Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband

Chapter 217: The Duck, The Panther, and The Chaos

Pacing a hole into the expensive rugs of the cliffside manor was not befitting of a Sovereign, but I couldn’t stop myself.

It had been an hour since Lucien and Silas had vanished into the shadows. Rurik had already returned from the tree line, cheerfully announcing that a dozen terrified poachers had run screaming right into his guard blockade. The mercenaries were currently tied up and waiting for the capital dungeon.

But there had been no sign of the Panther Warlord.

"You are going to wear a groove into the floorboards, Little Rose," Caspian murmured.

My husband was sitting gracefully on the edge of the velvet sofa, looking entirely too relaxed for a man whose brother-in-arms was out fighting a black-market syndicate. Though, if I looked closely, I could see the subtle tension in his broad shoulders and the dark, swirling energy in his teal eyes.

"I can’t help it," I sighed, pausing by the large glass patio doors to stare out at the courtyard. "What if there were too many of them? What if she was already badly hurt before Lucien got there?"

"Do not insult his lethal efficiency," Cassian advised, adjusting his round glasses from where he sat reading a medical text. "Lucien does not fail. Especially not when he is emotionally invested. The only variable is the structural integrity of the cavern."

Suddenly, the air in the living room dropped ten degrees.

The shadows pooling beneath the massive oak tree in the courtyard didn’t just stretch; they ripped open.

I gasped, throwing open the patio doors and rushing outside, with Caspian, Cassian, and Rurik hot on my heels.

Lucien stepped out of the darkness first. He looked completely uninjured, though a faint smudge of blood—definitely not his own—was painted across his cheekbone. He didn’t look like a man who had just fought a small army. He looked like a man carefully leading someone through a minefield.

Right behind him stepped Silas.

And right behind Silas, looking absolutely exhausted but standing incredibly tall, was a woman.

She was breathtaking. Her wild, golden-blonde hair was tangled with dirt and leaves, and her clothes were torn at the hem. Tucked firmly against her side, securely wrapped in his bright yellow frog raincoat, was Pip. The toddler was fast asleep, his chubby cheek pressed against her collarbone, a tiny hand gripping her shirt.

But it was her wings that made me stop in my tracks. They were magnificent. Pure, snow-white feathers that faded into a shimmering, metallic silver at the very tips. Even battered and dusty, she radiated a fierce, undeniable strength.

Lucien hovered near her shoulder, his hand raised just an inch away from her back, as if he wanted to support her but was terrified of overstepping his boundaries.

I didn’t hesitate. I practically ran across the grass.

"Oh, thank the ancestors," I breathed, stopping just a few feet away so I wouldn’t startle her. I pressed my hands to my chest, a massive wave of relief washing over me. "You’re safe. You brought them back, Lucien."

Lucien stepped to the side, his violet eyes meeting mine. The terrifying, lethal aura around him was completely gone, replaced by a profound, exhausted softness. "Sovereign Primrose," Lucien said quietly. "This is Juni. She is Pip’s mother."

Juni looked at me, her golden eyes wide and guarded. She took in my linen dress, my apron, and then the nine silver fox tails swaying gently behind me. She instinctively pulled Pip a little tighter against her chest.

"You’re the Sovereign," she whispered, her voice rough and dry. She looked like she wanted to bow but was too tired to manage it. "The unifier."

"Just Primrose, please," I said warmly, taking a slow, non-threatening step forward. I offered her the gentlest smile I had. "I am so incredibly glad to meet you, Juni. We were so worried."

Juni blinked, completely taken aback by the casual greeting. She looked past me, taking in the three massive, terrifying men standing on the patio.

Rurik stepped forward, his golden eyes glowing with pure respect. He slammed a heavy fist over his heart in a traditional Northern warrior’s salute.

"I smell the blood of a dozen enemies on you, silver-wing!" Rurik boomed cheerfully. "Lucien said you held the line against the poachers to protect the pup! You are a true shield-maiden! The wolf pack honors your strength!"

Juni flinched slightly at the volume. "I... um. Thank you?"

"Please excuse the barbarian, he does not understand volume control," Cassian sighed, gliding down the patio steps. The Serpent Warlord immediately pulled a small, glowing vial of blue liquid from his pocket. "I am Cassian. I have prepared a localized healing salve for any blunt force trauma you may have endured. Furthermore, I must inspect your primary flight feathers. If a net snagged a silver-tip, the aerodynamic drag will be devastating to your posture."

Juni stared at him. She looked at Rurik. Then she looked at Caspian, who simply offered her a polite, devastatingly charming bow.

"Welcome to our home, Juni," Caspian said smoothly, his deep voice carrying over the ocean breeze. "We are honored to have you."

Juni slowly turned her head to look at Lucien. "Let me get this straight. You are the Warlords of the Empire. The most dangerous men on the continent. And you’ve been... babysitting my toddler?"

Lucien cleared his throat, his violet eyes suddenly dropping to the grass. The deadly assassin looked entirely flustered. "He is very persuasive."

"He demanded biscuits," Cassian clarified, adjusting his cuffs. "And we were forced to take him to a high-end boutique because Rurik attempted to dress him in bear fur. The frog coat was a compromise."

Juni looked down at the bright yellow raincoat with the giant stuffed frog eyes. A slow, genuinely amused smile broke across her tired face. She let out a soft laugh, resting her chin against Pip’s fluffy yellow hair.

"It’s definitely his style," Juni murmured.

"Alright, that’s enough standing around," I announced, switching instantly into my chef-and-mom mode. "She is exhausted and probably starving. Juni, come inside. We have a safe room prepared, a hot bath waiting, and I am going to make you the biggest meal you have ever eaten in your life."

"I... I don’t want to impose," Juni hesitated, shifting her weight. She winced sharply, favoring her left leg.

Before she could even take a step, Lucien was there.

"You are injured," Lucien said, his voice instantly tightening with panic. "Why didn’t you say you were injured? I should carry you."

"I just twisted my knee dodging a net, shadow-cat," Juni huffed, though her cheeks flushed a bright, dusty pink at his proximity. "I am perfectly capable of walking."

"Nonsense," Lucien insisted, stepping closer. "The terrain is uneven. Your weight-bearing joints are compromised. I will carry you."

"Lucien, I am holding a heavy toddler. If you try to pick me up, we are both going to fall over—"

"I have perfect balance."

Caspian and I exchanged a long, incredibly amused look. Lucien, the Empire’s most terrifying, untouchable killer, was currently hovering around a tired Duck-kin like a frantic, lovesick teenager trying to figure out what to do with his hands.

"I will take Pip," I offered gently.

Juni froze. Her golden eyes snapped to mine. Every maternal instinct in her body screamed against handing her baby over to a stranger, even if that stranger was the Sovereign. She clutched the yellow raincoat tighter, her breathing picking up.

"It’s okay," I whispered, keeping my hands resting by my sides. "I know you just got him back. You don’t have to let him go. But if you need to rest your knee, I promise he is safe with me."

Juni looked at me. Then, she looked down at her son. Pip hadn’t stirred at the sound of my voice. In fact, he looked completely at peace. He smelled like fresh air, sweet honey-biscuits, and a very expensive floral baby soap. He wasn’t scared or traumatized; he had been thoroughly spoiled.

With a shaky breath, Juni carefully held him out.

I stepped forward and took the heavy, warm toddler into my arms, adjusting the yellow hood so it wouldn’t cover his nose. He let out a soft sigh and nuzzled right into my shoulder, completely comfortable.

Juni watched him for a second, her shoulders finally dropping as she realized he really was safe here.

The moment Juni’s arms were free, Lucien gently but firmly placed a supportive hand on the small of her back. It was a shockingly intimate, protective gesture for a man who hated touching people.

"Lean on me," Lucien ordered softly. It wasn’t a request.

Juni looked up at him, her golden eyes softening. "Alright, tough guy. Lead the way."

We moved into the manor, the cool, quiet air of the house washing over us. I carried Pip straight to the living room, laying him down gently on the velvet sofa.

Of course, the quiet didn’t last long.

The sound of five pairs of stampeding feet echoed down the staircase.

"Did he find her?!" Vali howled, bounding into the room and skidding to a halt on the rug. The little wolf-cub’s eyes went wide as he saw the golden-haired stranger leaning against Lucien.

Orion, Jasper, Arjun, and Clover crowded into the doorway right behind him, staring in awe.

"She has silver wings," Orion whispered loudly to Jasper. "Do you think they have magical up-draft properties?"

"Statistically probable," Jasper whispered back, pulling out his notebook.

Juni blinked at the small army of heavily armed, highly opinionated beast-cubs. "There are more of them."

"We are Pip’s pack!" Vali announced proudly, puffing out his chest. "I taught him how to hunt bugs! But Clover made him wear a hat! And Orion built him a water-slide!"

"A water-slide?" Juni asked, looking absolutely bewildered.

"Yes, ma’am," Arjun saluted perfectly. "The recruit requires aquatic training for optimal battlefield readiness."

Silas walked over to Juni, gently tugging on the hem of her torn shirt. She looked down at the quiet panther-cub.

"We kept him safe, Juni," Silas whispered, his large violet eyes completely serious. "We didn’t let the shadows get him."

Juni’s breath hitched. She slowly reached out, gently cupping Silas’s cheek. "Thank you, sweetheart. Thank you all. You took such good care of my baby."

"Alright, cubs, give her some space," Caspian commanded smoothly, stepping between the kids and our guest. "Go to the courtyard and practice your combat drills. The Sovereign needs to cook."

The cubs grumbled but marched outside, leaving us in the kitchen.

I set to work immediately. I pulled fresh vegetables from the ice-box, firing up the massive hearth. I decided on a rich, hearty chicken and wild mushroom stew, paired with thick slices of warm, buttered bread and a sweet berry tart for energy.

While I cooked, Cassian forced Juni to sit at the kitchen island. The Serpent Warlord completely ignored her protests, expertly applying a glowing blue salve to the nasty bruise on her arm and wrapping her twisted knee in a magically heated bandage.

Lucien didn’t sit down. He stood directly behind Juni’s chair, his arms crossed over his chest, his violet eyes scanning the kitchen as if expecting another poacher to jump out of the flour bin.

"You can relax, Lucien," Juni said, glancing over her shoulder at him. "Your brother fixed my knee. I’m not going to collapse."

"I am merely securing the perimeter," Lucien replied stiffly, though he immediately adjusted a stray lock of golden hair that had fallen into her face, tucking it gently behind her ear.

Cassian stopped wrapping the bandage. He looked at Lucien’s hand. He looked at Lucien’s face.

A slow, incredibly smug smile spread across Cassian’s face. The Serpent Warlord stood up, wiping his hands on a pristine cloth.

"Fascinating," Cassian murmured, his slitted eyes practically dancing with amusement. "It appears the shadows have found a source of light. I must go inform Rurik of this statistical anomaly. Excuse me."

Cassian glided out of the kitchen, leaving Lucien glaring daggers at his retreating back.

I brought the steaming bowl of stew over to the island, setting it down in front of Juni along with a massive piece of crusty bread.

"Eat," I smiled, pulling out a stool and sitting across from her. "You need your strength."

Juni picked up the spoon. She took one bite of the stew, and her golden eyes flew wide open. "Oh my gods. This is the best thing I have ever tasted in my entire life."

"She’s the greatest chef in the Empire," Caspian said proudly from the doorway, leaning against the frame.

Juni ate like a starving wolf, practically inhaling the food. Between bites, she looked around the massive, beautiful kitchen. She looked through the archway into the living room, where she could see the bright yellow frog coat rising and falling as Pip slept peacefully on the sofa.

Then, she looked up at Lucien, who was still standing guard right behind her chair.

"You didn’t just save my life," Juni said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. She set her spoon down, reaching back to gently rest her hand over Lucien’s gloved fingers where they gripped the back of her chair. "You saved my son when I couldn’t protect him. I don’t know how to repay you."

Lucien looked down at her small hand covering his. The deadly, terrifying assassin looked as though he had just been handed the sun.

He slowly turned his hand over, gently interlacing his fingers with hers.

"You do not owe me anything, Juni," Lucien whispered, his voice incredibly soft, filled with a heavy, profound sincerity. "Having Pip here... having you here. It is enough."

I ducked my head to hide the massive, watery smile on my face.

Oh, yes. The Panther Warlord was completely, absolutely, entirely a goner.