Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband-Chapter 203: The Midnight Proposal and the Merchant’s Demands

Chapter 203: Chapter 203: The Midnight Proposal and the Merchant’s Demands

Peace, in a house full of beast-cubs, is an illusion.

Caspian and I had successfully made it to our own bed. The ocean breeze was drifting through the open balcony doors, the manor was perfectly quiet, and I was just drifting off into a deep, well-deserved sleep.

Then, I heard it.

*Scratch. Scratch. Thump.*

My eyes snapped open. I stared at the ceiling. Beside me, Caspian let out a long, heavy sigh that ruffled my silver hair.

"I can flood the hallway," Caspian offered sleepily, his arm tightening around my waist. "A mild tidal wave will send them right back to their bunks."

"Do not drown the guests," I whispered, untangling myself from the warm blankets. "I’ll go check. It’s probably just Vali trying to sneak down to the kitchen for that raw elk meat."

I grabbed my silk robe, tying it around my waist as my nine tails bristled slightly in the cool night air. I padded barefoot down the hall, expecting to find a raid on the pantry. Instead, the noise was coming directly from the "Cub Barracks."

I crept toward the slightly ajar double doors, intending to just peek in and tell them to go to sleep.

But when I looked through the crack, I had to clap both hands over my mouth to stop myself from laughing out loud.

The mana-lanterns were turned all the way down, casting a dim, blue glow over the room. The boys had managed to drag one of the heavy wooden chairs into the center of the room. Sitting on the chair, looking entirely unimpressed in her pink star pajamas, was Clover.

Kneeling on the floor in front of her, looking as serious as a seasoned warrior, was Vali.

The little wolf-cub was holding something out in his hands. It wasn’t a ring. It was a massive, slightly damp, very sharp-looking crab claw he must have smuggled back from the beach.

"Accept my tribute," Vali demanded, his golden eyes glowing in the dark. His furry ears were standing straight up, trying to project pure Alpha dominance.

Clover leaned forward, squinting at the crab claw. Her long bunny ears twitched. "Vali, it smells like low tide. Why are you giving me a piece of garbage at midnight?"

"It is not garbage! It is a weapon!" Vali barked softly, offended. "My dad says an Alpha must provide for his mate. He gave Sovereign Primrose a dead boar once! I hunted this crab for you!"

From the bottom bunk, Jasper sat up. The snake-cub rubbed his eyes, adjusting his round glasses. "Vali, your biological imperatives are interrupting my REM sleep. What are you doing?"

"I am courting her!" Vali declared proudly, puffing out his chest.

Clover blinked. "Courting me? Why?"

"Because of logic!" Vali said, sounding very proud of himself for using a big word. He stood up, pacing in front of her chair like a tiny general. "Your sister Luna is a bunny. She just married Uncle Jax. Jax is a fox. Therefore, it is a rule that bunnies must marry predators with sharp teeth. Foxes are small. Wolves are big and the best. So, you have to marry me."

I bit my lip so hard it hurt. Vali’s understanding of genetics and matrimony was absolutely flawless six-year-old wolf logic.

Jasper let out a heavy, tired sigh that sounded exactly like his older brother, Cassian. "Statistically, cross-species courtship at age six has a zero percent success rate, Vali. Furthermore, my brother Cassian says wolves are terrible investments. They eat too much and ruin the upholstery."

"Your brother is a boring snake!" Vali hissed, his tail puffing up. "I am a great investment! I can run really fast!"

"Running fast does not equate to financial stability," Jasper countered smoothly, pulling his sterile silk sleeping bag up to his chin.

"Quiet, both of you," Arjun whispered harshly from the bunk near the door. The little tiger was hanging upside down, his amber eyes scanning the dark room. "You are compromising our tactical stealth. If the Sovereign hears us, we will be subjected to the ultimate punishment."

"What punishment?" Orion mumbled, rubbing his eyes as he peeked out from his floor-cushion fort.

"Time-out," Arjun whispered grimly.

A collective shiver of fear ran through the room.

I leaned against the doorframe, highly amused. I felt a warm presence step up behind me. Caspian rested his chin on the top of my head, looking over my shoulder at the ridiculous scene. I could feel his chest vibrating with silent laughter.

Inside the room, Clover finally hopped down from her chair. She walked right up to Vali, completely unfazed by his growling or his sharp little fangs. She crossed her arms, channeling every ounce of her merchant-guild upbringing.

"Listen to me, Vali," Clover said bossily. "A crab claw is not capital. It is a liability. It will rot."

Vali looked down at his prized possession, his ears drooping slightly. "But it’s sharp."

"If you want to court me," Clover continued, tapping her chin thoughtfully, "you must prove you are a good provider. Luna makes Jax carry all the heavy boxes at the market. So, starting tomorrow, you have to carry my beach bucket. And you have to give me half of your dessert at lunch."

Vali gasped, looking horrified. "Half my meat-bread?!"

"Those are the terms," Clover said firmly, holding out a tiny hand to shake. "Take it or leave it, wolf." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Vali stared at her hand. He looked at the crab claw. He looked at the bottom bunk, where Silas—who hadn’t said a word—had used his magic to cast a giant shadow-puppet on the wall of a wolf wearing a collar.

"Lucien is right," Silas whispered from the dark corner. "Love is a trap."

Vali ignored the shadow-panther. He squared his little shoulders, his tail giving a hesitant wag. "Fine. I will carry the bucket. But I get to keep the shiny shells we find!"

"Deal," Clover smiled, shaking his hand. "Now go back to sleep. My sister says beauty sleep is an asset, and I refuse to depreciate."

Vali proudly trotted back to his bunk, tucking the smelly crab claw securely under his pillow.

I figured that was my cue. I pushed the doors open a little wider, stepping into the room.

Instantly, five beast-cubs dove under their blankets, pretending to be fast asleep. The synchronized snoring was terrible. Vali was actually whistling through his teeth.

"Wow," I said loudly, putting my hands on my hips. "It’s amazing how fast everyone fell asleep. I was just coming in to say that anyone who is awake doesn’t get blueberry pancakes for breakfast tomorrow."

Five heads instantly popped back up.

"I’m awake!" Orion yelled.

"I require nutritional sustenance!" Jasper agreed.

"Alright, alright," I laughed, walking over and gently plucking the smelly crab claw out from under Vali’s pillow. "I’m confiscating the courtship weapon. It goes outside. Courting hours are strictly between breakfast and lunch."

Vali pouted but didn’t argue.

Caspian stepped into the room, picking up a stray pillow from the floor and tossing it onto Arjun’s bed. "Sleep. All of you. Or the tide comes in."

"Yes, King Caspian," they chorused, properly intimidated by the Merman’s calm, deep voice.

As we walked back down the hallway, I tossed the crab claw out the nearest open window, watching it tumble down the cliffside into the sea.

"A wolf and a bunny," Caspian mused, wrapping his arm around my waist as we walked back to our bedroom. "Rurik is going to lose his mind."

"Let him," I smiled, leaning my head against his shoulder. "If Vali is half as stubborn as his father, Clover is going to have a very loyal baggage handler for the rest of her life."

Caspian chuckled, pulling me close and finally shutting our bedroom door. "Come to sleep, my beautiful, brilliant Sovereign. Leave the politics of elementary school romance for the morning."

For the first time all night, I completely agreed.