Chapter 157: It’s just a kiss!

When he turned the corner into the hallway leading to their rooms, Hunter stopped. Zyra was standing right beside his door, leaning against the wall, biting her lower lip to keep from bursting into laughter.

Hunter glared at her, his eyes narrowed. "Go ahead. Laugh. I know you want to." Bianca had taken a cheap shot. That was the kind of fighter she was. He should have expected it, but he had been distracted by the stupid ducks.

Zyra couldn’t hold it in anymore. She let out a loud, ringing laugh, complete with an accidental, snort at the end.

Hunter waited patiently with his arms crossed until her giggles died down. "Are you done?"

Zyra wiped a tear from her eye and nodded. "Yes. I’m good. I am starting to like this cousin of yours. I should take lessons from her." She moved away from the wall, lifting her hand. "Wait here,"

She went to her room, fetched a clean damp cloth, and returned. Zyra gently helped him wipe the blood from his nose and chin.

"Your idea of learning from Bianca is good because I told her to train you while I’m away," Hunter muttered, looking down at her. "Don’t learn the bad stuff, only the useful things."

"Oh?" Zyra nodded nonchalantly, dabbing at his shoulder.

Hunter suddenly caught her wrist, holding it firmly. He looked straight into her eyes, his expression turning serious. "Bianca is extremely fast, but her physical power is not as great as yours. Remember that. You can use her lack of raw strength to your advantage when you spar. If there is a skill you must learn from her, it is the floating steps. That is how she moves as if she is flying, all without making any noise. But be careful, she fights dirty and she likes to leave her opponent bleeding, even in a friendly fight."

Zyra’s heart softened slightly. She nodded. "Got it, follow me."

She grabbed his arm and pulled him into her room, gesturing toward the heavy wooden crates lined up on the floor. "Look at these. I bought weapons and armor for your trip, but I used up all the money I had. I’m completely broke and desperately need energy stones! We might need to go find the next dungeon after you get back."

Hunter looked at the rifles and armor, thoroughly impressed. "Use my money if you need it. I have a few crates of high-grade energy stones stored under my bed. We are partners after all and you bought these for the shelter."

Zyra’s eyes lit up. She gave him a sweet smile. "You’re the best! What about that business proposal?"

"Forget it." He stopped her.

Together, they hauled the heavy boxes down to the central courtyard. Hunter’s team was already assembled. When the men opened the crates and saw the Crocodile Skin suits, they were in absolute awe. Especially after Zyra explained what they could do. Bianca poked and prodded the material inquisitively, bombarding Achilles with a hundred questions about where this gear came from.

"It is not Somnivore tech, and I have not even seen these guns with the black flower guild, and we control ninety percent of Somnivore tech on the market." She whispered, "How did Zyra get these?"

Achilles just shrugged, completely clueless, he looked at her head. "Did you not say that you were going to get a haircut? Go do that. We do not ask questions here."

Bianca nodded, Zyra had made it crystal clear yesterday that she wasn’t answering a single question about her shelter and told her not to poke into what didn’t concern her. Bianca was sure that if she kept asking questions, she would be thrown out. And she did not want that. This shelter was better than the homes in the city.

"Curiosity did kill the cat." She mumbled and let the matter rest because she did not want to be kicked out but she felt sad that she was not going to play in the suits. "I am so jealous. Maybe I should--"

"No." Achilles hissed at her. "If you are laying low, then lay low."

Bianca whined like a sad dog.

Once the men suited up and strapped on their weapons, Nanny Rosita stepped forward. Tears welled in her eyes as she said a tearful prayer for their safety, holding Hunter’s hands tightly. "Safe troubles my boy." She kissed his hand and let him go.

The men began saying their final goodbyes to their friends. Hunter turned, gave Zyra a simple nod and a wave, and prepared to march out.

Nanny Rosita gasped in absolute shock. "Hunter my goodness! Stop right there!"

Hunter paused, turning around confused. "What is it, Nanny?"

"Is that how you say goodbye to your wife when you are going off to war?!" Nanny Rosita scolded, placing her hands on her hips. "What if you are hurt? What if_ " She cut herself off, refusing to voice the bad omen.

Bianca grinned mischievously, crossing her arms. "I’m not a romantic person at all but come on! At least give her a proper kiss!"

Hunter’s ears flushed bright red. He rubbed his brow nervously then rubbed the back of his neck. "We_ we already did all that upstairs," he lied awkwardly, his voice turning stiff.

Zyra sighed internally. If this drags on, people will definitely start getting suspicious of our marriage.

"It is alright nanny_" Zyra began

But Nanny Rosita cut her off. "Nothing is alright my dear girl. I do not know why this child has no small ounce of romance in him! It’s just a kiss, I don’t see why you can’t do it out here if you can do it up there."

Achilles was just chuckling mischievously and making the whole situation awkward. "Yeah, kiss sister-in-law, she is going to miss you."

"Come one guys, you are making a big deal out of nothing." Hunter said as he looked everywhere but at Zyra.

Before Hunter could make things worse, Zyra stepped forward, reached out, grabbed his collar, and pulled him down into a light, but firm kiss right on his lips!

The kiss lasted a full three seconds. As she pulled back, she gave his rear a playful, solid slap.

"See you soon, dear husband!" Zyra winked.

The courtyard erupted into loud laughter, whistling, and roaring cheers from both the humans and the beasts.

Hunter completely zoned out for a moment. His head spun, his cheeks glowing bright tomato red. Flustered beyond belief, he hurriedly pulled his crocodile helmet down over his face to hide his embarrassed expression, turned on his heel, and practically marched to Tyrant at double speed.

Zyra stood there, her body was hot. This was not how she hoped her first kiss would be. Imagine kissing a man first and forcefully at that! What was Hunter going to think of her now?

But she could hardly focus on that when Beauty was screaming and celebrating on the virtual screen. "Crazy," she muttered.