Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 128: Episode : Sending the Snakes Back!

"You want to force me?" Roxy laughed.

Ven hissed at her audacity, but before he could understand why she was laughing, Zarek moved. He clamped his hand around the base of Ven’s tail.

"Huh?" Ven’s eyes widened in fear.

He had totally forgotten that the Dragon King was just beside her.

He didn’t have the time to back down in fear. Zarek looked bored, and rage was boiling inside, with a grunt of effort that seemed almost insulting in its casualness, twisted his hips, and flicked his wrist.

It was the kind of motion one would use to toss a used napkin or a volleyball over the net. But backed up by the strength of a dragon, it was a catapult.

Zarek didn’t even need to shift.

Ven was ripped from the ground. He shrieked as he was launched into the blue morning sky. He went up and up and up.

The wolves watched, heads tilting back in unison. The serpent soldiers watched, mouths agape. Roxy shielded her eyes against the glare of the snow.

Ven became a dot. Then a speck. Then, with a faint twinkle against the clouds, he vanished entirely.

No one knew where he landed.

"There," Zarek muttered.

He turned his gaze back to the ground, dusting off his hands as if he had just touched something filthy. He looked at Malus, the massive brother who was now standing alone, his jaw wide open.

Malus trembled. He was vibrating in terror.

How did they forget the fact that the female had three of the strongest predators as their mates?

How foolish could they be to have missed this?

Malus’ instinct was screaming at him. Zarek took a slow step toward him. The snow melted beneath the dragon’s leather boots, his body radiating in a terrifying aura.

"You seem to have forgotten that I am here, Vermins," Zarek spat, his voice a low growl that vibrated in the chests of everyone present.

They all swallowed.

Malus slithered back, his yellow eyes darting between the empty sky where his brother used to be and the golden-eyed monster in front of him.

"We...." Malus stammered, his bravado shattered. "We did not.... We did not mean to challenge the Dragon King."

"You threatened my mate," Zarek stated calmly. "That is a challenge, and I have accepted it."

"No! No challenge!" Malus held up his hands, sweating despite the cold. "We... We only wish to take the vessel back to the tribe! It is for the child! The swamp is better because of the heat, and she can nurse the baby better there!"

He looked at Roxy, desperation creeping into his voice.

"Female! Be reasonable! The Runt cannot protect you! The swamp is safe! We have incubators! We have wet nurses!"

"I am not going anywhere with you," Roxy shouted from behind Zarek. Her voice was steady, "I would rather raise this baby here than let Vipersan touch him!"

She flashed him the middle finger.

Zarek tilted his head, his eyes locking onto Malus.

"Did you hear her?" Zarek asked softly.

"But..." Malus started, his stupidity warring with his survival instinct. "Lord Vipersan..."

"I do not care about your lord," Zarek hissed.

Zarek started shifting. His pupils constricted into vertical slits, and a plume of smoke curled from his nostrils.

"Leave," Zarek commanded, "Or I will send you to join your brother."

Malus let out a squeak of pure terror. He didn’t argue. He turned on his tail and slithered away. The serpent soldiers scrambled over each other in their haste to escape, disappearing into the dense forest.

In seconds, the village center was empty, leaving only the wolves.

How did they even know I was pregnant?

[Snakes have very sharp noses. They encountered Syris, so they smelled life on him and followed the scent here.]

So like a dog.

[I mean, they are all beasts]

Except me.

Roxy suddenly swayed, her vision blurring at the edges. She doesn’t know why she swayed, but her knees buckled.

"Roxy!"

Torian caught her before she hit the snow, scooping her up into his arms securely.

"I’ve got you," Torian murmured, pressing her head against his shoulder. "Breathe. They are gone."

Roxy clung to his robes, taking deep, shaky breaths. "I’m okay... just... dizzy."

Definitely not scared, I have been through worse.

Kaelen marched up to them. He looked furious.

"We should have killed them," Kaelen spat, glaring at the woods where the snakes had fled. "Why did we let them leave? They wanted to take her away! We should have slaughtered every single one of them and sent their heads back to Vipersan!"

"Kaelen," Zarek breathed, as he finally calmed down. "Look around you."

Kaelen looked.

The village center was filled with the pack. But it wasn’t just the fighters, but the female wolves stood near their cabin, clutching their pups, and even the Elders watched from the porches.

"Roxy does not like seeing bloodshed," Zarek explained quietly. "She hates war. If we had started a massacre here, in the middle of the village, with the women and children watching. It would have scared her more than the threat did."

I am not that weak.

[You are technically weaker than all of them.]

...

Kaelen paused. He looked at Roxy, who was pale in Torian’s arms, and realized Zarek was right. A bloodbath in the snow would have likely sent her into a panic attack.

Roxy actually didn’t give a fuck, giving birth to children for these beastmen already hardened her resolve.

She could face all the gore and still be drinking wine.

"Tch," Kaelen grunted, "Fine. But next time we are going to finish them deep in the woods."

Roxy rolled her eyes.

"Next time," Zarek agreed darkly.

"Take her inside," Zarek nodded to Torian. "Get her warm."

Torian didn’t need to be told twice. He adjusted his grip on Roxy, carrying her bridal style back toward the cabin.

"You were brave," Torian whispered to her as they walked. "Threatening to turn them into stew. Very fierce."

Roxy let out a weak laugh, burying her face in his neck. "I was bluffing. I don’t think snake meat tastes very good."

****

By the time they reached the warm sanctuary of the cabin, Roxy’s color had returned.

Strangely, the dream she had yesterday seemed to have reset her system. The chaotic cravings of the previous days had vanished. In their place was Roxy again.

"Put me down, Rian," Roxy said gently as they entered the living room. "I’m okay. Really."

Torian set her down but hovered close, ready to catch her if she wobbled.

"I need to cook," Roxy announced. "I never got to make the pie yesterday. And Syris needs to eat."

Torian nodded and followed her closely as she went into the kitchen.

She moved with purpose, rolled out the dough for the crust, chopped the carrots and peas, and shredded the chickens Syris had paid for with his blood.

The smell of savory gravy and baking pastry filled the cabin, chasing away the lingering tension of the morning.

When the pie was done, she dished out portions for Kaelen, Torian, and Zarek. Then, she prepared a tray with a bowl of rich bone broth and a slice of the pie for the patient.

She walked into the sunroom.

Syris was awake, though groggy. He looked better than he had the night before, his color less grey, though he was still weak.

"Hey baby..." Roxy smiled softly, setting the tray down. "Room service."

Syris tried to sit up, wincing. "Did I hear... shouting?"

"Just some door-to-door salesmen," Roxy lied smoothly, fluffing his pillows. "Zarek handled it. Ven is currently orbiting the moon, I think."

Syris blinked, not understanding why his brother’s name just fell out of her lips, then a small, tired smile touched his lips. "Zarek has a... direct approach."

"Here," Roxy said, spooning up the broth. "Open up."

She fed him like a child. Syris, usually too proud for such things, accepted it without complaint. He ate the broth, ate half the slice of pie, and drank the medicinal tea Roxy had brewed.

"Rest now," Roxy whispered, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "You need to rebuild your blood."

"Stay?" Syris asked, his eyes heavy.

"I have to check on the kids," Roxy said, kissing his forehead. "But you are safe. We are all safe."

She left him to sleep and went to the nursery. The triplets and Drax were playing with Kaelen, who was letting them braid his hair. Roxy fed them the rest of the pie, listening to their laughter, feeling normal again since her pregnancy started.

The day passed quietly. The storm outside raged on, but inside, the fire was warm, bellies were full, and the threat had been neutralized.

Night fell.

The house grew quiet. Syris was asleep in the sunroom. Kaelen was snoring in the living room with the kids. They had all fallen asleep after playing. Zarek was outside.

Roxy approached the bedroom where Torian sat and opened the door. The Tiger King was sitting on the edge of the bed, rummaging through one of his chests as if checking something. He wore loose silk pants and nothing else, his white hair falling over his broad shoulders.

He looked up as the door opened. His eyes widened when he saw her.

"Roxy?" Torian asked, straightening his back. "Is something wrong?"

"Syris is sleeping," Roxy said softly, closing the door behind her and locking it.

Torian watched her, his ears twitching. "Then... Do you need something? More ice cream?"

Roxy walked across the room. She didn’t stop until she was standing between his knees. She reached out and ran her hands up his bare chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath the smooth skin.

Torian’s breath hitched. He went very still, afraid to break the moment.

Roxy looked down at him. She climbed onto his lap, straddling him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She snuggled into the crook of his shoulder, inhaling his clean but masculine scent.

Torian’s arms came around her instantly, holding her tight, pulling her flush against him. His heart raced.

She hugged him!

Roxy pulled back just enough to look at him. She traced the line of his jaw with her thumb.

She murmured in a soft and raspy tone, leaning in until their lips were almost touching.

"I’m here because I want you."

[Slut]