Chapter 275: Papa, tell your face to be nice

Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Papa, tell your face to be nice

Nerin barely had time to react before a little black panther collided with his legs.

"Oof!"

Miko hugged him.

Then looked up.

"Where were you?"

Nerin smiled.

"I was working."

"Again?"

"Yes."

Miko frowned.

"You work too much."

Swanly pointed her spoon at Nerin.

"SEE?! Even the children know!"

Nerin looked helplessly toward Kael.

Kael shrugged.

"You’ve been warned."

Sira spotted Nerin.

"Deer Pa!"

Eira lifted one tiny hand.

"Pa."

Nerin’s face softened immediately.

"Hello, little ones."

Sira stretched both arms toward him.

He carefully lifted her.

She immediately touched his bandaged antler.

"Owie?"

Nerin smiled.

"A little."

Sira frowned.

Then leaned forward and kissed the bandage.

Muah.

Nerin froze.

Sira smiled proudly.

"Better!"

For a moment, he couldn’t speak.

Then his green eyes softened so much that Swanly felt her own heart squeeze.

"Much better," he whispered.

Eira watched.

Then lifted both arms.

"Me."

Nerin laughed softly.

"Of course."

He carefully settled Sira against one arm and reached for Eira with the other.

But Kairo immediately shook his head.

"Deer Papa, your head still hurts."

Nerin paused.

Kairo pointed toward the cushions.

"Sit first."

Nerin blinked.

Then smiled.

"All right."

He sat.

Eira immediately crawled toward him and climbed onto his lap.

Sira followed.

Now he had two little snake girls settling against him as though he were their personal cushion.

Miko squeezed himself beside them.

Nilo stared.

"There isn’t enough space."

Miko shrugged.

"Make space."

Kairo sighed.

"You’re squashing Eira."

"I’m not!"

Eira slapped Miko’s arm.

"Move."

Miko gasped.

"EVEN YOU?!"

Swanly burst out laughing.

Nerin looked down at the children surrounding him.

His smile slowly changed.

For a moment, he looked almost overwhelmed.

He had come expecting to sit quietly at the edge of the table.

Instead, three children were fighting over his lap.

Swanly noticed.

And smiled.

"See? You’ve been missed."

Nerin lowered his gaze.

His ears turned pink.

"I missed them too."

Soren set down his bowl.

"Are you all going to sit on him, or is he supposed to eat?"

Miko looked up.

"You can feed him."

Silence.

Swanly turned toward her son.

Then slowly grinned.

Soren’s eyes narrowed.

"No."

Miko blinked.

"What?"

"No."

"But Deer Papa has babies!"

Swanly choked.

Kael immediately covered his mouth.

Nilo stared at his brother.

"Miko, we are not his babies."

Miko pointed toward Eira and Sira.

"Then why are they sitting on him?"

Nilo opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Then looked toward Swanly.

"Mama?"

Swanly was laughing too hard to answer.

Soren looked at the ceiling.

"Why did we teach them to speak?"

Kael finally laughed.

A real laugh.

And for the first time since the attack, Swanly saw some of the tension leave his face.

She loved that sound.

More than she could explain.

Eventually, the children settled.

Nerin sat beside Swanly, though he carefully left enough space between them.

Soren noticed.

He looked satisfied.

Swanly noticed too.

She looked offended.

"Nerin."

"Yes?"

"Why are you sitting so far away?"

He blinked.

"I’m not..."

She looked at the space.

Then at him.

Then at Soren.

Soren continued eating.

Innocently.

Far too innocently.

Swanly narrowed her eyes.

"Nerin, come closer."

The deer hesitated.

Soren’s tail slowly moved beneath the table.

Nerin looked down.

Then up.

Swanly followed his gaze.

"Soren."

"Yes?"

"Your tail."

"My tail?"

"Move it."

He looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because you’re being ridiculous."

Soren’s expression remained perfectly calm.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about."

Kael sighed.

Nerin looked as though he wanted the ground to swallow him.

Swanly leaned toward Soren.

Whispered something against his ear.

His silver eyes narrowed.

Then, very slowly, his tail moved aside.

Nerin blinked.

Swanly smiled triumphantly.

"There!"

Kael raised one eyebrow.

"What did you tell him?"

Swanly smiled.

"Nothing."

Soren looked deeply displeased.

"Eat your food."

Swanly giggled.

Nerin carefully moved closer.

Only a little.

But enough.

"Now," Swanly said happily, "let’s eat."

She reached for the roasted meat.

Picked out a particularly tender piece.

Then turned toward Nerin.

"Here. You should have some of..."

A large hand appeared.

Kael smoothly took the meat from her spoon and placed it into Nerin’s bowl himself.

"There."

Swanly froze.

Nerin froze.

Kael looked pleased.

"I’ll help."

Swanly slowly turned toward him.

"Kael."

He looked at her.

"Yes?"

She smacked his upper arm.

Pak!

"YOU BIG CAT!"

Miko gasped.

"Mama hit Papa!"

Kael didn’t even flinch.

He simply looked at his mate.

"What?"

"I was feeding him!"

"He has food now."

"THAT’S NOT THE POINT!"

Kael’s golden eyes gleamed.

"What is the point?"

Swanly stared.

Then narrowed her eyes.

"Oh, you think you’re clever?"

"A little."

Soren actually chuckled.

Swanly turned toward him.

"Don’t encourage him!"

Soren calmly took another bite.

"I’m enjoying my dinner."

Swanly huffed.

Then selected an even bigger piece of tender meat.

She leaned toward Nerin.

"Open."

Nerin’s ears shot upright.

"W-what?"

"Open your mouth."

His entire face turned red.

"Swanly..."

"Come on. You barely eat when you’re working."

Kael watched.

Soren watched.

Even the children stopped chewing.

Nerin looked around.

Every single person was staring at him.

He wanted to disappear.

But Swanly was smiling.

Waiting.

So, very slowly, he opened his mouth.

She fed him.

"There!"

Nerin chewed.

His ears turned an even brighter shade of pink.

Swanly looked delighted.

"Good?"

He nodded quickly.

"Very good."

She smiled.

"Then eat more."

Kael looked at Soren.

Soren looked at Kael.

Neither spoke.

But their expressions said enough.

This is going to become a problem.

Swanly noticed.

She pointed at both of them.

"And don’t even start."

Kael raised both hands.

"I didn’t say anything."

Soren lifted his bowl.

"Neither did I."

"Your faces are speaking!"

Miko immediately leaned toward Nilo.

"Papa’s face is talking."

Nilo sighed.

"It’s an expression, Miko."

"Oh."

Miko thought about that.

Then looked at Soren.

"Papa, tell your face to be nice."

Silence.

Swanly collapsed against Kael’s shoulder, laughing.

Even Nerin couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore.

Soren stared at his youngest son.

Then slowly reached across the table and placed a piece of meat in Miko’s bowl.

"Eat."

Miko smiled.

"Thank you, Papa!"