Feeling the unexpected softness against her wrist, Nina startled and quickly pulled her hand back. A faint warmth crept onto her cheeks.

"Um... I’m fine."

Idir froze for a split second, then realized he had crossed a line. The tips of his ears flushed red, and he looked slightly embarrassed.

"I... I just wanted to help draw out the poison."

He truly hadn’t thought that far—his mind had been filled with nothing but worry.

The bonded males all scoffed inwardly.

With so many of us here, since when is it your turn to do that?

"I have healing abilities," Nina added, trying to ease the awkwardness. "This little bit of venom won’t affect me."

"...Right." Idir shifted his gaze away, not daring to look at her again.

How had he forgotten? She could heal.

Dian stepped forward, gently taking Nina’s wrist. His brows knitted at the sight of the swelling.

"Nina, your hand is already swollen. Let me remove the stinger."

Nina smiled softly. "It’s fine—it’ll heal in a bit."

Still, Dian took out a slender bone needle and carefully removed the sting.

Nina let him, then lowered her head to check on the cubs.

"Did any of you get stung? If anything hurts, you have to tell me, okay?"

The cubs all shook their heads.

We’re fine, Mama.

Only then did Nina relax.

She turned to the others. "Did anyone get stung or pecked by the birds? If so, come here—Yanai and I will treat you."

Several males stepped forward.

Yanai walked over. "Nina, you should rest. I’ll handle it."

Nina shook her head and moved beside the injured. "I’m fine. Let’s do it together—it’ll be faster."

Seeing her insist, Yanai didn’t argue further. The two of them worked side by side, treating wounds and neutralizing venom.

Once everyone was tended to, they found a relatively safe area to rest for the night.

Odian and the others quickly set up two simple shelters for Nina—one for resting, one for washing.

Sal and Mino organized the positions for the rest of the group.

Idir, meanwhile, stayed close to Nina the entire time, never straying more than a step away.

Before sleep, he hesitated, then bit his lip slightly.

"Little female... tonight... would you stay with me?"

Odian frowned slightly, then said, "Nina, it’s better if you stay with him."

If it weren’t to reduce her exposure to toxins, he would never let that snake take advantage of the situation.

Even though she had healing abilities and antidotes, there was no telling what lingering effects the poison might have. It was safer this way.

He glanced at the shelter, mildly annoyed.

I should’ve built it bigger... though this place isn’t ideal for that anyway.

"I agree," Kith added.

The others nodded as well. It wasn’t like they had abilities that could shield her from poison the same way.

Nina nodded. "Alright."

There was no point in being overly self-conscious in a situation like this.

Besides... it wasn’t like they hadn’t already...

Idir stepped closer, a little stiff, a little unsure. "Then... are you going to sleep now?"

"Yeah, it’s about time."

Nina carried the cubs into the small shelter. Idir followed closely behind, visibly tense.

He didn’t understand it.

The first time they had slept together, he hadn’t felt anything unusual.

But this time... his heart wouldn’t calm down.

Was it because he was in human form?

Should he change back into his beast form instead?

But his scales were hard—what if he accidentally brushed against her and made her uncomfortable?

After turning the thought over again and again, Idir finally decided—he would stay in human form.

The shelter was small, so Odian and the others didn’t go inside. Instead, they remained outside, leaning against nearby tree trunks as they kept watch and rested.

Setan couldn’t help but feel a flicker of envy. If only his ability could also neutralize poison... then he could have stayed inside too.

Just imagining it felt... warm, almost unbearably so.

He glanced at the little shelter, let out a quiet sigh, and moved off to rest on his own.

Inside, Nina lay down on the soft animal pelts with the cubs gathered around her. Idir followed and sat beside her.

"You’re... not going to sleep?" she asked. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Was he really planning to sit there all night?

"You sleep. I... I’ll stay up and watch over you," he replied, lowering his gaze to hide the unease in his eyes.

Nina patted the space beside her. "You should lie down and rest too. Sitting like that will just exhaust you."

There was nothing in the shelter to lean against—staying upright all night would be miserable.

"Then... alright."

Idir didn’t refuse. He lay down stiffly, his body straight as a board, not daring to look toward her. Yet from the corner of his eye, he couldn’t help but keep track of her every movement.

His fingers clenched lightly in his clothes as he listened to the uneven rhythm of his own heartbeat.

Nina couldn’t help but laugh softly at how tense he looked. For someone who seemed so cold and imposing on the outside, he was unexpectedly shy.

Gradually, she drifted off to sleep with the cubs nestled close.

Only when her breathing became slow and even did Idir dare to turn his head.

The shelter was dim, lit only by a faint glow from a small lamp in the corner. In that soft light, he studied her sleeping face in silence.

This was the closest he had ever been to her.

Back in the dungeon, he had never dared come this near—nor had he ever truly looked at her like this.

His lips curved faintly.

Her eyelashes were so long... her nose delicate... and her lips... His gaze lingered on the soft pink of them, his clear eyes gradually darkening. A subtle heat stirred within him, something unfamiliar and difficult to suppress.

Without realizing it, he leaned closer, drawn by an unnameable longing.

Suddenly—smack.

Something struck his face.

Idir blinked, startled, snapping back to his senses.

Looking down, he realized it was Momo’s tail, which had been twitching wildly in its sleep.

He frowned slightly, a trace of disdain flickering in his eyes.

This little one’s sleeping posture is truly terrible.

Then he froze.

He had gotten far too close.

His heart lurched as he quickly retreated to his original position, pulse racing.

His cheeks burned.

What... was he doing just now?

After a while, he steadied himself—but still couldn’t resist glancing over again.

Something unfamiliar stirred in his chest.

He turned slightly onto his side, unwilling to look away.

As the night deepened, Nina—half-asleep—instinctively shifted closer to the strong, steady presence beside her.

The moment her soft warmth pressed against him, Idir’s body stiffened. His breathing faltered.

His fingers curled slightly as he cast a quick, guilty glance toward the shelter entrance.

But when his gaze returned to her peaceful face, he couldn’t stop himself.

Slowly, carefully, he lifted his arm and wrapped it gently around her.

For the first time, a strange sense of calm settled over him.

As if a heart that had always wandered finally found something to anchor to.

His eyes softened.

He tightened his hold just a little, unwilling to let go.

Then she shifted again.

He looked down—her brows had drawn together slightly.

It took him a moment to realize that his body ran cold. In this weather... she must be freezing.

Immediately, he used his ability to warm himself.

When her expression gradually relaxed again, he let out a quiet breath of relief.

How could I be so careless? he thought, silently reproaching himself. What if she got sick because of me?

Sensing the warmth, Nina instinctively snuggled closer, seeking the source of the heat. Her arm slipped around his lean, firm waist.

Idir’s entire body tensed.

And then—burned even hotter.