Beauty in the beast world

Lyra was taken aback when she saw Kyrell and Blake return home so soon. Demir had yet to start cooking, and they had already arrived.

"What happened?" She asked as she helped Blake remove his outer robe.

"The trial ended" Blake stated the obvious.

Lyra was confused. Weren’t many other witnesses needed to be presented? "What was the ruling?’’ She didn’t want to ask directly about Xavier’s punishment, so she asked in a roundabout way.

It was Kyrell’s turn next. His mate helped him remove the outer garment as he said, "The Fox tribe was exiled from the City"

Lyra gasped, "The whole tribe?" It was unfair that they had to pay the consequences of their master’s actions.

Kyrell and Blake glanced at each other. They didn’t know how to tell that it was the Fox King himself who declared such a ruling. He presided over the judges and made his own decision. The Silver Fox tribe has been a part of the Beast City for time immemorial. They were one of the founding tribes and yet their unruly King seemed to forget all about it. The council would have chosen a mild punishment compared to what Xavier took it upon himself.

Blake couldn’t help but wonder. What was he thinking? The Fox King was an enigma to him. Here, the Snake tribe and Scorpion tribe strived so hard to become a part of the Beast city while Xavier was throwing it away like nothing.

"King Xavier himself ruled that his tribe would be exiled from the city after the flood season" Kyrell finally said satiating Lyra’s curiosity but when she looked even more confused, he decided to add, "Xavier is an Immortal beastman, a mere council will not dare go against him"

She blinked, "Is that even possible? I mean can the accused make a ruling for himself?" What kind of court was this? Why did they even bother to hold this trial if they had no authority? Once again, she was surprised by the Power an immortal beastman could command in this world.

"Isn’t this bad for the Fox tribe?" Demir asked, "Why would he do that to his own tribe?" It could turn for the worse. The council of the Fox tribe and some of the Old Houses in his tribe might stage a mutiny against him. Yes, he wouldn’t lose to them but that did not mean the resentment would die down. Males came to the Beast city seeking a haven for their females. They wouldn’t want to put their loved ones in danger and start over at some other place. Uprooting their entire life on a whim was cruel.

"It’s like he is starting to become a tyrant" Lyra voiced out the very thing in their mates’ minds.

"Absolute power can do that to the people," they heard Killian say as he descended the stairs. He bent down to kiss the top of his mate’s head before turning to Demir, "Should I go out and hunt something?"

Demir returned to the kitchen, "Victor brought enough this morning"

As that was settled, Killian sat next to his mate. He held her hand as he said, "This is why many tribes prefer a King that is not an immortal beastman. Just like mine did" Lyra straightened. He rarely talked about his past, "Having an immortal beastman in the tribe is advantageous but keeping them in check becomes a headache for the people. The power they praise might turn against them in a flick of a moment. My own tribesmen, who praised my father for having an immortal beastman for a son killed him when he thought of naming me the heir. They did it secretly but I found out anyway"

Then he killed his entire tribe for what they did to his family. It was tragic but understandable. Lyra wouldn’t judge him for doing something she herself would have done if someone had hurt her family. She might not be as powerful as Killian but she would use everything at her disposal to enact her revenge.

"The food is ready" Demir’s announcement brought everyone out of their thoughts.

Lyra squeezed Killian’s hand. She could never relate to the extent of what he was feeling but nonetheless felt her heart ache for him.

As Lyra finished her hearty meal, she turned to Kyrell, "About the witch master that was guarding me in the Eagle tribe, I want to meet their family to show my condolences" He had died by Alice’s hand while trying to keep her safe. He had bought time till Nathan came to save her. She knew that she and her baby wouldn’t have been alive if not for that man. She’ll forever be in his debt.

"I was informed that the funeral had taken place a few days ago" Kyrell informed. After that incident, the officers investigating the matter had kept the deceased with them briefly before handing him over to the family a few days ago, "I sent appropriate compensation for his untimely death and shifted his family to one of royal residance, I’m thinking of granting that castle to their family permanently and alleviating their status" This was the least he could do for what he did for his mate.

Lyra nodded satisfied but something more came to her mind. This thought made her feel sad, "Did he have a mate?"

Kyrell shook his head, "He lived in celibacy his entire life. Had no mate and sired no children. He only had his sister’s family and according to Nate’s report, was very close to them"

Lyra sighed, "I feel horrible for them. To lose their brother like that, it must have hurt her a lot and he was killed so cruelly. I still remember him writhing in agony, Kyrell" She felt her worried mates’ gaze on her and smiled to reassure them.

"What happened that day was horrible" Kyrell said, "I should have never let you go through something like that"

"It isn’t your fault" Lyra hugged him.

"It’s disgusting" Victor clicked his tongue as he murmured, "He always acts like he is some baby chick to get her sympathy"

Blake scoffed, "I’ll never understand your hypocrisy. You act like that everyday"

Victor felt offended, "I do not"

"You do" Blake laughed, "You act even more ridiculous to garner Lily’s attention"

Victor huffed, "Just tell me you are jealous that she pays me attention"

"Jealous?" Blake couldn’t believe his ears, "You are preaching about jealousy?" Everyone in their family knew who was the real jealous one amongst them.