Chapter 388: They chose death.

There were many things Sienna had planned on doing during this vacation. Things like playing her first game of Sky fetch, taking a low flying ship cruise through an old scenic town, riding a capsule through a star space park. Visiting every restaurant that was hyped on BeastNet, shopping--lots of shopping, and a lot of sleeping.

Sex was included in her plans, she just didn’t think she would be having it in a locked bathroom, where she had gone to change into her swim wear. And, she certainly didn’t imagine, that Elias, the ever respectable fox lord, would bring a vibrating sex toy on their trip, that he used to torment her until she exploded and her body collapsed under intense pleasure.

Sienna was still breathing raggedly and reeling from shock when she looked up and saw his smug, satisfied smile. "I hate you," she croaked out.

Elias smirked and helped her up. "You say that now, but you were saying something else entirely, only a minute ago."

She punched his chest lightly. "Because this is an exclusive bathroom. Other nobles could walk in on us at any minute! I don’t want to be the subject of gossip at the next tea party thrown by the Lady of another tribe." She adjusted her clothes while complaining. "Do you want them whispering, ’Did you hear the sounds she made? It was like a goat choking on bagpipes during a thunderstorm!"

Elias laughed heartily, because he found her words ridiculously funny. "You do not sound like a goat choking on bagpipes. More like a..." he stopped and grimaced under her sharp glare. He raised his hands and added, "If they have anything to say, I will proudly declare you the orchestra of my triumph. So classy."

Sienna rolled her eyes in response. "Where did you even buy a sex toy?"

"In a sex shop." Elias nearly rolled his eyes. It was the most obvious thing in the world. His wife was truly innocent if she was not aware of sex shops. He sighed and thought to himself that he had a lot to teach her.

They cleaned up as best as they could, changed into swim wear, and Elias packed the toy away in his bag. He threw the bag over his shoulder and took her hand and they left the bathroom. Both of them were wearing the kind of smiles that screamed we’re totally normally, nothing suspicious here.

But waiting in the corridor were four men.

One was the life guard they had seen keeping an eye on their group. He wore a bright red vest, muscles taut, smile too eager. Another man carried an old fashioned mop that you would not find used in a resort like this. His eyes were darting like a rat. The last two stood stiff in security uniforms, their gazes sharp and predatory.

Sienna’s eyes narrowed and she let go of Elias’s hand. She had tucked her flexible pan around her thigh, like an armband. Elias on the other hand laughed. Up close, these men looked familiar, they were part of the group that had tried to kidnap Sienna’s mother. He and Sienna had deliberately walked away from the rest of their group, hoping to attract them.

"Oh, darling, wasn’t that the most refreshing bath?" Sienna asked loudly, while unstrapping the band from her waist.

Elias chuckled, cold and deliberate. "Indeed. The water was so pure, I almost considered bottling it."

The lifeguard stepped forward, feigning casual friendliness. "Lord Veythar, Lady Veythar, how are you enjoying your stay? Perhaps I could recommend--" His hand slipped behind his back and quickly shot out, fingers curling around a small spray canister.

Sienna’s eyes gleamed. Her pan had been taking form this whole time. The moment the lifeguard pushed down on his spray, she swung.

The pan connected with his hand, knocking the canister to the ground. She swung again, while he was still in shock. The pan connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling like a stunned fish. "You picked the wrong woman, buddy!" Sienna snapped, brandishing the pan like a war trophy.

"Nice one, darling." Elias praised.

She blew a kiss at him.

Then, chaos erupted.

The cleaner lunged, mop raised like a spear. Sienna ducked, twisted, and broke the mop with her mental strength. She swung her pan, hitting him in the stomach and then followed the hit with a kick. He wheezed, collapsing against the wall.

The two fake security guards charges at Elias. He moved like a shadow, tails flaring, mental strength charging and slicing through the air. One guard’s punch froze mid-air as Elias’s simple attack slammed into him, locking his limbs like a stone. The other swung a baton, only it find it effortlessly caught in Elias’s hand.

"So weak," Elias murmured, twisting the baton until it snapped.

Sienna, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of frying pan fury. She was darting between the lifeguard and fake janitor, smacking them over and over, until their faces were swollen. When the lifeguard tried to rise, she stomped on his foot for good measure, breaking the bones. "Next time, find out the weight of my pan before attacking me!"

One of the fake guards bolted for the bathroom and flew out of the window as fast as he could.

By the time their personal guards arrived, summoned by Elias, three men were restrained. The life guard was groaning, the cleaner was whimpering, and one fake guard had his head pinned under Elias’s foot.

The captured men were dragged to a private suite that the couple had arranged beforehand to use for such occasions. Inside, ropes bound wrists, and beast-metal collars were used to suppress the aura of the captured men.

Sienna sunk into a sofa, twirling her pan playfully. "Now," she said, "let’s have a conversation."

Before she could begin, the door creaked open.

Lenard entered, grinning like a cat that was up to no good. "Sienna, Elias....my friends. What a coincidence that we are all here at the same time!"

Elias rolled his eyes before settling next to his wife. "She knows the king is involved, Lenard."

Lenard dropped the smile. "Oh, then that will make this very easy. As a friend of justice, allow me to take over the questioning."

Elias frowned. "We don’t need help with that part."

But Lenard was already stepping forward, waves of mental strength bursting like heat from a furnace. "Tell me who sent you," He growled. "Tell me, or I will peel your thoughts like a fruit."

Sienna winced. "That’s....excessive."

Elias’s eyes narrowed. "You don’t have to rush into excessive measures. Start slow."

But Lenard ignored them, pressing harder. The cleaner convulsed, eyes rolling back, foam bubbling at his lips. The fake guard thrashed, veins bulging.

Sienna rose, stepping forward. "Enough! You will kill them before they speak!"

Lenard’s grin widened. "Sometimes death loosens tongues."

And then, to their horror, all three men bit down at the same time.

Sienna froze. "What was that sound?"

Elias growled, "Stop them."

But it was too late. Poison capsules shattered in their mouths. Their bodies convulsed, eyes glazing, foam spilling. Within seconds, collapsed lifelessly.

Lenard checked their pulses and sneered, "It looks like the Stormfeathers have made some new adjustments."

Sienna blinked, stunned at a sight she had only ever seen in some dramas. She never thought, that in an interstellar beast world, such a thing could be possible! She lowered the pan gently and shook her head. "They....they chose death! What kind of kidnappers are these?"

Lenard straightened, brushing his hair back. "Cowards. Better dead than betraying their master. But it’s all useless anyway, the king is determined to wipe out the Stormfeathers. He is not taking any chances now that something important is growing." He looked at Sienna, "If you know what I mean."

Sienna nodded. "I know what you mean."

Elias’s tails lashed furiously. "Wiping them out is one thing, having evidence to prove they were the brains behind the rebellion is another. Nobody should use it to shake the kingship. Lenard, you are here because we are paving the way for the next king."

Sienna raised her hand. "Wait a minute--preparing the way for the next king! Are you talking about Serenya’s baby?"

Lenard nodded. "When the young prince is born, he should find such dangers lurking in the corner."

"What if it’s a girl?" Sienna asked, in a loud shocked voice. "Aren’t you all getting a little too ahead of yourselves?"

Lenard crouched down, rifling through the clothes of the men for anything. He found two key cards, their phones, a crumpled paper, chewing gum.

Elias responded to Sienna because Lenard was choosing silence, "It doesn’t matter if the first child is a girl. A daughter will be considered proof that the King and Queen are fertile. As long as your fruit is around, there is always hope for a little prince. No matter when that child is born, the seeds of the rebellion have to be wiped out completely." He pointed at Lenard. "So, don’t try your circus act again."