"Since when are we so close that you can touch me... talk to me?"

"Forget that, I need your advice on Aenyra," Sheana brushed off Sseraphis’ attitude and dragged him along.

The whole way, Sseraphis’s pictured the many ways one could cook a big bird like an overstepping phoenix. He could stew it, fry it, or have it salted. The options were limited. He even had the opportunity to use her feathers to make clothes for himself and his mates.

All in all, in no scenario in his head did Sheana survive. Obvious to being murdered a thousand times in the snake’s head, Sheana lay her heart out to him.

"The truth is... I am in love with Aenyra," she admitted straightforwardly.

Sseraphis rolled his eyes. He disapproved of her and any talks of a relationship between her and his sister-in-law.

Aenyra was one of the few beasts he could tolerate, and he couldn’t see her attached to Sheana in any way. "And she doesn’t love you back, topic closed," he let out and shook her hand off.

Pained as she was about her situation with Aenyra and having a thick skin, Sheana didn’t take his brush off to heart. In fact, her brain didn’t process the dismissal. She grabbed Sseraphis’ hand again and continued.

"But I want to court her so that she falls in love with me too."

"You should be more worried about living past this moment," Sseraphis let out through gritted teeth as he stared at the hands holding his.

The skin was fair, and the fingers were clean and neat. Even the nails were beautifully painted. However, they were on him, and that was enough for him to find faults with it.

"Huh?"

"Mmh?" Sseraphis couldn’t think passed killing her and freeing his hand from her.

"What do you think I should do to show her sincerity?" Sheana looked hopefully at Sseraphis. "And I am only asking because she holds you in high regard, and I know that if the help comes from you, it might work magic for me."

The magic working at present was Sseraphis’ self-control. It took effort to keep from snapping at Sheana and snapping her neck in half. Unfortunately, the phoenix was looked on fondly with Nytherael and even spoilt by him. In as much as he hated that mate of his, he couldn’t see himself costing Nytherael a friend, so he held back from fulfilling his wild thoughts.

"How about you let go of my hand first," he suggested.

"But I want us to be closer too," Sheana said, hugging Sseraphis’ arm. The skin to skin contact made hi venomous skin feel uncomfortably colder than usual.

Sseraphis pushed her away with his free hand, but Sheana held on, completely disregarding the rules of propriety between opposite genders.

"How about we talk over tea?" Sseraphis suggested instead.

"Sounds good," she agreed.

Together, they approached the common room. At the centre of the room, Fairy Zarathia sat alone, conforming the positions of the moon that night and drawing up a plan for the task that night.

When Sseraphis saw her, his mood improved. He needed her to complete his plans of getting Hadrian’s body back and getting his reward.

"Why don’t you go get seated by the fairy. I’ll make the tea and join you," he suggested.

"The fairy?" Sheana was taken aback. "Why there?"

"She’s a thousand years old. I’m sure she’s seen most of the world that we have and might offer more insight on how you can win over your love," he said, getting a perfect reason to justify his suggestion.

Convinced, Sheana released his arm and joined fairy Zarathia at her table. Sseraphis went to the tea table. A hot pot of tea was already sitting idly by there.

"Nytherael is truly working hard," he thought. He grabbed three tea cups and served tea in each. Then, he glanced at the two beastwomen, when he noticed they weren’t looking over, he twisted his wedding ring facing down and unlocked the diamond stone on it, white powder poured out from the ring and into one of the cups.

The tea bubbled over for a breath before settling. No odour or colour was left behind as evidence of tampering. He reversed his ring and locked it then, picked up the three cups of tea, and headed to the table.

"Oh, that was quick," Sheana reacted, helping him set the cups down on the table. Sseraphis made sure the poisoned tea ended up in front of Zarathia and the harmless extra one, he handed to Sheana.

"Have you told her about your problem. What does the fairy have to say?"

Sheana shook her head, dejected. She wanted to, but Zarathia was busy making plans for the night. Saving the world was more important than silly love, so she didn’t dare bring it up.

"You should have your tea before it gets cold," he urged Sheana with an innocent smile.

Sheana nodded and took a sip, noticing that Fairy Zarathia was still busy noting things down and not drinking her tea, Sheana felt worried for her.

"You’ve been busy for quite some time now. Why don’t you take a break and have some tea," she further pushed the tea cup towards the fairy.

Sseraphis pressed his lips firm, his eyes watching the fairy in anticipation. ’Just one sip is enough, and my life will be back on track,’ he thought.

"No," Zarathia pushed the cup back. She was focused, and the task of saving the beastworld was top priority. She resigned to rest after she was done, nit a moment before.

Sseraphis felt disappointment stab at his heart. His whole plan rested on Zarathia having her tea. Without it, he can’t get Hadrian body back or fetch his price.

"I think that you’ll feel refreshed once you have had your tea," as though sent by heavens to help him, Sheana pushed the tea back to the fairy.

And as though determined to watch him fail, Zarathia pushed it away again. "No, thank you."

Sseraphis gulped down the hot tea in one take. Waiting for Zarathia to drink the tea he specially prepared for her was torture. As a master of torturing others, he didn’t appreciate it.

"Think, Sseraphis has gone out of his way to make the tea for you. Don’t you feel bad saying no like this?"

"Why should I feel bad? I didn’t ask him to make me tea," Zarathia argued without looking up.

"You’re rude," Sheana slumped back and didn’t want to argue with her anymore.

"It’s alright, Sheana," Sseraphis put his best pouting face forward. "It’s alright if she doesn’t appreciate me," he let out. "However, when I don’t show u tonight for her ’saving the world’ plan, I hope she’ll also understand," he added.

Fairy Zarathia’s hand paused. She finally looked up. The success of her plan rested solely on the trio in question being present. Her solution might not require them to use a lot of energy, but it did require their attendance.

In annoyance with the tantrum Sseraphis was throwing, she down the whole cup in one take and flashed the empty cup to them. "There, done. Now leave me be," she said, picking up her belongings and getting up. "You better show up later tonight or else..."

"Oh," Sseraphis dropped the pout and smiled immediately. "I wouldn’t miss it for the world."