Chasing Back His Beloved Beast Husbands

"Truth, pass me the salt," Nytherael asked, his hand stretched out to receive it.

The salt container landed on his opened palm instantly. "Thank you," he said without glancing back.

"I’m sorry..." Princess Sheana spoke up.

Nytherael’s movements halted. His body went rigid immediately when he heard that familiar voice, saying the two words he’d grown to hate.

He pressed his lips in a flat line and scoop a table spoon full of salt and added it to the food. He didn’t turn around or respond to Sheana.

"I know that my apology isn’t going to do much to change what happened," Sheana braced herself and went on. "I know that it doesn’t make up for my sister..."

Her lips shut when Nytherael slammed the salt container hard on the counter. Before she could speak, Nytherael picked up a knife and started cutting up vegetables.

His fingers moved so smoothly and the knife cut precise and equal shapes of the vegetables. He out his full attention on cooking and avoiding letting his mind wonder to places or no return.

At the side, Sheana nervously played with her fingers. Her nails stabbing into her skin as her heart stilled.

She had never felt as helpless as she did in that moment. On one hand, her sister had committed a crime and gone on a run, then the fight with Aenyra where she unreasonably let out her frustration to Aenyra until Aenyra snapped and walked away from her, now it was facing a new friend who’s lost his old friend because of her sister.

The walls of the world were closing in on her and made her chest hurt. In her opinion, fate seemed determined to hand her a bad card at ever turn of her life.

"If I had known..."

Nytherael stabbed the knife on the cutting board. Sheana shut up once more and jolted back, startled by the clear animosity.

"Do you hate me?"

Nytherael gritted his teeth. His eyes burning hole on the vegetable as he struggled to hold in his anger.

In his heart, he knew that it was wrong to blame Sheana for Samahita’s mistake in the same way that the world blamed him for things he didn’t do. But it was too soon for him to talk to her and have her offer an apology on behalf of her sister.

The apology was a king gesture, he didn’t refuse. However, it wasn’t going to bring Rhysandor back and it wasn’t going to change the events of that fateful day so he didn’t want to hear it, either from her or Samahita.

"I don’t hate you," he admitted with a heavy voice. A voice carrying the weight of having a part of him snatched away.

The parts that defined his youth and childhood. A part of him that saw him through all the troubles and celebrated every mischief and joys with him.

"But Sheana... I don’t want your apology or hers... I just want to be left alone to cook Rhysandor’s favorite meals," he spoke and went back to his tasks.

Sheana put on an apron and walked to his side. "Then, I won’t apologize. I’ll be helpful," she said, determined.

Nytherael recalled her attempt to help him clean the house in Ocov and felt hesitant to take her as his assistant. The female was clearly unable to do chores and for some unfortunate reason, she always wants to help him.

"No, uhm..." He searched his mind for a reasonable excuse. "You are a guest in my home,Sheana. Uhm... I can’t let you work," he settled on the old age trick.

Sheana shook her head. She was determined to be useful to ease Nytherael’s pain, even a little bit. What she didn’t admit upfront was that Nytherael was the first true friend she’d ever had.

Thinking back to the moment at the arena when Nytherael explained the hunt with sheer patience, sponsored her to have fun and looked after her afterwards, moved her heart. Since then, they’d had this moments where she felt he was the only one who truly accepted her for who she was.

The first beast who didn’t care that she was seductive or flirty all the time. The first beast to give her shards, not because she had an emergency and desperately needed it, but because she wanted to have fun and didn’t have the means for it. He never once expected her to fit into his world, he just undulged her in hers.

She valued that and didn’t want Samahita’s mistake to render her friendless.

"I will help."

Seeing her determination, Nytherael felt guilty for hesitating. ’Its for Rhysandor and I want it to be perfect... But... He wouldn’t mind it if the food turns out bad if I make it with a friend...’ he thought.

"Alright, you can help."

Sheana nodded happily. It was "I forgive your sister" but felt more like "I don’t blame you for her sins" and that meant more to her than she could ever admit.

Together, they continued to cook various dishes that Rhysandor loved when he was still alive. The aroma pulled the beasts inside the house by their noses and forced them to come outside.

"I know he said that he wishes to honour Rhysandor, but..." Sseraphis swallowed greedily. His mouth watered at the sweet smell of various foods. "Do the living get to eat too?" He whispered to Aeltharion.

Aeltharion gently flicked his head. "Don’t act like you’ve never seen food before."

"Not this set, not today," Sseraphis argued, his feet carrying him faster towards the open kitchen outsides where Nytherael and Sheana were busy at work.

Nytherael was busy and Sheana was clumsily fulfilling meager tasks at the side, was the right description. The scene looked elegantly clumsy.

One looked like a culinary expect and the other looked like they were seeing a kitchen for the first time.

"Rhysandor will love the dishes you made," Sseraphis complimented. "I’ll taste them to make sure you didn’t put top much salt. We can’t have Rhysandor choke in his the afterlife," he licked his lips hungrily.

Nytherael paused and looked at him. He had been ready to counter Sseraphis’ words and vent but seeing him glance at the bowls of food like he an alien seeing food for the first time made his anger melt away.

He picked up a plate and handed it to him. "Have your fill but don’t finish it," he warned.

"If I finish it, you’ll just make more," Sseraphis spoke without thinking again, possessed by hunger and desire.

Additionally, with nine stomach to feed, he was certain finishing all the sets of different foods were t a difficult task for him.

"I’ll help if he finishes the food," Aeltharion offered his hands and energy to compensate for Sseraphis’ eating to his fill.

"Aren’t you a loving husband?" Nytherael teased in a flat tone, no joy.

"Me too," Aenyra joined in, drawn by the sweet aroma. Her eyes and Sheana’s met and she lowered hers quickly. "I’ll help cook more if Sseraphis eats it all," she forced a smile on her face.

"Aren’t you biased Aenyra."

"I know I am."

Sheana picked up a clean plate and stretched it out for her, Aenyra glanced at the plate but made no move to take it.

"But don’t try to feed me, Nytherael. I’m not hungry," she said.

Nytherael and Aeltharion glanced over. One look and it was clear the message wasn’t for Nytherael but for the female handing her a plate.

Sheana bit her lower lip and dropped the plate. "Even if you aren’t hungry... you should still eat."