Elias asked for privacy. When it was just the two of them and their sleeping cubs, he took her hand. He frowned at feeling of coldness that came off and rubbed his hand over the surface. "I am sorry, this is all my fault."

She pulled her hand away, frowning at him as if she was offended. "I already said it was not your fault, don’t put blame on yourself when it doesn’t belong there. Just give me the news straight up, do you know who was behind this?"

He was silent for a moment. His worry was that she would blame herself for what had happened when she heard the names of the conspirators.

"Out with it before I send my grandfather to find answers for me." Sienna said in a tough voice.

The cubs whimpered, and she patted them quickly.

Elias waited for them to settle before sharing in a low voice, "It’s Susie Wiener, and her mouse beast man Gary. They knew we were having issues with the eagles, so they paid for an eagle beast man to come after our son. She followed you all the way from Clawspire to Cykress, biding her time, waiting for the right moment to strike."

Sienna’s eyes slashed. "That ugly vile bitch!"

Elias grabbed her right hand. "My people are already on the move. We have agents in both cities were those two are. They will be captured and brought before you." His eyes narrowed. "Our only issue is the royal family. The palace is already aware of this and they have dispatched agents as well to capture those two. If they get their hands on them, they will likely follow the law."

She hissed. A reaction that Elias expected. "What law? Eli and I almost died and they want to lock those monsters up and feed them for life? No way. Capture them Elias. Even if you don’t get both, at least get one. I want one of them dragged to our home, tail between their legs, so that Eli and I can smash their skull in with pans."

He winced. "Eli too?"

"He needs to vent." She replied. "He needs to stop blaming himself."

He rose after confirming her response. As long as she was not blaming herself, then it was okay.

Suddenly, someone pushed into the room, wailing as if someone had died. It was Mija, the snake beast woman. She blew past Elias, reaching the bed quickly. She looked Sienna up and down and asked worriedly, "Si Si, my bestie. How do you feel? Do you feel any discomfort? How did this happen? You are human, will the attack have any effects on your body? Sometimes eagle beast men put poison on their claws when hunting. Did something like that happen? Oh great snake god, why is this happening?"

The cubs stirred awake. Sienna winced, because her ears were irritated by the noise.

"Are you live streaming right now?" Elias asked. His aura burst outward and Sienna heard something making the sound of sparking. Moments later, drone parts fell to the floor.

Sienna’s mouth fell open. She started off thinking that she was surprised. But, considering the kind of person Mija was, this was not actually surprising. She was an influencer, it was in her nature to capture moments that could grow her fame.

And right now, she was going to go viral for the first sighting of Sienna after the attack. She had debunked all the death rumors before Elias destroyed her drone.

"How did you get into the hospital?" Elias asked Mija.

The snake beast woman blinked, "Numia vouched for me. I am a relative by marriage that has not yet happened. Not that we explained that part to the guards." She pulled back from the bed, patting her chest. "Seriously Sienna, do you know how worried I was about you?

She went on rambling about how distressed she had been when she got the news. How she had not slept a wink since then. How she had been left behind by grandpa Corven because she was not family. She used air quotes when she said family, as if it was something debatable.

"What does he even mean by that?" She asked, pushing Ali out of the way so that she could be even closer.

The displeased cub laid on Sienna’s thighs, eyeing the white snake with contempt.

She must really dislike children, Sienna thought. Nothing about Mija said she liked children of any race. She couldn’t even pretend.

"Mama," Eli called softly.

Mija waved her hand. "Not now short spark, can’t you see that I and your mama are discussing something serious?" She snapped her fingers. "Go read a book or something." And, without the slightest shame Mija turned her eyes to Sienna. "Can you believe this kid?"

Sienna’s mouth raised in something that was a mix of bafflement and distress. "That is my kid."

"I know...arrgh!" Mija rolled her eyes. "If he was not yours, you would not have taken that strike for him. This motherhood thing is overrated. You lose half of your life when laying the egg, spend months sitting on it, following it around after it hatches. Protecting it, feeding it, educating it." She huffed. "All your savings and personal time vanish into an abyss. Your youth..."

"Maybe you should stop rambling for now and stop by later." Elias cut her off before she convinced his wife to dump their children and him altogether for a carefree life like Mija’s.

Sienna nodded eagerly. "Yes." She blurted loudly, rising suddenly and then wincing from the pain.

Mija’s eyes widened. "Does it hurt so bad?" She asked, with genuine concern in her voice. She reached into her purple snake skin purse, "My family has an ointment that heals wounds very quickly and prevents the formation of scars. The ingredients are so rare so there is very little we make. Half goes to the royal family, 10% goes on auction, 20% is for the tribe and the rest is kept for our own use. You are lucky that you are my bestie. I told my papa to send a bottle of it over. That is why I arrived later than everyone else." She dangled a 30ml glass bottle with a pink liquid.

She opened it, letting the light herbal fragrance waft through the air.

Sienna and Elias were surprised. Was the snake beast woman being truly nice or did she have other motives? The white snakes had just suffered a loss at Elias’s hands. How could they be kind enough to provide this oil for free?

"What’s the catch?" Elias asked.