Chapter 280: You think you can kiss your way out of everything

Chapter 280: Chapter 280: You think you can kiss your way out of everything

Soren’s mouth twitched.

Kael sighed.

But he moved closer.

Swanly smiled triumphantly and leaned between them.

"There. Much better."

Thalara watched the three of them.

For a moment, the ancient woman’s expression softened.

Then she glanced toward Swanly.

Their eyes met.

Swanly knew that look.

We still need to talk.

She gave Thalara a tiny nod.

I know.

Soren noticed the exchange.

"What?"

Swanly immediately smiled.

"What?"

He narrowed his eyes.

"You two keep looking at each other."

"Oh!"

She laughed.

"That’s because Thalara has been gone for over a couple days, and I’m still annoyed with her."

Thalara blinked.

Swanly pointed at her.

"You disappeared without telling anyone!"

The ancient woman sighed.

"I had important work."

"And you worried me!"

Thalara’s lips twitched.

Soren looked between them.

Then shook his head.

"Both of you are exhausting."

Swanly gasped.

"Excuse me?"

Kael nodded.

"Very."

Swanly looked at him in disbelief.

"MY OWN PANTHER?!"

Kael laughed.

And just like that, some of the tension in the room disappeared.

But it didn’t last.

Soren turned back toward Thalara.

"I want you to examine the old Rot Nest records again."

Thalara nodded.

"I intended to."

"And I want the girls monitored."

Swanly immediately frowned.

"Not constantly."

Soren looked at her.

"They’re my daughters."

"They’re our daughters, and they’re babies. I don’t want them frightened because everyone suddenly starts treating them like experiments."

That made him pause.

Swanly continued.

"They’re healthy. Thalara said so. We can keep watching their development without making them feel like something is wrong with them."

Kael nodded.

"She’s right."

Soren considered it.

Then sighed.

"Fine."

Swanly smiled.

"Good snake."

His pupils narrowed.

"Careful."

She giggled.

Then kissed his cheek.

"Very good snake."

Kael laughed.

Soren looked toward the ceiling as though asking the ancestors for patience.

Thalara finally stood.

"I should return to Druun. There are still damaged roots that need attention."

Soren nodded.

"I’ll arrange for a small team to accompany you tomorrow."

Thalara hesitated.

Then agreed.

"That would be helpful."

Swanly immediately looked up.

"And you are going to rest tonight."

Thalara blinked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Swanly..."

"No."

Swanly crossed her arms.

"You disappeared for days, came back exhausted, and now you’re planning to work all night?"

Thalara stared.

Swanly smiled sweetly.

"Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?"

Kael slowly turned toward her.

Soren did too.

Swanly froze.

Oh.

Wrong argument.

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Very familiar."

Soren nodded.

"Extremely."

Swanly covered her face.

"I walked straight into that."

Thalara finally laughed.

A soft, tired laugh.

For the first time since returning, she looked a little more like herself.

"I’ll rest."

"Good."

Thalara walked toward the doorway.

But before leaving, she glanced back at Swanly.

Her expression became serious again.

Swanly understood.

There were things they still needed to discuss.

Things her mates could not hear.

Not yet.

She gave the ancient woman a small, reassuring smile.

Thalara hesitated.

Then left.

The shelter grew quiet.

Kael began gathering the remaining cups.

Soren remained beside Swanly, one hand resting against her waist.

For a while, nobody spoke.

Then Kael returned and sat in front of her.

"Swanly."

She looked up.

"Hm?"

"There’s something I need you to understand."

His voice was gentle.

She straightened slightly.

"What?"

He took her hand.

"You don’t have to understand everything before telling us something is wrong."

Swanly went still.

Kael continued.

"If you’re frightened, tell us."

His thumb brushed over her knuckles.

"If something hurts, tell us."

Soren nodded.

"And if you want to investigate anything dangerous, you will not go alone."

Swanly lowered her eyes.

The memory of the arrow returned.

The blood on the tree.

The tiny golden threads disappearing into the roots.

And Thalara’s terrified expression.

She swallowed.

There was so much she hadn’t told them.

But she couldn’t bear to see the fear return to their faces tonight.

Not when they were finally beginning to recover.

So she looked at Kael and nodded.

"I understand."

His expression softened.

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"Good."

Soren gently lifted her onto his lap.

Swanly squeaked.

"Soren!"

"You’ve been sitting long enough."

She blinked.

"So now I’m being carried again?"

"Yes."

She sighed dramatically.

"Such a difficult life."

Soren settled her comfortably against his chest.

His white tail curled around her legs.

Swanly immediately relaxed.

Kael sat beside them and brushed his fingers through her silver-white hair.

For a few minutes, they simply stayed together.

Then Swanly whispered:

"Are you both still angry with me?"

Kael answered first.

"Yes."

Soren nodded.

"Very."

She pouted.

"Even after all my kisses?"

"Especially after your kisses," Soren answered.

She gasped.

"Why?!"

"Because you think you can kiss your way out of everything."

Swanly looked offended.

Then leaned up and kissed his jaw.

"Can I?"

"No."

She kissed his cheek.

"Now?"

"No."

She kissed the corner of his mouth.

"Now?"

Soren caught her chin.

His silver eyes narrowed.

"Swanly."

She smiled.

"Yes, my love?"

For a moment, he simply stared at her.

Then he kissed her.

Properly.

His hand settled against the back of her neck, holding her gently as his lips moved over hers.

Swanly melted against him.

When he finally pulled away, her cheeks were pink.

Kael raised one eyebrow.

"Interesting."

Swanly turned.

"What?"

"Apparently kissing does work."

Soren gave him a cold look.

Kael smiled.

Swanly burst out laughing.

Then she reached for Kael’s collar and pulled him closer.

"Come here, handsome."

He leaned down.

She kissed him too.

Softly.

His black ears twitched.

When she pulled away, he pressed his forehead against hers.

"You’re still in trouble," he whispered.

Swanly sighed.

"I know."

From the adjoining room, Miko suddenly muttered in his sleep.

"Mama... no ground..."

Swanly stopped smiling.

Kael looked toward the children.

Soren’s expression softened.

For a moment, none of them moved.

Then Swanly carefully slipped from Soren’s lap.

She approached the sleeping cubs and crouched beside Miko.

Her youngest son was curled against Nilo, his little black ears twitching.

Kairo slept nearby with his injured arm resting safely on a folded hide.

Eira and Sira were curled together.

All five.

Safe.

Swanly brushed Miko’s hair away from his forehead.

Then kissed his cheek.

"I’m here, sweetheart."

He made a small sound.

Then settled.

She watched him for a moment.

Behind her, Kael quietly extinguished the extra lantern.

Soren approached and rested one hand against her waist.

Swanly leaned back against him.

His lips touched her hair.

And together, they looked at their sleeping children.

Swanly loved them.

So much that sometimes it frightened her.

And perhaps that was why she couldn’t bring herself to explain everything she had discovered.

Not tonight.

Not while her family was finally sleeping peacefully.

She would have to tell them eventually.

But first, she needed to understand what was happening to her.

And whether there was any way to stop it before the people she loved became caught in something they could not escape.