Chapter 269: And if those ancient things wake up, running might not even solve anything

Chapter 269: Chapter 269: And if those ancient things wake up, running might not even solve anything

For a moment, he seemed to consider releasing it.

Then his grip tightened instead.

"Because you’re hurt."

Swanly’s heart melted.

"Oh, you two..."

She leaned against Soren’s chest.

"You love me so much."

Soren looked down at her.

"Unfortunately."

Swanly gasped.

"Unfortunately?!"

Kael almost smiled.

Almost.

Then his gaze returned to the bloodstained blanket.

The smile disappeared.

"Enough teasing."

His voice was gentle.

"Tell us what happened."

Swanly’s expression softened.

"I don’t really know."

Soren’s tail stopped moving.

"What do you mean?"

"I was sleeping. Then I felt this strange pain in my chest."

She touched the area beneath her ribs.

"It was sharp. Really sharp. And then I coughed."

Kael’s golden eyes narrowed.

"Did something attack you underground?"

"Several somethings, actually."

"Swanly."

"Sorry."

She sighed.

"I got hit a few times. But I thought I’d recovered."

Soren examined her face.

"You are pale."

"I’m always pale. I’m a white fox."

"Swanly."

She pouted.

"You’re both very serious today."

Kael reached for the water beside her bed.

"Drink."

She obeyed.

Soren continued holding her while Kael helped her take a few careful sips.

The children had gone unusually quiet.

Kairo sat beside Swanly’s legs.

Nilo held Sira against his chest.

Miko had stopped talking completely.

Eira was staring at her mother.

Then she crawled closer.

Placed one tiny hand against Swanly’s chest.

"Mama hurt?"

Swanly’s expression changed.

"Oh, sweetheart."

She kissed Eira’s little forehead.

"A little."

Eira frowned.

"No."

Swanly smiled.

"I agree."

Sira immediately leaned forward.

"Bad hurt!"

"Yes, baby. Very bad hurt."

Miko crawled closer.

Then looked at Kael.

"Can we bite the hurt?"

Everyone went silent.

Swanly blinked.

"What?"

Miko looked completely serious.

"If something hurts Mama, we bite it."

Nilo sighed.

"Miko, you can’t bite pain."

"Why not?"

"Because it’s not a person."

Miko frowned.

Then looked at Swanly’s chest.

"...What if I bite very carefully?"

Swanly burst out laughing.

It hurt.

"Ah!"

Soren immediately tightened his hold.

"Don’t laugh."

"Then tell your son to stop being ridiculous!"

Miko looked offended.

"I’M TRYING TO HELP!"

Kael rubbed his face.

Nerin, still standing beside the doorway, lowered his head to hide a smile.

Swanly noticed him.

"Nerin."

His ears lifted.

"Yes?"

"You’re still standing there."

He hesitated.

"I didn’t want to disturb..."

"You’re already here."

His green eyes moved toward Kael and Soren.

Then down.

Swanly sighed.

"Come closer."

Nerin approached carefully.

She reached for his hand.

His fingers were trembling slightly.

"You look terrible."

He blinked.

Swanly smiled.

"Not ugly terrible. Injured terrible."

His ears turned pink.

"Oh."

"Have you been resting?"

He hesitated.

Swanly narrowed her eyes.

"Nerin."

"...A little."

Kael looked up.

"He’s been carving signs all morning."

Nerin froze.

Swanly stared.

"With your injured antler?"

"Not with my antler."

Miko immediately nodded.

"He uses his hands!"

Swanly closed her eyes.

"Oh, my God. I live with idiots."

Nerin’s lips twitched.

For a few minutes, the room almost felt normal again.

But the pain in Swanly’s chest had not completely disappeared.

And inside her vision, the System’s golden panel was still flickering.

SECONDARY SCAN IN PROGRESS.

UNIDENTIFIED SIGNATURE PERSISTS.

Her smile faded slightly.

Soren noticed.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

His silver eyes narrowed.

"Swanly."

She sighed.

"I just think I overworked myself."

Kael’s expression hardened.

"You did."

"Wow. No hesitation."

"You fought underground alone."

"I know."

"You barely slept."

"I know."

"You were injured before you went down."

"I KNOW."

Kael took a slow breath.

"Then you need to stop."

Soren nodded.

"No hunting. No fighting. No investigating strange noises."

Swanly opened her mouth.

"And no disappearing underground," he added.

She closed it.

Miko immediately raised his hand.

"And no leaving your babies!"

Swanly stared at him.

"Are you all taking turns scolding me?"

Kairo nodded.

"Yes."

Nilo nodded too.

"For your own good."

Swanly looked toward the ceiling.

"Ancestors, take me."

Soren’s expression darkened.

"Don’t even joke about that."

She immediately looked back at him.

His eyes had changed.

The fear from the previous night was still there.

Swanly’s smile softened.

"Okay."

She reached up and touched his cheek.

"No more jokes."

Soren leaned into her hand.

Then looked toward Kael.

"We may need to leave Ironwood."

Swanly went still.

"What?"

Soren’s tail moved slowly around her.

"This territory is no longer safe."

Kael looked toward the doorway.

Outside, damaged shelters were still being repaired.

Soren continued.

"The Veskari remain at our boundary. Ancient creatures are sleeping beneath us. And now you are coughing blood."

His eyes returned to hers.

"I could take you and the children somewhere far from here."

Swanly lowered her gaze.

For a moment, the idea was tempting.

Somewhere quiet.

No princes.

No infected.

No monsters crawling from underground.

Just her mates.

Her children.

A peaceful home.

But then she remembered the hundreds of people in Ironwood.

The wounded.

The families who had lost everything.

Nahla.

Tilla.

Raku.

Mora.

Nerin.

The people who depended on Soren’s protection.

And the Veskari army waiting outside.

If Soren abandoned Ironwood now, who would stand between those people and the royal warriors?

She slowly shook her head.

"No."

Soren’s pupils narrowed.

"Swanly."

"Not now."

She held his hand.

"Maybe someday we can leave. Maybe we can find somewhere safer."

Her expression became serious.

"But we can’t abandon everyone while they’re still recovering."

Kael watched her quietly.

Swanly continued.

"And if those ancient things wake up, running might not even solve anything."

Soren said nothing.

She touched his cheek again.

"Let’s deal with what’s in front of us first."

For a long moment, he simply looked at her.

Then he sighed.

"You are exhausting."

Swanly smiled.

"I know."

He kissed her forehead.

"Rest."

This time, she didn’t argue.

At least, not out loud.

Because inside her head...

"System."

YES, HOST?

"Any results?"

The fairy appeared only within her vision.

Its expression was troubled.

THE INTERNAL INJURY IS STABLE BUT REQUIRES REST AND MONITORING. HOWEVER, I HAVE IDENTIFIED AN ADDITIONAL SIGNATURE.

Swanly’s smile slowly disappeared.

"What signature?"

IT RESEMBLES SOME OF THE ANCIENT BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY DETECTED NEAR THE FIRST ROT HEART.

Her stomach dropped.

What?

THE MATCH IS INCOMPLETE. I CANNOT IDENTIFY THE SOURCE.

Swanly stared.

"Are you saying there’s something from that thing inside me?"

UNKNOWN. THE SIGNATURE MAY REPRESENT A BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE RATHER THAN FOREIGN MATERIAL.

"That’s not comforting!"

I AM NOT ATTEMPTING TO COMFORT YOU.

"Clearly!"

Swanly wanted to panic.

Really wanted to.

But then Eira climbed onto her lap.

Sira reached for her hair.

Miko curled against her leg.

Kairo was watching her with worried golden eyes.

And Nilo quietly asked:

"Mama, are you okay now?"

Swanly looked at all of them.

Then at her mates.

And smiled.

"Yes, sweetheart."

She kissed Nilo’s forehead.

"Mama just needs some rest."

She could panic later.

Preferably somewhere her children wouldn’t see.

By afternoon, Ironwood was busy again.

Not cheerful.

Not fully recovered.

But moving.

Tovan and his builders continued repairing the damaged walkways.

Raku organized new patrols.

Mora carried timber with several other beastwomen.

Nahla moved between patients, threatening anyone who refused to stay in bed.

Including Swanly.

Especially Swanly.

After examining her, the old healer had ordered complete rest and promised to return before evening.

Swanly had agreed.

Very politely.

Which should have made everyone suspicious.

Soren remained with her until she managed to convince him she wanted something warm to eat.

"Meat," she said.

He looked at her.

"What kind?"

"Something soft. With broth."

He immediately stood.

"I’ll get it."

Swanly caught his wrist.

"Can you cook it yourself?"