Chapter 189: What did he do?

Chapter 189: Chapter 189: What did he do?

"Then tell me everything you know from outside."

"We cannot examine the seal from outside!"

"That sounds inconvenient."

Korran’s claws flexed.

Raku coughed into his fist.

Suspiciously.

Swanly looked at him.

The crocodile’s mouth twitched.

He was enjoying this.

Lyssara was not.

"You believe this gives you power over us."

Soren’s expression went cold.

"No."

He glanced toward the places where blood still stained Ironwood’s soil.

"My people dying gives me caution."

His gaze returned to her.

"You refusing to tell me exactly what you intend to do with the Heart gives me distrust."

Lyssara’s face changed.

Small.

But there.

Soren caught it.

"So."

His voice lowered.

"You want permission?"

"Yes."

"Tell me what happens after you reach it."

Silence.

There.

Swanly saw it.

Korran looked away.

Veyra’s wings went stiff.

Tharek became perfectly motionless.

Azren stopped smiling.

Thalara’s eye narrowed.

Soren’s mouth curved.

"I thought so."

Lyssara’s voice hardened.

"It is complicated."

"So is my refusal."

"You may condemn your settlement."

"Then give me the truth."

"You would not understand everything."

Soren’s eyes became lethal.

"Try me."

For several breaths no one moved.

Then Lyssara said:

"We will return."

Soren nodded.

"Without entering."

Her jaw tightened.

"Yes."

Azren sighed.

"Terrible negotiation. I enjoyed it immensely."

Veyra grabbed his chain.

"Come."

Azren stumbled.

"Gently."

"You deserve nothing gentle."

"That is a cruel thing to say in front of my future female."

Veyra stopped.

Swanly saw her face.

That hurt.

Actually hurt.

Azren did not.

He was too busy looking at Swanly.

"Pretty female!"

Swanly sighed.

"What?"

"I will return."

"I know."

"Miss me."

"I won’t."

"You might."

"I absolutely won’t."

His smile turned brilliant.

"Progress. You are already thinking about whether you will."

Korran yanked his chain.

Azren disappeared backward.

"OW!"

By sunset, Swanly wanted nothing to do with ancient politics.

Nothing.

No Veskari.

No sealed Heart.

No prisoners.

No dead traitors.

No males screaming territorial threats at one another.

She wanted her children.

That was it.

Her shelter smelled of clean hides, warm milk, herbs and the faint smoky scent that seemed to live permanently in Ironwood now.

Kairo sat beside the twins with his back painfully straight.

Guard duty.

Obviously.

Nilo lay on his stomach nearby, chin resting on both hands.

His black tail moved lazily behind him.

Miko was sitting beside the younger baby.

Holding dried meat.

Swanly stopped at the entrance.

Her ears rose.

"Miko."

He looked up.

"Yes, Mama?"

"Why is there meat beside my newborn?"

He looked at the strip.

Then at her.

"I’m teaching her."

"Teaching her what?"

"Food."

"She drinks milk."

"I know."

"Then why are you holding meat near her?"

His face said this should have been obvious.

"For later."

Swanly closed her eyes.

Kael entered behind her.

He looked over her shoulder.

"What did he do?"

"Your son is introducing a newborn to dried meat."

"Our son."

"Not right now."

Miko looked offended.

"I am helping."

Nilo spoke without lifting his head.

"She cannot even eat it."

"She can smell."

Kairo nodded reluctantly.

"That is true."

Swanly looked at him.

"Do not encourage him."

Kairo immediately returned to guarding.

Soren entered shortly afterward.

He had been speaking with Raku.

The moment he stepped inside, his entire expression changed.

His daughters.

Swanly noticed it every time.

Terrifying ruler outside.

Inside?

Ridiculous.

His silver eyes automatically counted both little bodies.

One.

Two.

Both breathing.

Good.

Only then did his shoulders relax.

The elder twin was awake.

Again.

She rarely cried unless hungry.

She simply watched.

Silver eyes wide.

Quiet.

Unnervingly focused.

Her pale little snake tail shifted beneath the hide.

Swanly crouched beside her.

"You are creepy."

The newborn stared.

Swanly smiled.

"Yes. Mama loves you too."

The younger twin was entirely different.

She smiled.

Constantly.

Soft little gummy smiles.

Beautiful.

Angel-like.

Until something irritated her.

Then she bit it.

Soren already had a tiny tooth mark on one finger.

Miko had one too.

Kairo had wisely learned from other people’s suffering.

Mostly.

Swanly eased herself down.

Her body still complained if she moved too quickly.

Kael immediately put a rolled hide behind her back.

She looked at him.

"I can do it."

"I know."

He adjusted it anyway.

Swanly leaned back.

Comfortable.

Annoyingly comfortable.

"Thank you."

Kael’s ears flicked.

He tried to hide how pleased that made him.

Poor male.

One thank-you and he looked like she had gifted him a kingdom.

Swanly looked at the babies.

"We cannot keep calling them ’the elder one’ and ’the little biting demon.’"

Miko looked concerned.

"I like biting demon."

"No."

Kairo immediately straightened.

"I have names."

Of course he did.

Swanly smiled.

"You thought about it?"

"All day."

"How much of the day?"

"All."

Nilo finally sat up.

"I have one too."

Miko raised both hands.

"I have many."

Swanly became frightened.

"We’ll start with Nilo."

Miko lowered his hands dramatically.

"Unfair."

Nilo crawled closer.

His expression softened when he looked at the elder twin.

She looked back at him.

Quiet.

Watching.

Nilo hesitated.

"Eira."

The shelter softened.

Swanly blinked.

"Eira."

Nilo nodded.

"It sounds soft."

Kairo considered.

"And strong."

Nilo smiled.

"Yes."

Swanly looked toward Soren.

"Eira?"

He repeated it.

"Eira."

The little girl stared at him.

No smile.

No movement.

Nothing.

Miko whispered:

"She hates it."

Soren looked at him.

Miko corrected himself immediately.

"She is thinking."

Swanly laughed.

"Eira."

Her daughter’s tiny fingers curled.

Something about it fit.

Silent little Eira.

Watching everything.

Swanly kissed her forehead.

"I like it."

Nilo’s entire face brightened.

His tail began moving.

He tried to stop it.

Failed.

Swanly saw.

She said nothing.

Let him have his little victory.

Then Kairo moved closer to the younger twin.

She was awake now too.

She smiled at him.

Kairo smiled back cautiously.

"Sira."

Swanly’s ears twitched.

"Sira?"

He nodded.

"It sounds like Snake Papa’s name."

Soren’s gaze softened.

Kairo immediately added:

"Not exactly."

Soren looked at him.

"Thank you for clarifying."

Kairo frowned.

"I did not want you getting proud."

Kael turned away.

His shoulders shook.

Soren stared at the cub.

Miko whispered:

"Kairo is brave."

Nilo whispered back:

"Very."

Swanly tried not to laugh.

"Sira."

The younger baby smiled.