The Spoilt Beauty And Her Beasts-Chapter 628: You are pregnant. If anything happens to you...

Chapter 628: Chapter 628: You are pregnant. If anything happens to you...

The first attack came on a night that looked almost peaceful. The snow on the walls had frozen into a smooth crust that glinted under the moon.

A light wind moved through the village, not strong enough to bite, just enough to make the torches flicker and the fur banners shift lazily.

The village had already adjusted to winter’s grip.

On the outer walls, men in thick cloaks walked their patrol routes, their footsteps steady, their eyes used to the way the forest’s shadow lay over the ground.

From inside the stone palace, soft laughter of women and children could be heard now and then, mixed with the crackling of fires. It was the kind of calm that made people drop their guard, just a little.

Isabella struggled up from her bedding with a low groan. Her stomach felt like it had grown again in the short time she napped. She pressed her hand against the firm curve and glared down.

"You guys are really enjoying yourselves," she whispered to her unborn children. "Sleep. Your mother is tired."

The babies ignored her, of course. They kicked once, as if in rebellion.

She rolled her eyes and turned her head toward Cyrus, who was coiled beside her, half in human form and half in his long snake tail that wrapped around the bedding like a living blanket.

His arm was draped over her waist, his face soft in sleep. It was a rare sight, a truly relaxed Cyrus. Isabella watched him for a moment, her gaze gentle.

Then she heard it.

A horn, short and sharp, cut through the night.

It came from the north watchtower, answered almost instantly by a second horn from the east. The sound penetrated stone and fur as if someone had thrown cold water over the entire valley.

Cyrus’s eyes snapped open. His pupils narrowed and his tail tensed. Before Isabella could sit up properly, the sound of many feet rushing through the corridor reached her ears.

Cyrus was already moving. He wrapped his tail more tightly around her for a second, his voice low and urgent. "Stay here. I will check."

Isabella grabbed his wrist. "You think I will stay obediently on the bed while something is happening?" she asked, looking at him like he had lost all his brain cells.

Cyrus’s mouth opened, then closed. He knew her too well. His heart twisted with worry.

A moment later, Zyran burst into the room without knocking, which was very in character for Zyran. His hair was messy, eyes bright in the firelight.

"Enemy at the outer wall," he said quickly. Even his usual shameless grin was missing. "Fast, organized, not the usual idiots who come to throw rocks. Kian is already on the north wall. The horns say there are at least three groups."

Isabella’s heartbeat sped up, but her mind turned strangely clear. She pushed aside the fur blanket and swung her feet to the ground, ignoring the way both males reached out to steady her immediately.

"Cyrus, help the inner guards move the women and children into the stone palace hall. Zyran, go to the wall and tell Kian I am coming," she said briskly. "I will personally drag you back by the tail if you let anyone near this building."

Zyran’s eyes flashed with satisfaction at the order. "Yes, Madam Goddess," he said, then turned and sprinted away, his steps light and almost soundless.

Cyrus hesitated. He wanted to refuse, to say he would stay by her side, but he also knew that if the inner part of the village became a mess, Isabella would not be able to focus outside. He lowered his head and pressed his forehead briefly to hers.

"Do not run," he said, his voice hoarse. "Let others help you. If you feel even a little uncomfortable, you go back inside. Promise me."

Isabella snorted softly, but her heart warmed. "If I die, I will haunt you, so relax," she said, patting his cheek. "Go. They need you."

Cyrus gave her one last deep look, then flowed out of the room, his snake tail leaving faint marks on the floor stones.

By the time Isabella reached the main hall, the inner palace had already turned busy. Female beastmen with big eyes clutched their children and baskets, following the instructions of the inner guards as they were led into the thickest part of the stone palace where the walls were strongest.

The hall that usually held feasts quickly turned into a temporary shelter. Some of the women wanted to stop and ask Isabella what was going on, but she raised her hand.

"Go inside and stay there," she said, her voice firm but calm. "No matter what you hear outside, do not rush out. This stone palace will not break easily. I will come back."

One brave young woman bit her lip and grabbed Isabella’s sleeve. "Goddess, please do not go out," she begged. "You are pregnant. If anything happens to you..."

"It will not," Isabella cut in. Her eyes were serious. "I am the one who dragged you all here and made you build this place. I cannot hide in the deepest corner when someone comes to destroy it. If you really want to help me, stay alive and keep the children quiet."

Her words were not flowery, but they carried a solid weight. The women’s hearts tightened.

They bowed deeply, then allowed themselves to be pulled deeper into the hall. Cyrus was already there, directing the inner guards, his expression tense, his voice soft whenever he spoke to a frightened child. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Isabella watched for one more breath, making sure everything was moving smoothly, then she turned and headed out, her steps steady.

Once she was alone for a moment in the corridor, she lifted her hand to her temple.

"Bubu," she said in her mind. "If you have any useful information, this is the time to spit it out."

[Host finally remembers me when knives show up,] Bubu replied, sounding like it was peeling fruit leisurely. Then its tone sharpened.

[I scanned the outer area. There are around 80 masked beastmen attacking different points of the wall. Their coordination is good. They are not wandering trash, they look like a hired group, probably under one of the larger villages or a city.]

"Who sent them?" Isabella’s eyes narrowed.

[My data says they have been sniffing around for some time,] Bubu said. [They heard about a small village with a pregnant goddess, strange buildings, a rare beast on the mountain, and many strong males. They came to test if the stories are true. They planned to grab some supplies, maybe take a few people if they can. Especially you.]

Isabella’s lips slowly curved upward. It was not a pleasant curve. Cold light flickered in her eyes.

"So they heard the stories, and their first thought was to come and rob me?" she asked. "They want my people and my things, and if possible, they want me too?"

[That is correct,] Bubu said helpfully.

"Good," Isabella said softly. "Then they really picked the wrong person to annoy tonight."

Her heart did not tremble with fear. Instead, it felt strangely calm and sharp.

She reached into her space, fingers brushing over the familiar smooth handle before closing around it. When she pulled her hand back, the elegant pink and white fan appeared, looking innocent and pretty in the torchlight.

Her thumb slid over the small buttons on the handle, feeling the tiny grooves. Her babies gave a small kick as if they were also excited.

"Fine," she thought. "Since you came to my doorstep in the middle of winter, I will show you some wind."