Surviving Zombies Was Easier Than Raising Beast Cubs

Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Let’s have a conversation

"Make me yours."

Kael growled instantly.

Soren’s tail struck the ground.

Azren smiled brightly.

"I eat very little."

One of his people barked:

"You eat more than three warriors!"

Azren ignored him.

"I am useful."

"You broke two shelters last moon!"

"Slander."

The Ground-Hoof warrior pulled harder.

Azren slid backward through the dirt.

"Pretty female!"

"GO!"

"I can fly!"

"One wing is tied!"

"Temporary difficulty!"

Swanly’s lips twitched despite herself.

Something about it felt wrong.

Not dangerous wrong.

Calculated wrong.

His panic was too dramatic.

His eyes too alert.

Even while begging, he was watching everything.

The gate.

The walls.

Soren.

Druun.

Thalara.

Her.

He was performing.

Making everyone laugh.

Making everyone dismiss him.

Swanly’s amusement faded.

You are much smarter than you act.

Azren caught her staring.

For one second, his ridiculous expression disappeared.

His violet eyes met hers.

Sharp.

Knowing.

Then the stupid smile returned.

He blew her a kiss.

Kael snarled.

"Keep walking."

Azren sighed.

"Your panther hates romance."

"He hates you."

"Same thing."

Eventually the Veskari disappeared beyond the trees.

The dust settled.

Ironwood remained silent.

Nobody celebrated.

Because they had left.

But nobody believed they were gone.

...

Far beyond the outer ridge, Azren stopped fighting his chains.

Instantly.

No dragging.

No dramatic complaints.

No pleading.

He straightened.

The lazy grin disappeared.

His eyes turned cold.

The warrior holding his chain glanced at him.

"There he is."

Azren ignored him.

Veyra looked back toward Ironwood.

"They will never invite us inside now."

Azren leaned back against his restraints.

"Of course they won’t."

Korran turned sharply.

"You spent the entire meeting making things worse."

"No."

"You attempted to claim their leader’s female."

"She is not their leader."

Korran’s expression darkened.

Azren’s mouth barely moved.

"The snake is."

Silence.

So he had noticed that too.

Lyssara stopped walking.

Azren’s gaze moved toward Ironwood’s distant walls.

"If you cannot make them invite us in willingly, stop threatening them."

Korran scoffed.

"And what would you suggest?"

Azren looked at him.

"Fear closes gates."

His gaze shifted toward the hidden basin.

"Give them a reason to open one."

The playfulness was completely gone.

"And before any of you strike that Root Mother again..."

His eyes chilled.

"Remember that whatever is beneath Ironwood frightened her enough to choose beastmen over us."

Nobody answered.

Azren smiled again.

But this smile was different.

Small.

Interested.

"That should worry you."

...

Inside Ironwood, everything felt wrong.

Nobody wanted to leave the walls.

Hunters kept looking toward the forest.

Females pulled cubs closer.

Raku doubled the guards without being told.

Thankfully, Ironwood already had food.

Stored meat.

Fresh fruit that was growing all over.

Roots.

The first planted crops.

Potatoes.

Enough water.

Enough to survive for some time without sending large groups outside.

But not forever.

Swanly knew that.

Meat mattered here.

Especially to beastmen.

Sooner or later, hunters would need to leave.

And now an entire unknown species was somewhere beyond their walls.

Wonderful.

Just wonderful.

When Swanly entered the inner settlement, three little black heads were waiting.

Especially one.

Miko grinned.

"Mama!"

Swanly stopped.

Looked at him.

Slowly.

Miko’s grin weakened.

"But Mama..."

She gave him a sideways look.

"Miko."

"I did good."

"You screamed about my mating life during a negotiation."

Miko blinked.

"I protect."

"Next time Mama is speaking to strangers, you do not interrupt."

He nodded immediately.

"Yes, Mama."

Too quickly.

Swanly narrowed her eyes.

"You’re going to do it again."

"No."

"Miko."

"Maybe."

Kairo covered his mouth.

Nilo walked away.

Swanly sighed.

This child was hopeless.

For several minutes she dealt with the cubs.

Checked them.

Fed them.

Made absolutely certain Miko had not somehow stolen a winged stranger while nobody was looking.

Only when she finally sat down did exhaustion crash into her.

Hard.

Her palm went instinctively to her stomach.

Pregnant.

Right.

For several terrifying hours she had almost forgotten.

Kael noticed immediately.

"You’re tired."

"I am always tired."

He crouched beside her.

Soren entered moments later.

Swanly looked at both males.

Then toward the direction Thalara had disappeared.

Finally:

"What is going on?"

Silence.

Kael’s brows tightened.

"I don’t know."

Swanly looked at Soren.

He was thinking.

Which she had learned was rarely comforting.

"You know something."

"No."

"But?"

Soren’s eyes lifted.

"They know Thalara."

"Clearly."

"They know Druun."

"Or know what he is."

"And they need permission to enter Ironwood."

Swanly leaned back.

"That part bothers me most."

Kael nodded.

"If they are stronger, why ask?"

"Exactly."

Soren’s fingers moved once against his arm.

"I could find out."

Swanly stared.

"How?"

She knew before he answered.

"No."

Soren’s eyes narrowed.

"I did not say anything."

"You were going to say mind-reading."

Silence.

Kael turned toward him.

"You can enter their minds?"

"With contact."

Swanly immediately shook her head.

"Absolutely not."

"It would give us answers."

"Or fry your brain."

Soren looked offended.

"You do not know that."

"They shoot lightning out of their fingers."

"They do not shoot it."

"You know what I mean!"

Kael looked at Soren.

"What happens if their minds resist?"

Soren did not answer immediately.

That was enough.

Swanly pointed at him.

"See?"

"I said it carries risk."

"No. Your silence said it carries risk."

Soren’s mouth tightened.

"We cannot remain ignorant."

"We won’t."

Swanly stood.

Kael immediately reached for her when she swayed.

She slapped one hand against his chest.

"I am fine."

"You almost fell."

"I stood too fast."

Soren moved closer.

"Sit."

"No."

"Swanly."

"No."

Both males stared.

She stared back.

"I have someone else to question first."

⸻

Night covered Ironwood.

The fires remained brighter than usual.

Nobody slept deeply.

Warriors stood along the walls.

Druun sat near the eastern side of the basin, awake, staring toward the forest.

Swanly waited.

Until the cubs were settled.

Until Kael stopped following her every three steps.

Until Soren became occupied with Raku and the guards.

Then she went looking.

She found Thalara near the spring.

Alone.

Her back faced Swanly.

Roots curled around her bare feet.

The blood had been cleaned from her face.

But Swanly could still see how rigidly she held herself.

Swanly stopped several steps away.

Thalara already knew she was there.

Of course she did.

Neither spoke.

Then Swanly folded her arms.

"Let’s have a conversation."

Thalara’s central eye slowly opened.

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