Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 73: Episode : To be Warm; Syris

The silence on the porch was broken only by the sound of crunching.

It was a satisfying sound to Roxy, who loved to know if people enjoyed the food she made, and these beasts were always so good at making sure she was the best chef in the world.

Hearing the snap of crispy, buttermilk-battered skin giving way to juicy meant. Roxy leaned against the doorframe, her lids heavy, watching the strangest dinner party in the history of the beast world.

The smell had pulled the attention of other wolves, but they could never go near.

On the railing, Syria sat with a plate balanced on his coiled tail. The serpent prince, who usually swallowed his prey whole and raw, was eating fried chicken with surprising elegance.

He picked up a drumstick with his long, pale fingers, inspected the golden coating, and took a bite.

This was like his fourth bite, yet he commented every time.

His neon eyes widened slightly. The pupils dilated, and Roxy could not help but giggle every time she saw it.

"Hot," Syria whispered, chewing slowly. "And... savory."

He cleaned the meat and then ate the bone, before he swallowed it down.

"You’re supposed to leave the bone," Roxy mumbled, stifling a yawn. "But... whatever. Calcium."

Inside, Kaelen had abandoned the utensils entirely. He was eating with joy, grease-stained on his lips. He paused only to look at the empty platter, then at Roxy, his icy blue eyes losing their hard edge.

"This bird..." Kaelen grunted, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "It is worthy of a king."

Of course it is, you overgrown puppy.

"Glad you like it," Roxy slurred. She blinked, and for a second, the room spun.

Fuck, I think I am going to faint.

The weight of the day, the emotional roller coaster, the hike, the fight with the snake, and all these cooking suddenly pressed down her shoulders, and her knees buckled.

"Whoa," she whispered, reaching for the table to steady herself.

Zarek was there instantly. He caught her by the elbow before she could slide to the floor, his face marred with fear.

"That’s enough," Zarek announced, his voice a low rumble. He swept an arm under her knees to lift her. "I will take you to the nest. Sleep."

"No," a voice cut through the room.

Kaelen stood up, walked over to his hands still smelling of the spices Roxy had used, and placed a hand on Zarek’s shoulder, stopping him.

Zarek narrowed his eyes, ready to throw the smelly dog out of the way. "Do not test me, Wolf. She’s collapsing."

"I know," Kaelen said. His voice wasn’t angry anymore; it was quiet and steady. "She hunted these birds for me. She cooked this meal for me, and she walked into the forest to appease my anger."

He looked down at Roxy, who was practically asleep standing up, her head lolling against Zarek’s chest.

"I will care for her," Kaelen stated, meeting the Dragon’s gaze. "Watch the pups, and I will wash the Queen."

Zarek looked at the wolf. He saw the regret in Kaelen’s eyes, and as much as he wanted to occupy Roxy’s time currently, he had no choice but to concede.

He nodded once and carefully transferred Roxy’s weight into Kaelen’s arms.

"Don’t drown her," Zarek muttered. He turned and scooped a sleeping Drax from the chair. "Come, little spark. Time to recharge."

Kaelen carried her to the bathhouse.

It was warm, filled with steam from the geothermal pipes Roxy had installed weeks ago. Kaelen didn’t say a word; he just set Roxy down on the bench and knelt before her.

He unlaced her boots and then peeled off her socks.

"I can do it," Roxy mumbled, trying to reach for the hem of her dress. Her fingers were clumsy, refusing to cooperate.

"Hush," Kaelen whispered.

He slapped her hands away gently. He untied her apron and lifted the dress over her head.

And her boobs juggled with the movement, but Kaelen still stayed sane.

He saw the map of her day written on her skin, the scratches on her arms from the chicken claws, the smudge of grease on her cheeks, and lower, on her hips and neck were the purple bruises Zarek had left the night before.

Kaelen stared at the marks. Usually, they would make him rage.

But tonight, seeing them alongside the scratches she had gotten for him, he just felt a crushing wave of protectiveness. He had no choice but to concede.

He saw how much she was trying to balance them both.

He lifted her into the large wooden tub.

Roxy groaned as the hot water surrounded her. "Oh god... that feels so fucking good."

Kaelen rolled up the sleeves of his robe. He grabbed a soft cloth and washed her back. He moved in slow, circular motions, massaging the tension out of her shoulders and Roxy moaned.

He was thorough, but there was no lust in his touch, as if he was worshiping her.

"I’m sorry," Roxy whispered, her eyes closed, her head resting on the rim of the tub. "I know I slapped you in my sleep."

Kaelen paused and ran the soapy cloth over harm, tracing a long scratch that made her hiss.

"You were exhausted," Kaelen murmured. "And I was... petty."

He kissed the wet skin of her shoulder.

"The chicken was good, Roxann. It was the best thing I have ever tasted."

Roxy smiled, clearly exhausted, cracking one eye open. "Better than the boar?"

"Better than the boar," Kaelen confirmed. "Because you made it. Because you thought of me."

He rinsed her hair, his large fingers gentle as he untangled the knots.

"I am a greedy male," Kaelen admitted quietly.

Roxy rolled her eyes internally. Which of you is not greedy, fucking beast?

"I want all of you," he continued. "But tonight... seeing you fight for us, seeing you feed us... I am reminded why I follow you."

He lifted her out of the tub, wrapping her in a massive, fluffy towel that had been warmed by the fire. He dried her off, patting her skin with a tenderness that belied his strength.

He carried her to the bedroom

The room was dark, lit only by the embers in the fireplace in the main room. Zarek was already lying on his side of the massive bed, with the triplets in the crib nearby.

Kaelen laid Roxy in the middle and pulled the heavy furs up to her chin.

"Sleep," he commanded softly, kissing her forehead.

He climbed in behind her, spooning her body and pulling her back flush against his chest. He buried his face in her damp, scented hair. He breathed her in,

He was really content.

In the main room, the fire was dying, and Syris lay on the rug, his tail taking up almost all the space in the living room.

Zarek had made it very clear. "The rug or outside."

Syris had chosen the rug.

He lay on his back, staring at the wooden beams of the ceiling. His stomach was full, a sensation he hadn’t felt in weeks, and his father and brothers would definitely believe he would be able to get help so soon.

But he did.

The chicken was digesting, giving some energy little by little.

But the air was getting colder.

The temperature in the cabin dropped as the fire went off. For a warm-blooded creature, it was just a bit chilly. For an ectotherm like Syris, it was like walking on death row.

His limbs felt heavy, and his thoughts began to slow down.

Cold, his instincts hissed. Seek heat.

He turned his head.

The door to the bedroom was slightly ajar. Through the crack, he could smell them: the Dragon, the wolf, and the female. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

They were coiled together, and they were warm.

Syris tried to ignore it; he was a guest, and he didn’t want to cross his boundaries. He was trying to be good so the female won’t chase him away.

But the cold was too much, and it was seeping into his bones and locking his joints. If he stayed here, he might freeze to death, and he wouldn’t be able to move in the morning.

Just a little closer, the snake brain whispered. Just to borrow the warmth.

Syria moved.

He slithered across the floorboards, silently. He pushed the bedroom door open, and the heat inside was intoxicating.

Syria didn’t want to wake them. If the Dragon woke up, he would be incinerated. If the Wolf woke up, he would be torn to shreds. But his desire for warmth destroyed every thought.

He slithered up the side of the bed; the furs were thick and inviting, and he loomed over them like a predator watching its prey.

He found a spot after searching.

Roxy lay on her side, facing away from Kaelen. There was a space in front of her, a pocket of warmth trapped under the duvet.

Syria slid under the furs, fully transforming into a snake, and curled his long body into the space, and then sighed, the heat soaking into the scales.

Thai was bliss for him.

But he failed to see the eyes watching from the window.