Chapter 186: Although I remain available for future children

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Although I remain available for future children

For several long breaths after Selka died, Ironwood forgot how to breathe.

No one moved.

No one shouted.

No one even looked toward the trees anymore.

The arrow still pierced Selka’s head.

Her body lay limp in Brann’s arms, rust-red hair spilling across his thick forearm while three newborn wolf cubs squirmed against her chest, too young to understand why the warmth holding them was slowly disappearing.

Brann understood.

That was the cruelty of it.

He understood everything.

His huge body shook.

"Selka."

Nothing.

His hand, the same hand that could break bone, moved with unbearable gentleness over her cheek.

"Selka."

Still nothing.

One of her remaining mates sat on the dirt several steps away with both hands over his face.

The other had not moved since the mating bond snapped.

He simply stared at Selka with empty eyes.

That connection inside them was gone.

No anger.

No pull.

No living presence at the other end.

Gone.

Brann lowered his forehead against Selka’s hair.

"You were supposed to make me regret keeping you alive."

His voice broke.

A few people looked away.

"You were supposed to hate me."

His shoulders shook harder.

"You were supposed to scream when they banished you."

One of the wolf cubs squeaked.

Brann’s entire face collapsed.

The newborn pushed blindly against Selka’s chest.

Searching.

Again.

Again.

Its tiny mouth opened.

Brann pulled the cub closer.

"I know."

His tears fell onto its gray fur.

"I know, little one."

Another cub began crying.

Then the third.

Three tiny voices calling for something that could no longer answer them.

Swanly’s stomach twisted.

She had hated Selka.

God, she had hated her.

That female had drugged her old body, tortured Nerin for years, manipulated males, tried to kill her, endangered her cubs, invited enemies toward Ironwood, and nearly caused the deaths of people Swanly loved.

Selka had earned punishment.

But Swanly had not decided.

That thought would not leave her.

She had not decided.

Her fingers curled against her clothing.

"I didn’t choose."

Kael was beside her immediately.

He did not ask what she meant.

His hand slipped around the back of her neck, thumb settling beneath one soft white fox ear.

"I know."

Swanly stared at Selka.

"She was horrible."

Kael said nothing.

"She would have stabbed me."

"I know."

"She would probably have tried again if she lived."

"I know."

Swanly’s throat tightened.

"But I still didn’t choose."

Kael pulled her carefully into his chest.

Her body was still healing. He knew exactly where not to press.

"You don’t have to be glad she died just because you hated what she did."

That sentence cracked something.

Swanly swallowed hard.

Across the clearing, Nerin stood completely motionless.

His green eyes were red.

Selka had spent years using his guilt against him.

She had ordered him hurt.

Controlled him.

Humiliated him.

Yet death had still stunned him.

Maybe because hatred did not make watching someone die easy.

Maybe because she had been part of his childhood too.

Maybe because now there would never be another chance to hear her admit what she had done.

Arion stood beside Maela.

His thick golden hair had fallen partly over his face.

Maela’s proud tawny ears had lowered.

Neither spoke.

Raku looked toward Brann and then away.

Even the crocodile, who had watched death without blinking more times than Swanly could count, had gone quiet.

Thalara’s glowing central eye remained half closed.

One blackened claw pressed lightly into the earth.

Roots beneath the soil shifted.

Slow.

Restless.

Druun crouched behind everyone like a gray mountain brought to life.

He did not understand every word.

He did understand grief.

His enormous gaze remained on the three cubs.

One cub cried harder.

Druun’s head lowered.

Then a furious voice exploded again from the forest.

"AZREN!"

Everyone jerked around.

Soren’s head snapped toward the western boundary.

Raku’s hand went immediately to his weapon.

Kael pushed Swanly behind his shoulder on pure instinct.

And high in the branches beyond Ironwood...

Chaos descended.

"LET GO OF MY WING!"

"You are coming down!"

"I was already coming down!"

"You were sitting there!"

"I was considering coming down."

"THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING!"

Branches shook violently.

A dark figure appeared between the leaves.

Then another.

Then three.

Prince Azren was being forcibly removed from his tree.

And apparently he had opinions about the method.

One Veskari warrior had his wrist.

Another had seized the base of his lower wing.

Azren twisted.

"Not that one!"

"Stop moving!"

"You are bending it!"

"GOOD!"

"Violence against royalty! Witnesses! I need witnesses!"

Swanly stared.

A moment ago everyone had been crying.

Now several people looked too confused to continue.

Then Azren broke free.

For exactly one magnificent heartbeat.

His six wings snapped open.

Sunlight cut through the translucent membranes.

Violet-blue veins burned beneath them.

He dropped from the branch with effortless grace.

Tall.

Far too tall.

Around six foot ten, maybe more.

His dark blue-black skin carried a faint violet sheen beneath the daylight. Smooth natural armor framed his broad shoulders, parts of his collarbones and ribs, leaving enough of his powerful chest and abdomen visible to make it very clear the ancient Veskari had not neglected him physically.

Long messy black hair streamed around a face that had absolutely no business belonging to someone this irritating.

Pale-violet eyes glowed beneath dark lashes.

Two elegant antennae swept backward from his head.

Six enormous wings surrounded him.

Dark claws flexed at his sides.

He looked like some ancient war god falling out of the sky.

Then Lyssara grabbed his ear.

"Ow!"

The war god vanished.

"LET GO!"

"You fired a weapon into another ruler’s settlement!"

"I noticed."

"You killed their prisoner!"

"She was trying to stab Swanly!"

Lyssara dragged him the last few steps toward the boundary.

Azren planted both feet.

"I can walk."

"You had several opportunities."

"I was emotionally processing."

"You were flirting."

"That is how I emotionally process."

Korran landed hard behind them.

His huge body hit the earth with enough force to send dry leaves jumping.

His wings flared.

"You absolute embarrassment."

Azren looked personally offended.

"I saved somebody."

"You murdered a prisoner!"

"She stopped being a very convincing prisoner when she escaped her bindings and charged at someone with a blade."

Korran’s jaw jumped.

"That was not your decision!"

Azren pointed at Swanly.

"She was running at my female."

Soren’s silver eyes sharpened.

Kael’s head turned.

Very slowly.

Veyra froze.

Swanly closed her eyes.

No.

Please.

Not today.

Soren’s voice came dangerously soft.

"Your what?"

Azren looked delighted that he had finally gotten his attention.

"My female."

"She is not your female."

"Not yet."

Kael’s growl rumbled beside Swanly.

Soren’s tail hit the ground.

THUMP.

Azren looked from one male to the other.

His mouth curved.

"I missed this."

Kael stared.

Swanly rubbed her forehead.

"I just gave birth."

Azren brightened.

"I know. Congratulations."

She stared at him.

"You are part of the headache."

"That feels unfair. I did not cause the birth."

Kael stepped forward.

Azren immediately added:

"Although I remain available for future children."

Swanly’s head snapped up.