Chapter 172: The Captured Mates And The System’s Warning!
Neve blinked hard, turning his head to look at Maren.
His shock had only lasted for one second before he forced himself to recover. He straightened up and tilted his head to glare at Zyreth with defiance.
"Why? Why do you ask?" Maren said, trying to sound casual. "Are you that interested in my mother’s condition? Are you concerned about her recovery?"
Zyreth stepped further into the hut as his eyes moved to the woman lying unconscious on the bed. He squeezed his face in a frown and looked back at Neve.
"Were you two talking about how impossible it was to treat her?" he asked suspiciously.
Neve felt relief wash over him. Zyreth thought they were discussing his mother’s medical condition. At least Zyreth did not know they were talking about Neve’s impossible mission to bear two hundred cubs or what they had been talking about before that.
Even if Neve tried to deny it, what excuse could he possibly make up? He bit his lower lip, clenching his fist by his side as Maren stepped forward defensively.
"I’m sure the red panda you brought is trying his best," Maren said coldly. "He’s doing everything he can to treat my mother. I have no complaints about his work."
Zyreth lifted a brow, clearly not satisfied with the answer. His eyes went straight to Neve and back to Maren, studying the interaction between them.
"Oh," Zyreth said slowly. "Since when do you care about him? Since when does the cold shark king care about my prisoner?"
"Why?" Maren asked back, his voice steady and challenging. "Should I not care about him? Is there some rule that says I cannot show concern for another beastman’s wellbeing?"
"I thought I’d warned you that he’s mine!" Zyreth yelled, his possessiveness and jealousy flaring up instantly. His voice filled the small hut with rage.
But Maren did not even flinch. He was obviously pushing Zyreth’s buttons but the snake king was too foolish or too blinded by jealousy to notice the game being played.
Maren turned away from Zyreth and looked directly at Neve.
"I’ll return tomorrow to check on my mother," Maren said calmly. "Don’t forget what I said earlier. Remember our conversation."
He was secretly reminding Neve to slow down the treatment. To keep his mother in a state of recovery rather than full healing.
Neve nodded in understanding.
Maren walked past Zyreth, deliberately brushing his shoulder as he stepped out of the hut. The contact was a silent provocation, a way of showing he did not fear the snake king.
As soon as Maren was gone, Zyreth grabbed Neve’s hand and yanked him forward with sudden force.
"What did I say about staying away from him?" Zyreth demanded, his voice filled with possessive fury.
Neve winced at the grip, feeling his arm ache.
"I-I can’t send him away from here when he came to check on his mother," Neve said, trying to explain the logical reason for their interaction. "He has the right to visit his own mother. I couldn’t refuse him."
"Then, you should have left," Zyreth said coldly. "I don’t want you two in the same space. Ever. Don’t dare step on my tails, Neve. Don’t dare make me jealous like this."
Neve pressed his lips together as he stared straight into Zyreth’s eyes. His arm ached from the grip. His eyes stung with unshed tears that he refused to let fall.
"But we... We’re not alone. His mother is right here and..." Neve tried to explain, trying to make Zyreth see reason.
"His mother is almost dead. Or maybe just unconscious," Zyreth said coldly, showing no compassion. "Do I look like I give a damn about her? Why should I care if she lives or dies?"
He paused, his expression becoming calculating.
"The only reason I’m doing all this is because I need that bloody shark to assist me during this war," Zyreth said bluntly. "That’s the only reason his mother gets to live. That’s the only reason he gets to visit her. Because I need him."
Neve secretly rolled his eyes, even though Zyreth did not notice. He could not believe Zyreth was this greedy and evil. Maybe the idea of letting Skarr kill him was not such a bad idea after all.
He was sure that Skarr would be proud to see this. The dark magic user would have given Neve an I-told-you-so look if he could see what Zyreth was really like.
"I’m sorry," Neve muttered, his voice small and defeated.
But then Zyreth’s entire demeanor changed. He sighed and loosened his grip around Neve’s body. He stepped back, suddenly switching to a gentler approach.
"No, I should apologize," he said, his voice becoming softer and more tender. "I’m sorry for grabbing you so roughly. I’m sorry for yelling at you like that."
Now Neve felt bad for him. Maybe Zyreth was not entirely evil. Maybe he had some good in him. Maybe he did not deserve to be killed.
"I heard what happened yesterday," Zyreth said, his voice carrying genuine concern. "Those three men were found dead in the forest near where you were. Tell me what happened. Tell me everything."
Neve took a shaky breath and began his story.
"I went to pick some sticks to roast meat," Neve said, his voice trembling. "And those three beastmen ganged up on me and tried to..." He trailed off, wrapping his hands around his own body and shaking his head.
"Just when they almost touched me..." he said, reaching up to touch his neck like he was remembering the trauma. "I can’t remember anything after that. Someone hit me from the back and that was it. I passed out. I couldn’t believe it when they told me those people had died."
Neve covered his face with his palms, peeking through his fingers to see if Zyreth believed his story.
Of course, Zyreth should believe him whether he liked it or not. After all, there was no way Neve could have killed those three powerful beastmen by himself. He was pregnant, weakened, and unarmed.
"I guess someone had sneaked in," Zyreth said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "It could be your mates. It could be Cael and the others trying to rescue you."
Neve flinched. His eyes widened in shock.
"What are you saying? There’s no way it... It can’t be them."
His voice was too panicked and too defensive. Zyreth noticed immediately.
"Why? Are you scared of what I’d do to them if the intruder turned out to be them?" Zyreth smirked, clearly enjoying Neve’s distress.
Neve clasped his hands together, his anxiety rising to dangerous levels.
He pressed his eyes shut, his heart pounding so hard in his chest that he thought it might burst. He could not let Zyreth kill any of his mates. They had come here to save him. He could not be the reason for their deaths.
"They aren’t the ones. But please, don’t kill anyone," Neve muttered desperately.
"A life for a life, Neve," Zyreth said, still grinning with obvious satisfaction. "If intruders killed my people, then their lives are forfeit. That’s the law of the outcast territory."
Before Neve could say anything else, before he could argue further, Jereth burst into the hut.
"My king!" Jereth said urgently. "We caught the intruder! We have them!"
Neve’s breath hitched. His hands flew to cover his mouth.
Zyreth was busy watching his expression, reading every emotion that crossed Neve’s face. A grin spread across his lips as he saw the panic and fear.
"Where are they?" Zyreth asked.
"We tied them at the entrance of the forest," Jereth said. "There are two of them. A bear and..."
Jereth paused, looking directly at Neve. Neve silently prayed that he would not say leopard. Please no. Not Cael. Not Aldric. Anyone but them.
"And a leopard," Jereth finished.
Neve’s knees weakened completely. The strength drained from his entire body. He crashed to the floor, breathing hard and fast. He could not believe his ears.
They had been captured. Cael and Aldric had been caught.
"That’s good then," Zyreth said with satisfaction. "I knew they were the ones. They think they’ll come here and leave intact? I’ll make an example of them. I’ll show everyone what happens to those who defy me."
He turned to leave the hut.
"Wait! Please don’t harm them!" Neve yelled, scrambling to his feet.
"Poor Neve," Zyreth grinned, clearly amused by Neve’s desperation. "Since I’m fond of you, I’ll give them a painless death. At least they won’t suffer. You should be grateful for that."
He left the hut, his tail trailing behind him.
"NO!!!" Neve screamed, stumbling after Zyreth.
As soon as he got to his feet, his body seized with pain. He crashed back down to the ground, his hands flying to his stomach.
He felt a sharp ache radiating through his entire abdomen. The pain was intense and unforgiving. It was different from normal pregnancy discomfort.
The system appeared in front of him suddenly, urgent red text flashing.
[WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!]
[CRITICAL CONDITION DETECTED!]
[Host’s stress levels are at dangerous levels!]
[Prolonged stress and physical strain may trigger early labor!]
[RECOMMENDATION: Host must calm down immediately and rest!]
[If host does not relax within the next hour, early labor will commence!]
[WARNING: Early labor at current stage may result in cub death or host death!]
"What? Early... Labor?" Neve muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.