Surviving Zombies Was Easier Than Raising Beast Cubs

Chapter 149: Chapter 149: You Should Have Stayed Dead

Nerin suddenly grabbed his broken antler.

His face went white.

"That was aimed beneath us."

Swanly looked at him.

"What?"

"The vibration." His breathing quickened. "He knew where she was."

Raku’s expression changed.

Slowly, he looked toward Tharek.

"So that was not a greeting."

Tharek said nothing.

That silence answered enough.

Thalara screamed.

Not shouted.

Not cried out.

Screamed.

The sound ripped across Ironwood so violently Swanly’s stomach clenched.

The Root-Eyed Mother collapsed onto both hands.

Dark blood dripped from her mouth.

Her roots thrashed across the ground like wounded snakes, digging furrows through the soil.

"THALARA!"

Swanly ran towards her.

Kael followed instantly.

"Swanly!"

She barely heard him.

Another pulse moved through the earth.

THOOM.

Thalara’s entire body jerked.

Her claws scraped across stone.

Blood spilled between her fingers.

"STOP!"

Swanly spun toward the gate.

"What the fuck are you doing to her?!"

Every Ironwood warrior tensed.

Raku raised his weapon.

Kael’s black fur spread farther along his arms.

Soren’s tail struck the earth.

Druun’s reaction was worse.

The giant roared.

His fists slammed into the ground.

For one horrible second, Swanly thought he was going to charge straight through Ironwood’s gate.

The Veskari outside immediately lifted their weapons.

Six wings spread.

Hooves dug into dirt.

Blue light crawled over claws.

Definitely peaceful visitors.

Swanly’s anger exploded.

"She is bleeding!"

Lyssara looked at Thalara.

Then at Swanly.

Her expression remained disgustingly calm.

"We merely wished to greet an old friend."

"THAT is how you greet people?!"

Thalara coughed again.

More blood.

Swanly’s hand flew toward her bow.

Kael moved closer.

"You heard her."

Soren’s voice came colder.

"Stop."

Tharek, the enormous Ground-Hoof warrior, still had one hoof pressed against the earth.

Lyssara glanced at him.

One tiny motion of her fingers.

Tharek lifted his hoof.

The pressure vanished.

Thalara collapsed forward.

Swanly immediately caught one shoulder.

"Easy."

Thalara’s breath came harshly.

Her white hair covered most of her face.

Black-red blood stained her lips.

For all Swanly’s distrust of her, something hot twisted inside her chest.

Yes, Thalara hid things.

Yes, she answered every question with another fucking mystery.

Yes, Swanly was going to corner her later and demand actual answers.

But Thalara had saved Nilo.

Saved the cubs.

Held back creatures that should have torn people apart.

Used her own body and power repeatedly when she could have simply disappeared.

She was theirs.

Maybe not completely.

Maybe not forever.

But right now?

She was on their side.

And these strangers had hurt her deliberately.

Swanly looked toward Lyssara.

Her eyes went cold.

"Do that again and I stop caring whether you came here peacefully."

Kael’s head turned slightly toward her.

Raku stared.

Even several Veskari looked surprised.

Lyssara’s antennae shifted forward.

Then she smiled.

"You defend her."

"Yes."

"Interesting."

"What’s interesting is that you keep saying things instead of explaining anything."

Thalara moved.

Slowly.

She pushed herself upright.

Her breathing was still uneven.

Her forehead eye opened.

Purple light burned inside it.

Then she looked beyond the gate.

Hatred.

Pure hatred.

"You..."

Her voice rasped.

Lyssara waited.

Thalara wiped the blood from her mouth.

"You all should have remained dead."

Silence.

Even Azren stopped smiling.

The words landed differently than everything before them.

Swanly stared at Thalara.

Remained dead?

What the fuck did that mean?

Lyssara only shrugged.

A tiny movement.

Almost insulting.

"So you do remember us."

Thalara’s roots curled tightly around her feet.

"I remember enough."

Lyssara stepped closer to the invisible boundary.

"Then tell them."

Thalara’s forehead eye narrowed.

"You know what is best."

Lyssara gestured toward Ironwood.

"Tell your new companions to open their gate."

Swanly looked at Thalara.

Everyone did.

Thalara slowly straightened.

Her body shook from pain.

Blood remained at the corner of her mouth.

But when she answered, her voice was perfectly clear.

"I would rather die by my roots."

Druun growled approvingly.

Raku’s eyebrows rose.

Swanly’s eyes widened.

The Veskari did not take it nearly as well.

Korran’s wings snapped outward.

"You would condemn yourself for beastmen?"

Thalara laughed.

It sounded ugly.

"You still think this is about beastmen?"

Lyssara’s calm finally cracked.

"Do not play games with us."

"You came here threatening those sheltering me."

Thalara’s roots spread.

"You tore me from the earth."

"And you expect me to help you?"

Tharek stamped once.

Not with power this time.

Pure frustration.

Korran hissed.

Azren leaned against his chains and watched everything.

His pale-violet eyes had become very sharp.

No smile.

No foolish remarks.

Swanly noticed.

There.

That was the first moment she was certain.

The idiot prince was not an idiot.

Lyssara looked toward Soren.

"Surely you understand this is unnecessary."

Soren stared down at her.

"No."

Her jaw tightened.

"You do not know what you are protecting."

"Neither do you."

"We could tell you."

"Then speak."

Lyssara went silent.

Soren’s mouth curved slightly.

"Exactly."

He stepped closer to the wall.

His silver eyes swept across every Veskari outside.

"You will not enter."

Korran’s hand tightened around his weapon.

Soren continued.

"You will not search my land."

His gaze dropped briefly toward Tharek.

"And you will not use your power against anyone within my territory again."

The temperature of his voice seemed to drop.

"That is my final decision."

Silence.

Lyssara stared at him.

Then at Swanly.

Then Thalara.

Finally, she turned.

"Leave."

The Veskari began moving.

Swanly did not relax.

Not one fucking bit.

Ground-Hoof warriors turned first.

Their heavy bodies shifted through the dust.

Winged Veskari folded their weapons and rose several feet into the air.

Nobody crossed the boundary.

Not even now.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Then metal rattled.

Azren.

Of course.

The chained prince dug his heels into the ground.

The warrior holding his chain yanked.

Azren resisted.

"Wait."

Another yank.

"No."

"Azren."

He turned dramatically toward Swanly.

"Pretty female!"

Swanly closed her eyes.

Here we go.

"Do not let them take me!"

Korran looked murderous.

Azren lifted both chained hands.

"Take me instead."

Swanly stared.

"What?"

"Make me yours."

...

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