The Spoilt Beauty And Her Beasts-Chapter 236 - 237: I thought she was supposed to be asleep?

Chapter 236: Chapter 237: I thought she was supposed to be asleep?

"Isabella," Kian called, voice low and casual, but not quite dismissive.

She was halfway through the door when she paused and turned, brows lifting. "Hmm?"

Kian didn’t move from where he sat on the log, arms rested over his knees, firelight flickering across the angles of his face. He looked like someone who’d just returned from battle and wasn’t sure whether he’d won or not.

"Next time," he said, his tone too smooth to be anything but smug, "don’t speak so much if you can’t take down three men."

Isabella blinked. "What?"

And then—realization.

Her jaw dropped. "Wait. You... You were the one who killed them?!"

Kian raised a single brow, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"But... how?" she asked, eyes narrowing. "You weren’t anywhere near me. You didn’t even show up until later—"

"They tried to touch what doesn’t belong to them," he said simply, as if that explained everything.

It didn’t. But it did something else to her insides.

Her face went hot, and for a second, she didn’t even know why. She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. "You could’ve told me, you know! I nearly had a heart attack trying to figure out if I was about to die or be haunted."

"You’re still alive, aren’t you?" he said, picking up a small twig and tossing it into the fire.

"Barely!" she scoffed, arms crossing. "That whole time, I was panicking! You could’ve at least warned me, or sent a note. Or maybe not be creepy and lurking and slicing heads without a greeting—"

"You were too busy threatening them with that strange thing in your hand," Kian said, cutting her off, lips twitching.

Isabella’s mouth opened again. "You—! I was being resourceful!"

He gave a small shrug. "You were being loud."

"And what were you being? A secret murder fairy?"

Kian didn’t respond. He just looked at her, the firelight catching something unreadable in his eyes. Dangerous. Protective. Quietly possessive.

She fidgeted, then squinted. "Wait... who were they anyway? Do you know them?"

"No."

"Do you always go around killing people for fun, or was that just a special occasion?"

Kian tilted his head slightly, amused. "Only on nights ending in you."

"Ugh." Isabella made a noise somewhere between frustration and flustered disbelief. "You’re so annoying."

"And yet, you’re still standing there," he said, gaze lingering on her like a touch.

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Because I’m trying to make sense of your brain."

He leaned back slightly. "Don’t try too hard. It’s dangerous in there."

She clicked her tongue, turning to leave again. "You know what? I’m going to bed. I’ve had enough mystery murder flirting for one night."

But before she could step out, she glanced back over her shoulder. "Thanks... I guess."

Kian didn’t answer. He just gave her the smallest nod, like he’d been waiting for that.

And this time, Isabella didn’t ask any more questions. Her heart was still fluttering for reasons she’d never admit, and the little smirk tugging at the edge of her lips refused to leave.

She walked off, muttering under her breath, "Next time, he better save me with a little more drama. Honestly. So boring."

But she was smiling the whole way out.

...

The stone hallway was colder than she remembered. Isabella’s steps echoed as she hugged herself, muttering under her breath about everything—Zyran, Kian, the dusty path she had to shuffle through, and the fact that her slippers kept flopping like wet fish with every step was just the final insult of the night.

"I swear if another man tells me I’m overreacting, I will personally set this entire stone age world on fire," she grumbled, rubbing her arms as she passed the narrow arch into the eastern passageway.

And then—thump.

She bounced off a wall. A wall with arms. A wall that softly caught her before she could stumble back too far.

"Ah!" she gasped and blinked up—right into Cyrus’ gentle pink eyes.

"Oh, it’s you," she sighed with exaggerated relief, leaning one hand on his chest as if to steady herself. "Praise the stars. I was this close to throwing hands again. I didn’t know if that magical barrier was still up."

Cyrus gave a quiet chuckle, his voice soft as always. "It’s gone now. I made sure."

Isabella blinked up at him, squinting. "You can do that? Kian didn’t say we could."

Cyrus nodded gently. "He allows it when needed. Once he leaves, he’ll restore it himself."

Isabella tilted her head, still eyeing him suspiciously before muttering, "Mmh," with a little squint, as if she were filing that away for later.

Then her eyes shifted—to the adorable traitor nestled in his arms.

"You..." she said slowly, pointing at Glimora.

The white beast blinked up at her with wide, shiny eyes full of gleaming betrayal and mild rage.

Isabella narrowed hers right back. "I thought she was supposed to be asleep?"

Cyrus tilted his head with a helpless smile. "She was. But... as soon as we reached the room, she was suddenly not sleepy anymore."

Isabella pursed her lips and placed her hands on her hips. "Suddenly not sleepy anymore," she repeated, voice full of theatrical disbelief. "Oh wow, what a mystical, shocking turn of events."

Glimora blinked again, turned her head—and pointedly swiveled her tiny white bum directly at Isabella’s face.

Cyrus tried to hide a smile. He failed. Miserably.

Isabella gasped. "Excuse you! Did she just—did she just turn her butt at me?!"

Glimora’s only response was to lift her tail slightly higher in the air, the white fur fluffing with attitude.

"Oh, come on! It was a joke!" Isabella cried, stepping forward. "Why are you taking this so seriously?!"

Isabella narrowed her eyes at the white fluffball turning her back like a petty little princess. "Oh, come on, Glimora."

The beast didn’t budge. In fact, she raised her tail slightly—just enough to be dramatic.

Cyrus, being Cyrus, remained quiet—but his shoulders were shaking ever so slightly. From silent laughter.

"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" Isabella turned her glare up at him.

"No," Cyrus said, but he bit his lip right after and didn’t dare make eye contact.

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