Obsessed to Hate Him-Chapter 41: Change

Chapter 41: Change
LIAM
Something has changed between Kian and me. And I can’t put my finger on what has gone south.
We stayed at our side of the bed all night. I never felt the warmth and comfort I am used to feeling when I sleep with Kian. He didn’t touch me. Cuddle me. And we didn’t talk about it.
What should we talk about? ’Hey! My dear enemy, for who my dick shows interest, why didn’t you cuddle me last night?’ Seriously? This sounds like the most lame thing I have ever heard of. I would rather bury myself six feet deep under the ground than ask Kian this.
No, nope, not happening. Thank you.
Kian is taking me to some sort of cult. The cult is named The Crimson Pact. I don’t know the name of the cult that I am looking for, but I will consider myself the luckiest person in the world if this Crismon Pact turns out to be what I am looking for. But this is the thing. The God of Luck has never been fond of me to grant me such luck, so it is better if I keep my expectations low.
Kian gave me some warm clothes before going to bed, saying that I would need them. I took them and silently tucked them inside my sack. It is almost like I am a floating homeless person by the way I am moving my stuff so occasionally.
After breakfast, we set out. And to my surprise, Jennifer is tagging along with us. She is so enthusiastic about the trip that I am almost getting the feeling that we are going on a trip, which is certainly not the case from how grim and solemn Kian is looking. Sitting across from me, his one elbow propped up on the armrest and his chin on the back of his hand, looking outside the window as if there is something very interesting going on out there.
"It is my first time at the north-west after so long." Jennifer rocks on his seat, excitedly. I am not sure who she directed her words to.
The carriage falls into a suffocating silence before I break it and acknowledge her words, understanding the fact that Kian is not gonna react to anything we say or do right now. He has caved in. "You seem excited. Is there anything special about the region?"
"You don’t know?!" Jennifer gasps dramatically as if I have committed a crime by not knowing what there is in that region.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Of course, I know, duh. I have done my fair share of the research on the maps Oliver sent us before coming here. The northwest region of Oblivara is always covered with ice all around the year. The region contains the largest snow mountains in the kingdom. It is popular for its explicit beauty and tourist spots. But the problem is the region is quite ruler and out of the reach area.
However, I am not about to spill all the beans so I give her a nervous smile and say, "Well, I know a little about the region."
Jennifer looks unimpressed, and she starts to pepper me with all the details of the region and shits that go over my head. My eyes keep fritting to Kian, whose eyes are trained on the tinted window, completely ignoring our existence.
I sigh internally. Honestly, I much prefer the Kian who loves to get under my skin and give me his signature get-under-your-skin-smile. It feels a little...empty now that Kian has switched his gears and being way too...um, stoic and serious? Who knows? But whatever the case is—I am ashamed to admit—I miss the old Kian.
***
The journey took longer than I anticipated. It took us a good three weeks to get where we are right now. Speeding down one of the most icy mountains of the northwest region by a sleigh pulled by a horde of Huskies. The burst of freezing cold breeze needling against my face, stinging it since this is the only part I haven’t covered.
The snow is so dense around the area that the only thing I can see in miles around me is white and a lot of white. I feel like my lungs are frozen and my innards are malfunctioning from how low the temperature is here.
"I still don’t understand why we are here." I have to yell so that Kian can hear me through the rushing wind, the furious footfalls of the Huskies, and the screeching sound of the sleigh as it speeds down the mountain. Kian is standing by my side and guiding the Huskies down the snowy path. "You never elaborated!"
"We are here on another investigation of a cult." Kian doesn’t raise his voice like me, though I can hear him loud and clear as if his voice is slashing through the wind and domineering them. I won’t be surprised if he actually did. "I, too, don’t know much about the details."
"So you came here on a whim?" I look at him with disbelief etched on my face. I think a few flecks of snow just rushed into my mouth at the opportunity. I grimace as I spit.
This is one of the longest conversations we have had since we set out on this journey. I am a little grateful that Jennifer and Fred had a different sleigh, though I am feeling a little bad for Fred as I witnessed how madly Jennifer was driving the sleigh earlier. Not that I care.
Kian looks down at me, amusement gleaming in his ocean-blue eyes, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You could say that. I wanted to see if ice affects you too much."
Finally, a sign of normality since we set out on our journey, but it makes me want to strangle him.
I give him a look of disdain and he grins.
Finally...