Chapter 477: Episode 475: When are we going back?

Roxy told them everything.

She told them the simple, awful truth. She talked about the dark basement with no windows.

How she had bled while reading books and books trying to find a way to return back to a place only she mattered.

She talked about the cold, hard floor where she had to sleep. She told them about the bad food. She explained the scary machine and the painful shocks that made her body hurt so much.

The six men just sat there and listened to her. They did not interrupt her story. They did not yell or break things, even though she knew they wanted to. But she could see the deep sadness and burning anger in their eyes.

Torian held her hand the whole time. He held it so gently, like she was a delicate flower that might break. Syris looked down at the floor, his jaw tight. Caspian wiped a tear from his eye. Kaelen and Ren stood completely still, breathing heavily. Zarek looked like he wanted to burn the whole city down to the ground.

When she finally stopped talking, a huge, heavy weight lifted off her chest. It felt so good to share the bad memories with them. They hugged her, holding her close until her tears finally dried up for good.

They promised her that she would never be locked in the dark again. They promised she was safe now. Sitting there in their strong arms, listening to their steady heartbeats, she truly believed them.

After the tears were gone, Roxy needed some time alone to just breathe and feel clean. She stood up and walked into the huge, beautiful bathroom attached to her new bedroom. It was bigger than most living rooms. It had bright lights, a giant white bathtub, and a shower with glass doors.

She turned on the hot water, letting the bathroom fill with thick, warm steam. She stepped inside and let the water wash over her tired body for a very long time.

The hot water washed away the last bits of the hospital smell. It washed away the dirt and the bad memories of the basement. She used sweet-smelling soap that smelled like vanilla and fresh rain. She washed her dark hair until it was soft, clean, and shiny again. She used rich, thick lotion on her arms and legs to help her dry skin feel soft and smooth.

When she finally stepped out of the shower and dried off with a fluffy white towel, she stopped to look at herself in the big mirror above the sink.

For the first time in months, she did not look sick or tired. Her cheeks were pink and healthy. The dark circles under her green eyes were completely gone. Her skin looked smooth, clear, and glowing. She smiled at her reflection. She felt like herself again. She felt beautiful, and she felt incredibly strong.

She went into the bedroom and put on a pair of soft, loose lounge pants and a cozy, oversized sweater that Kaelen had bought for her. The clothes felt so nice against her skin.

She walked barefoot out into the massive living room. The sun had gone down, and the sky was dark. Outside the giant windows, the city was sparkling with millions of tiny, bright lights. But inside, the penthouse was warm, quiet, and peaceful. A bright fire was crackling in the big stone fireplace, making the whole room feel cozy and inviting.

Her six men were all there waiting for her. They had changed out of their fancy, expensive suits. Now they were wearing simple shirts and soft pants. They looked relaxed and comfortable in their new home.

Torian was sitting on the thick rug by the fire, watching the flames dance. Syris was sitting in a comfortable chair, reading a book. Kaelen and Ren were standing by the big windows, talking quietly as they looked out at the city. Zarek was standing near the large kitchen, keeping a watchful eye on the entire room.

When Roxy walked into the living room, every single one of them stopped what they were doing. They all turned to look at her. The room went very quiet.

The love shining in their eyes was so bright and so strong that it made her heart skip a beat. They did not look at her like she was a broken, sick woman anymore. They looked at her like she was a queen. They looked at her like she was the only person in the entire world.

Caspian smiled warmly and walked into the kitchen. A few minutes later, he came back holding a warm mug. He walked over to the big, soft sofa in the middle of the room where Roxy was sitting down.

"Here you go," Caspian said softly, handing her the mug. "It is chamomile tea with a little bit of sweet honey. It will help you relax and sleep well tonight."

"Thank you," Roxy smiled, taking the warm mug with both hands. It smelled like wild flowers and sweet summer days.

Caspian sat down right next to her on the sofa. Slowly, the other men moved closer, too. They gathered around the sofa. They did not crowd her or make her feel trapped, but they wanted to stay close. They just wanted to be near her.

Zarek sat down on her other side, resting his strong arm on the back of the sofa behind her. Torian moved from the fire and sat on the rug right by her feet, leaning his broad back against her knees. Syris, Kaelen, and Ren sat in the chairs nearby.

Roxy took a slow sip of her warm tea. It tasted sweet and perfect. She leaned her head back against the soft cushions and took a deep, happy breath.

Life felt very, very good right now. She was living in a huge, beautiful home high up in the sky. She had clean clothes, good food, and a very safe place to sleep. But the best part of all was that she was surrounded by the six men who loved her more than anything else in the world.

They had given up their magic. They had given up their huge castles and their powers just to come find her in this human city. That kind of love was rare, deep, and completely amazing. She felt so incredibly lucky to be loved by them. She felt strong, and she felt whole.

She looked around at their handsome, peaceful faces. She felt entirely loved. She felt completely safe.

But as she looked at the bright fire dancing in the fireplace, a small, quiet sadness started to creep into her heart.

The penthouse was very big, and it was very beautiful, but it was also way too quiet.

There was no sound of little feet running down the long hallways. There was no little Tyara roaring playfully at her older brothers. There was no Fedor hiding under the tables, trying to cover his face with his fluffy red tails. There was no little Zale splashing water everywhere in the bathtub. And there was no tiny, sweet newborn baby sleeping softly in a warm crib.

Roxy missed her children. She missed them so badly that it actually physically hurt her chest. It felt like an empty hole right in the middle of her heart.

The fancy clothes, the big city lights, and all the endless money in the world meant absolutely nothing if her babies were not here to share it with her. She wanted to hug them. She wanted to kiss their foreheads and tell them that Mommy was finally home.

She knew her men had promised they would all go back to the Beastworld as soon as she was healthy enough to travel. Well, she was completely healthy now. The human doctors had let her leave the hospital. She was eating solid food. She could walk perfectly on her own. She was strong and ready. There was no reason to wait any longer in this human city. It was time to go home to their kids.

Roxy lowered the warm mug from her lips. She stared at the sweet tea for a second, gathering her happy thoughts. She felt ready for the long journey back to their world.

She reached forward and set the mug down on the glass coffee table. It made a soft, clear clink sound in the quiet room.

The men noticed the shift in her mood right away. They all stopped talking. They all looked at her, their faces turning very serious and focused. They were waiting to hear whatever she needed to say.

Roxy turned her head and looked directly into Zarek’s golden eyes. She gave him a small, bright, and hopeful smile, fully expecting him to start making their travel plans right then and there.

She took a breath and dropped the simple question that was about to tear their peaceful, happy paradise completely apart.

"So," Roxy asked, her voice clear and full of joy. "How are we going back?"