The Villainess Winning Back Her Beast Husbands-Chapter 83: Tide Night of the Mer Clan Beastmen
The torrential rain had been falling for eight straight days, with no sign of letting up.
Ever since their heart-to-heart talk, Thorne and Caden Albright had become even more protective of her, watching over her like she was the apple of their eye.
Perhaps they were worried she would suddenly return to The Beast God’s embrace one day.
The three of them stayed in the cave, where Evangeline would sometimes tell stories to the cub in her belly for prenatal education, and other times paint rosy pictures of the future for Thorne and Caden Albright, completely wrapping the two males around her little finger.
"What story do you want to hear today?" Evangeline asked, idly tapping her fingertips on her round belly.
She was due to give birth in a few days, and the cub in her belly was growing more active.
The moment she spoke, Evangeline caught sight of Thorne and Caden Albright suddenly perking up their ears out of the corner of her eye.
’Those two big goofs. They probably never heard any stories growing up. Ever since I started telling stories for the cub, they’ve become incredibly eager listeners. It’s become a mandatory part of our after-dinner routine in the cave.’
"Last time, we got to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, didn’t we?" Evangeline’s voice was soft, and she deliberately drew out her words, a sly smile glinting in her slender eyes.
The words had barely left her mouth when Caden Albright scooted closer.
He held a few washed wild fruits in his hand. He sat down beside the bed as if it were the most natural thing in the world and offered them to her. "Eat first."
The corners of Evangeline’s lips curled up. She toyed with a bright red fruit in her hand before continuing, "Snow White had skin as white as snow and hair as black as ebony. She was very beautiful..."
Caden Albright lowered his gaze, staring at her red lips as they moved. His fluffy, snow-white tail snaked out from behind him of its own accord and gently coiled around her wrist. Its tip flicked back and forth, tickling her skin.
Not to be outdone, Thorne finished roasting the most tender cut of meat. He seasoned it evenly, tore off a small shred, and blew on it gingerly before bringing it to Evangeline’s lips. The warm puff of his breath brushed against the corner of her mouth. "Careful, it’s hot."
The way he did it, it was as if he weren’t feeding her a piece of roasted meat, but presenting an offering to some fragile, precious treasure.
Evangeline couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. She deliberately opened her mouth in slow motion, her tongue inadvertently grazing his fingertips.
Thorne’s dark green eyes instantly froze, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. Yet he kept a straight face, feigning composure as he tore off another piece of meat. This time, however, he blew on it for longer, a hint of intimacy in the gesture.
Caden Albright narrowed his eyes from the side, the tip of his snow-white tail coiling a little tighter around her wrist.
’These two were always staging their own little power struggle. They competed for my favor more enthusiastically than the concubines in a palace drama. As the one being courted, I had to admit I rather enjoyed it.’
Caden Albright’s amber eyes flicked to the roast meat in Thorne’s hand. His voice was silky smooth, interrupting Thorne’s intimate attempt to win her favor. "You were asking me about Danton the other day..."
He paused deliberately, and just as he intended, Evangeline’s attention was immediately piqued.
Her expression shifted, and she looked at Caden Albright. "I still have Danton’s Mermaid Tail Scale. I have to find him."
Seeing her earnest expression, Caden Albright stopped keeping her in suspense. "When I went to that cave, all I found was the lingering scent of The Tideborn. He must have left long ago."
"And here I thought you actually knew something. Hmph." Thorne shot Caden Albright a glance, his lips curled in a cold, mocking sneer.
Evangeline pursed her lips and lowered her gaze, her thoughts turning to Danton.
’The location from the Contract Mark isn’t clear, which means Danton really is far away from me.’
Thorne mused for a moment before speaking. "Danton is one of The Tideborn. Even though he can no longer enter The Deep Sea, if he finds some remote island to hide on, Terrestrial Beastmen like us will be completely helpless to find him."
"The Beastman Continent is vast enough, and the domain of The Tideborn is even wider," Evangeline said, turning to look out of the cave, her gaze distant. "Perhaps we’ll be able to find him when the ocean tides carry the songs of the Merfolk."
Danton’s greatest wish was to return to his clan, but without his Mermaid Tail, he was doomed to be an exile.
On the night of the full silver moon, the figures of thousands of Merfolk would appear on the vast surface of the sea.
They would rise from the waves to sit upon the reefs, their colorful tail scales shimmering in the moonlight. In time with the rhythm of the tide, they would sing the ancient, traditional songs of The Mer Clan in unison. This was known on the Beastman Continent as the "Tide Night."
The waves would wash pearls, coral, and all sorts of rare treasures from the sea onto the shore, like an offering.
Every Tide Night, the tribes bordering the ocean would go to the shore to collect these gifts.
The Oasis Tribe was near the sea, so Evangeline knew this well.
Thorne nodded. "I’ll go with you when the time comes."
The Grymdale Tribe was also coastal, so he was no stranger to this custom.
"We’ll have to wait until the next hunting season for a full moon," Caden Albright said softly.
Even though it had been a long time since he’d left the Oasis Tribe, the mysterious "Tide Night" of The Merfolk Clan was still etched deeply in his memory. It fell on the night of the first full moon after the rainy season.
Evangeline gently caressed her swollen belly, a tender smile playing on her lips. "There’s no rush. Tide Night will come when it comes. The most important thing right now is safely delivering this little one."
Caden Albright glanced down at her belly, a smile on his lips and a captivating curve at the corners of his eyes.
Thorne tilted his head slightly, his deep-set brow casting a shadow over his face. His dark green, slitted pupils were fixed on Evangeline as he spoke, his voice low and slow. "You promised me before... that you would have a cub for me."
The last word trailed off, carrying a hint of a pout.
Evangeline froze for a second, then looked at the expression on Thorne’s face and had to stifle a laugh.
She reached out to poke Thorne’s tense chest, a sly smile in her eyes. "Once this rowdy little one in my belly is born..." she said with a perfectly straight face.
She deliberately drew out her words, watching the tips of Thorne’s ears perk up unconsciously. Then, a corner of her lip curled up, and a breathtaking smile lit up her stunning features. "...then we’ll have a cub for our Thorne!"
’The mission target is in hot pursuit. Heh, this is a new feeling.’
Caden Albright reached out to gently stroke Evangeline’s swollen abdomen, pretending he hadn’t heard a word of their exchange.
’He was already overjoyed to be the first of her Beast Husbands to give her a cub.’ 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
Just then, a frantic wolf howl echoed from outside the cave, immediately followed by a shout. "Thorne!"
Thorne turned his head impatiently. He strode to the mouth of the cave, his dark green eyes locking onto the bedraggled Gray Wolf Beastman in the downpour. "What is it!" he demanded coldly.
The Gray Wolf Beastman hastily held up the prey in his hands. "This... this is for the Witch Doctor!"
He then added in a rush, his voice nearly drowned out by the storm, "Cecilia West said that once she’s feeling better, she’ll come thank the Witch Doctor in person!"
Hearing his voice, Evangeline glanced nonchalantly toward the cave entrance. "No need. Tell him to take it back."
’She hadn’t saved Cecilia West for the sake of a reward.’ But before Thorne could relay the message, the Gray Wolf Beastman had already placed the kill reverently at the mouth of the cave and vanished into the curtain of pouring rain.
Thorne frowned at the kill at his feet before picking it up and carrying it into the cave.
But the moment he stepped inside, Evangeline caught a foul stench.
She covered her nose and mouth, frowning at the carcass in Thorne’s hands. "Has this... gone bad?"
Thorne’s movements froze. His well-defined fingers were still holding the animal, which now clearly gave off a foul odor.
With his head lowered, his expression looked particularly grim against the backdrop of the rain outside. His voice was heavy, thick with a gravity that couldn’t be shaken. "This year’s rainy season... it came too early. In this humid heat, meat won’t keep."
The stench of rot mingled with the damp air, and Caden Albright’s expression grew grim as well.
