The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 298: A prospective suitor

I dropped my hand on my face, feeling the headache of the century brewing.

"Shall we... take a moment to think this situation through?" I asked, my voice muffled by my palm.

Noah didn’t look away from Thalor, but he inclined his head slightly toward the elders.

"This has become a private family matter. Elders, you may return to the village. We will handle it internally."

The elders exchanged wary glances, shifting their feet in the sand. They weren’t exactly thrilled to be dismissed when a literal Prince of the Sea had just washed up, but Noah’s words didn’t exactly leave much room for debate.

Talia, however, wasn’t about to let a perfectly good scandal and a way to screw me over go to waste.

She stepped forward, her grey fur bristling.

"What do you mean? Noah, if this is a Prince of the Sea, then this is a matter for the entire West Way! We were involved when the water turned bitter. So if we want to negotiate, or offer a sincere apology, I believe all of us should—"

"And where were you when the situation was so bad and the sea folks were dying?" I interrupted, dropping my hand and fixing her with a stare that could have curdled milk.

Talia blinked, her mouth snapping shut for a fraction of a second.

"Just as you stayed still, your tail stuck between your legs when Garrow was poisoning their water, you gotta stay quiet now as well and let the adults do the talking.

"You!"

"If you’re trying to be diplomatic right now, Talia," I glared at her. The nerve she had to be talking when we who stood our ground against Garrow and saved the sea hadn’t said anything. "...then save it for an official delegation from the sea," I continued, my voice sharp and cold. "Right now, Thalor is here because he is in my debt. And from what he’s said, he’s likely here as a prospective suitor."

Maybe I shouldn’t have said that part, but I did.

"And last I checked, who I choose to have standing by my side has absolutely nothing to do with you."

The silence that followed was heavy enough to sink a ship.

Fenric’s jaw dropped. Damar actually blinked, as if his lashes were the ones doing the hearing this whole time, his head tilting in a way that suggested his brain was currently short-circuiting.

Even Noah stiffened, his hand twitching at his side.

"A... suitor?" Talia stammered, her face turning a spectacular shade of blotchy red. "You... you’re bringing a fish into your spouse’s circle?"

I haven’t even given it a thought in my life.

"That’s none of your business, Talia." I folded my arms. Seriously, she was too nosy.

"How dare you?" She ranted. "Is the King not enough for you? Are the tiger and the snake not enough? You’re bringing a fish."

"Gosh, I don’t remember asking for your opinion on who I take in as my spouse, Talia," I snapped. "Thalor is a Prince. And I saved his life. Right now, he’s here to prove his worth and repay me. It’s a personal matter that doesn’t have anything to do with you."

"But this could be diplomatic," a wolf Elder chipped in and I snapped a glare at him.

"Well right now, it’s not. It’s just a single male trying to woo a female. Nothing diplomatic about that, is there?"

They exchanged glances, whispering. They were unsure, and honestly, I was too.

I was speaking like I would consider taking in Thalor but honestly, I’m worried.

This fishy man, why did he have to come now and make a mess of things?

I’m going to get an earful from my husbands.

"Alright," I clasped my hands together, waving for them to give us space. "That will be all for the audience. So, unless you want to be charged with interfering in this ’Queen’s’ private affairs, I suggest you take your ’concern’ and go back. You’re not needed here."

I looked at Talia, then back to the Elders.

"That goes for everyone. The show is over."

Noah, sensing the absolute finality in my tone, stepped up beside me, his presence adding a layer of reinforced finality to my words.

"The Queen has spoken. We will discuss the ’diplomacy’ of the sea at a later date. For now, clear the beach."

Talia looked like she wanted to spit fire, but with Fenric and Damar looming like twin pillars of doom and the King standing firmly by my side, she had no moves left. She turned on her heel, her tail tucked in a mix of fury and humiliation, and led the grumbling elders away.

The second they were out of earshot, I let out a breath I’d been holding since I saw Thalor’s legs.

"A suitor, Arinya?" Fenric exploded, finally finding his voice.

Here it comes.

"Are you serious? I thought we were full!"

We are full.

"There’s no more room for this fish."

I palmed my face once again.

I didn’t really mean it that way, but it seems they’re really upset. I should clarify that I had no intentions of taking an additional mate after having faced three in their full glory.

I already find myself hissing with back pains and sore muscles after handling just three. How am I going to handle a fourth?

Damar hissed, his eyes narrowed at Thalor, who was still standing there holding his umbrella leaf like a royal scepter around his waist.

"A suitor," He whispered, the sound coming out deadly. "He doesn’t even have a scent of the earth on him. He smells like salt and wet sand. Ari, you will not be happy with him."

There was this confidence in his tone, as if he had already seen the future and was sure he wouldn’t make a good addition to the family.

I rubbed my temples, not looking at any of them. "It was a tactical move, okay? If I made it official business and said I didn’t have anything to do with Thalor, Talia would have an excuse to meddle in everything he does. If he’s a ’suitor,’ it’s a family issue, my issue, and she has to butt out. It’s called strategy, guys."

"So, does that mean you won’t take him in?" Fenric asked, and all their eyes snapped towards me, expectant delight at my answer sparkling in their gaze.

I sighed, not answering that question.

Whether I was going to take him in or reject him was still not set in stone.

"I don’t know yet," I said and looked at Thalor, who was watching the exchange with a look of pure fascination in his eyes.

It was as if he had never seen such a squabble in his life.

"And you," I pointed a finger at the Sea Prince. "Don’t get any ideas. The ’suitor’ label is for your protection, not an invitation to become a part of my family yet. At least not until you learn how to cover up and stop exhibiting your ’artifacts’ to the public."

Thalor bowed, that infuriatingly handsome smile returning to his face. "If the Land-Mother wishes for me to be a suitor to protect her peace, then I shall be the finest suitor the dry earth has ever seen. Though, I find the ’Land-Warrior’s’ hostility quite... refreshing. It is like the crashing of waves against a reef."

"I’ll show you a crashing wave," Fenric muttered, reaching for the back of Thalor’s neck to ’guide’ him toward our tent. "I’ll take this one."