Chapter 89
Yinny and Didi lifted their little heads and saw Finch and Kith approaching with furious strides.
They immediately scrambled back into Nina’s arms, glaring at Finch with puffed cheeks and furious eyes.
Hmph! We’ll call whoever we want Father. So what p>
“Why is it you two again?” Nina frowned, her voice turning sharp. “And why are you scolding my Didi p>
“Little female, you should know,” Finch said, pointing at Didi. “I am his biological father p>
Nina’s heart stirred with doubt. “You’re Didi’s birth father? What proof do you have p>
So this male really was Didi’s father? How had he tracked them down?
“You truly don’t recognize us?” Finch looked suspicious. He lifted his chin toward Didi. “There’s a bloodline bond between us. If you don’t believe me, ask him. He should be able to sense me, too p>
He had once thought she was pretending not to know them.
The user of a Bewitching Stone was supposed to remain clear-headed, wasn’t she?
Nina lowered her gaze to Didi.
Didi shook his head frantically. Mama, I don’t feel anything!
Seeing the denial, Finch ground his teeth. “You little brat. Don’t lie p>
As his words fell, he transformed into a massive nine-tailed fox—the same beast form as Didi, only far larger and more imposing.
At the sight, Nina knew the truth was likely as he claimed.
She looked at Didi again. “Tell Mama the truth p>
Didi nodded his small head reluctantly.
Finch shifted back into human form. “You see? Your father is right here. Don’t randomly call someone else ’Father p>
The faint note of reprimand in his voice made Nina’s eyes turn cold.
“So what if you’re his birth father?” she said icily. “He can call whoever he wants ’Father.’ What’s it to you? What right do you have to scold him p>
“I’m his biological father—how do I not have the right?” Finch retorted, though his confidence wavered. “We came today to take them away p>
His tone softened slightly. “He carries the precious bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan. I can’t let him wander outside p>
He glanced at Yinny, then at Kith beside him. “And the little white tiger—and the unhatched eggs—should also be blood of mine and Kith’s. We intend to take them all. Whatever you want in exchange, name it. We’ll give you anything p>
“What did you just say?” Nina tightened her hold on Yinny and Didi, her gaze growing sharper. “Take them away? On what grounds p>
“We’re their birth fathers. Of course we can take them,” Finch insisted, though the firmness in his voice was thin.
“Birth fathers?” Nina let out a cold laugh. “Have you fulfilled even a single day of a father’s responsibility? It’s not enough to just plant a seed, you know. The cubs are mine. I will never let you take them p>
“Little female, if you have conditions, just state them. There’s no need to circle around to raise the price,” Finch said, his expression hardening.
“Raise the price?” Nina’s lips curved in mockery. “Are my cubs bargaining chips in your eyes? How ridiculous. I have no conditions. They are the most precious beings in my life. Leave p>
Finch’s frustration flared. “Back then, you clearly used a Bewitching Stone—an evil object—to seduce us p>
“We don’t know what method you used to conceive our offspring, but since the cubs were born, we acknowledge them. Wasn’t all this just to gain benefits from us? Why pretend now p>
The Bewitching Stone was a black-witchcraft artifact that amplified a female’s mating scent a hundredfold. Unmated males could hardly resist it.
In the past, certain noble females had used it to force males who refused them.
The method of crafting it was even more vile—one hundred days of blood from one hundred underage virgin males, refined with black witchcraft.
It was loathed across the Beast Continent and banned as contraband.
Kith and Finch had once believed Nina used such a thing on them—that it was why they had lost control and shared that fateful night.
“Bewitching Stone? I don’t know anything about that,” Nina shot back, anger rising. “Believe it or not, I was drugged too. I never used any cursed stone, and I never wanted anything from you p>
She truly didn’t care about them.
Still, the name alone sounded foul.
Kith’s expression turned complicated.
So she hadn’t used a Bewitching Stone. They had wronged her.
No wonder she had appeared in the wastelands. They had wondered why a noble female would wander such a place.
“If you didn’t use one, how is that possible?” Finch murmured, shaken.
Yet deep down, he already believed her.
A Bewitching Stone wasn’t something one acquired easily. And after observing her these days, he had gradually realized she didn’t resemble the kind of malicious female he had imagined.
But having his long-held conviction overturned so suddenly left him unsteady.
If she had been drugged too… then she had been a victim.
What did that make them?
Finch found himself at a loss.
“Little female, I’m sorry,” Kith said quietly, his eyes filled with guilt. “We misunderstood you. We didn’t deliberately abandon you p>
He explained, “We believed you had used a Bewitching Stone. Those stones are typically accessible only to powerful nobles. We assumed you were of noble birth and had plenty of males caring for you. That’s why p>
He looked at her earnestly. “No matter what, we were wrong. We’ll make it up to you p>
“I don’t need your compensation,” Nina replied coldly. “Since everything is clear now, leave. I will not give you my cubs p>
“I won’t ask for them anymore,” Kith said quickly. “I only want to stay—to care for you and the cubs. To make amends p>
“Kith, you Finch faltered.
If Kith stayed, what about him? Would he stay too?
“I don’t need your care,” Nina said firmly. “All of you, leave p>
“Little female, we truly were at fault,” Kith insisted. “You’ve raised them well. But they are males. They need their birth fathers to teach them survival and combat skills p>
“We can teach them those, too,” Odian said calmly.
“You are a flying beastman. Your combat style differs,” Kith countered.
Then he turned back to Nina. “They also need a father’s love. Even if you have other mates in the future, it won’t be the same as a birth father’s bond, will it? Can you guarantee those males will treat Yinny and Didi as their own p>
Nina hesitated.
It was true—she couldn’t teach them everything. And some of what he said carried weight.
But should she let him stay?
“Nina,” Odian said gently, “if you don’t want it, don’t agree. We can find teachers of similar clans to instruct them in survival and combat p>
Nina considered for a moment, then looked at Kith.
“You should leave. The cubs are my responsibility. You don’t need to concern yourselves p>
A shadow of disappointment flickered across Kith’s face. He understood that expecting her to accept them immediately was unrealistic.
But he would not give up. He owed Nina. He owed the cubs. He had already failed once. He would not fail again.
“Little female,” Kith said steadily, “I won’t leave. If you won’t allow me to travel with you, then I will follow at a distance. If you ever need anything, call for me p>