Chapter 209: Protective
Nina looked around, her eyes adjusting to the suffocating darkness.
Where... was this place? Why was it so pitch-black?
A thought struck her suddenly.
Momo had said he was somewhere dark—could this be the same place?
The cubs in her arms peered about curiously, their small heads turning this way and that.
Then, Momo caught a familiar scent.
His eyes lit up instantly, and he darted forward. "Mom! Mom! I’m here!"
Nina turned at the sound of his voice and saw him flying straight toward her.
He crashed into her arms, clinging tightly. "Mom, you finally came!"
Relief flooded her chest as she held him close. "Momo... I found you at last."
She hadn’t expected Odian’s teleportation array to be this precise—sending her directly into the underground prison.
Still... where were the others? Why hadn’t they arrived with her?
The other cubs squealed happily upon seeing him. "Momo! Momo!"
Momo nuzzled them, just as delighted.
Nina switched on her small light and carefully checked him over from head to tail. Seeing that he was completely unharmed, the tight knot in her chest finally loosened.
Even so, worry lingered. "Momo, while I wasn’t here... did that bad man do anything to you?"
He shook his head. "I don’t know. I just woke up here."
Nina immediately had Little Bun run a scan. Only after confirming there was nothing wrong did she truly relax.
Nearby, Idir watched all this unfold, stunned.
The little female had actually come. And so quickly.
His gaze settled on her. So... she was the one from that night.
Now that he could see her clearly, she was even more beautiful than he’d imagined.
He frowned slightly.
A female like her should have been treasured, surrounded, protected... how had she ended up in a place like Sin Beast City?
His gaze dropped to the cluster of cubs in her arms—and his surprise deepened.
So many? Why had she brought them all here? And where were her mates? Why had she come alone?
A flicker of anger rose in his chest. What kind of males would let a female walk into a place like this by herself?
So irresponsible.
"Little female, why did you come alone?" he asked.
Nina looked up at him and explained, "My mates used a formation to send me here, but we got separated somehow."
Up close, she couldn’t help but study him.
He was enormous. Long, powerful, imposing—far larger than she’d expected.
Idir nodded faintly. "I see. Then stay here and wait for your mates to find you. They should be somewhere nearby."
He swept his tail lightly, nudging a low stone platform toward her. "You can rest here. This area is usually empty and relatively safe."
Nina walked over, laid down a layer of fur, and sat. "Thank you."
"You’re welcome." He paused briefly. "My name is Idir."
"Nina," she replied.
He tilted his head slightly. So that was her name.
Momo curled his little tail around her arm. "Mom, I’m hungry. I want milk."
Idir’s brows drew together immediately.
"Momo, you’re not a hatchling anymore. You’ve grown teeth—you should be eating meat. There’s food over there. Stop clinging to your mother."
His tone carried a hint of reprimand. The cub had no sense of restraint—once they had teeth, they could easily hurt a female.
And how could she feed him here? He had heard that feeding required... exposure.
His gaze darkened slightly, clearly disapproving.
At the thought of that scene, Idir’s entire body stiffened—and though his expression couldn’t be seen in his serpent form, his face flushed instantly.
"Momo, have you really not eaten anything this whole time?" Nina asked, alarmed. "Mom will get something for you right away."
"Little female, you don’t need to indulge him," Idir said quickly, stealing a brief glance at her before looking away again, his tone slightly awkward. "He’s the one being disobedient. I told him to eat meat—he refused."
He hesitated, then added, "And this isn’t a suitable place for... feeding. The dungeon is cold and damp. It’s easy to fall ill."
Females were delicate—nothing like males with their thick skin and resilience. In such conditions, even a chill could make them sick.
And it was already cold. There was no fire here. No warmth. If she fell ill... he couldn’t even help her.
Idir shot Momo a sharp look.
This brat is so inconsiderate. Didn’t he realize he might upset his mother?
Nina blinked in surprise.
Why would feeding make her sick?
Then it clicked.
Ah... he’d misunderstood.
A faint flush crept up her cheeks as she explained, "I use a bottle. I won’t get cold..."
As she spoke, she quickly pulled out a bottle and powdered milk, moving with practiced ease as she prepared it.
Momo shot Idir an indignant glare and hurried to explain, "Mom, it’s not like that! He told me to eat raw meat—I just... I really didn’t want to!"
Nina gently stroked his head. "I know. But next time, don’t do that. If you’re hungry, you still need to eat something. Don’t let yourself go hungry—it’s not good for your body, alright?"
Momo nodded obediently. "Okay."
Nina smiled and handed him the bottle. "Here, drink."
Momo grabbed it and began gulping eagerly.
He was starving.
Idir watched, momentarily stunned.
So... this was how he drank milk?
A strange curiosity flickered in his eyes.
This... was what Momo meant by "milk"?
He had thought it was...
His gaze shifted away abruptly, a hint of embarrassment lingering. But despite himself, he kept stealing glances at her.
Why... was she so good to her cub? His own mother had never treated him like this. She hadn’t even wanted to look at him. Because she hated his serpent form. Because he was a cursed Teng serpent.
A shadow passed through Idir’s eyes, cold and distant.
But then... He caught sight of the warmth in Nina’s gaze as she looked at her child.
And something, long frozen inside him... stirred.
Just a little.
A faint warmth.
At that moment, Linny floated over, circling him curiously.
Momo’s father looks so powerful... so big and dark.
Idir lowered his gaze. "You’re also her child?"
This little dragon cub looked about the same age as Momo.
Linny puffed up proudly. "Of course! I’m Mom’s baby too. I’m Linny—Momo’s older brother!"
Idir glanced at the other cubs. "And them?"
Linny nodded enthusiastically. "All of us are."
A flicker of astonishment crossed Idir’s eyes.
All of them... were hers?
He quickly composed himself, shifting his massive body slightly—positioning himself between Nina and the deeper shadows of the dungeon, instinctively shielding them.
Then he settled down quietly, watching Momo drink.
Though his gaze... kept drifting back to Nina.
Just as Momo finished settling down, the locator device on Nina’s wrist suddenly vibrated.