The lion beast man’s jaw clenched, but he had no choice. His own phone buzzed with a a new order to back down. He growled at Sienna, heaving angrily. It was not fair. She was cheating! He pulled his handcuffs and said, "I am taking you in."

Sienna moved until she was so close to the beast man to whisper, "Captain, I understand your confusion. You look like you were determined to be the one that brings me in. Earn yourself some bragging rights. But orders are orders. You must follow them, even if your brain is smaller than the pebble under my foot. But don’t worry--I’ll make it simple. Touch me, and my husband will peel your mane like an onion. Touch my cubs, and the queen herself with gouge out your eyes. Touch my bees....." she paused dramatically, as the swarm buzzed menacingly. "...and you will regret it because you will be dead within ten seconds."

Timothy had followed Sienna. He shook his head and sighed. "Truly, she is without shame or fear," He muttered. "She is scarier than any bully."

The teenage Rocland falcons began taking bets under their breath. "Ten beast coins says the captain faints."

"Twenty, he grabs her by the neck."

"Thirty, he cries when he goes back home."

The captain’s face turned red, veins bulging. But he didn’t dare to move.

Grandpa Corven glared at the children. "You brats, shut up." They were learning bad things from Sienna!

The captain backed down with a snort. "I will remember you," he threatened.

Sienna waved her hand, "And I will have you transferred to another city tomorrow morning and banned from fox territory forever."

The captain turned blue in the face.

Timothy burst into laugh. The rabbit beast man concluded there and then, that Sienna was worse than her husband. At least he left room for maneuver. With her, there were no negotiations.

Sienna stepped back, with a victorious smile. Her group moved off in glory, heads held high, cubs skipping as though they had just taken a stroll in a shopping mall. The falcon teens strutted, fox guards marched, bees buzzed triumphantly. Sienna herself walked with exaggerated swagger, tossing her hair like a heroine in a movie who had just humiliated her enemies with one move.

Behind them, the mob of bullies and parents were carted away in handcuffs faces twisted with dissatisfaction. Some shouted protests, others wailed, but none dared to resist under the enforcer’s authority.

Sienna glanced back once, smirking. "Next time," she called, "you young and old bullies should choose your opponents wisely. I don’t fight fair, and I don’t lose." She smiled beautifully. "I am Sienna Miller-Veythar and I endorse this message."

The cubs giggled, the falcons snorted, even the fox guards chuckled. The beach which was once a battlefield, now echoed with laughter and the clinking of chains as the defeated mob was dragged away.

The return home was quick. The group was still buzzing from the confrontation at the beach. The children raced to find those who had not gone, all about it.

Sienna did not make it to the courtyard before Liman stopped her. "Ma’am, you have a guest."

She frowned. "A guest? At this hour? We are closed for business."

Linera hesitated. "It is Mr. Grace Twindell."

Sienna froze. Grace Twindell! The ex-pirate turned philanthropist and council member. The one whose daughter she had disciplined just earlier this morning! What was he doing here? She followed Liman out of the gate, to the bench where all visitors who were not allowed inside were asked to wait.

"I need a visitors waiting hall or something." Sienna muttered.

On the bench, she found an older fox beast man, smaller than she had imagined. His frame was lean, his hair a mixture of copper and silver tips, his eyes sharp. He carried himself with aristocracy in his bones, ever gaze, every movement dignified.

Sienna narrowed her eyes. "So. You have come to avenge your daughter? You are here sooner than I expected."

Mr. Grace rose slowly, bowing with a grace that was worthy of royalty. "On the contrary, Lady Sienna, I have come to apologize."

Sienna blinked. "Apologize?"

He gestured, and servants that were lined up brought forward gifts in boxes. Fine silks, rare spices, fresh fruit, jewels, toys for children. "My daughter Jacky acted recklessly. She shamed our fox tribe with her words. She disrespected the matriarch of our tribe. You defended yourself, and you defended the tribe. For that, I owe you respect, not hostility."

Sienna raised her brows. "Is this a trick? Did you poison those necklaces and bracelets?"

Mr. Grace laughed. "Even if I wanted to harm you, I would not be so obvious about it like that. Like I said, you did the right thing. My daughter is married into the royal family, Jacky’s behavior reflects on her sister. In this case it was negatively. The queen punished Joline for Jacky’s mistake. I don’t want the matter to escalate any further."

Sienna frowned. His words were smooth, his manner impeccable. But was this a clever ruse? A way of studying her up close? Or simply a move to avoid incurring the wrath of her pan.

Sienna tilted her head, thinking it was likely the fear of Elias which had prompted the apology. She crossed her arms, voice dripping with suspicion. "Those are too many gifts. Sometimes, gifts come with daggers."

Mr. Grace smiled faintly. "Daggers are for me who lack patience. I have lived long enough to know that revenge is costly. Mutual respect, however, is profitable." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

She snorted. "Profitable, eh? You sound like a merchant, not a father."

Grace’s eyes gleamed. "I am both. I invested a lot to give Jolie a worthy marriage. My family has benefited a lot from her presence in the royal family. Business wise, I mean. The respect we have in the kingdom is also a bonus. You are on good terms with the queen. If you clash with my daughters, it will put Jolie at a disadvantage. It is already happening.

Besides, I have seen the fate of those who have crossed you. I have no desire to quarrel with the matriarch of my tribe. Your husband will not be too kind to me if I dare. In fact, your father-in-law will be the first to break my spine."

Sienna laughed. "I don’t think so."

Mr. Grace chuckled softly, "Marius is very protective of you because you gave his family perfect cubs. Cadelaria may have her issues with you, but he doesn’t." He sighed. "You are a very lucky human, Sienna Veythar. And also a scary one."

Sienna tilted her head, studying him. Aristocracy clung to him like a cloak. His words were flowery, lowering himself while elevating her. She could not decided if he was sincere of simply playing a deeper game.