Chapter 364: Dream and message

Lyra showed Lucas around the vulture tribe, especially the newly constructed palace. The tribe had mostly lived outside the Beast city and only moved here a year ago. Everything here was new and the start of something glorious.

"They have made this place their home. I’m glad," Lucas commented as he glanced around the hustle and bustle of the tribesmen. Although many still lived in temporary sheds while their permanent homes were being built, they looked happy. That was all that mattered. He liked seeing the Beast city and its people prosper.

Lyra smiled as she squeezed his hand, "Victor told me that their permanent residence can be ready only after the flood. As an alternative, we have arranged for people to take shelter in the palace." Vultures mostly preferred to stay in tree homes, but that would not be possible with the heavy rain expected any day now.

"That’s great," Lucas said as he turned to his mate.

This time, Lyra hugged him before saying, "I pray that everything goes well for the Silver wolf tribe." Their populace was larger than that of every other tribe. More people meant more responsibility and more burden on her beloved, "You stay safe, Lucas"

Lucas hugged his mate back. She knew him better than he did himself. Just by observing his face, she deduced that he was about to leave. And leaving now means they will not be able to see each other until the flood season ends. "As long as you stay safe, I will be fine"

Lyra tightened her hold around him, scared to let him leave. She buried her face against his chest as she uttered, "I love you, Lucas"

Lucas pulled away before covering her lips with his in a deep kiss. His hesitancy to leave was clear by the intensity with which he kept trying to rain kisses on his mate’s face. When he left her lips, he kissed her on her eyelids, nose, chin, and finally on her forehead.

Their sweet time came to a halt with the heavy sound of Thunder. It was so loud that Lyra screamed in fear, hiding her face against her mate’s arms.

Lucas frowned while looking up at the sky. The dark grey clouds were already forming. It would rain very soon. He didn’t want Lyra to stay outside in this weather. Not when there were chances of lightning striking the ground.

"We need to leave," Lyra heard him say before she felt him picking her up and rushing towards the castle. She glanced around to see everyone else moving towards their shelters.

By the time they reached the castle gates, the rain was already pouring. Lyra felt anxious for Lucas and said, "You need to leave now, sweetheart"

Lucas agreed. It would be very late if he waited any longer. He also had to think about other members of his entourage. He couldn’t let them get hurt due to his selfishness for wanting to be with his mate a little longer.

He kissed his mate for one last time before departing from the Vulture tribe.

Lyra felt tears gather in her eyes. She really didn’t expect the rain to be this dangerous. She could barely see a foot away from her. She wouldn’t be able to see Blake and Noah for at least a month now. She didn’t know how she would survive that. It also scared her to send either Victor or Kyrell out to get them. She didn’t want them to get hurt.

"You should change out of these clothes," Demir said as he put a robe around her shoulder to keep the chill away, as he guided her inside the castle. He turned to the servants that he had brought with him to the vulture tribe and ordered, "Quickly, start the fireplace and bring me a change of clothes"

"Yes, Your Highness." The servants scattered to complete their orders while Demir began removing Lyra’s braid, which was semi-wet by now. Then he started to dry it to remove the lingering dampness from her hair.

As they reached the room, he helped her change into a new dress before further drying her hair with smoke. Inside a copper vessel, fragrant wood, together with herbs that are good for pregnant females, was burned, and the smoke that rose from that was used in drying Lyra’s scalp.

Lyra closed her eyes as she found this routine quite therapeutic. Having a man who was interested in studying herbs and poison as her mate came in handy at moments like these.

"Blake and Noah can’t visit me, can they?" Lyra parted her lips while her eyes were still closed, "I’ll miss them"

Demir sighed. Rather than placating her, he decided to tell the truth. This was what he felt right at this moment: "Blake can swim here once the water level rises, but I don’t think Noah will be able to make it in this weather. It will be difficult even for Kyrell and Victor. They will get weighed down by the constant pouring if they do try to fly"

Lyra leaned against her mate’s chest in defeat as he continued, "Flying kind Beastmen don’t like water much. Their bodies aren’t made to swim. If they somehow drop into the floodwater during their flight, then that will be an entirely different problem altogether"

She felt chills even just imagining such a scenario. Yes, she wanted to see Noah and Blake, but not by putting her other mates in danger. Then something flashed in her mind.

"How about using Killian’s portal?"

Demir felt bad seeing the sparkle in his mate’s eyes as she looked up to him eagerly. He hated breaking her hopes, but couldn’t just lie to her.

"Killian used the majority of his powers to create a protective barrier around the vulture tribe. It was to keep away from bigger lightning and thunder that could hit us. We are staying at the highest place in the entire Beast city after all," Demir pointed out the window, "The flood also brings unwanted creatures that usually dwell in the deepest parts of rivers and lakes to our doorstep. He wanted to keep them away at all costs"

Lyra’s face paled at hearing his words. She breathed harder, "Then it will be risky for Blake to swim here." She got out of his arms, "Send a message now, tell him not to come here at any cost"

Demir nodded and arranged for one of his servants to catch up to Lucas’s entourage, "Go to the Snake tribe and deliver this message. Stay there or go back to the Scorpion tribe. Don’t risk yourself coming back here"

"Yes, my Prince"

Now that was done, Lyra returned to her own bedroom. She wanted to spend time thinking alone. But her pregnancy didn’t let her dwell longer and lulled her into a deep sleep in no time.

A sleep so deep that she started to dream. Her fingers twitched when something in her dream touched her. Long, slender fingers, almost translucent, caressed her face. The touch felt so real.

"Will you not open your eyes and see me, my pretty female?"

That voice made Lyra jolt out of her sleep. Why was she hearing him?