Chapter 216: Do not assume my people want the same thing

Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Do not assume my people want the same thing

Swanly did too.

Eira looked at her sister.

Sira tried harder.

"Az..."

Azren put a hand over his heart.

"She knows my name."

Swanly stared at her daughter.

"You barely say Kairo correctly."

Sira smiled.

"Az."

"Traitor."

Azren laughed.

Then Eira, apparently unwilling to be left behind, looked at him.

"Azz."

Swanly gasped.

"Both of you?!"

Azren looked triumphant.

"This is an excellent morning."

"It is a terrible morning."

"It is excellent for me."

Swanly looked down at her daughters.

"You have two fathers."

Sira stared.

Eira stared.

"Two."

Sira pointed at Azren.

"Win’."

"That is not a qualification!"

Azren almost fell out of the air laughing.

Swanly glared.

He slowly landed on the branch again.

But this time, he did not hang upside down.

He sat.

His expression changed.

So quietly that Swanly almost missed it.

The smile remained.

The eyes did not.

Azren looked past her.

Toward the settlement.

Then toward the Veskari camp.

Lyssara was visible in the distance.

Korran stood farther away with several warriors.

Tharek’s massive shape moved between the trees.

Veyra was speaking with another winged female.

Far enough.

But not gone.

Azren’s voice dropped.

"Little fox."

Swanly immediately knew.

Not flirting now.

She adjusted both girls.

"What?"

His eyes remained on his people.

"Do not assume my people want the same thing."

Swanly went still.

The girls continued playing with the wooden ring between them.

One-sidedly.

Sira kept trying to take it.

Eira kept moving it away.

Swanly lowered her voice.

"What does that mean?"

Azren did not look at her.

"There are factions."

"Within the Veskari?"

"Yes."

She looked toward the distant camp.

"Lyssara?"

Azren’s mouth tightened.

"I am not giving you names."

"Convenient."

"I do not know enough to give you names safely."

That answer surprised her.

Swanly watched him.

Azren continued:

"Some want the Heart destroyed."

His antennae moved slightly.

"Some want it recovered."

"Recovered for what?"

"I don’t know."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Yes."

His answer was immediate.

He finally looked at her.

"Because when I lie to you, little fox, I prefer the lie to be entertaining."

Swanly almost smiled.

Almost.

"And the others?"

Azren’s face became colder.

"Some believe it belongs to the royal bloodline."

Swanly stared.

"Your royal bloodline?"

He said nothing.

That was enough.

Her arms tightened around the twins.

"So when Lyssara says your people need the Heart..."

"She is speaking for the expedition."

"Not every Veskari."

"No."

"And you?"

Azren smiled faintly.

"Complicated."

"That is not an answer."

"It is the only one you are getting."

Swanly’s ears flattened.

"You drag me into this conversation, warn me that your own people might be divided, then refuse to tell me which side you’re on?"

"I just publicly sided with your snake."

"That does not tell me what you want."

Azren’s eyes shifted toward her.

For once, there was no joke.

"I want you alive."

Swanly stopped.

He held her gaze.

No grin.

No ridiculous pose.

Nothing.

Just those pale-violet eyes.

Swanly’s heartbeat stumbled once.

Azren continued quietly:

"And I want you to stop assuming that everyone standing outside your wall is dangerous for the same reason."

She swallowed.

"Why are you telling me?"

"Because you noticed."

"Noticed what?"

"That I am not as stupid as I pretend."

Swanly said nothing.

His mouth curved slightly.

"And because I like you."

There it was.

Again.

But not thrown carelessly this time.

Swanly looked away.

"Azren..."

"I know."

"No, you don’t."

"You have two mates."

"Yes."

"You do not trust me."

"No."

"You think I am irritating."

"Extremely."

"You still think I am handsome."

Her head snapped back.

"I did not say that."

"You did not have to."

She glared.

The idiot returned immediately.

Azren leaned back against the trunk.

"You stare."

"I am analyzing a threat."

"Analyze lower next time."

Swanly’s face heated.

"YOU..."

A voice called from behind him.

"Your Highness!"

Azren’s entire expression changed.

Gone.

The sharp male who had just trusted her with something dangerous vanished.

In his place sat the ridiculous prince again.

He threw both arms wide.

"Finally! Someone has come to rescue me from this cruel female."

Swanly stared.

A Veskari warrior approached through the trees.

"What are you doing?"

Azren pointed at Swanly.

"Courting."

"No, you are not," Swanly said.

Azren sighed.

"Failing at courting."

"Yes."

The warrior looked exhausted already.

"Commander Korran wants you."

"Korran always wants me. Usually tied to something."

Swanly almost laughed.

Azren saw.

His eyes flashed.

She immediately stopped.

Too late.

He smiled.

A real one.

Small.

Victorious.

Damn him.

Swanly turned.

"I’m leaving."

"Little fox."

She stopped despite herself.

"Be careful where you step today."

Her skin chilled.

She looked back.

Azren was smiling again.

Stupidly.

Like the sentence meant nothing.

Swanly’s eyes narrowed.

He knew.

Maybe not what.

But something.

She said nothing.

Then walked away.

She did not hand the twins off.

That had been the plan.

It failed because Sira screamed the moment Swanly tried giving her to Tilla, and Eira immediately grabbed Swanly’s clothing with both hands.

"Mama."

"Mama."

Two silver-eyed faces stared up at her.

Swanly sighed.

"Fine."

The System appeared near her shoulder.

"This violates the low-attention strategy."

"They are babies."

"They are venomous babies."

"They are quiet."

Sira immediately shouted:

"MAMA!"

The System stared.

Swanly stared back.

"Shut up."

She continued toward the older section of Ironwood.

Carefully.

Not directly toward the deepest seal.

Just close enough.

Soren was already there.

Of course.

He had been speaking quietly with Raku near one of the older stone rooms.

Thalara stood farther inside.

The moment Swanly appeared, Soren’s eyes went to the twins.

Then to her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Walking."

His expression flattened.

"With both girls."

"Yes."

"Toward the sealed section."

Swanly stopped.

"You are irritatingly observant."

"Thank you."

"That was not praise."

"It sounded like praise."

She stared.

Too much Azren today.

Soren approached.

His hand settled carefully at her waist.

The girls noticed.

Eira looked down.

Sira looked down too.

Soren saw them looking.

"No."

Sira reached toward his hand.

He moved it higher.

She reached again.

"No."

Eira helped.

Two tiny hands attempted to remove their father.

Soren caught both wrists.

"Enough."

Swanly laughed under her breath.

"You are losing authority."

"I rule Ironwood."

"Not these two."

He looked at his daughters.

Both stared back.

Soren’s face became grim.

"Apparently."

Then Sira released her sister’s wooden ring.

It fell.

Tap.

Onto the stone floor.

Both twins froze.

Swanly’s smile disappeared.

Eira’s head turned downward.

Sira stopped moving.

Completely.

Their silver eyes fixed on the floor.

Soren noticed immediately.

His hand left Swanly’s waist.

"What?"

Neither girl looked at him.

Thalara turned from across the room.

Her purple eye widened.

Color drained from her face.

"No..."

Swanly’s stomach dropped.

"What?"

Eira wriggled in her arms.

Swanly lowered her carefully.

The baby dropped onto her knees.

Her tiny pale tail curled behind her.

Sira slipped down beside her.

For once, neither fought.

Neither smiled.

Eira placed one tiny palm against the stone.

Silence.

Then:

THOOM.

The entire room jumped.

Swanly staggered.

Soren caught her.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

The stone beneath their feet vibrated.

Outside, warriors shouted.

Eira did not move.

Her palm remained against the earth.

Beside her, Sira slowly smiled.

Not her usual sweet baby smile.

Something tiny.

Eerie.

Knowing.

And from outside the room, Druun whispered:

"It knows them."