If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 92
‘Ruby!’
‘Hey!’
Ruby grabbed a nearby branch before the two panicked spirits could reach her. After a few spins, she hopped to the next tree, stepped on its trunk, and then moved to the side.
Casually hopping back and forth as if using the trees as steps, Ruby had almost descended completely when Ivan leaped up and caught her effortlessly. He snatched her up like a hunter, and as soon as he landed, he examined every inch of Ruby’s body.
He circled the small body with a worried expression on his face, then hardened when he realized he didn’t feel a chill this time either. He furrowed his brow, thinking that the spirit she mentioned yesterday might have been with her just now as well.
“…Duke?” asked Ruby.
Ivan stared into the void, as if trying to pinpoint an invisible presence. “Are they there?”
Ruby tilted her head, unsure if telling him yes would help in this situation. “You wouldn’t be able to deal with them, Lord Ivan.”
He was not a psychic, so of course it was impossible. Nevertheless, Ivan’s face crinkled like his pride had been wounded.
“You’re quick to assume things,” said Ivan. “How would you know if I haven’t even tried?”
“No, you don’t have to try for us to know.”
Everyone had their specialty and abilities. Ivan may be a skilled wolf shifter, but he couldn’t catch a spirit.
But the way he gritted his teeth at her words, Ruby couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation. Her heart pounded in her chest, reminding her of the unfamiliar emotions she’d felt yesterday.
“But…”
“Why, where does it hurt? Oh, is it where you got hurt yesterday?”
Before Ruby could finish her sentence, Ivan was spinning her around in a frenzy, checking her again. By the time she started feeling slightly dizzy, Ruby continued.
“Duke, aren’t you afraid of ghosts anymore?”
It hadn’t been that long ago that he’d been terrified of them. But now, there was no trace of fear on his face.
“…Yes.” Seemingly startled himself, he ran his hand through his hair before blurting out his answer. “Maybe it’s because I’m a little angry…”
The sound of his fangs grinding rang out loudly. Ruby quickly approached him, lifting her heels as she placed her hands on his shoulders.
Her lips lightly brushed against his, the moist sensation diverting Ivan’s gaze from the empty air he was staring at.
As she met his gaze after licking his lips as he had taught her yesterday, she chuckled softly and said, “Unless you want to be a toothless wolf, you better ease up a bit.”
“…Sometimes, I just can’t understand you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you even wonder what the meaning of what you just did was?”
“Does every action have to have a meaning?”
“We never touched lips, not even when I helped you in heat.”
Ivan reminisced about not too long ago. “I drew a line. I believe that line should never be crossed, and I helped you relieve your heat without crossing it.”
At his words, Ruby flicked her bunny ears, which had popped out despite her best efforts.
“Sometimes you seem so human to me, Duke. We’re beastfolk, aren’t we? Shouldn’t we just follow our instincts?”
Her heart still pounding with excitement, she attributed it to just a primal response. She lowered her raised heel, figuring it was to be expected in the presence of such an exceptional male.
