Free Web NovelChapter 35: Episode 035: Indulging the Panther
"I will continue the class."
Rue stopped right in her tracks. She slowly turned around, wanting to ask him what he said again.
Instead, she found Knox on the ground. The massive apex predator was down on one single knee in the dirt. He reached out with a slightly shaking hand and gently wrapped his thick fingers around her tiny, pale hand.
Knox looked up at her. His bright golden eyes were wide, stripped of their usual arrogant pride. They were actually glassy. It honestly looked like he wanted to cry right there in the courtyard.
"Please don’t leave..." Knox whispered. His deep voice cracked on the words.
Caius threw his head back and groaned loudly.
"Oh, come on," Caius complained, rubbing his temples in absolute annoyance. He already knew what Rue’s response was going to be like.
Rue completely ignored the snake. She looked down at the Panther, and her chest tightened. He was the King of this entire jungle, and he was begging a tiny rabbit not to walk away from him.
She reached down with her free hand and gently pulled on his arm.
"Stand up," Rue said softly.
Knox slowly got to his feet. He towered over her, looking completely lost.
Without overthinking it, Rue stepped forward and wrapped her small arms around his solid waist. She hugged him. It was a brief, highly practical hug, but she pressed her cheek against his chest. He smelled like fresh rain and jungle leaves.
Knox froze entirely. He completely stopped breathing. His large hands hovered awkwardly in the air before gently resting on her back.
"It is okay," Rue told him, stepping back and patting his stomach. "I know this is incredibly hard for you. I will try to be more lenient with you. But you have to actually try."
Knox swallowed hard. He nodded frantically. "I will try. I promise."
They continued the class. Rue did not make Caius play the rude customer anymore. Instead, she just had Knox practice smiling without bearing his sharp fangs. It was a very stiff, highly terrifying smile, but he was putting in the effort. The afternoon slowly faded into early evening, casting long, dark shadows across the fortress.
By the time the sun fully set, Rue was completely exhausted.
They were back inside the quiet stone bedroom. The green candles flickered softly against the walls. Rue sat on the very edge of the thick animal pelts. Little Theron was in her arms, feeding quietly.
The day had completely drained her energy. The stress, the teaching, and the heat took their toll. Her pink eyes drooped. Her head bobbed once, twice, and then her chin rested heavily against her chest.
She fell fast asleep sitting completely upright.
Theron, full and happy, released his latch and fell asleep right against her chest, his tiny silver head resting on her collarbone.
It was an incredibly beautiful, peaceful sight.
Caius and Knox stood perfectly still near the doorway. Both of the massive predators watched the mother and child breathe in slow, matching rhythms.
Caius leaned against the stone wall. He crossed his arms and looked at the panther. The playful teasing from the courtyard was completely gone.
"Seriously," Caius asked, his voice dropping to a cold, rough whisper. "What are you thinking?"
Knox did not look at the snake. His golden eyes remained completely glued to Rue’s sleeping face. He watched the soft rise and fall of her shoulders.
"Even I don’t know why I am behaving like this," Knox admitted quietly. His voice held no anger, only a deep, heavy honesty. "I have fought for territory. I have killed for power. None of it felt like this. All that matters right now is that I want to keep her smiling. I want to keep her face peaceful."
Caius pressed his lips into a tight, thin line.
The Left General of the Swamps was deeply, biologically possessive. Every instinct in his snake blood screamed at him to wrap his tail around his mate and bite anyone who came near her. But he looked at Knox. He saw the exact same desperate, protective devotion in the panther’s eyes that he felt in his own chest.
Caius took a slow, heavy breath. He finally accepted the hard truth. He would have to share his mate. If he fought it, he would only stress Rue out and put her in danger.
"She is going to drop the baby," Caius muttered, pushing off the wall.
"I will take him," Knox said immediately.
They moved together in complete, silent teamwork. Caius walked to the edge of the bed. He carefully slid his large arms around Rue’s waist and under her knees. He lifted her smoothly into the air. Rue let out a soft sigh, but she didn’t wake up.
She naturally curled her body toward his familiar warmth. Caius laid her down gently in the center of the bed and pulled a thick fur blanket over her shoulders.
At the exact same time, Knox stepped close. His massive, clawed hands were incredibly gentle as he scooped little Theron out of Rue’s arms. The tiny baby looked ridiculously small against the panther’s heavily muscled chest.
Knox walked over to the ironwood crib. He placed the baby down onto the soft, white moon-fox furs. He pulled a small, knitted blanket over the infant.
Knox stood over the crib for a long time. He watched little Theron curl into a tiny, perfect ball.
"What must she have gone through," Knox whispered into the quiet room, "to turn out like that? So cold. So, expecting to be abandoned."
Caius stood by the bed, looking down at Rue’s sleeping face. Caius stayed perfectly quiet. He did not answer the question.
Because that was not revealed to him.
***
The Dragon Peaks.
High above the clouds, far away from the damp swamps and the thick jungle, the air was freezing cold. The massive, jagged mountains pierced the sky like sharp gray teeth.
Inside the highest peak, within the throne room, Onyx paced the floor. The young dragon beastman had dark, messy hair and bright, blue eyes. He was practically vibrating with energy.
"I can’t wait for the Full Moon Festival," Onyx threw his arms in the air. His voice echoed off the high glass ceiling. "What if I find my mate there? And I will be relieved from this shackle you placed on me?"
Drax sat heavily on the massive black throne. His short black hair was wild around his face, some of it sleek and some left to wander, and his green eyes held absolutely zero amusement. He looked incredibly tired.
Drax rolled his eyes.
"You forgot," Drax said, his voice low. "You brought this upon yourself. And besides, which female beastman would want to be with you? You are too loud."
Onyx stopped pacing. He crossed his arms, looking deeply offended. He absolutely did not like that tune. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
"What did I do?" Onyx complained defensively. "I just like to have fun! I am not like you, who is hung up on one female for aeons. Who knows, she might have died a long time ago, and you have absolutely no idea."
The temperature in the throne room instantly turned cold. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
Drax’s head snapped up. He glared directly at Onyx. Onyx immediately realised he had pushed way too far. He quickly raised his hands in the air, taking three rapid steps backwards toward the massive double doors.
"I surrender!" Onyx shouted quickly. "I am leaving! I will go find Axel’s trouble now!"
Without waiting for a response, the young wolf practically ran out of the throne room, slamming the doors shut behind him.
Drax was left entirely alone in the hall.
He slowly leaned his head back against his throne and closed his eyes. He breathed a long, heavy sigh into the empty air, watching his breath turn to white mist.
"Perhaps I should really attend this one."
