Chapter 263: So this is the fox who has taught the ruler of Ironwood to hesitate

Chapter 263: Chapter 263: So this is the fox who has taught the ruler of Ironwood to hesitate

Swanly lowered her voice.

"They want access. They want you angry. They want you to make a mistake."

Across the boundary, the elder prince watched them.

Swanly held Soren’s wrist more tightly.

"If you attack him now, what happens?"

Soren did not answer.

"We have injured children. Sick people. Warriors who have been fighting all night."

Her eyes burned.

"Our babies are finally safe."

Soren’s pupils widened slightly.

Swanly swallowed.

"I want her punished too."

She looked toward Veyra.

The winged female flinched.

"But not at the cost of more of our children."

For a long moment, Soren said nothing.

His tail remained tight.

His hand rested only a breath away from the gate stone.

Then slowly...

Very slowly...

He withdrew it.

Swanly breathed again.

Kael’s claws remained extended.

But he stepped back with them.

Soren looked across the boundary.

Veyra was still alive.

Still protected.

And he hated it.

Swanly could feel that hatred in the way he stood.

She squeezed his hand once.

He did not look at her.

But his fingers closed around hers.

The elder prince watched everything.

Then smiled.

"So this is the fox who has taught the ruler of Ironwood to hesitate."

Swanly lifted her head.

Her ears were still flattened.

Her clothes were still stained with blood.

She was exhausted.

Her children were waiting.

And she was officially done with royal Veskari arrogance.

"No."

The prince’s smile faded.

Swanly looked directly at him.

"I’m the fox trying to make sure there are still people left for him to protect."

Silence.

Azren’s mouth twitched.

His brother did not look amused.

"You speak boldly for someone standing behind two males."

Swanly stared.

Then her tail lashed.

"I fought my way through an underground nest of monsters tonight."

Her voice hardened.

"I nearly died keeping five children alive. I watched people lose their families. And I have not slept properly in weeks."

She stepped closer to Soren.

"So forgive me if I don’t have the energy to be frightened just because you arrived with a fancy pair of wings."

A few Ironwood residents stared.

Tilla, standing near the back after making sure the children were secured with the other females, whispered:

"Oh, Swanly..."

Nahla muttered:

"Good girl."

Azren lowered his head.

His shoulders shook once.

The elder prince turned toward him.

"Something amusing?"

Azren looked up.

"No."

A pause.

"Extremely amusing."

His brother’s expression darkened.

"Brother."

Azren’s smile vanished.

"Do not mistake my silence for agreement."

That was all.

But the words changed something.

Lyssara looked sharply between them.

Korran’s wings stiffened.

Veyra looked up in alarm.

The elder prince studied Azren for several long seconds.

Then he turned toward his warriors.

"Take her."

Two armored Veskari stepped forward.

Veyra nearly collapsed from relief.

"My prince!"

The newcomer did not look at her.

"She remains under my protection until I decide otherwise."

Tharek handed her restraints to the newcomers.

Veyra kept her head lowered as they led her away.

But just before they turned, she glanced toward Swanly.

Swanly met her eyes.

Neither smiled.

Soren spoke.

"This matter is not finished."

The elder prince stopped walking.

"She is one of mine."

"And her crimes were committed against mine."

Silence.

Soren’s voice remained cold.

"You will receive no permission to enter Ironwood."

The prince slowly turned.

"I will remember this insult."

Soren stared at him.

"Then remember the boundary too."

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then the prince gave one quiet order.

"Reinforce the camp."

Korran bowed.

"At once."

"Double the outer patrols. I want every approach watched."

Tharek lowered his head.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"And nobody enters that territory without my knowledge."

His gaze lingered on Soren.

"Not yet."

Soren’s tail moved once.

The prince turned away.

His warriors followed.

But they did not leave the forest.

More Veskari descended from above, carrying supplies and weapons. Guards took positions among the trees, while others began reinforcing the existing camp.

The royal party was settling in.

Ironwood had survived the underground creatures.

Now it had a royal army outside its boundary.

And nobody knew what would happen next.

Swanly watched until the newcomers disappeared into the trees.

Then she exhaled.

"Oh, I hate him."

Azren remained behind.

His wings shifted lazily.

"Most people do at first."

Swanly turned.

"Your brother?"

Azren looked at her.

"Yes."

She opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

There were about a thousand questions she wanted to ask.

But her legs hurt.

Her head hurt.

And she had five children waiting for her.

Azren seemed to notice.

For once, he did not flirt.

He merely looked toward the damaged settlement.

"Take care of yourself, little fox."

Swanly hesitated.

Then nodded.

"You too."

His expression softened briefly.

Only briefly.

Then he spread his wings and flew after the others.

Soren looked toward Raku.

"Keep the western guards doubled. No one approaches their camp without permission."

Raku nodded.

"And the prisoners?"

Soren’s eyes moved toward Vida’s mate, still sitting beneath guard.

"His judgment waits until the wounded have been treated. Keep him secured."

"Understood."

Mora came beside Raku.

"I’ll help with the night watch."

Raku looked at her bandaged arm.

"You need rest."

"So do you."

"I am the commander."

"And I’m a bear."

Raku stared.

Mora lifted one eyebrow.

"Do you want to compare which of us is harder to kill?"

Raku’s tail moved slowly.

"No."

"Good."

She walked toward the guard post.

Raku watched her go.

Then followed.

Tilla looked at Swanly.

"Come on."

Swanly blinked.

"What?"

"Go home."

"Tilla..."

"No."

Her friend pointed toward the family shelter.

"Your children are waiting."

Swanly’s expression softened.

Tilla stepped closer.

Then hugged her.

Quickly.

Hard.

"Please don’t make me wonder whether I’m going to see you again."

Swanly’s throat tightened.

"I’ll try."

Tilla pulled back.

"That is a terrible answer."

"I know."

The mink female sighed.

Then kissed Swanly’s cheek.

"Go."

Swanly nodded.

Kael took her hand.

Soren rested one hand against her back.

And together, they returned home.

By the time they reached the family shelter, the children had finally fallen asleep.

All five.

Kairo lay on his side with his injured arm resting on folded cloth.

Sira was curled against his uninjured side, her little pale tail wrapped around his waist.

Eira had stolen a piece of Swanly’s clothing and was gripping it with both hands.

Nilo slept beside Miko, one arm wrapped protectively around his younger brother.

Miko’s black ears twitched in his sleep.

Every few breaths, his little body jerked.

Then he whispered:

"Mama..."

Swanly stopped walking.

Her heart hurt.

Kael crouched beside him.

He gently rubbed Miko’s back.

The little cub immediately quieted.

Swanly watched.

Then slowly sat beside the children.

She touched Kairo’s bandaged arm.

Carefully.

His ears twitched.

But he didn’t wake.

Sira shifted closer to him.

Eira made a tiny displeased sound in her sleep and hugged Swanly’s clothing tighter.

Swanly smiled faintly.

"My babies."

Kael settled beside her.

Soren remained standing for a moment, looking down at the children.

Then his white tail curled carefully around the outer edge of their sleeping area.

A protective circle.

Swanly leaned back against Kael.

He allowed it.

But he was still quiet.

She looked up.

"Kael?"

"Hm."

"Are you still angry?"

"Yes."

Swanly lowered her ears.

"Oh."

He looked at her.

Then reached down and pulled a clean hide over her legs.

"I am angry."

His voice was low.

"But you’re tired."

Swanly stared at him.

Kael’s hand moved to her waist.

"You can sleep."

She leaned closer.

"Will you hold me?"

His golden eyes softened.

"Always."

Soren settled on her other side.

Swanly looked toward him.

"And you?"

He looked at her.

"I am furious."

She winced.

"Wonderful."

Soren’s tail tightened around her ankles.

"Sleep."

Swanly sighed.

"Two angry mates. Five angry children. What a beautiful family I have."

Kael’s mouth twitched.

Soren did not smile.

But he reached over and carefully brushed a strand of white hair away from her face.

Swanly looked at both of them.

Then her expression became serious.

"There’s something else."

Kael’s ears lifted.

Soren’s hand stopped.

Swanly glanced toward the sleeping children.

Then lowered her voice.

"There are more things sleeping beneath Ironwood."

Neither male spoke.

"When I was underground, my magic scanned the chambers around the Heart."

She swallowed.

"I thought there was only one ancient creature down there."

Soren’s silver eyes narrowed.

"There isn’t?"

Swanly shook her head.

"No."

Kael slowly looked toward the floor.

"How many?"

"I don’t know. My magic couldn’t scan all of them."

She hugged her knees.

"There are sealed chambers everywhere. Some beneath the settlement. Others stretching toward the forest."

Soren became very still.

Swanly continued.

"The creatures have different biological signatures. Some might have been created to defend the Heart. Others..."

She hesitated.

"Others might not even be guardians."

Kael’s jaw tightened.

Swanly looked toward the sleeping children.

"If somebody damages another ancient seal, what happened tonight could happen again."

Silence.

Outside, distant wingbeats sounded above the trees.

The Veskari.

Still there.

Soren slowly turned toward the western boundary.

For a long moment, nobody spoke.

Then he looked down at the sleeping children.

"Then we have two problems."

Swanly looked up.

"The Veskari?"

Soren nodded.

His silver eyes darkened.

"And whatever they are willing to wake to get what they want."