Chapter 103
Dawn spread pale light across the horizon, washing away the last traces of night. A faint glow tinted the sky; the world stirred awake.
Odian slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he did was look for Nina.
His gaze softened as it drifted toward her sleeping form—only for that tenderness to vanish in the next instant, replaced by gathering storm clouds.
Nina was not where she should have been.
She was lying in Kith’s arms.
Odian’s eyes turned icy as he shot Kith a silent, furious question:
Why is she in your arms? What did you do?
Kith hadn’t slept at all. He had spent the entire night gazing down at Nina’s peaceful face.
When he sensed Odian’s glare, he raised his head, his expression instantly cooling.
And what does it have to do with you? his eyes replied.
Odian ground his molars, his fists clenching with an audible crack.
When she wakes up, I’ll deal with you.
Aviel also rose. The moment he saw Nina curled in Kith’s embrace, a sharp glint flashed through his golden eyes.
What shameless trick had this dead tiger used to make her sleep in his arms?
Finch puffed his cheeks in silent resentment.
If only he’d grabbed that spot last night.
The air grew thick with invisible sparks as the four males stood in tense silence, hostility crackling between them.
The phoenix and dragon warriors nearby sensed the suffocating pressure and quietly steered clear.
The aura of powerful males in rivalry was truly terrifying.
The cave grew brighter as morning advanced.
Nina stirred.
Half-awake and groggy, she opened her eyes to a view of warm, toned skin. Confused, she lifted her hand and touched it.
Firm. Warm. Elastic yet solid beneath her palm.
Kith’s entire body shuddered at her touch. His heartbeat thundered; his breathing deepened.
A faint flush spread across his handsome face—but he made no move to stop her.
The other three males shot him murderous looks, wishing they could slice him into a thousand pieces.
As Nina continued touching absentmindedly, something about the texture felt… suspiciously like p>
Her eyes snapped open. She found herself lying squarely against a broad, muscular chest.
Her mind went blank.
Whose chest was this p>
Slowly, she lifted her head—and met Kith’s slightly flushed, intense gaze. Her face burned instantly. She pushed herself away in a hurry, scrambling back.
“How did I—?” She trailed off, mortified.
How had she rolled into Kith’s arms while sleeping?
The warmth vanished from Kith’s embrace, leaving a hollow ache behind.
Just as Nina opened her mouth to speak, Odian’s gentle voice sounded from behind her.
“Nina, you’re awake. Would you like to wash up p>
“Yes p>
She glanced around and realized Finch and Aviel were both watching.
Why did the atmosphere feel… strange?
The cubs were still asleep.
Flustered, she quickly stood and went to wash.
The moment she left, three pairs of eyes locked onto Kith.
“Come,” Odian said coldly. “Let’s go stretch our limbs p>
Kith snorted softly. “Fine p>
The four males stepped outside.
Moments later, the sound of fists and bodies colliding echoed from beyond the cave— bang, crash, thud.
The phoenix and dragon warriors prepared breakfast while enthusiastically spectating, occasionally cheering on their respective leaders.
At breakfast, Nina noticed bruises blooming faintly across Kith’s handsome face.
Finch had one or two marks as well.
Odian and Aviel, however, looked perfectly composed.
Nina lowered her head, pretending to focus on her food to hide her embarrassment.
The four males took their seats as if nothing had happened.
The meal passed in a lingering haze of unresolved tension.
After packing up, they prepared to depart.
The moment Nina stepped out of the cave, several figures came into view.
At the front stood an extraordinarily beautiful male.
His hair was a luminous shade of blue, his skin smooth and luminous like pearls. His brows were delicately shaped, his eyes long and alluring like blooming peach blossoms—yet within their depths lurked sharp danger. His lips were richly colored like coral, striking and defined.
His beauty was breathtaking—but edged with lethal sharpness.
Lex’s gaze locked onto Nina immediately.
“Ugly female,” he said coldly, “you were not easy to find p>
He had used illusion-based retrospection to trace fragments of that night. There was no mistake. It was her.
Nina blinked in confusion. “You were looking for me p>
“Who else?” Lex’s expression darkened with anger. “You used despicable means to steal my innocence and now pretend not to recognize me p>
Steal his innocence?
Nina’s heart skipped. Another one from that night?
Good heavens—how many had there been p>
“I came today to settle this account,” Lex continued coldly. “I will reclaim my bloodline—and properly punish you, you vile female p>
Nina tried to explain, but he cut her off with a sharp gesture.
“Seize her p>
The mermen behind him hesitated.
“Your Majesty… are you certain? She is the mother of the little prince… your future p>
“Silence!” Lex snapped. “She is not! I will never accept a female of such questionable character. Capture her and take back my offspring p>
Nina’s temper flared.
“Your child is not something you can just take,” she said coldly. “If you try, I won’t show mercy p>
The mermen exchanged uneasy glances.
“Are you defying my command?” Lex’s expression darkened.
With reluctant sighs, the mermen advanced.
Odian, Aviel, Kith, and Finch immediately surrounded Nina and the cubs protectively. The phoenix and dragon warriors moved to intercept the mermen.
The air snapped tight.
Battle erupted.
From the sidelines, Shui watched with undisguised relish.
Looks like that ugly female is finished.
Nashe also wore a faintly smug smile.
But the phoenix and dragon warriors were both powerful and numerically superior. The mermen quickly began losing ground.
Seeing this, Lex entered the fray personally.
Aviel and Kith exchanged a glance before charging him together. Soon, the mermen were subdued one by one.
Lex, fighting two against one—and disadvantaged on land—did not last long. He was defeated and brought before Nina.
“You wicked female!” he snarled, struggling. “Release me—and return my offspring p>
He had not expected the males at her side to be so strong. As a peak ninth-tier warrior, he should not have been so easily subdued.
His gaze flicked toward Aviel and Kith, wary. Their strength rivaled his own—perhaps even exceeded it. Males of such caliber should hold a high status.
Why were they serving a female?
Nina stepped forward calmly.
“Believe me or not, that night I was drugged as well. I didn’t use any love-inducing stones on you p>
From his words, she understood he had likely misunderstood—just like Kith and the others had.
She glanced down at the egg cradled in her arms.
So there was a merchild inside too.
His arrival must be due to bloodline resonance.
She tightened her hold protectively.
“As for the cub,” she said firmly, “I will not give him to you. For the sake of you being his biological father, I won’t kill you. But if you dare try to take him again, I won’t show mercy p>