Chapter 199: Did you just copy me?

Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Did you just copy me?

Miko saw him.

"THNAKE PAPA!"

"What?"

"HELP!"

Soren looked at Sira.

Then Miko.

"She appears comfortable."

"MY EAR ITH NOT!"

Swanly tried prying Sira’s fingers open.

"Sira."

The baby smiled at her.

"No."

Swanly stared.

"No?"

"No."

Miko screamed:

"MAMA! YOUR DAUGHTER ITH EVIL!"

Swanly pulled harder.

"She is your sister!"

"THAT DOETH NOT MAKE HER LETH EVIL!"

Kairo and Nilo collapsed laughing.

Then Sira opened her mouth.

Tiny fangs showed.

Miko froze.

Soren’s amusement disappeared.

"Sira."

One word.

Cold.

Stern.

The baby stopped.

Her silver eyes moved toward her father.

Soren’s pupils narrowed.

He did not raise his voice.

Did not move.

"Do not."

Sira stared at him.

Her smile faded.

Slowly, she closed her mouth.

No venom.

Then she released Miko’s ear.

Miko scrambled away.

He grabbed his ear with both hands.

"She almoath ate me!"

Soren looked at him.

"She did not."

"She tried!"

"She did not."

Miko pointed at Sira.

"She showed fangth!"

"You have fangs."

"Mine are friendly!"

Kael snorted.

Swanly checked Miko’s ear.

Red.

Still attached.

Good.

Then she looked at Soren.

"You knew."

"Yes."

"You can tell when they’re about to use venom?"

Soren nodded.

"They change before releasing it."

Swanly looked at the twins.

Eira was watching.

Sira was pretending innocence.

Terrible actress.

Soren crouched between them.

His voice softened slightly.

"Biting is allowed."

Swanly whipped around.

"What?"

He continued.

"No venom on your brothers."

Both girls watched him.

Kael stared.

"You are teaching them biting is allowed?"

"They are snake young."

"They are also children."

"Yes."

"So tell them not to bite."

Soren looked at him.

"They will bite."

Kael’s black ears flattened.

Soren calmly added:

"I teach realistic lessons."

Swanly pinched the bridge of her nose.

Then Soren looked at Kael’s sons.

A faintly smug expression appeared.

"My daughters already understand venom control."

Kael stared.

"They are weeks old."

"Yes."

"That is not normal."

"For panthers, perhaps."

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

Soren’s mouth curved.

"Snake young develop quickly."

Kael growled.

Soren looked toward Eira.

"Eira."

She immediately looked at him.

"Sira."

Sira did too.

Soren looked at Kael.

Kael’s face darkened.

"You are showing off."

"I would never."

Swanly laughed.

Kael pointed at him.

"My sons were hunting insects before your daughters could lift their heads."

Soren nodded.

"Impressive."

Kael waited.

Soren added:

"My daughters know not to poison family."

Miko immediately shouted:

"THAT ITH MORE IMPORTANT!"

Kael turned.

"Miko."

Miko slowly lowered his hand.

"...Sorry, Papa."

Soren won.

He knew it.

That was the worst part.

...

That evening, the entire family sat near the central fire.

Ironwood had finally begun feeling alive again.

Children chased one another between the shelters. Females prepared meat and roots over the fires. Warriors changed guard at the walls. Somewhere nearby, Tovan was arguing with someone about stepping on a freshly repaired wooden path.

Brann’s three little wolf cubs slept together near one of the nursing females. Brann sat close enough that every tiny squeak made his head turn.

Swanly sat on a thick hide with Eira curled in her lap.

Kael rested behind her, one muscular arm loosely around her waist.

Soren sat on her other side with Sira against his chest.

The triplets had surrounded their sisters.

Again.

Apparently they had learned absolutely nothing.

Kairo had appointed himself guard.

Nilo had brought Eira a tiny carved wooden animal.

Miko was keeping both ears suspiciously far away from Sira.

Smart boy.

Eira was awake.

Of course she was.

Her pale little snake tail curled around Swanly’s thigh while her silver eyes quietly studied the settlement.

She did not smile.

Did not fuss.

Did not even blink much.

Swanly looked down.

Eira looked up.

They stared at each other.

Swanly narrowed her eyes.

Eira narrowed hers.

Swanly gasped.

"Did you just copy me?"

Eira blinked.

Slowly.

Then rested her tiny cheek against Swanly’s breast like the conversation had ended.

Kael’s mouth twitched.

"She won."

"She cannot even speak properly."

Eira’s head immediately lifted.

"M’ma."

Swanly froze.

Kael froze.

Kairo gasped.

Nilo’s mouth dropped open.

Miko jumped to his feet.

"MAMA! SHE THAID MAMA!"

Swanly nearly crushed the baby against her chest.

"My baby!"

Eira stared at her mother’s suddenly emotional face.

"M’ma."

"Yes!"

Swanly kissed one soft cheek.

"Mama!"

Another kiss.

"I’m Mama!"

Eira endured three kisses.

Four.

By the fifth, her tiny hand planted firmly against Swanly’s mouth.

Swanly went silent.

Everyone stared.

Eira looked pleased.

Soren’s shoulders moved once.

Swanly glared at him over the tiny hand covering her lips.

"Are you laughing?"

"No."

"You are."

"No."

Eira turned toward Soren.

"Pa."

Soren’s amusement vanished.

He went completely still.

Swanly saw it.

Oh.

Oh, this was excellent.

"Did my terrifying snake just melt?"

Soren looked at her coldly.

"No."

Eira reached toward him.

"Pa."

Soren immediately took her.

Swanly burst out laughing.

"Pathetic."

"I am holding my daughter."

"You practically snatched her!"

"She asked for me."

"She said one sound!"

"She knew what she meant."

Kael looked away.

Apparently he wanted no part in this.

Kairo crawled closer.

"Eira, say Kairo."

Eira stared at him.

"Kai-ro."

Silence.

Eira blinked.

Then:

"Ka."

Kairo’s entire little face lit up.

"ME!"

Miko shoved forward.

"Thay Miko!"

Swanly sighed.

"Miko, give her space."

"Mih-ko!"

Eira looked at him.

Then looked away.

Miko froze.

Everyone else tried not to laugh.

"Mama."

"Yes?"

"She ignored me."

"I noticed."

"That’th rude."

Eira continued looking away.

Miko pointed at her. ℯ

"Very rude."

Nilo quietly leaned closer.

"Can she say Nilo?"

Eira turned back immediately.

Nilo smiled.

"Ni-lo."

Eira watched his mouth.

"Ni."

Nilo’s golden eyes widened.

Miko gasped.

"She liketh him more!"

Nilo immediately puffed up.

Only slightly.

But Swanly saw.

So did Kairo.

Meanwhile, Sira had had enough of everyone else receiving attention.

She wriggled violently in Soren’s arms.

"M’ma!"

Swanly turned.

Sira stretched both arms toward her.

"M’ma! M’ma!"

"Oh, you want Mama too?"

Soren’s grip tightened slightly.

"She was comfortable."

Sira wriggled harder.

"M’MA!"

Swanly grinned.

"She disagrees."

Soren reluctantly handed her over.

The second Sira entered Swanly’s arms, she smiled.

Sweetly.

Far too sweetly.

Soren stared.

"She manipulated you again."

"She wanted her mother."

"She wanted something."

Swanly kissed Sira’s cheek.

"What does my baby want?"

Sira immediately pressed her face against Swanly’s chest.

Then lifted her head.

"Miwk."

Everyone froze.

Swanly blinked.

"What?"

Sira slapped one tiny hand against Swanly.

"Miwk."

Miko’s eyes widened.

"She thaid meat!"

"She said milk."

"Miwk!"

Swanly started laughing.

"Oh my God."

Sira became impatient.

"Miwk! M’ma! Miwk!"

"Yes, yes!"

Swanly adjusted her.

"You little greedy thing."

Sira immediately settled.

Her tiny tail curled contentedly around Swanly’s wrist.

Eira watched from Soren’s arms.

Then looked at Swanly.

Then at Sira.

Then back at Swanly.

"Miwk."

Swanly’s mouth fell open.

"You too?"

"Miwk."

Soren looked down at her.

"You ate recently."

Eira stared at him.

"Miwk."

"No."