Free Web NovelChapter 228: Leaving Mantidale (2)
In this psychic landscape, Kestrel and the Queen of Mantidale faced off among the flowers. At the same time, in the real world, Ren had just managed to block a flying kick from a mutant.
The kick came so swiftly that even Ren, with his sharp reflexes, struggled to anticipate it.
The mutant, though small, had an incredibly powerful attack. It could kick something as large as a panda dozens of yards away, breaking solid stone pillars. If a person were hit by such a kick, they’d either be critically injured or worse.
Just moments before, Raymond had been kicked and was still spitting out blood, trying to get up. Ren, acting almost on autopilot from years of training, lifted his arm to block just before the kick made full contact. He immediately moved, his red blade targeting the mutant’s grounded knee.
To anyone watching, the whole exchange was a blur: the kick and the red blade passing each other in a flash.
The force of the kick pushed Ren back, causing him to stumble into the area where Kestrel was and fall onto a couch.
The male mutant, kneeling on one leg, saw blood pooling around his knee. Looking down, he realized his knee tendon had been severed, preventing him from using that deadly kick again.
The female mutant landed next to him, spinning a small knife in her hand. One of her arms looked injured, but her face remained impassive. She showed no concern for her injury, nor any for her ally’s crippled leg.
On the human side, many were scattered around, mostly hurt and unable to move, with only a few trying to rise.
Checking himself, Ren noticed his leg had been injured some time ago, and he had several broken ribs. His psychic incarnation, the orca, also bore multiple injuries and was crying out in distress.
Wincing, Ren managed to stand up, and out of habit, glanced over at Kestrel. freewebnσvel.cøm
Kestrel, who had been standing still with her eyes shut the entire time, suddenly opened them. Those golden eyes, filled with a radiant light and golden swirls, looked down at him.
Ren had witnessed Kestrel’s golden pupils appear several times before. On the sacrificial altar in that dream, in that damp cave, and countless times during the peak moments of battle - every sight of them left him profoundly shaken.
This time, they seemed even more mysterious and enigmatic than ever before, exuding a divine quality that shook his heart. The vast and dazzling gold circulated within her eyes, a beauty almost inhuman.
Her golden eyes fixed upon Ren.
Lifting her hand that was resting on the couch, Kestrel grabbed Ren’s collar, pulling him forcefully in front of her.
She slightly lowered her long eyelashes, bowing her head and pressed her lips to his.
Ren let out a sound, a muffled protest.
"Um... there are so many people here. The fight isn’t over. It’s, it’s too dangerous! Kestrel, what’s going on?" - Countless questions couldn’t make their way out as his chaotic thoughts were scattered.
Kestrel’s tongue invaded, wantonly plundering his mouth, the strong beta pheromones like a potent liquor, spreading a metallic taste between their mingling lips and tongues.
The taste of beta pheromones mixed with blood, their intensity and terrifying potency assailed Ren’s mind. His brain blanked for a moment, unable to form a coherent thought.
The soft, wet intruder brought with it a lethal scent, wantonly stirring within his mouth, entwining with his tongue, severing his rationality, and taking away his soul.
It was Kestrel’s beta pheromone, like lethal poison, the strongest liquor. Ren found his mouth sealed, having no choice but to accept the powerful pheromones entering his body.
Kestrel suddenly kissed him in front of everyone, leaving him flustered and instantly capitulating. He should have felt ashamed, but was already powerless to resist.
Amidst the chaos, Ren could only hear the wounded orca roll its body, making a comfortable chirping sound. All its wounds began to heal in the bliss.
"What’s happening, what happened, why is she treating me like this? How should I react now?" Before Ren could figure anything out, Kestrel had already let him go, a strand of wet silken thread breaking between their lips.
Ren’s eyes were bewildered, only able to see Kestrel’s golden pupils shimmering brilliantly up close. She stared at her own alpha, like a predator who had obtained the food she desired, thoroughly satisfied.
Subsequently, she extended her tiny tongue to lick her moist lips, closing her golden eyes once more.
The bloody and violent battlefield quieted for a moment, whether it was allies or enemy mutants, all turned their gaze towards them for a second. Coming back to his senses, Ren’s face was beet red, almost unable to meet the gazes of his comrades.
He still didn’t understand why Kestrel suddenly opened her eyes and did this to him, and why he didn’t resist... in front of everyone!
He didn’t even know if he should keep fighting right now or just find a little hiding spot to curl up in first.
"Don’t hold back now, we’ve seen the special connection between you two for a while," Nicole, who was standing close by, couldn’t help herself and said these encouraging words to Ren. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
She was also shocked by the sudden move Kestrel made just a moment ago. Being part of the group, whether alpha or beta, they were all really good at noticing small actions and feeling the emotions around them.
The night before their journey started, everyone saw Ren sprinting to Kestrel’s place and the rare smile Kestrel gave him. Even though Nicole sensed the deep feelings brewing between them, she didn’t expect Kestrel to step up so boldly.
Just a few days earlier, Kestrel stood by the flower-covered wall at her home, aimlessly kicking tiny rocks, her face looking puzzled. She shared her worries, confessing that she wasn’t sure about her feelings for Ren.
At that uncertain time, she behaved like a typical teenager feeling the first hints of a crush; but once she got her thoughts sorted, in just a couple of days, it seemed like she totally "swept" Ren off his feet. The two seemed to have moved fast, in the few nights they were out of sight.
Nicole couldn’t help but express her wonder and appreciation. Kestrel’s creative and brave nature really shone through in everything she did, including in matters of the heart.
