Chapter 234: Meow

Swanly’s mouth opened.

Then closed.

Then opened again.

“You knew.”

“Yes.”

“ALL THIS TIME?”

Sira looked up from beneath the platform.

Eira looked up too.

Both babies stared at their mother.

Azren’s antennae moved faintly.

“You sound upset.”

“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME?”

“You never asked.”

Swanly stared at him.

She genuinely had no words.

Azren watched her face.

Then bit the fruit again.

Crunch.

Swanly’s tail doubled in size.

“You…”

Azren’s gaze dropped.

His smile became delighted.

“There it is.”

“Do not talk about my tail right now.”

“It is very angry.”

“My PEOPLE WERE GETTING SICK.”

“And I am not your adviser.”

That stopped her.

Not because it was kind.

Because it was true.

Azren’s expression changed.

Only slightly.

The ridiculousness faded.

His pale-violet eyes became much older than the male sprawled on the rock pretending not to care about anything.

“I told you there was movement below.”

Swanly remembered.

The wind.

The insects.

The wet ground.

His warnings.

“Those were hints.”

“Yes.”

“You could have just said it.”

“I could have.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

His gaze drifted toward the settlement.

“To see whether you could figure it out without me.”

Swanly’s ears flattened.

“That is an asshole thing to do.”

“Probably.”

“You don’t even feel bad.”

“No.”

She stared.

He lifted the fruit toward her as if offering a peace gift.

The boundary remained between them.

Swanly slapped the air in his direction anyway.

Azren laughed.

Then his eyes sharpened.

“Do not relax.”

Her irritation faded.

“What?”

“You discovered the ground is carrying the sickness.”

“Yes.”

“That does not mean it is over.”

Swanly looked at the raised shelters.

Azren’s voice lowered.

“In fact, little fox…”

The humor vanished completely.

“It is very far from over.”

A chill passed through her.

Before she could ask what he meant, Sira screamed:

“WIN’!”

Swanly jumped.

Both babies had seen him.

Eira crawled out from behind Swanly’s ankle.

Her silver eyes widened.

“Pre’tty.”

Azren’s entire face brightened.

“See? My favorite people.”

Swanly immediately picked up both girls and turned them around.

“No.”

Sira twisted.

“Win’!”

“No wings.”

Eira craned her neck.

“Az.”

“No Az.”

Azren looked wounded.

“They know my name.”

“That is the problem.”

Sira fought harder.

“Az! Win’!”

Swanly hugged her against her chest.

“You have fathers.”

Azren leaned back against the rock.

“Temporary obstacle.”

Swanly’s head snapped around.

“WHAT?”

A shadow fell over her shoulder.

Kael.

He moved with the silent heaviness of a black panther even in humanoid form.

One moment Swanly was alone.

The next, his warm chest was behind her.

His black ears were angled toward Azren.

His tail gave one slow, irritated lash.

Kael leaned down.

Kissed Swanly’s cheek.

Not looking away from the prince.

“Come eat.”

Swanly blinked.

“You cooked?”

“Soup.”

Her expression softened immediately.

“For me?”

Kael’s golden eyes finally left Azren.

“Yes.”

Swanly smiled.

The warmth hit him instantly.

His ears softened.

He took Eira from her without asking.

Eira allowed it.

Sira stayed tucked against Swanly.

Kael looked down at Swanly.

“You haven’t eaten since morning.”

“I ate.”

“You ate half a root.”

“That counts.”

“No.”

He put one hand at the small of her back.

“Come.”

Swanly glanced toward Azren.

The prince was staring at Kael’s hand.

Then at the kiss-marked spot on Swanly’s cheek.

Then at Kael.

His face became deeply unimpressed.

He rolled his eyes so visibly it was almost theatrical.

Then flopped backward across the rock.

Swanly laughed.

“Jealous?”

Azren immediately sat up.

“No.”

“You rolled your eyes.”

“Dust.”

“There is no dust.”

“Wing dust.”

“You don’t shed dust.”

“New development.”

Kael’s tail flicked.

His hand pressed more firmly against Swanly’s back.

“Soup.”

Swanly smiled.

“Yes, yes.”

She let him lead her away.

Azren watched.

His expression remained careless.

Only his wings betrayed him.

The outer pair had gone rigid.

Veyra approached minutes later carrying a shallow wooden tray.

Fruit.

Cooked meat.

A cup.

She stopped several paces from Azren.

“Your Highness.”

No response.

He was staring toward Ironwood.

Toward Swanly disappearing between the shelters with Kael.

Veyra’s fingers tightened around the tray.

“Your Highness.”

Azren finally looked at her.

“What?”

“I brought food.”

“I am not hungry.”

“You were eating.”

“I changed my mind.”

Her jaw tightened.

“You have barely eaten since yesterday.”

“That sounds like my problem.”

“I thought…”

“Do less of that.”

Veyra stiffened.

Azren turned away.

“Leave.”

She did not.

That annoyed him.

His antennae lowered.

“Veyra.”

Her wings shifted.

“I only wanted to…”

“I said leave.”

The coldness in his voice made even one of the nearby Veskari guards glance over.

Veyra’s face flushed.

Humiliation.

Anger.

Something uglier.

Her eyes flicked toward Ironwood.

Only for a heartbeat.

Azren saw it.

His entire body changed.

The lazy prince disappeared.

Chains clattered.

Veyra barely had time to inhale before Azren launched from the rock.

His wings snapped open.

He crossed the distance in one violent beat.

The tray hit the ground.

Fruit rolled.

Veyra gasped.

Azren’s hand closed around her throat.

Not crushing.

Not yet.

But firm enough that every muscle in her body froze.

He lifted her until only the tips of her feet touched the dirt.

Her six wings flared instinctively.

Azren’s own wings spread wider.

Dominant.

Blocking light.

His face was empty.

No smile.

No flirtation.

Nothing.

Veyra’s eyes widened.

“Your…”

“Do not.”

Her voice died.

Azren leaned closer.

“I see you.”

She swallowed against his grip.

“I see the way you watch her.”

Veyra’s pupils tightened.

“I don’t…”

His fingers tightened.

Her breath hitched.

“I see the way you watch her children.”

That frightened her.

Truly frightened her.

Azren’s voice dropped so low only those nearest could hear.

“Stay away from my life.”

His eyes became bright.

Deadly.

“And stay away from my female’s life.”

Veyra trembled.

“She is not…”

Azren’s claws pressed lightly against the skin of her throat.

“Choose your next words carefully.”

She stopped.

He stared directly into her eyes.

“If you harm Swanly…”

His wings rustled.

“…if you harm one hair on her body…”

Veyra’s breathing shortened.

“…if one of those little monsters cries because of you…”

His mouth curved.

Not a smile.

Something far worse.

“I will tear you apart piece by piece.”

Veyra’s face lost color.

Azren continued softly:

“And I will leave you alive long enough for the infected outside to hear every scream.”

Not one ounce of humor.

He meant it.

Veyra knew.

The guards knew.

Even Korran, watching from a distance, did not interfere.

Azren loosened his grip slightly.

“Do you understand?”

Veyra nodded.

He did not release her.

“Use your voice.”

“Yes.”

“Again.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

He let go.

Veyra stumbled.

One wing struck the ground before she caught herself.

Azren stepped back onto the rock.

Picked up another fruit from the fallen tray.

Bit into it.

As if nothing had happened.

Veyra stood there for several breaths.

Then left.

Her pride was burning.

Her throat hurt.

And behind the humiliation, something else had begun to grow.

Fear.

But then again, hatred.

The next morning, Swanly woke because somebody was standing on her.

Not metaphorically.

Actually standing on her.

A tiny foot pressed into her ribs.

“Mama.”

Swanly groaned.

Another tiny body crawled over her chest.

“Mama.”

She opened one eye.

Sira.

The baby was inches from her face.

Silver eyes enormous.

Hair sticking in every direction.

“Mama.”

“What?”

“Meow.”

Swanly stared.

Sira smiled.

“Meow.”

Eira appeared beside her.

“Meow.”

Swanly slowly closed her eye.

“No.”

“Meow.”

“Why are you meowing?”

Miko’s voice came from somewhere nearby.

“I taught them.”

Swanly’s eyes flew open.

“Miko.”

He was already running.

She tried to sit up.

Couldn’t.

Something thick held her around the waist.

She looked down.

White scales.

Soren’s tail.

Again.

It was curled beneath her entire body and around her middle like some enormous living mattress.

Swanly groaned.

“Oh, he’s so cold.”

Soren’s eyes opened beside her.

“I heard that.”

“Good.”

She tried getting up.

His tail tightened.

Swanly dropped back.

“Soren.”

“No.”

“I have five children attacking me.”

“You chose this life.”

“I DID NOT CHOOSE FIVE AT ONCE.”

Kairo ran past.

Nilo followed.

Miko ran past in the opposite direction.

Eira climbed directly onto Swanly’s stomach.

Sira sat on her shoulder.

Swanly stared at the ceiling.

“Somebody kill me.”

Kael made an irritated sound from the other sleeping hide.

Swanly turned.

His black ears were flattened.

His golden eyes looked murderous.

“What?”

Kael stared at Soren’s tail.

“He took you.”

Swanly blinked.

“What?”

“You were sleeping with me.”

Soren closed his eyes again.

Kael’s tail lashed.

“Then I woke up and you were over there.”

Swanly slowly looked down at the snake tail.

Then at Soren.

“You stole me again?”

Soren did not open his eyes.

“Yes.”

Kael’s ears flattened harder.

“You do this every night.”

“Not every night.”

“Three times this week.”

“Four.”

Kael stared.

Swanly slapped a hand over her face.

“Why would you correct him?”

“Accuracy.”

Kael growled.

Soren’s tail tightened around Swanly.

Kael’s eyes dropped.

Swanly immediately pointed between them.

“Not before breakfast.”

Eira crawled onto her chest.

“Mama.”

“Yes.”

Sira climbed onto Eira.

Eira hissed.

Sira hissed back.

Then both started making cat noises again.

“Meow.”

“Meow.”

Swanly looked toward Miko.

He was hiding behind Nilo.

“Miko.”

“They wanted to learn.”

“They are snakes.”