"You've beaten older, more experienced fighters before," Kayda countered.
"That was mostly luck and them underestimating me," I deadpanned.
"True," she admitted.
"How are the bandits doing?" I asked, shifting the topic.
"I thought they were yours, and we weren't allowed to butt in," Kayda said, side-eyeing me.
"I said Mom isn't allowed to butt in. You can," I corrected smoothly.
"Did you?"
"Yes." I lied effortlessly, keeping my face straight.
"Whatever. They're doing fine. But their name hasn't changed in the rumors."
I frowned. "So they're still known as bandits?"
"Yes and no. More as mercenaries than bandits. But the name itself still has 'bandit' in it," Kayda explained.
"Ah, I guess that's fine then."
"It is," she said firmly, shutting down further argument.
"So, how is the daughter doing?" I asked, switching subjects again.
"She's fine. But she's getting too psycho for her mother's taste," Kayda said with a sigh.
"Hmm. About the time that happens. If I see her, I'll wake her up from her psycho mode."
"And how are you going to do that?"
"Torture her, of course."
Kayda went silent, blinking at me.
"She's at the point where she thinks she can do anything but doesn't realize what she's putting others through when she tortures them," I explained calmly.
"So feeling what they feel will wake her up?"
"Yes."
"Did you go through that yourself?" Kayda asked carefully.
My glare cut her words short. "Kayda. For half my life, I've been tortured. Do you think I don't know how it feels?"
She winced. "Sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"Don't feel bad. You know how I feel about them."
"Yeah. You hate them and want to destroy their souls."
"Yes. And you gave me a way to do that. Now I just need to find them." I let devilfire swirl across my hand, staring at the flames with narrowed eyes.
"Sigh... that, I can't help with," Kayda admitted.
"I know. But maybe I can ask that gluttony guy before Mom kills him," I said, tapping my chin.
"You want to talk to that psycho?"
"I want to try. But Mom's revenge comes first," I said simply.
"Again, I don't understand your brain."
"But you still love me," I teased.
"True, true," Kayda admitted, her cheeks flushing faintly.
"Anyway, are the two kids ready to go?" I asked.
"They're ready and on their way. And don't call them kids. They're the same age as you," Kayda said firmly.
"I'll try," I muttered.
"Just accept you're fourteen," she fumed.
"No. Then my girlfriend will be double my age. That's weirder for you than me," I teased again.
"I'm a dragon. No one cares," she shot back.
"Old habits never die. You only suppress them," I said slyly.
Her glare answered that.
"Sigh. Here's the plane," Kayda said, looking up as the jet descended slowly.
"And the two kids?" I asked, glancing back at the mansion. The Kuni siblings appeared, lugging their baggage toward us.
"Well, with that, we can go to the capital," Kayda said, turning toward the plane.
avataravatar
Chapter 173
"Good afternoon, Amari. "How have you and Zagan been?" I said as I walked into the dining hall, the familiar scent of roasted meat and herbs greeting me. The long wooden table was set as always, half-covered in food despite it being between lunch and dinner.
"Ah, Kitsuna, you are back!" Amari shouted, her chair scraping against the floor as she leapt up. Before I could brace myself, she flung her small frame into me, hugging me tightly.
"Ugh, damn, that surprised me," I said with a grin, pretending to stagger back though she weighed next to nothing compared to me. My hand landed naturally on her head, petting her like a younger sibling. It wasn't difficult-Amari was barely taller than Mom.
"We are good. There's no complaint, and you haven't changed at all, Kitsuna," Amari said, her red eyes gleaming up at me, cheeks flushed from the excitement of my return.
"Well, I wouldn't think so after you forced that promise on him," I chuckled, remembering her stubborn streak.
"I like loyalty," Amari replied seriously, puffing out her chest as if it were the most natural answer in the world.
"We all do. I hope you all have at least become stronger," I said, raising an eyebrow, although I already knew she would respond with something absurd.
"Of course. Zagan has been drilled into a proper soldier." Amari stepped back, grinning wide as she flexed her biceps in a mock show of strength. Although the little muscle she displayed was barely noticeable, the pride on her face was truly sufficient.
"Soldier, not a general?" I teased her by shaking my head at her antics.
"I am a general, and he is my soldier. Kitsuna, you should know this. There can only be one general in the family," Amari said mischievously, her grin widening.
"So, who is the commander then?" I asked, indulging her game, one eyebrow raised again.
"You," Amari replied without hesitation, pointing at me like it was obvious.
"Why? I would rather not do all that paperwork." I groaned, letting out an exaggerated sigh that made her laugh.
"Too late to change that," she shot back, smirking at my dismay.
"Tsk."
"What in the hell are you two girls talking about?" Dan asked, his deep voice breaking our nonsense. He hadn't even looked up from his plate, still chewing on a piece of meat as he eyed us like we were a pair of lunatics.
"We are talking about girl stuff," Amari said, narrowing her eyes at her dad before plopping back into her chair, trying to look serious again.
"What?" Dan blinked, clearly confused.
"Don't worry about it," I said, waving him off as I slid into the seat next to Amari. There was already a plate on the side, steaming slightly. My lips curled into a small smile. What a welcome meal this was!
"That's Zagan's food," Amari pointed out, eyeing me suspiciously.
"Well, he isn't here, and there's a side of bones, so it's mine now. It'll go to waste anyway if we wait for him," I said matter-of-factly, picking up a bone and biting into it.
"We can get more, though," Dan said with a raised brow, amused at my logic.
"Nah, it's served cold anyway, so it's fine," I said dismissively, chewing happily.
"Okay, so are you ready for the tournament in a week?" Dan asked, leaning back in his chair and shifting the conversation.
"I'm almost ready. But I need a sparring partner," I said, glancing at him as I licked the grease from my fingers.
"We can spar with you!" Amari jumped in enthusiastically.
"Sorry, Amari. That's not going to help. I need someone who won't die if I mess up. I'm not implying that you will die, but I prioritize safety first. I softened my tone, but her shoulders still slumped, her face falling into a pout.
"Ah, fine." She stabbed her fork into her food, poking it like it had personally offended her.
"Hmm, I can spar with you," Dan said after a pause, sipping from his juice. "You just need to wait until I have time free. Or do you already have someone in mind?"
"That would be fun, but I was thinking of Marquis Anabald. She should be able to handle it," I explained with a shrug.
"She'll take it." "Stacy spars with her often to help each other," Dan said, surprising me. I hadn't known Mom did that.
"Ah, I always wonder how Mom trains and spars," I admitted, nodding.
"It's not easy for her. Furthermore, thank you for saving Marquise Anabald," Dan added, his tone softening.
"Save?" Amari tilted her head, blinking at us curiously.
"Yeah, she got kidnapped, and your sister found her by chance," Dan explained.
I grinned. "Well, the devil cult wasn't being quiet."
"Yeah, I've heard about them. So, what's their deal?" Amari asked, her expression serious now.
"The name says it all, Amari: Devil Cult," I said slowly, enjoying how her brow furrowed at me.
"But why are they in our country?" Amari pressed, sighing.
"Because the Federation loves fucking around with other countries," Dan answered this time, his tone blunt. I nodded in agreement.
"How is the Federation involved with this?" Amari tilted her head again, clearly frustrated.
"Because they come from them?" I said, raising an eyebrow.
"And how sure are you? All of them were demons," Amari countered, her tone sharp, as if implying something more.
"Not all of them. There were humans and demi-humans too," I said, shaking my head.
"Really? Dad, is she telling the truth?" Amari looked at her father, and I felt irritation flare.
"Why would I lie? I killed most of them," I snapped, annoyed.
"She's right about the mix but wrong about killing most of them. Anabald killed the majority," Dan clarified, making Amari look at me strangely.
"Small details," I said dismissively.
"Don't start lying now," Amari said, trying to glare at me but looking more like a pouting child.
"I'm not lying."
"Well, you aren't being a hundred percent truthful."
"I don't need to be. White lies don't hurt anyone," I said with a grin and a shrug.
"They traumatize people. Kids get hurt when their parents tell white lies," a new voice cut in. Zagan stepped into the hall, his hair messy and his clothes wrinkled. His eyes narrowed at me. "And why are you sitting in my chair?"
"Good afternoon, Zagan. You could look better. Are you alright?" I asked, giving him a once-over.
"Yes, I'm fine. But I need food."
"Ah, sorry. I already ate it," I said casually, shrugging.
"Really, you bitch," Zagan muttered, glaring daggers.
"But I have other food for you," I said, pulling a steaming bowl of stew from storage and setting it on the table.
"Where did that come from?" Amari asked, her brows knitting together.
"Monster meat? You are forgiven," Zagan said instantly, his mood flipping the second I nodded at his question.
"Hey, you can't eat meat in the middle of the day," Amari snapped, standing up.
"She gave it as a present," Zagan said quickly, already lifting the bowl and trying to escape her wrath.
"So what? You're on a strict plan to build muscle." Amari chased after him, eyes blazing.
"I need protein to grow muscle, babe!" Zagan protested, holding the bowl away from her.
"Shut it. Give me the food."
"Amari, I have more if you like," I offered, pulling out another bowl.
"Oh, I'll take that," she said, snatching it from my hands. Still, her eyes stayed locked on Zagan, who clutched his portion like a starving wolf.
"Hey, you have your own now! Let me eat," Zagan cried, dodging as Amari lunged again.
"No, your diet will be ruined!"
"You're on the same diet!"
"So? I'm a Sage. I don't need muscle to fight," Amari retorted, glaring fiercely.
"Dan, is this behavior normal?" I asked, turning to him.
"Yeah. This happens every morning," he said with a shrug.
"I guess Kayda's and my bickering is tame compared to this," I muttered with a chuckle.
Dan shook his head. "Stacy told me about that. Sorry, but yours isn't normal either. Yours usually involves death or torture."
"It is not."
"Most of them are."
"Nah. Only the ones in public or with others around. Private ones are different," I said with a sly grin.
"So you're saying private ones are about something personal?"
"Yeah."
Dan narrowed his eyes. "Why are you bickering about sex?"
"We aren't! We're teasing each other, that's all," I explained, my grin widening as his confusion deepened.
"What?"
"You wouldn't get it. Inside jokes. It's the same as the inside jokes you and Mom share," I said, leaning back smugly.
Dan sighed. "Alright, changing the subject. Stacy broke your prison."
"Huh?" I blinked, frowning. I'd made sure it was durable.
"She put someone too strong in there, and he broke out," Dan explained, shaking his head.
"Oh, so the prison itself broke down?"
"No. He just disappeared one day."
"Huh? How long was he inside before he escaped?"
"Two weeks, I think."
"Did you find him?"
"Well, we think so. We found a blue chunk of disfigured meat a week later."
"Yeah, that's him."
Dan stared. "What did you do?"
"Frostbite. Prisoners die after a few weeks, no matter what."
"Why so fast?"
"Worse if their affinity to ice is weak."
"That explains a lot," Dan said slowly.
"That's why it's good for interrogation," I added with a grin.
"That's the reason you made it," Dan muttered.
"Oh, right. Is my tree fine?" I asked suddenly.
"Yes, still frozen over. Nothing changed."
"Great. Then I'm going to nap," I said, vaulting out the open window with ease.
Dan sighed. "Enjoy."
Psst! Download the app for additional rewards!
More events, more perks. Winning you more free perks. Download now!
TheRealSkollie
TheRealSkollie
avataravatar
Chapter 174: Ann being Ann
"Well, good morning." Ann said, narrowing her eyes at me from the comfort of her bed, her voice dry and half-laced with suspicion.
"Oh yeah, good morning. How are you on this fine morning?" I replied, flashing her my brightest grin as if I hadn't just barged into the room at the crack of dawn.
"Very confused." She groaned as she shifted in the bed, rolling onto her side and then onto her back, clearly trying to get comfortable again as if I hadn't interrupted her peace at all.
"Why?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. My eyes flicked over her absentmindedly, and I had to hold back a chuckle. 'Wouldn't have thought Marquis Anabald would wear that sort of PJs,' I thought, catching sight of her black lace pyjamas. It was the kind of thing I'd expect from someone trying to make a statement, not someone in her forties just waking up.
"Some crazy fox came in this morning, demanding that I spar with her." Ann explained flatly, glaring at me with the sharpness of a blade.
"I'm sure she didn't demand it. She asked for it," I corrected with a shrug, completely unbothered by her glare.
"Well, she was very aggressive about it," Ann sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose like she had been through this exact routine one too many times.
"Was she?" I said with mock innocence, tilting my head as if I couldn't possibly imagine who she might be talking about.
"Yes. The sun is barely up, Kitsuna, and now she wants to spar." She pointed at the curtains, the ones I had conveniently used as my window of entry earlier.
"Well, are you busy today? Or is there something making it difficult for you to spar with her?" I asked, folding my arms and leaning against the bedpost like I had every right to be here.
"No, I don't have work to do while I'm in the capital," she admitted with another sigh, shaking her head at me.
