Chapter 785: Chapter 786: When I’m stronger, Cyrus. I’m not crawling out of bed today

One side of the lower palace entrance had cracked from when the mountain ridge beast had forced its way in, and several guards were already tying ropes around the broken wood to keep it from falling apart before proper repairs could start.

The attack had ended, but nobody felt like it was a normal victory.

There had been losses.

Some males had died.

Some were badly injured.

The number was not as terrible as it could have been because Isabella had warned Kian early, and because the village had prepared before the enemies came. But a life was still a life. A male who had stood guard at dinner yesterday would never return to his female again. A young hunter who had laughed with his brothers near the cooking fire would not wake up. Some homes were silent now in a way that made even the morning air feel heavier.

Still, the village had survived.

The palace had not fallen.

The women and children were safe.

And Isabella had delivered three babies.

That was the news people held onto as they cleaned blood from stone, dragged bodies away, helped injured males inside, and repaired what had been broken. Some cried while they worked. Some spoke Isabella’s name quietly like a prayer. Some smiled through tears whenever the news passed again, as if repeating it could make it stronger.

Goddess Isabella survived.

The babies survived.

Three babies.

Two boys and one girl.

Near the old stone post at the side of the inner training ground, Kian had finally been tied down properly.

His huge white lion body lay against the ground, bound with heavy winter chains that had been looped around stone pillars and thick wooden anchors. Even then, the chains creaked whenever he moved. His white fur was stained with blood, and the wounds on his stomach and shoulder still looked terrible because of the poison used against him. His breathing was rough. Every now and then, his claws dug into the snow-covered ground, and a low growl came from his throat like he was still fighting something inside his own head.

No one dared to tell Isabella.

Everyone had silently agreed without saying it properly.

If Isabella heard that Kian was chained and poisoned, she would try to get up.

If she tried to get up, Cyrus would lose his mind.

And if Cyrus lost his mind after everything that had already happened, the whole palace might as well lie down and accept its fate.

So they kept it from her.

For now.

They also told her about the mountain ridge beast, but only the softened version.

They told her it had been frightened by the battle and broke out of its shed because it wanted to get to the palace. They told her Zyran had put it to sleep before it hurt too many people, and that it had now been taken back to a stronger space where several calm beastmen were watching it. They did not tell her how close it had come. They did not tell her how many people had scattered when it broke through the lower hall.

Isabella had listened with tired eyes, one hand resting over the fur covering her stomach.

"Is it hurt?" she asked.

"No," Cyrus said.

His answer came quickly because he knew that was the only part she truly cared about.

Isabella let out a weak breath. "Good. I’ll see it when I’m stronger."

Cyrus immediately looked at her.

She saw that look and raised one brow. "When I’m stronger, Cyrus. I’m not crawling out of bed today."

He still did not look fully convinced.

Isabella sighed. "I just gave birth to three babies. I’m dramatic, not insane."

Zyran, who had been sitting nearby, made a small sound. "Sometimes the line is thin."

Isabella slowly turned her head toward him.

He immediately looked at the wall as if he had said nothing.

Cyrus’s mouth moved slightly, but he wisely did not smile too much.

It was already morning now, and Isabella was finally eating.

At first she had thought she would not be able to eat much because her whole body felt weak and strange. Then Cyrus brought in the food he had cooked, and the smell alone almost made her cry again. Warm broth with soft meat. Small pieces of bread soaked in soup so she would not have to chew too much. Rice cooked until it was tender. Sweet mashed fruit. A warm drink with herbs that did not taste as horrible as she expected because Cyrus had clearly added something sweet to bribe her tongue.

The first spoonful touched her mouth and Isabella’s eyes almost closed from relief.

Food.

Actual food.

After nearly two days of pain, blood, screaming, pushing, sweating, crying, and being bullied by her own children before they were even born, this felt like a reward from the heavens.

She swallowed and let out a small satisfied sound.

Cyrus immediately looked at her. "Good?"

Isabella nodded slowly. "So good."

His face softened at once.

Zyran, who had somehow taken it upon himself to help feed her even though Cyrus was clearly already doing that, picked up another spoonful and held it toward her mouth. "Open."

Cyrus looked at him.

Zyran ignored him.

Isabella looked between the two of them, too tired to stop whatever silent fight they were having. Then she opened her mouth because the food was warm and she was hungry, and honestly, if two grown men wanted to compete over feeding a woman who had just given birth, that was their problem.

Zyran fed her with a pleased expression.

Cyrus’s pink eyes narrowed.

Zyran picked up another piece of soft bread and dipped it into the broth. "You should eat more. You lost too much strength."

Cyrus’s voice became quiet. "I can feed her."

"I know."

"Then move."

"No."

Isabella chewed slowly and watched them like she was watching two beasts fight over a bone.

Cyrus’s expression stayed gentle, but the air around him did not feel gentle at all.