Chapter 258: Excuse me, young lady?

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Excuse me, young lady?

"Where are they?"

Swanly’s voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

The guard looked toward Soren.

"My lord?"

"Answer her."

The guard swallowed.

"At the western boundary. Raku’s warriors have secured both females. Vida’s mate is being held separately."

Swanly slowly nodded.

"Take me there."

Kael’s black ears flattened.

"Swanly."

She looked at him.

He glanced down at the five cubs surrounding her legs.

"They need to rest."

Swanly’s expression softened for a heartbeat.

Kairo was still holding her hand with his uninjured one. Nilo leaned against her thigh, his golden eyes heavy with exhaustion. Miko sat on her foot, apparently determined to make sure she could never walk away again.

And the twins?

Eira had wrapped her little tail around Swanly’s wrist.

Sira was gripping Swanly’s clothing with both hands.

Five children.

Five very angry little guards.

Swanly crouched.

"Babies."

Immediately, Miko shook his head.

"No."

She blinked.

"I haven’t said anything."

"You’re going somewhere."

Kairo’s ears rose.

Nilo looked up.

Sira tightened her grip.

"Mama stay."

Swanly sighed.

"Oh, sweetheart."

She kissed Sira’s forehead.

"I’m not leaving Ironwood."

Miko pointed toward the ruined shelters.

"You said that before!"

Swanly froze.

Right.

She had.

Kael’s jaw tightened.

Soren looked away.

Swanly took a slow breath.

"This time, I’m going to the western boundary. Papa and Papa are coming with me."

Eira looked at Soren.

Then Kael.

Then Swanly.

Her tiny face hardened.

"No."

Swanly almost laughed.

"That’s a very strong argument, baby."

Eira shook her head again.

"No go."

When Swanly tried loosening her tail, Eira hissed.

Not at a monster.

At her own mother.

Swanly stared.

"Excuse me, young lady?"

Sira immediately copied her sister.

"Hissss!"

Miko nodded.

"Good. Bite her."

"Miko!"

"What? She can’t leave if they bite her."

Nilo covered his face.

Kairo actually looked as though he was considering the suggestion.

Kael crouched before the boys.

"Listen."

His voice was calm.

All three turned.

"Your mother is not going underground again. She is going to speak with people."

Miko’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Bad people?"

"Yes."

"Then I’ll bite them."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

Miko looked deeply dissatisfied.

Soren lowered himself beside the girls.

His silver eyes met Eira’s.

"You will remain with Tilla."

Eira stared.

"No."

"You will."

"No."

His tail moved behind him.

Eira’s tail tightened around Swanly.

Father and daughter stared at each other.

Two silver-eyed snakes.

Equally stubborn.

Soren’s mouth twitched.

"Do not test me."

Eira bared her tiny fangs.

Swanly covered her mouth.

Wrong time.

Absolutely the wrong time to laugh.

But this little girl was threatening her terrifying father with two baby fangs.

Soren looked at Swanly.

"Stop encouraging her."

"I didn’t say anything!"

"Your face did."

Kael gently lifted Eira.

Her expression changed immediately.

Betrayal.

"Ka!"

"Yes, little one."

She reached desperately for Swanly.

"Mama!"

Swanly kissed her tiny palm.

"I’ll come back."

The words made all three boys stiffen.

Swanly noticed.

Her smile softened.

"Before you finish your food. I promise."

Kairo looked at her for several seconds.

Then whispered:

"Really?"

Swanly nodded.

"Really."

Tilla came over with Tavi holding her hand.

The mink female took one look at the children and sighed.

"They’re going to hate me."

"Yes," Swanly answered.

Tilla stared.

"Wonderful."

Sari arrived with a bowl of warm broth and clean cloth for Kairo’s arm.

Behind them, two trusted guards took positions beside the raised family shelter.

Mora inspected its supports before leaving with Raku.

"Solid."

Tovan slapped the lower beam with his flat tail.

"It had better be. I rebuilt it myself."

Swanly carefully handed Sira to Tilla.

The baby stared at her mother.

Then at Tilla.

Then back at Swanly.

Her little lips trembled.

"Mean."

Swanly pressed a hand to her chest.

"Everybody keeps calling me that!"

Nilo took Sira’s hand.

"Mama is coming back."

Sira sniffled.

Kairo moved closer to Eira.

"I’ll watch her."

Miko crossed his arms.

"And I’ll watch Mama."

"No," Kael said.

Miko’s shoulders dropped.

"You never let me do anything."

Kael rubbed his head.

"You can help your brothers."

Miko considered that.

Then nodded seriously.

"Fine."

Swanly kissed all five again.

Then stood before she lost the courage to leave them.

She turned toward Soren.

"Let’s go."

He took her hand.

Kael moved to her other side.

And together, they walked toward the western boundary.

The closer they came, the worse Ironwood looked.

The western path had been torn open in several places.

Black blood stained the stones.

Broken spears lay beside collapsed fences.

A male sat near the ashes of his shelter, holding a small wooden toy.

His eyes were empty.

He didn’t look up when Swanly passed.

Another female was screaming at a guard because she wanted to see her dead mate.

The guard kept telling her that his body had already been moved.

She refused to believe him.

Farther ahead, two children sat beside an older female.

One kept asking when their father would return.

The older female did not answer.

Swanly slowed.

Kael noticed.

His hand settled against her back.

She swallowed.

All this.

Because someone had wanted to get through a boundary.

Swanly’s fingers curled into fists.

Raku was waiting near the western watch post.

His crocodile tail lay heavily across the ground. A fresh bandage covered one shoulder, and his broad face looked more severe than usual.

Beside him stood Mora.

Her brown bear ears were lowered.

Nerin stood farther behind, his broken antler wrapped in clean cloth. He looked exhausted, but when Swanly approached, his green eyes immediately searched her face.

She noticed.

"Nerin."

His ears lifted.

For a moment, he looked startled that she had spoken to him.

"Are you hurt?" she asked.

He shook his head.

Then winced because apparently shaking his head was a terrible decision.

Swanly frowned.

"Nerin."

"I’m okay."

Tilla’s earlier warning had clearly not cured him of that habit.

Swanly reached out and briefly squeezed his hand.

"We’ll talk later."

Nerin went still.

His ears turned pink despite everything.

Then he nodded.

"Okay."

Kael watched.

His black tail moved once.

But he said nothing.

Not today.