Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband-Chapter 199: The General’s Pride and the Ocean’s Devotion
Across the capital, far away from the chaotic, flour-covered kitchen of the cliffside manor, a very different type of family was spending their afternoon.
In the sunlit courtyard of the Royal Military Estate, the rhythmic sound of a wooden training sword cutting through the air echoed off the stone walls.
Swish. Thwack. Swish.
Arjun was already looking more like a soldier. The young Tiger-kin’s brow was slick with sweat as he moved through the advanced combat forms. His tactical backpack sat neatly against the wall, perfectly organized as always. He didn’t stop, his amber eyes focused entirely on the wooden dummy in front of him.
"Your elbow is dropping on the backswing," a deep, authoritative voice called out.
General Rajah stood at the edge of the training mat. The massive Tiger-kin warrior was an intimidating figure, covered in battle scars and wearing the dark, heavy uniform of the Empire’s highest commander. His striped ears twitched as he watched his son closely.
Arjun immediately adjusted his stance, snapping his elbow up and delivering a flawless, bone-rattling strike to the dummy.
"Better," Rajah grunted, a flicker of profound pride softening his harsh features. "Rest. You have drilled enough for today."
"I can do another set, Father," Arjun said, breathing heavily but refusing to drop his wooden sword. "If Vali is going to charge at me during recess again, I need my defensive pivots to be faster."
"You are nine, my little warrior, not deploying to the front lines," a soft, melodious voice interrupted.
Princess Leonora stepped out onto the courtyard balcony. She was a vision of absolute elegance, her golden silk skirts rustling softly. As a Royal Lioness-kin, she carried an air of effortless majesty, her golden hair pinned up perfectly, though her eyes held nothing but warmth as she looked at her family.
She walked down the stone steps, carrying a silver tray with a pitcher of ice water.
Rajah’s entire posture changed the moment his wife entered the courtyard. The terrifying General softened, his broad shoulders dropping as he moved to take the heavy tray from her hands. He leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to her cheek.
"You shouldn’t be carrying this, my love. The servants could have brought it," Rajah murmured.
"And miss the chance to see my two handsome tigers?" Leonora smiled, reaching out to wipe a smudge of dirt from Rajah’s cheek. She then turned to Arjun, holding out a glass of water. "Drink, Arjun. Even the greatest generals must hydrate."
Arjun finally lowered his sword, taking the glass with a respectful bow of his head. "Thank you, Mother."
Leonora gently brushed her son’s damp hair out of his eyes. "You train so hard, sweetheart. But remember, we have Luna and Jax’s wedding to attend soon. I expect you to leave the tactical backpack at home for one evening."
Arjun frowned, looking genuinely concerned. "But Mother, large gatherings are prime locations for security breaches. What if I need my emergency smoke bombs?"
Rajah chuckled, resting a heavy, warm hand on his son’s shoulder. "I think the Warlords will have the security covered, son. For one night, you are allowed to just eat cake."
Arjun looked at his parents, his serious little face slowly breaking into a small, rare smile. "Will there be the Sovereign’s special sweet-bread?"
"I am sure Primrose is baking a feast," Leonora laughed, pulling him into a tight hug. "Now go wash up. You smell like a barracks."
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Back at the cliffside manor, the sun had finally dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep shades of indigo and silver.
The house was perfectly quiet. Orion had exhausted himself building his clay courtyard and had fallen asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
I stood by the open balcony doors of the master bedroom, letting the cool ocean breeze wash over me. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below was a steady, rhythmic lullaby. I was exhausted from the menu planning, my shoulders aching, but my heart felt incredibly full.
A sudden shift in the air—a wave of cool, clean ozone and sea salt—told me I wasn’t alone.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I leaned back instantly, letting my body melt against Caspian’s solid chest. My nine silver tails curled lazily around his legs.
"You are working too hard," Caspian murmured, his deep voice vibrating against my spine.
He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his lips brushing softly against my pulse point. I let out a quiet sigh, tilting my head to give him better access.
"The menu is done," I whispered, closing my eyes as his hands slid up to gently massage my tense shoulders. "The wedding is going to be perfect."
"I don’t care about the wedding right now," Caspian said softly.
He turned me around in his arms. The moonlight caught the iridescent silver strands of his messy hair, making him look like a god pulled straight from the deep ocean. His eyes were dark, heavy with a heat and devotion that made my breath catch in my throat.
Without breaking eye contact, Caspian raised his hand. His magic hummed in the air. A warm, damp cloth made of pure, condensed water vapor materialized over my skin, washing away the flour, the stress, and the exhaustion of the day in an instant. It was a gentle, intimate use of his power, leaving my skin feeling heated and overly sensitive.
"Caspian," I breathed his name, my hands resting flat against his chest. I could feel the steady, powerful thumping of his heart through his thin linen shirt.
"I spent my whole life in the dark," he whispered, stepping closer until there was no space left between us. His thumb traced my lower lip, his touch reverent and slow. "Ruling a cold kingdom. I didn’t know what warmth was until I found you in that little kitchen, covered in flour, scolding my son to eat his vegetables."
A soft, breathless laugh escaped me. "I was just doing my job."
"You became my whole world," Caspian corrected, his voice dropping into a rough, low register.
He didn’t give me a chance to reply. He leaned down and captured my lips.
The kiss was slow, deep, and intoxicating. It tasted like sea salt and pure, unbridled affection. My fingers tangled in his iridescent hair, pulling him closer as his arms tightened around me, lifting me effortlessly off the floor.
I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding on tight as he carried me away from the balcony doors and toward the massive, plush bed in the center of the room.
When he laid me down against the silk sheets, the moonlight spilled over us. A few shimmering, iridescent blue scales appeared along his cheekbones and the strong column of his neck—a sign of how deeply his emotions were running, his merman instincts rising to the surface.
He hovered over me, supporting his weight on his forearms. His eyes swept over my face, drinking me in like a man who was dying of thirst.
"My beautiful fox," he murmured, pressing a string of soft, heated kisses down my jaw, tracing the sensitive line of my neck. Every place his lips touched sent a shiver of pure electricity down my spine.
"Caspian..." I gasped softly, my hands sliding under his shirt to map the heavy, scarred muscles of his back.
He groaned at the touch, a low, possessive sound that rumbled deep in his chest. He pulled his shirt off over his head, tossing it onto the floor, his skin flushed and warm against mine.
"I love you," he whispered fiercely, pressing his forehead to mine, his hands tangling gently in my silver hair. "More than the ocean. More than anything."
"I love you too," I breathed back, pulling him down for another deep, consuming kiss.
Outside, the ocean waves continued to crash against the cliffs, powerful and endless. But inside our quiet room, the rest of the world completely faded away, leaving only the heat of the fire, the tang of sea salt, and the beautiful, overwhelming reality that this man was entirely mine.
