Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 117: The days ahead

Vincent stared at Rory in shock. "Rory... what did you just say?"

For a moment, he thought he must have misheard her. "You said... I’m your bonded match?"

"Yes," Rory replied simply.

Seeing the disbelief on his face, she suddenly remembered what Yuel had mentioned before—how he and Vincent had lost their light-brains on the battlefield and had no idea the system had found them a female match.

The reason Yuel knew he was one of her matches was only because he had overheard her conversation with Jasper.

"I forgot," Rory added thoughtfully, "you lost your light-brain. You probably never saw the system notification."

She activated her own light-brain and held it up for him to see.

This—this was what people meant by a gift falling straight from the sky.

Vincent stared at the matching notice displayed on her screen, at his name resting there quietly and unmistakably among the others.

In that instant, he felt that every bit of suffering he had endured during this time had been worth it.

Thank the Beast God.

"Rory." Vincent pulled her into a tight embrace. "I’m so happy."

He was her bonded match. It felt unreal.

"I had been thinking," he said softly, emotion thick in his voice, "that I would first become your follower. Only after earning your approval—and the approval of your other bonded partners—would I be worthy of becoming your companion."

Seeing how happy he was made Rory smile as well.

"I’m happy too," she said sincerely. "To have such an outstanding bonded partner."

Vincent lifted her face and gently kissed her lips. It was something he had imagined countless times—yet never dared to do.

Rory’s lips were just as sweet as he had dreamed.

Unlike Yuel’s domineering, forceful kisses, Vincent’s was tender and restrained. He guided her patiently, allowing her to respond freely, never pushing, never demanding.

Only after a long while did he pull back.

Looking at her slightly swollen lips, he leaned in again. This time, he bit the tip of his tongue and sent a single drop of his essence blood into her mouth.

A clear firebird cry rang out inside Rory’s mind. Burning heat, laden with surging energy, spread from her lips throughout her entire body.

"Rory, don’t be afraid," Vincent murmured, holding her close. "Absorb it slowly."

One hand supported her back, the other pressed lightly against her chest as his power helped her digest the overwhelming energy.

As the energy settled, Rory’s rank surged—in the blink of an eye, she advanced to Rank Five.

The remaining power gathered rapidly in her chest. Heat pulsed again and again, as if something were about to break free.

When the burning sensation finally faded, Rory quickly pulled open her clothing.

A fire-colored firebird, wings outstretched, had appeared over her heart.

She looked at Vincent, confusion in her eyes. "This is...?"

Vincent smiled gently. "Rory, this is my beast mark."

"Your beast mark?" She frowned. "Isn’t a beast mark only supposed to appear after a formal bonding ceremony?" All you did just now was give me a single drop of blood..."

"This is a bonding method unique to the Firebird clan." Vincent sat down on the bed, clearly exhausted, and pulled Rory onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her.

"Rory, I know about your agreement with Jasper," he said weakly. "I have no intention of competing with him." His voice grew softer as he continued. "Jasper’s power is reaching its limit. Within this month, he must advance. When he does, you’ll need to soothe him."

Vincent hadn’t fully recovered to begin with. After giving her his essence blood, he was barely able to maintain his human form.

He leaned heavily against her. "And you were only at Rank Four. Even if you absorbed beast cores as fast as possible, breaking through would only put you barely at Rank Five. For a freshly advanced Rank Five female to soothe a male about to break into Rank Ten... that’s too dangerous."

He took a slow breath.

"My essence blood carries my power. It can bring you straight to the peak of Rank Five. If you push yourself a little more, you might reach Rank Six this month."

At that point, soothing Jasper would no longer be so risky.

"Rory... I might have to turn back into Burnt Dumpling again," Vincent added faintly.

"Remember to take me to the Firebird clan in a few days.

"And... Lola Brandon is my younger sister. My real sister. So don’t misunderstand."

As soon as he finished speaking, Vincent’s body collapsed into a small, black bird and fell onto the bed.

"Vincent?!" Rory panicked. She immediately pricked her finger and dripped several drops of blood into his beak.

She knew that after giving her his essence blood, the last trace of his power had been exhausted.

His injuries hadn’t healed yet—his recovery was slow. As her blood was absorbed, his breathing quickly stabilized.

Realizing her blood truly helped him, Rory didn’t hesitate. She drew a knife, cut her palm, and fed him directly.

Her blood really was a miracle medicine for beastmen. After just a few weeks, Burnt Dumpling transformed back into a tall, breathtakingly handsome man.

He still hadn’t woken up. She fed him a little more. When she sensed his energy surging steadily again, she finally stopped.

Rory treated her wound with medicine, drank a blood-restoring potion, then went to the bathroom to wash up.

She had lost quite a bit of blood. When she came out, her head felt light.

She grabbed a random nightgown Yuel had prepared, slipped it on, climbed into bed, and lay down beside Vincent.

She needed sleep—badly.

***

Meanwhile, downstairs, Nix stood near the doorway, glancing repeatedly toward the third floor.

Yuel emerged from his room, fully tidied, and frowned slightly at Nix’s suspicious behavior.

"It’s late. Why aren’t you in bed? What are you staring at?"

Nix pulled Yuel aside and whispered, "The Female Master sent you out and let Prince Vincent stay inside. And she still hasn’t let him leave. Looks like His Highness is better at pleasing her than you are."

Yuel stared at him. "I didn’t expect someone with a head full of machinery to be so good at stirring trouble."

"I’m just stating facts," Nix defended himself.

The real reason he hadn’t gone to sleep was that he was afraid Vincent would complain to the Female Master—say he’d been mistreated.

Yuel didn’t believe him for a second. "You’re afraid Vincent will tell Rory you bullied him these past few days, aren’t you?"

"I didn’t!" Nix protested. He’d taken excellent care of Burnt Dumpling. Almost like raising his own kid.

He’d just been... strict.

Who knew he was Vincent?!

Yuel patted Nix on the shoulder. "I can’t guarantee everything, but the Second Prince’s character is absolutely reliable. He won’t report you. Go sleep."

"He really won’t?" Nix still looked uneasy.

"He won’t. And if he does, I’ll handle it for you." Yuel promised.

"Yuel, I knew you were the best." With that assurance, Nix finally relaxed.

"I’ll go rest then. You should sleep early too. You helped me—so you’re my brother now. If the Female Master treats me well in the future, I won’t forget you."

He was a loyal man, after all.

"Sure, brother." Yuel nodded.

After coaxing Nix back to his room, Yuel glanced toward the third floor, gritted his teeth, and muttered under his breath.

Damn it.

He’d been careless. He’d completely forgotten that the Firebird clan had a special bonding method.

All that guarding... all that caution... And Vincent still became the first.

"This is bad," Yuel sighed. "Looks like the days ahead won’t be easy at all."