Taming the Beast World with a Frying Pan-Chapter 38: He wants the foam

Before she could convince herself to take another step, a hand shot out from behind her. It wasn’t violent, but it was blindingly fast. Vex grabbed the oversized sleeve of her blue silk robe and yanked.

"Gah!" Ren stumbled out of the vines, colliding with the Fox Shaman’s chest.

It was like hitting a wall of lean muscle wrapped in very expensive fur. He smelled intoxicating—a sharp mix of expensive spices and trouble.

"Gotcha," Vex purred, steadying her with hands on her shoulders.

Ren shoved him away, bristles rising instantly. "Get your paws off me! I was leaving!"

"Were you?" Vex stepped into her personal space, crowding her against the cacao tree. His three tails swished behind him, brushing against her ankles. "You looked like a mouse trembling in the grass, desperately hoping the owl wouldn’t notice her. But foxes have excellent hearing, Little Rose."

He leaned down, his orange eyes dancing with malicious amusement as he looked her over.

"Look at you," he jeered softly. "Wrapped up in the snake king’s shedding skin. You smell like him. Do you enjoy warming his bed? Do you prefer the chill to the fire?"

Vex reached out, a clawed finger hooking a lock of her messy red hair. He twirled it thoughtfully. "You’re a very busy little mammal, aren’t you? First the tiger, now the snake. Collecting alphas like shiny rocks."

Slap.

Ren swatted his hand away hard. "Don’t touch me."

Vex laughed, a rich, throaty sound that was entirely too charming for a villain. He rubbed his hand, looking delighted rather than offended.

"Feisty. I like that. Kael liked that too, didn’t he? Before he went for his swim."

Ren’s heart stuttered. "Tell me the truth. Did he really... the crocodiles?"

"Ah, ah, ah." Vex wagged a finger in her face. "Information is currency, darling. I just charged Syris ten crates of venom crystal for a very entertaining story. What do you have to offer?"

"I have a frying pan that I can introduce to your face," Ren threatened.

"Tempting, but no." Vex leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I want the foam."

Ren blinked, completely derailed. "The what?"

"The white brick," Vex clarified, making a scrubbing motion with his hands. "The thing you used in the river with Kael. It smelled like flowers and made white clouds on your skin. I want it."

Ren stared at him. The mighty, cunning fox...wanted her bar of cheap rose soap from the system starter pack.

"You... you want soap?" Ren asked incredulously. "That’s your price? Hygiene products?"

"It is intriguing," Vex shrugged elegantly. "The foam for the truth about the Tiger. Deal?"

Ren didn’t hesitate. "Deal. Now talk."

Vex smiled, a flash of sharp white teeth. "Excellent choice."

He leaned back against the tree, crossing his arms.

"The crocodile story," Vex admitted cheerfully, "was a complete fabrication. A masterpiece of theater, if I do say so myself."

Ren felt a rush of relief so intense her knees almost buckled. "He’s alive?"

"Oh, very much so. Though he probably wishes he wasn’t right now."

Vex’s grin widened. "You see, Syris paid me to get rid of the tiger. But someone else paid me more to ensure the tiger survived."

Ren narrowed her eyes. "Who?"

"A certain female tiger with very sharp claws and a bad attitude," Vex chuckled, rubbing his chin.

Ren felt the blood drain from her face. "Vara?"

"Indeed. Kael didn’t hit a crocodile nest. He stepped on a dream puff mushroom patch I planted. Got a face full of spores. He was tripping over his own tail, fighting imaginary demons in the muck."

Vex’s expression darkened slightly, losing some of its humor.

"Vara was waiting. She ’rescued’ him. Dragged him back to the Tiger Cliffs. Last I checked, she had him tucked away in the Alpha Cave, feeding him bitter-root tea to keep him weak, confused, and docile. She’s playing the devoted mate while taking over his tribe."

Ren felt sick. The image of her proud, loud, arrogant Kael drugged and helpless in the clutches of his manipulative ex was worse than crocodiles.

"Why?" Ren whispered, her voice shaking with rage. "Why did you tell Syris he was dead?"

"Because Vara paid for that lie too," Vex shrugged. "She wants you to think he’s gone. She wants you to stay here, nice and cozy with your snake, so you never come back to claim him."

Ren gripped the rough bark of the cacao tree, her knuckles turning white. ’That conniving, backstabbing cat.’

She looked up at Vex, her eyes burning. "Why are you telling me this? Is a bar of soap really worth double-crossing her?"

Vex pushed off the tree, his tails swishing thoughtfully. He tapped her on the nose.

"Of course not. A bar of foam is a trinket. But consider this information a favor owed to a friend."

Ren slapped his hand away again. "We’re not friends."

Vex’s smile vanished instantly. His face went perfectly blank.

"Oh? Not friends?" He drew himself up, looking suddenly very tall and very dangerous. "Very well. Then the fee for revealing client secrets is one million venom crystals. Payable immediately."

Ren choked. "One million—?!"

"Wait!" Ren threw her hands up, forcing a bright, terrifyingly fake smile onto her face. "Did I say not friends? I meant... we are the best of friends! Besties! Soul-bonded amigos!"

Vex burst out laughing. It was a genuine, delighted sound. He patted her head patronizingly.

"Great, friend. I knew you were smart." His ears swiveled toward the palace interior. "But you must scurry along now, little mouse. Your scaly husband is returning."

"He is not my husb—!"

"Go!" Vex grabbed her shoulders and physically spun her around, shoving her toward the exit.

Ren stumbled, caught her balance, and shot him one last glare before sprinting out of the garden, her oversized robe flapping behind her.

Moments later, the vine gate creaked open.

Syris glided in, carrying a heavy, sealed wooden crate. He stopped when he saw Vex leaning against the cacao tree, grinning like a cat that had just swallowed a very large canary.

Syris narrowed his amethyst eyes. "What is that look on your face, Fox?"

"Just admiring the foliage, King," Vex hummed, his eyes glinting with mischievous light as he looked at the spot where Ren had been standing.

He pushed off the tree, walking toward Syris to collect his due.

"You know, Syris," Vex murmured, running a hand over the crate of crystals. "It is fascinating to watch a hen think she has escaped the coop, only to realize she has wandered into an even bigger yard. And she owes the fox a favor for opening the gate."

Syris frowned. "I hate your riddles. Take your crystals and leave."

"As you wish," Vex smiled, lifting the heavy crate with surprising ease. "Pleasure doing business with you."