Chapter 273: My handsome snake worked so hard to cook for me. I don’t want his delicious food getting cold

Chapter 273: Chapter 273: My handsome snake worked so hard to cook for me. I don’t want his delicious food getting cold

"That is the heart of a different beast."

Swanly stared at Thalara.

Then she blinked.

Once.

Twice.

"I’m sorry. What?"

Thalara looked toward the tree.

"The First Heart belonged to another living creature."

Swanly slowly raised one hand.

"Wait."

Thalara stopped.

"Let me get this straight."

She pointed toward the ground.

"That big, beautiful, creepy green thing I saw underground?"

"Yes."

"That’s an actual heart?"

"Yes."

"From an actual beast?"

"Yes."

Swanly stared at her.

Then slowly covered her face.

"Oh, for fuck’s sake."

Thalara sighed.

"Swanly..."

"No, because I thought we were dealing with some ancient monster that had a giant magical heart."

She lowered her hands.

"Now you’re telling me some poor bastard is missing his heart?"

Thalara hesitated.

Swanly narrowed her eyes.

"Don’t tell me it’s still alive."

Silence.

Her ears shot upright.

"THALARA!"

"I don’t know!"

Swanly stared.

Thalara looked genuinely exhausted.

"The heart was altered long ago. Its original owner was separated from it, but I haven’t been able to discover what became of the body."

Swanly slowly looked toward the forest.

Somewhere beneath Ironwood, that beautiful green heart was still beating.

And somewhere else...

Something might be missing it.

"That’s horrible," she whispered.

Thalara lowered her gaze.

"Yes."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Swanly rubbed her forehead.

"Okay. So what am I supposed to do?"

Thalara’s third eye dimmed slightly.

"I need more time to investigate the blood connection."

"And the creature?"

"We need to find out what it is before doing anything to the Heart."

Swanly sighed.

"Can we at least remove my blood from that stupid tree?"

Thalara looked at the arrow.

"Not yet. If the roots have already formed a connection, damaging them without understanding it could make things worse."

Swanly stared.

"So I can’t touch the tree?"

"No."

"Can’t touch the arrow?"

"No."

"Can’t touch the Heart?"

"Absolutely not!"

Swanly threw her hands up.

"WHAT CAN I TOUCH?!"

Thalara looked at her.

"Your dinner."

Silence.

Swanly blinked.

Then burst out laughing.

Thalara stared at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Swanly wiped the corner of her eye.

"It’s just that you sound like Nahla."

A faint smile finally appeared on the ancient woman’s face.

Then Swanly’s expression softened.

"Thalara."

"Yes?"

"I’m glad you’re back."

The Aelari woman went still.

Swanly smiled.

"Seriously. Don’t disappear like that again without telling someone."

Thalara looked down.

"I’ll try."

"And we’re telling Soren and Kael what you found."

"Tonight?"

Swanly nodded.

"After dinner. I don’t want the children hearing something frightening before we understand it."

Thalara agreed.

Then her gaze shifted toward Swanly’s chest.

"Does it still hurt?"

"A little."

"You need to rest."

Swanly groaned.

"Not you too."

Thalara lifted one eyebrow.

"Swanly."

"Fine!"

She turned toward Ironwood.

"Let’s go home before my males start looking for me."

Thalara glanced toward the forest path.

"They probably already are."

Swanly froze.

Then slowly turned.

"Oh, shit."

By the time Swanly returned to the family shelter, the smell of cooked meat filled the air.

Warm broth.

Roasted roots.

Fresh herbs.

And something delicious sizzling over the fire.

Swanly’s stomach growled.

Loudly.

Thalara glanced at her.

Swanly lifted her chin.

"That was my stomach greeting my husband’s cooking."

Thalara shook her head.

Then stopped when she saw the male standing outside the shelter.

Soren.

His long white hair hung over one shoulder.

His silver eyes were fixed on Swanly.

Beside him stood Kael.

Arms crossed.

Black ears flattened.

Swanly stopped walking.

Oh.

Wonderful.

Two handsome males.

Two very unhappy faces.

Swanly smiled.

"Hello, my beautiful husbands!"

Neither answered.

She looked between them.

Then turned toward Thalara.

"Do you think if I run, they’ll chase me?"

Thalara considered it.

"Yes."

Swanly sighed.

"Thought so."

Soren moved first.

He approached her without saying a word.

His silver eyes swept over her face, her shoulders, and her chest.

"Where?"

Swanly blinked innocently.

"Where what?"

"Did. You. Go?"

She smiled wider.

"For a little walk."

Kael’s tail lashed.

"A little walk?"

"Yes."

"You were supposed to be resting."

"I was!"

Soren stared at her.

Swanly added quickly:

"Resting while walking."

Kael closed his eyes.

Behind her, Thalara made a suspicious coughing sound.

Soren looked at the Aelari woman.

"Thalara."

She inclined her head.

"Soren."

His expression changed slightly.

"You’ve returned."

"Yes."

"Is something wrong?"

Thalara hesitated.

Swanly immediately caught Soren’s hand.

"We need to talk about something later."

His silver eyes narrowed.

"What something?"

"An important something."

"Swanly."

"After dinner!"

He stared.

She leaned up and kissed his cheek.

Muah.

Soren froze.

Swanly smiled sweetly.

"My handsome snake worked so hard to cook for me. I don’t want his delicious food getting cold."

Kael made a low sound.

Almost a growl.

Swanly turned.

"Oh, don’t worry, handsome."

She stepped toward him.

Caught his face between both hands.

And kissed his cheek too.

Muah.

Kael’s black ears shot upright.

Swanly grinned.

"There. Now nobody is jealous."

Soren looked deeply offended.

Kael’s expression softened despite himself.

Then he caught her wrist.

"You coughed blood this morning."

Her smile faltered.

"And now you’ve been walking around the forest."

His voice dropped.

"What are we supposed to do with you?"

Swanly leaned against his chest.

"Love me?"

Kael sighed.

"We already do."

"Then love me gently."

Soren muttered something under his breath.

Swanly didn’t hear it.

Probably for the best.

A small voice suddenly shouted from inside the shelter.

"MAMA!"

Five little heads appeared.

Three black.

Two white.

Miko came running first.

Then stopped.

His nose wrinkled.

"Mama!"

Swanly crouched.

"My baby!"

He threw himself against her.

She hugged him tightly.

Then Kairo arrived.

Then Nilo.

Sira came toddling toward them with both hands raised while Eira crawled along the soft hide laid near the entrance.

Swanly smiled.

"My little girls!"

She leaned down and kissed Sira.

Muah!

Sira giggled.

Then Eira.

Muah!

Eira blinked.

Then grabbed Swanly’s cheeks.

"Again."

Swanly laughed.

"Oh, now you want kisses?"

She kissed her forehead.

Eira looked pleased.

Then Swanly turned and kissed Kael again.

Sira immediately stopped smiling.

"Eh!"

Everyone looked at her.

The little snake girl pointed at Kael.