Chapter 276: BAD DEER!

Chapter 276: Chapter 276: BAD DEER!

For a little while, they simply enjoyed the food.

Swanly ate slowly, making sure not to upset her chest.

Kael quietly replaced her bowl when it grew cold.

Soren added more broth without being asked.

Kairo helped Eira hold her spoon.

Nilo kept Sira from dropping hers.

And Miko?

Miko was telling Nerin an extremely dramatic story about how he had almost defeated an enormous wooden monster that morning.

It was a tree stump.

The monster was a tree stump.

Nerin listened as though Miko had survived the greatest battle of his life.

Then Swanly noticed something.

Whenever Nerin thought nobody was watching, his smile faded.

He would look at her.

Then at Kael.

Then Soren.

Then quietly lower his eyes.

Swanly watched him for a moment.

"Nerin."

He immediately looked up.

"Yes?"

"How are you feeling?"

He smiled.

"Much better."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"And your antler?"

"It’s healing."

"Your head?"

"Fine."

"Your ribs?"

"Fine."

Swanly slowly set down her spoon.

"Nerin."

He froze.

She leaned closer.

"Are you lying to me?"

His ears twitched.

"No."

Swanly stared.

He looked away.

"...A little."

"A LITTLE?!"

Kael sighed.

Soren closed his eyes.

Miko pointed at Nerin.

"BAD DEER!"

Nerin looked horrified.

Swanly burst out laughing.

"Oh, sweetheart, don’t call him that!"

Miko frowned.

"But he lied!"

Nilo nodded seriously.

"That’s true."

Kairo looked at Nerin.

"You should tell Mama when you’re hurting."

Nerin’s face softened.

"I know."

Swanly reached over and caught his hand.

His fingers immediately stilled.

"Nerin."

He looked at her.

"Have you been avoiding me?"

Silence.

Kael stopped eating.

Soren’s silver eyes lifted.

Nerin’s ears slowly lowered.

"No."

Swanly tilted her head.

"Really?"

He hesitated.

Then nodded.

"I’ve just been busy."

"Busy enough to disappear whenever I come looking for you?"

Nerin swallowed.

"I didn’t want to disturb..."

He stopped.

Swanly waited.

"Disturb what?"

His green eyes flicked toward Soren.

Then Kael.

Then the children.

"Your family."

Swanly stared.

Nerin lowered his head.

"You’ve all been through so much. I thought you needed time together."

His fingers tightened slightly around hers.

"I didn’t want to get in the way."

For a moment, Swanly couldn’t speak.

Oh.

So that was it.

She looked toward Kael.

Then Soren.

Neither male said anything.

Swanly turned back to Nerin.

"Look at me."

He slowly raised his head.

She smiled.

"You idiot."

Nerin blinked.

"What?"

Swanly squeezed his hand.

"Who told you that you’re in the way?"

He said nothing.

She continued.

"Who helped protect my children when everything was falling apart?"

Nerin’s expression changed.

"Who kept checking the ground when nobody else could tell where those things were coming from?"

"Swanly..."

"Who helped build safe paths? Who makes warning signs? Who keeps helping everybody even when he’s barely able to stand?"

Nerin looked down.

Swanly leaned closer.

"You."

His eyes lifted.

"You do so much for us."

Her voice softened.

"And I don’t think I’ve thanked you properly."

Nerin’s mouth parted.

"You don’t need to..."

"Yes, I do."

She caught both his hands.

"Thank you, Nerin."

Silence.

The deer beastman stared at her.

His green eyes slowly filled.

Swanly smiled gently.

"Thank you for caring about my children."

She glanced toward the boys.

"For caring about me."

Then she looked back at him.

"And for always coming when we need you."

Nerin swallowed.

His voice came out barely above a whisper.

"I would always come."

Swanly’s heart squeezed.

Kael looked at him.

Then at the children clustered around his side.

After a moment, the panther quietly pushed another bowl of food toward Nerin.

"Eat."

Nerin blinked.

Kael’s golden eyes were steady.

"You need your strength if you’re going to keep helping these little troublemakers."

Miko gasped.

"WE’RE NOT TROUBLEMAKERS!"

Kairo nodded.

"We’re very responsible."

Nilo looked at Miko.

Then at Kairo.

Then toward Eira, who was currently trying to steal meat from Sira’s bowl.

"...Sometimes."

Swanly laughed.

Soren watched Nerin for a long moment.

Then finally spoke.

"The children ask for you when you’re gone."

Nerin turned.

Soren’s expression remained serious.

"If you are injured, rest. They don’t need you collapsing while trying to make yourself useful."

Nerin’s eyes widened.

Soren looked away.

"And there is enough food."

A pause.

"You don’t need to wait for an invitation every time."

Swanly slowly turned toward him.

Her eyes widened.

"Soren?"

He narrowed his eyes.

"What?"

She smiled.

"Oh, baby..."

"Don’t."

"You’re so sweet!"

"Swanly."

She leaned across and kissed his cheek.

Muah!

Soren closed his eyes.

Kael laughed quietly.

Nerin stared at his bowl.

His ears were bright red.

But this time, he was smiling.

A real smile.

Not the careful one he wore whenever he was afraid of taking up too much space.

And Swanly loved seeing it.

Before anyone could speak again, Kairo stood.

He carefully picked up his bowl, walked around the table, and sat beside Nerin.

Nerin blinked.

"Kairo?"

The eldest triplet looked up at him.

"Deer Papa."

"Yes?"

"You can sit with us tomorrow too."

Nerin froze.

Then Nilo joined them.

"And the day after."

Miko immediately squeezed between his brothers.

"And forever!"

Sira clapped.

"Deer Pa!"

Eira lifted her spoon.

"Stay."

Nerin stared at the five children.

His smile trembled.

For a second, Swanly thought he might cry.

Again.

Then Miko wrapped both little arms around his waist.

"You’re ours too!"

Nerin closed his eyes.

Slowly, carefully, he wrapped one arm around the little panther.

Then the others leaned against him.

Swanly watched them.

Her throat tightened.

Kael’s arm settled around her shoulders.

Soren’s white tail curled loosely around her ankles.

And for one beautiful moment, the terrible things waiting outside Ironwood seemed very far away.

Later, after Tilla came to collect the empty bowls, she found Nerin helping the sleepy children settle onto their bedding.

Miko was still talking.

Kairo was trying to make him sleep.

Nilo had already fallen asleep.

Eira had curled against Nerin’s leg.

And Sira was patting his hand.

"Stay."

Nerin smiled.

"I’m right here."

Swanly stood beside the doorway, watching.

Tilla followed her gaze.

Then smiled knowingly.

"You look happy."

Swanly nodded.

"I am."

Tilla gently bumped her shoulder.

"Good."

Swanly looked toward Kael and Soren, who were putting away the remaining food.

Then toward Nerin.

Then her five children.

There were still so many problems.

The Heart.

The Veskari.

Her strange blood connection.

The unknown beast whose heart was buried beneath their home.

Tonight, she would have to tell her mates what Thalara had discovered.

But for now?

She wanted to remember this.

A warm meal.

A room full of people she loved.

And one gentle deer who was finally beginning to understand that he belonged somewhere.

Swanly smiled softly.

"Come on, Deer Papa."

Nerin lifted his head.

She patted the empty cushion beside her.

"There’s still a place for you."

His green eyes softened.

And this time, he didn’t hesitate before coming to sit beside her.