Lucas gradually woke up, feeling a gentle nudge that could only be Kyra's doing.
"Noo... I want to sleep a little more," he mumbled sleepily. He turned over, burying his face in the soft pillow. But as his mind switched on, memories flooded back to him—Jin and Ezra hiding fruit, him eating it and then feeling dizzy, and finally sitting on a stone.
In a sudden panic, Lucas sat up, his heart pounding in his chest. As he looked around, he realized that he wasn't in his cozy cottage anymore. "Where on earth am I?" Lucas thought, rubbing his temples. A slight headache was beginning to throb.
"You don't remember anything, wolf... My boss brought you here," a voice said. Lucas raised his head in shock, trying to process the words he had just heard.
It was a beastman with green hair—a snake beastmen.
"So, I've been kidnapped by your boss? But why?" Lucas asked, his eyes wide open. He couldn't understand why he would be kidnapped. He wasn't a female, after all. Could his boss have made a mistake?
"You see, my boss brought you here because he planned to have you for dinner," Jimmy said in a quiet voice.
Lucas burst out laughing, thinking it was a joke. "Hahaha, stop kidding around! If your boss wants to eat me, he should just do it instead of having you talk to me," Lucas said as he climbed down from the bed. He needed to find Kyra quickly. She must be missing him and worrying about him. He couldn't stay here for another second.
"Bloody wolf, you don't even remember what you did to me," a sharp voice suddenly spoke from the door.
Lucas looked the new beastman at the door up and down. The beastman outranked him, and more importantly, he was a titanboa—a top predator among snakes. Lucas couldn't fathom why he would be kidnapped. Sure, he was handsomer than him, but that wasn't a reason to kill him.
"Who are you? And what did I do to you?" Lucas asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"You really don't remember?" Vincent spoke in a low tone. The temperature around them dropped, and his expression turned dark as he clenched his jaw. He was already in a bad mood because of that female, and now this wolf was making it even worse.
"Why do I suddenly feel so cold?" Lucas muttered, rubbing his arms.
"Yeah, I felt it too," Jimmy replied, but a dark shadow loomed over them.
Suddenly, a huge, thick tail swung toward Lucas and Jimmy, startling them. They managed to dodge the attack just in time.
"And why don't you eat him?" Jimmy heard his boss's voice, and he retreated to a corner, hoping that Lucas could withstand the wrath of his boss as he looked super angry and annoyed.
And he was just a normal beast, okay! He didn't support cannibalism; his boss was really...
Lucas rolled on the ground, trying to evade the tail that kept assaulting him. "Hey, why are you hitting me? I didn't do anything to you," Lucas exclaimed.
"Heh! Hiss," Vincent hissed, his dark red eyes growing even darker. He emanated a dangerous and deadly aura.
This wolf had some nerve! He had dared to pee on the king's body and then forget about it. Surely, he would kill this wolf here and now.
"Damn it," Lucas cursed, continuing to dodge Vincent's attacks by jumping around.
But in his final movement, his forehead accidentally hit the wall, causing blood to fall into his eyes. He groaned in pain as the tail coiled around him.
"You're finished now, wolf. Any last wishes?" Vincent said coldly, and Jimmy shivered.
"Yeah, just take care of my carrot farm... and make sure my female doesn't find a more handsome male than me... and..." Lucas spoke, scratching his head as he tried to remember. He didn't seem scared of being killed.
Vincent found it amusing that this wolf claimed to have a carrot farm. What a joke! And he even had a female. Which female would be foolish enough to choose such a male?
They would indeed make an interesting pair.
"No," Vincent replied, applying pressure to Lucas's body.
"Then, at least, can we become friends?" Lucas spoke, smiling widely.
"What are you talking about, bloody wolf? Friends with you? What a joke," Vincent rolled his eyes.
"Ahh..." Lucas sighed. "I thought we could be great friends. I know no one can handle me."
"Cut the nonsense," Vincent said as he was about to deliver the final blow.
"Boss, you promised the priest... You can't kill beastmen," Jimmy spoke, trembling. That priest was highly spiritual.
Hearing him, Vincent hesitated. They had recently gained citizenship, which meant they could form a tribe. If he killed Lucas and broke his promises, they would all have to return to being feral.
Vincent closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and released his grip on Lucas, who collapsed to the floor. Even in that vulnerable moment, Lucas managed to flash a silly smile. "Huhu... I really wanted to become friends with a mighty titanboa like you."
Vincent ignored him and turned to Jimmy. "Let him stay here. We can't let this wolf leave," he said, and Jimmy nodded happily.
"Hey, Snake, I want to go home. I have a female to feed. I know you're excited to be my friend and don't want me to leave you..." Lucas spoke as he chased after Vincent.
Jimmy didn't bother chasing after them. He was hungry, and it was already night. Besides, with guarded doors and every corner heavily secured, where could this wolf possibly go?
Lucas continued to chase Vincent as they ran through the castle. 'Darn it! This snake slithers so fast' Lucas thought to himself.
As he passed by different floors, Lucas noticed that the other snakes were looking at him. He beamed a wide smile at them before resuming his pursuit of Vincent.
However, as he ran, Lucas suddenly stopped in his tracks. This castle was the same castle he and Kyra had sought refuge in during the rain. Those rascally rabbits had deceived him. If they had stayed longer, he wouldn't have been worried for himself, but for Kyra. Who knows what might have happened to her? Thinking of her, he couldn't help but feel anger toward the rabbits, but he missed Kyra so much.
"Oh my goodness, I must be insane," Lucas muttered to himself. He missed her so much. He wanted to cuddle up with her, have his fur caressed by her delicate touch. He was still unhappy that she had stroked the fur of a cat but not his.
Just as he was about to approach the door, he sensed a presence beside him. He instinctively tried to avoid it, but he was suddenly pulled into a room, and the door slammed shut behind him. His breath caught in his throat, and then he caught a whiff of her familiar scent.
"Lucas"