Kael looked at her.

He should not have found that funny.

He was injured. His mate had been claimed by another male. They were trapped in Soren’s cave. Nothing about this was funny.

But Swanly’s hopeful little whisper was so shameless that his mouth twitched again.

"He may not die."

Swanly deflated. "You don’t know that."

"I cannot hunt a red-horn marsh bull injured."

"That is because you have common sense."

Kael looked toward the cave entrance. "Soren does not need much common sense."

Swanly frowned. "Why?"

Kael’s expression darkened.

"Because he has power."

Swanly did not like that answer.

Not at all.

But her stomach growled again, so she decided fear could wait. Hunger was louder.

She turned away and reached into her space.

The moment her hand slipped through the invisible opening, she saw the system.

The tiny glowing fairy sat inside the storage space with a small square screen in front of it.

A screen.

A whole tiny screen.

It was watching something.

And eating another one of Swanly’s snacks.

This time, it was crunchy sweet nuts from a bag Swanly had been saving.

The system noticed her.

It froze.

Then, as if suddenly remembering it was supposed to still be injured and pitiful, it cleared its throat, touched the ear Swanly had pinched before, and made the most wounded face in the world.

Swanly stared at it.

The system blinked innocently.

Swanly’s eye twitched.

We are going to have a conversation later, she thought.

The system’s tiny mouth moved.

She heard its smug little voice in her head.

Mmhmm. You cannot do anything to me.

Swanly smiled slowly.

We will see about that.

The system’s smug face cracked a little.

Good.

Swanly grabbed a small bag of roasted nuts, dried berries, and soft sweet biscuits, then pulled her hand out of the space.

Inside the cave, everyone stared.

Well, almost everyone.

Kael and the cubs did not stare that much anymore. They were used to Mama’s magic hole producing strange treasures.

Soren was not there, which was good, because Swanly did not feel like explaining snack technology to a snake dictator.

The cubs immediately perked up.

"Food?" the second whispered.

"Small food," Swanly said. "Just to hold your stomach until real meat comes."

The smallest crawled into her lap like he had been waiting his whole life for this moment.

Swanly gave each cub a small piece.

The eldest sniffed his biscuit like he was inspecting prey.

The second licked it carefully.

The smallest shoved his whole piece in his mouth and immediately looked betrayed because now it was gone.

Swanly narrowed her eyes. "Chew next time."

The smallest blinked, cheeks round. "More?"

"No."

He looked devastated.

Kael watched them with quiet eyes.

He was in pain, but the sight filled something empty inside him. Swanly feeding the cubs gently. The cubs trusting her hands. The smallest begging without fear. The eldest eating while still trying to sit like a guard. The second holding his piece carefully with two paws.

This was the family he had wanted.

Not perfect.

Not safe.

But warm.

Swanly turned to him with a nut between her fingers.

"Open."

Kael’s eyes lifted to hers.

"I can eat by myself."

"You can also bleed by yourself, but I am still helping."

The cubs giggled.

Kael opened his mouth.

Swanly placed the nut against his lips, and for some reason, feeding him made her face heat. Maybe because his lips brushed her fingers. Maybe because his golden eyes stayed on her the whole time. Maybe because he was too handsome for someone covered in blood and stubbornness.

He noticed.

Of course he noticed.

Kael’s pain did not disappear, but pride warmed under it.

She was blushing.

For him.

Not from fear.

Not from anger.

From him.

His chest expanded carefully, because his ribs still hurt, but a soft satisfaction settled in his eyes.

Swanly looked away too quickly.

"You have something on your face," Kael said.

She frowned. "I do?"

He nodded.

"Where?"

"Come closer."

She leaned in without thinking because she trusted him.

That trust struck Kael first.

Then he took advantage of it.

He lifted his head and stole a quick kiss.

It was soft.

Fast.

Barely more than a brush of lips.

But Swanly froze like lightning had gone through her.

The cubs gasped.

All three of them.

Then the eldest screamed, "Papa kiss Mama!"

The second bounced on his paws. "Kiss! Kiss!"

The smallest ran in a tiny circle, slipped on the cave floor, got back up, and shouted, "Mama sweet! Papa taste!"

Swanly nearly died.

"Do not say that!"

Kael laughed.

Actually laughed.

It came out rough because of his ribs, but it was real.

Swanly stared at him.

That was unfair.

He should not be allowed to look like that while laughing. It made his whole face change. The wounded, quiet, heavy sadness in him lifted for one moment, and underneath it was a male so beautiful her brain almost dropped its basket.

She hit his chest lightly.

Then panicked because, right, injured.

"Oh! Sorry. Sorry. Did that hurt?"

Kael caught her hand and held it there.

"No."

His thumb moved over her fingers.

Swanly’s face warmed again.

The cubs watched with huge eyes like this was the greatest thing that had ever happened in history.

For a little while, the cave felt almost safe.

Almost.

Then noise broke outside.

Shouting.

Heavy feet.

A deep beast roar.

Something huge dragged across mud and stone.

Swanly stiffened.

Kael tried to rise at once.

She shoved one hand against his chest.

"No."

His eyes sharpened. "Something is outside."

"Yes, and your ribs are inside, where they should stay."

He stood anyway.

Because of course he did.

Swanly wanted to scream.

The cubs gathered around her legs as they moved toward the cave entrance. The night air hit Swanly’s face cold and wet. Smoke from the tribe fires drifted low across the ground. People were running toward the open space near the gate.

And there, under the flickering firelight, was Soren.

Alive.

Unfortunately.

Very alive.

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