Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin-Chapter 99: More House Planning and Kai Returns

"Can you make the room like this?" I said.

"Yes! I might need to ask you a couple of questions while I’m working, but I think we can do this. We’ll going to need to find more wool for the insulation, though. Sam didn’t give me enough to take a layer that covers all of the walls," said Milo.

"I have some herb and rock powder that we can add to the wool to prevent bugs and mold from getting into the insulation," said Oliver.

"Wonderful, give me some of that for my inventory, and when I make the insulation, I’ll add it."

"I want the other rooms to be a private bedroom for me and a nursery for the babies. We can set up a larger bedroom on the left side of the main room, so each male has their own private space. I also want a family room with a fireplace and an area for the kids to play. On the right side, I want a kitchen and a dining area."

I detailed all the plans for everything. A stove that harnesses fire mana, a stone fireplace that emits smoke, paired with a large, fluffy rug on the floor. Something resembling a cozy couch, along with stuffed animals and small wooden toys for the little ones, and a big woven basket surrounded by mana stones to keep the eggs warm. A cooling box crafted from stone and powered by mana gems, a sink positioned next to the stove, some storage space, and a few stone pots. There are also wooden containers with lids and kitchen towels made from wool. It took him several attempts to create some thick, uneven glass. It wasn’t like the modern glass we know, but it would do the job. The guys removed the bamboo from the open window, and Milo constructed windows in the frames that could be opened. I asked Milo to create some lamps that could hold light mana gems, and we attached them to straps on the ceiling. They were designed to hold the light gem in the center and were encased in glass to amplify the light. Although we didn’t have any light mana gems yet, Oliver would go into town soon to secure the healer’s building and gather all the elemental gems we needed.

For a while, Milo kept asking me to draw things and share my preferences. Eventually, I ended up with a gorgeous, bright, and cozy home that I completely fell in love with. While it didn’t have all the modern conveniences, it had a delightful charm that I cherished. The only tasks left were to install the insulation and add a few finishing touches that came to mind later. I even had Milo create a glass vase for the table, where I put some yellow daisies I picked from the yard. Milo also built a shelf next to the fireplace and a coffee table surrounded by cushions. I chose a thick rug made from cotton strings for in front of the fireplace because I told the guys I wanted to avoid a fur rug that would make the room smell bad.

I was teaching the guys how to play checkers, using a board that Milo crafted from wood, with one side painted red and the other blue. A small crackling fire was burning in the gray stone fireplace, with some extra logs stored in a wooden crate beside it. The guys were gathered on the rug around the coffee table, listening intently as I explained the rules of checkers.

Ira came in from outside with glowing skin and hair and a big smile on his face. "The water has just the right amount of salt in it. It took me a while because I infused it with my mana, so it’ll be really good for you."

I glanced up at Ira. "Thanks a lot! I know it’s going to be amazing. I’ll go for a swim soon. For now, I’m showing the guys a game from my tribe." I went over the rules again, and Ira seemed almost as intrigued as the others, but not quite. His urge to dominate isn’t as strong.

Milo and Oliver were in the thick of it while Sam, Ira, and I observed. It was pretty intense since both Milo and Oliver are clever beastkin. As the game heated up and everyone was glued to the action, a loud thump at the front door interrupted the silence. Sam and Ira sprang up. Being the strongest guys left, they headed to the door first while I quickly stood up to see what was going on. Peeking around them, I spotted a large, injury-marked white tiger that I instantly recognized as Kai.

I pushed my way through, rushing outside and gasping at Kai’s sorry state. He was so skinny that I could see his bones under his fur, and he’d lost consciousness at my doorstep.

"This is my mate Kai," I reached out and touched his head, finding that he was burning hot with a fever. "His injuries are infected."

"Alright, Sam and Ira, can you carry him inside? I need to treat him right away," said Oliver.

"Sure thing," said Sam.

"I can help carry him in; he’s malnourished, but he’s still a pretty big tiger beastkin," said Ira.

Sam grabbed his shoulders while Ira took hold of his feet, and I stood by the door, keeping it open. Oliver guided the guys to one of the beds in the open area, where there were small beds lined up on the left side of the spacious room, tucked behind one of the wooden partitions I had him install. These beds were quite small, just the right size for one beastkin, and they were separated so that each of my mates could have their own little corner. They were perched on bedframes with drawers, and each had a nightstand along with a chest at the foot of the bed for storing personal items. It wasn’t as luxurious as my own bedroom, but I thought we would mostly sleep together, while still giving the guys their own personal space. I had already asked Milo to create a spot for Kai, anticipating his arrival, but it turned out that it was needed much sooner than I expected.

They carefully brought Kai in and gently placed him on the bed. Then Oliver dashed to his personal area and retrieved some jars of herbs from the chest at the end of his bed. He mixed the powders together and hurried back with a small stone knife, some alcohol, and strips of cloth for bandaging. He took a cloth spritzed with a strong scent that made me feel drowsy and laid it over Kai’s face.

"I need you to step out of the room, as I want to prevent any further distress for you, and I also want to avoid having you inhale the anesthetic," Oliver explained to me.

I glanced at Kai and then back at Oliver. "Is he going to be alright?"

"He will be okay as long as I can provide prompt treatment and keep a close eye on his condition. However, I can’t focus on that if I’m concerned about your safety and the babies’ well-being," Oliver replied.

Ira’s Perspective

Ira and Sam, upon hearing this, encouraged Perla to step out of the room. They were unsure about the nature of that liquid, but since Oliver seemed worried about her inhaling it, they felt it was best for her to be as far away as possible.

Ira softly took Perla’s hand. "How about we head to the backyard? I can show you the pool. It has a lovely salt level and is now infused with my mana. It would be wonderful for you and the babies. They’ll be able to soak up more mana from you while you relax. Plus, your skin and hair will take on a beautiful glow, making you look even more lovely and healthy when Kai wakes up. You two haven’t seen each other in a while, so I’m sure you’ll want to look your absolute best for him," Ira said in a gentle tone.

"Yes...yes, you’re right. I want to look nice when Kai wakes up again. We haven’t seen each other for a while, and I want the babies to be healthy. Healthy and safe. We need to all be healthy and safe," said Perla with a frantic look in her eyes.

Ira leaned in and tenderly lifted Perla, cradling her like a princess. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and wiped away her tears as he carried her out of the room. She nestled her face against his neck, holding him tightly while silent tears streamed down her cheeks. It broke his heart to see her in such pain, but he was determined to do everything he could to distract her. Soon, Kai would be on the mend; he had faith in Oliver’s healing abilities.

Sam stood frozen, clearly at a loss for what to do. Ira had taken the time to understand him and recognized that his feelings for Perla ran deep, even though he struggled to show it, having only ever cared for his little brother. At that moment, Ira could see the turmoil in Sam’s mind, but he was paralyzed with uncertainty, standing there like a statue.

Oliver snapped his fingers in front of Sam, prompting him to blink. "Listen, this isn’t the moment to freeze up. Take this liquid and give it to Perla as soon as you get her outside. It will help calm her down. If she gets too distressed, she might lose some eggs, and we cannot let that occur. As her mates, it’s our responsibility to protect her both physically and emotionally. Do you understand? Get a grip."

Sam blinked a few more times, and then a slight flush appeared on his face. "Yes," he replied as he accepted the bottle from Oliver. His initial shock had been replaced by determination and resolve.

"That’s good. Once she takes the medicine, she will feel more at ease, so if you bring her into the water, Ira should hold her. Make sure she doesn’t swim alone or let go of her. Now, please take her out quickly; I need to attend to Kai as soon as possible," Oliver instructed.

Coming Next Time: Ira’s Love