and fell hard into the ground. I yelled out loud.
It was the same leg which I had got stuck earlier in the roots of that damn tree. I yelped out with pain as I realized that I had twisted it. Ugh! okay, I just have to bear for few minutes, then I will heal.
I was still bewildered by the speed in which I healed, but it was a welcome change. I looked up and saw three stones holding on each other, that was the roof of the cave. If just one stone moved slightly, the entire cave would fall. I tried to look around the cave to see something, but to no avail. It was pitch darkness, I couldn't make out anything except the huge figure that was right in front of me.

Stephanno swore and knelt beside me and checked my leg. I yelled out loud, when he touched my leg….Okay! it didn’t hurt that bad, I had only twisted it a little. I could still manage to walk if I tried….but what’s a girl gotta do when a handsome hunk was looking at her with a concerned expression? As he started testing my leg, I started wailing loudly pretending to be in the utmost pain. He sighed, then finally gave up and took me in his arms….Ha! yes score one for team Jess.

I wrapped my arms around him as soon as he held me in his arms in bridal style and started walking.
When he looked at me with suspicion, I gave him my innocent wide eyed look. He walked all the way through the tunnels to the water sect with me in his arms. I laid my head in his chest and sighed hoping it would last a little longer.

Soon, we were out of the tunnels and Stephanno put me down, but didn’t release his grip on my arm. He was still holding my shoulders, lending me support which I didn’t need because my leg was already healed. Damn, I do heal really fast. The little pain I had felt earlier was also gone. But I still pretended to be in agony and gripped his muscular arm tightly while grinning to myself. Hhm…my darling Stephanno, you think you can stay away from me. I am a sly bitch….you will soon be in my little fingers, my prince charming. I snickered at the thought which caused Stephanno to look at me with suspicion, so I immediately changed it into a moan of pain.

I looked around me and saw that we were in an island. Everywhere it looked , I could see water….I saw the blue flag of the water sect, flying proudly on top of its fence. We had reached the borders, we were now officially in the water sect….. I stopped for a moment and took in the scenery, hoping it would feel like home, like this is where I belonged. But just like inside the fire sect, I didn't feel whole at comfort here too. I sighed. I so badly wanted myself to belong somewhere, but that feeling never came...

A man in a navy blue uniform immediately rushed forward and bowed his head towards Stephanno.
“Your honour, you are hurt…”
“Thanks Peter, for pointing out the obvious” Stephanno replied, dryly.
Peter looked at me enquiringly and Stephanno sighed and replied, “ She is Jessica Valdemeire, the Mistress of the Fire Sect. As Dominic had left by car, I assume, he has already reached here?”

He didn’t introduce me as his mate but as Dominic’s wife? I was fuming with rage inside.
“ Yes, Sire, he already came here with his right hand man, but we have ordered them to stay out till you come.”
Dominic ordered to stay out? Ouch! I am thinking he didn’t take that quite well….

“So where is my HUSBAND?” I asked Peter, stressing on the word ‘husband’ .
I looked at Stephanno and snickered when I saw that I had succeeded in wiping of the silly smirk off his face. His eyebrows shot up to his hair, and his eyes narrowed dangerously as I said the word ‘husband’. Ha! You messed with the wrong girl…..two can play at this game.