Rebirth: Beasts Bound

"Aaah..."

The sound slipped out of me before I could even stop it, my body sank deeper into the mattress as Thyrian’s fingers continued massaging my scalp.

His hands were doing wonders. I felt the pain from earlier slowly disappear, but my thoughts still lingered.

Pregnant, and not with one, but three!

My mind tried to laugh again, but my body didn’t follow.

Azrael, who had been gently massaging my back, slowly stood up. "Raven, are you okay?" he asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Does it still hurt?" he added.

I blinked slowly. "Everything hurts... but also doesn’t," I mumbled, confused by my own answer.

Ryker immediately leaned in from the side. "Where? Tell me. Does your heart hurt, or your brain?" he asked, and I laughed softly at his words.

Veyra’s hands rested on my wrist, checking my pulse.

"What are you doing?" I questioned, and he heaved a sigh.

"To make sure you are still breathing properly!"

My eyes softened, and Azrael gently let go of my waist. He stood up and just stared down at me.

"Rest up," he said.

I sighed deeply into the pillow.

"I feel like I got hit by a carriage... but also like I’m being spoiled at the same time," I said honestly, and that earned a small chuckle from Ryker.

"Then we’ll continue spoiling you," he said simply, like it was the most obvious solution in the world.

I turned my head slightly to look at him. "I deserve to be spoiled."

"Yeah, you do, even without cubs," Veyra said softly and gently placed a strand of hair behind my ear.

Azrael clicked his tongue softly. "Raven is strong. She doesn’t need protection."

I frowned. "Just because I’m not made of glass doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be spoiled!" I snapped, and he chuckled under his breath.

"You didn’t let me finish..." he said, and I froze, looking away with reddened ears.

"Pregnancy really is something else. She’s already having three moods a day," he said coldly, though his eyes softened. "But even with your attitude, I can’t help but make sure you are well fed."

All four of them went silent after hearing his words, then Thyrian spoke, his voice low but firm.

"I will take full responsibility," he said softly, and I giggled.

"You make me sound evil for seducing you last night!" I clicked my tongue. "Do you regret it that much?" I asked.

He stood up so suddenly the chair fell to the ground.

"I don’t," he said immediately.

My chest tightened slightly at his words.

I didn’t know what to say to that, and I smiled.

"Good boy," I complimented, and I saw the way his cheeks and ears reddened instantly.

The room stayed quiet for a moment, but their gazes lingered on me while their soft breathing filled the air. My lips started to say something, but the door burst open again.

"Raven!" Bibi’s voice came first, followed by hurried footsteps. "Have you guys talked it out? Are you keeping the babies?"

Liora entered right behind her, holding a wooden tray filled with small bottles, wrapped herbs, and glowing pouches that still looked warm with magic.

I slowly lifted my head, ready to reply, but Liora beat me to it.

"Why would she kill her cubs? Raven would never absolutely do that!"

I smiled weakly. "...You guys are fast," I muttered.

Bibi sat down beside me and licked her lips awkwardly. "I just said that because most girls would, but I didn’t tag Raven as that!" she blurted out, but no one responded to her.

Then she continued quickly, "Fast? Do you know how many guards we had to bribe just to get these supplements approved?"

Liora giggled softly as she placed the tray carefully on the nearby table. "Not bribery. Negotiation."

Bibi waved her hand dismissively. "Same thing."

My eyes drifted toward the items on the tray. "That looks suspicious."

"It’s not suspicious," Liora said calmly. "It’s regulated healing supplements for merman marking reactions and early-stage pregnancy stabilization. Always trust a doctor and your friends."

I blinked slowly. "That sounded like five different problems in one sentence."

"It is," Azrael muttered.

Bibi rolled her eyes and leaned over me immediately, pressing both hands against my cheeks. "Raven, how are you feeling? Be honest."

I stared at her for a second.

Then I forced out a smile. "I feel like my body is fighting me... but also protecting me... it’s a mixed feeling."

Liora’s expression softened slightly. "That’s accurate. They’re just pregnancy hormones! And probably the backlash from the mark!"

Ryker frowned deeply. "She’s really going through backlash from the mark."

Thyrian’s expression darkened slightly at that. "It’s stabilizing," he said quickly. "Didn’t the doctor say the cubs are... accepting it?"

My beast-men nodded, agreeing with Thyrian, but a sigh escaped from my lips.

"It doesn’t happen at once. But tomorrow I’m sure I’ll be okay!"

"I will get the doctor. I don’t trust him," Azrael said immediately, but my eyes darkened.

"Tomorrow, if it doesn’t work, we get him. He also has a family to care for!" I said softly, unable to deal with another one of Azrael’s rebellions.

Liora picked up one of the glowing pouches, changing the topic.

"This will reduce the fever and stabilize your mana flow. This one is for nourishment. This one prevents rejection reactions between the mark and pregnancy energy."

She handed them to Thyrian first. He accepted them carefully, like they were more fragile than glass.

"I’ll prepare them," he said softly.

Bibi sat beside me again. "You scared us earlier, you know."

I blinked slowly. "I can’t believe you care about me this much," I said sarcastically, and she rolled her eyes.

"You joke about everything too much!" she snapped, but I chuckled louder.

"Are you in love with me?" I teased, and she froze for a second before moving closer.

"Who knows? How about we find out?" she said while leaning in, and I squinted my face in disgust.

Then Ryker suddenly leaned forward, resting his chin against the edge of the bed.

"Get out."

Bibi’s eyes darkened, and she snapped her teeth at him, but he just stared at her, completely unmoved.

"Come on, I get to help make the cubs!" she said instantly, and Ryker laughed.

"Never," he said directly to her face, and she gritted her teeth.

"I am a better aunt!" she argued and turned to everyone else for support.

Then Thyrian’s lips parted quietly.

"It’s mine too. I should name them."

The room went still again, but Veyra stepped forward.

"I get to name my own cubs," he said calmly.

Bibi laughed loudly. "How sure are they yours?" she asked and pointed directly at Azrael. "They could be his!"

I turned my head slightly toward him and laughed. Azrael only gave her a cold stare.

"Why mention my name?" he asked coldly.

Bibi raised her hands defensively. "It could be you!" she mumbled before turning back to me.

"Your beast-men are too vicious. How do you even control them?" she asked, clearly mesmerized and slightly terrified.

I only shrugged my shoulders lazily.

"Don’t worry, we all get to choose names, and Raven decides which one is best!" Liora said brightly, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Okay, we should leave the mum to rest," Liora said and beamed at me.

I blushed hearing her words and gently rested my hands on my stomach.

"Looks like I can only accept you guys," I thought happily.

But then a knock suddenly came from the door.

"Who is—"

"Headmistress Lysanadra calls for everyone to be present at the arena, including you!" a voice said from outside the room, and I paused.

A gathering?

Why?

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