Chapter 207: You’re actually jealous
Kael looked at Swanly.
"You stay."
Swanly opened her mouth.
Kael touched her cheek.
"No."
She blinked.
His voice softened.
"You have five children half awake, two of them venomous, and you slept perhaps an hour."
Miko raised his hand.
"I am not venomous."
Kael looked at him.
"Thank you."
Miko lowered his hand.
Swanly sighed.
"Fine."
That surprised everyone.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You expected me to argue."
"Yes."
"I am too tired."
That he believed.
He leaned down.
His forehead touched hers.
"Lock the shelter."
"I will."
"If the ground moves again..."
"I take them east."
Kael’s golden eyes softened.
"Good."
He kissed her.
Not long.
Just enough.
Then stepped away.
Soren had been watching.
Swanly turned toward him.
He was holding Eira.
The baby was still staring toward Azren’s wings.
Soren noticed.
His mouth tightened.
Swanly laughed softly.
"You’re actually jealous."
"No."
"You are."
"No."
"Of your own daughter liking wings."
Soren handed Eira to her.
Then stepped closer.
Very close.
Swanly’s smile faded.
His fingers slid beneath her chin.
Cool.
Careful.
"Not of my daughter."
His silver eyes lowered to her lips.
Swanly’s heartbeat changed.
"Then what?"
"You know."
Her fox ears warmed.
Soren’s thumb moved once along her jaw.
He had been gentler with her lately.
Not distant.
Gentler.
Waiting.
Always waiting.
Perhaps that was why she no longer immediately stiffened when he came close.
Swanly looked around.
Everyone was very deliberately not watching.
Except Azren.
Of course Azren was watching.
Swanly ignored him.
She caught Soren’s clothing and pulled him slightly closer.
His pupils narrowed.
Then she kissed him.
Brief.
Soft.
But she did it first.
Soren went still.
When she pulled back, his hand remained at her cheek.
"Come back safely."
His expression changed.
Something quiet.
Something almost tender enough to make her uncomfortable.
"I will."
He kissed her forehead.
Then her temple.
Then, because apparently he had become greedy, the corner of her mouth.
Swanly pushed his face away.
"Go."
His mouth curved.
"Better."
"What?"
"You are less afraid of me."
Swanly’s hand paused.
Then she shoved him again.
"Go investigate the terrifying underground thing before I change my mind."
Soren left smiling.
Very slightly.
Azren watched the entire exchange.
Then sighed loudly.
"My suffering has no end."
Swanly did not even look at him.
"Good."
...
By the time Swanly returned to the shelter, the sky was still dark.
Not quite dawn.
Too late to call it night.
Too early to be alive.
Unfortunately, all five children were alive.
Extremely alive.
"I was first."
"No, I woke first."
"I woke when Mama thcreamed."
"That means you were asleep before she thcreamed."
"I still woke!"
Kairo folded his little arms.
"I woke before you."
Miko pointed.
"Because you thleep like an old man."
Kairo’s eyes widened.
"I do not!"
Nilo sat between them.
He looked exhausted.
"Can we not argue?"
"No," both brothers said.
Nilo sighed.
Eira began fussing.
Then Sira joined.
Not loud crying.
Angry little baby complaints.
"Mm! M’ma!"
"Miwk!"
"Yes, I know."
Swanly picked up Eira.
Sira complained louder.
"M’MA!"
"I only have two arms!"
Kairo pointed at Sira.
"I’ll hold her."
"No."
His face fell.
Swanly softened.
"Not because I don’t trust you. Because you’re half asleep."
"I am awake."
He yawned.
Miko immediately pointed.
"Lie."
Kairo shoved him.
Miko shoved back.
Nilo grabbed Miko around the waist.
"No."
"But he pushed me!"
"You were going to jump on him."
"I wath not."
"You lifted both feet."
"That proves nothing."
Swanly closed her eyes.
"I’m going to die."
Eira pulled Swanly’s hair.
Sira reached from the hide.
"M’ma!"
"Yes!"
Someone appeared at the entrance.
"Swanly?"
She opened her eyes.
Nerin.
He stood there with a basket against one hip.
Fresh postpartum herbs.
Moonberries.
Two small fruits Swanly liked.
Clean water.
And because he was Nerin, he had also brought a folded hide because he had apparently noticed yesterday that the old one near her seat had gotten dirty.
His silver deer ears immediately lowered when he saw her face.
"You look tired."
Swanly stared at him.
"Nerin."
"Yes?"
"That is the nicest thing anybody has said to me all night."
He blinked.
Then realized.
"I didn’t mean..."
"I know."
His ears turned pink.
Of course.
He stepped inside quietly.
Immediately lowered his voice because of the babies.
Immediately moved the water closer to Swanly.
Immediately noticed that Sira was kicking herself halfway off the hide.
He caught the edge of the hide before she slid.
Then looked horrified that he had come too close without permission.
"Sorry."
Swanly stared at him.
"You just saved her from rolling into the wall."
"Oh."
His ears remained pink.
Kairo brightened.
"Nerin."
Nerin smiled at him.
"Your tooth is growing back."
Kairo immediately showed him.
A tiny new edge had appeared in the gap.
"Look."
Nerin leaned down like this was the most important discovery in Ironwood.
"I see."
Kairo beamed.
Nilo quietly showed his too.
Nerin checked.
"Yours too."
Nilo’s tail gave one tiny happy flick.
Miko forced himself between both brothers.
"Mine firtht."
Nerin looked at his mouth.
"And yours first."
Miko grinned.
Balance restored.
Swanly looked at the twins.
Then at Nerin.
Then at Eira.
Then at Nerin again.
Before he understood what was happening, Swanly put Eira into his arms.
Nerin stopped breathing.
Completely.
"Swanly."
"Hold her."
"I..."
"Nerin, she weighs less than your fruit basket."
He looked down.
Eira looked up.
Nerin looked like someone had handed him the moon.
Both his arms came around her very carefully.
Too carefully.
His hands were huge compared to her tiny body, but he held her with impossible gentleness.
Her pale tail curled against his forearm.
Nerin swallowed.
"Like this?"
Swanly adjusted one of his hands.
"Support her here."
Her fingers brushed his.
Nerin’s ears went bright red.
"Here?"
"Yes."
He nodded immediately.
Swanly picked up Sira.
Finally.
The younger twin settled against her chest.
"Miwk."
"I know."
Nerin sat.
Slowly.
Eira stared at him.
He stared back.
Then whispered:
"Hello."
Eira blinked.
Nerin’s entire expression softened.
Not merely gentle.
He was already gentle.
This was worse.
Tender.
Like the tiny creature in his arms could break if he breathed wrong.
Swanly watched him.
Her heart did something annoying.
Nerin noticed Eira’s little fingers flexing.
"You want something?"
Eira reached.
Touched his chin.
Nerin froze.
Her fingers moved to his cheek.
Then to his ear.
His silver deer ear twitched beneath her tiny hand.
Eira’s eyes widened.
Nerin smiled.
A shy little smile.
"You found it."
Eira squeezed.
The ear flicked again.
For the first time all night, the elder twin looked fascinated by something that was not dangerous.
Swanly smiled.
"She likes your ears."
Nerin looked at her.
The smile became softer.
"I like hers too."
Swanly nearly melted.
Why was he like this?
Miko crawled closer.
"Eira likes Deer Papa."
Nerin’s face turned scarlet.
Swanly pointed at Miko.
"Do not start."
"I didn’t thay anything bad."
Nilo grabbed him around the middle again.
"You were going to."
"I was going to say cute."
Nilo considered.
Then released him.
"That is okay."
Miko looked smug.
Nerin looked ready to disappear into the earth.
Swanly laughed.
Then Sira began whining against her.
Eira answered with a small noise.
Nerin instinctively began rocking.
Barely.
Slowly.
Eira went quiet.
Swanly noticed.
So did everyone else.
Nerin froze.
"What?"
Swanly’s smile widened.
"Nothing."
"Why are you looking at me?"
"She likes you."
His ears became redder.
"I think she is just tired."
"She was screaming with me."
Nerin looked alarmed.
"She prefers you."
"Apparently not right now."
That horrified him further.
"No, no. She definitely prefers you."
Swanly laughed.
"Nerin."
"Yes?"
"Relax."
He looked down at Eira.
Then whispered:
"I’m trying."
Swanly shifted closer.
Sira finally settled after feeding.
The shelter quieted.
Even the triplets had stopped arguing.
For maybe twelve miraculous breaths.
Nerin reached for the water bowl.
"Drink."
Swanly blinked.
"I’m fine."
"You forgot."
"I did not."
"You haven’t touched it since I came."
Swanly looked at the bowl.
Traitor.
Nerin held it out.
Not demanding.
Just waiting.
She drank.
He smiled.
Happy.
Actually happy because she drank water.
Ridiculous male.
Swanly lowered the bowl.
"You are too soft."
Nerin’s ears drooped.