Eros merely glanced at the monkey before lowering himself to lift Mirabella and gently placing her on the bed. But before he could settle on the other side of her, Pipo jumped from the window rail and leaped onto the bed, positioning himself firmly in the middle. His claws spread wide on either side, maintaining a deliberate distance between Mirabella and Eros.
Eros narrowed his eyes and glared at the monkey. "Get away, or I'll throw you into the fireplace and char you along with your hair," he threatened.
But Pipo, long prepared to face any danger from the hawk, refused to obey. Turning to face the king while keeping his back protectively toward Mirabella, he watched him stubbornly.
For a moment, the monkey and the hawk exchanged fiery glares, each refusing to back down. A tense silence passed between them and now the once-brave, one-haired monkey was swaying back and forth, hanging upside down with his tail tied around the window curtain.
