Her face became slightly red as she looked me over and then shook her head. "Yes, I think that you should go ahead and stay a few days while you contact your people and they can come to fetch you. It's been such a long time since I've had a chance to talk with another female that isn't a useless prey beastkin. All they do is stammer and cower before me although it's amusing to witness they aren't worth befriending. I think you'll do nicely to get rid of some of my boredom."
I'll have one of my males come to collect you for a late dinner once the sun sets, and we can chat about your living arrangements then. With a snap of her fingers, her man swooped in to assist her, and off they went together. Once she was out of earshot, I couldn't help but exhale deeply, pondering the mess I had stumbled into this time. At least I got her to calm down, that could have gone really badly. It's never a smart idea to underestimate jealous and territorial women.
The sheepish fellow regarded me with a thoughtful gaze before scooping me up and ushering me into the quaint healer's hut, his younger brother trailing behind us.
"What was that about you becoming her mate to save your brother?" I whispered, curiosity piqued. "Aren't males only allowed one female?"
He grunted in response, but the silence that followed spoke volumes. Once inside, he gently placed me on a long lounge chair. The interior was tidy yet worn, a clear indication that resources were scarce here, despite the presence of magic in this realm.
"Thanks for helping calm down Pamela. I should introduce myself—I'm Oliver, and this is my older brother, Sam." The imposing sheep guy shot us both a disapproving look before exhaling sharply. "I have better things to do than stand around all day," Sam declared, rising and striding out without a second glance.
"Don't take it personally; he may come off as gruff, but he's really a softie at heart. He even agreed to be Pamela's mate just to keep me from being banished from the village. He might not say much, but his actions speak volumes about his character."
"I see. You seem to have a strong bond with your brother. Do you have any other siblings?"
"Just him and our sister who moved away, plus a few from a previous litter that I never got to know. A couple of the eggs in my litter didn't make it."
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "It's a common occurrence, so it's not surprising. I don't remember them, so it doesn't bother me."
"Is that really normal?"
"It happens all the time. If it didn't, the world would be overrun with beastkin. Where have you been living that you're not accustomed to loss?"
"Quite a ways away from here."
"I would absolutely love to visit a place like that! And it's refreshing to see you have no qualms about the more delicate beastkin types—such an uncommon trait!"
"You know, there's a unique kind of strength in creativity and intellect, and I truly admire that. Becoming a healer isn't a walk in the park, yet here you are, thriving in it."
I couldn't help but notice his cheeks turning a delightful shade of pink, and his tail was wagging with joy. He strolled over to a shelf lined with jars, picking up a couple made from rustic, dried clay. With a purposeful stride, he returned and placed them on a nearby table. Then, he opened one jar, revealing a fragrant concoction that smelled of various herbs.
"This one provides warmth, while the other helps reduce swelling and alleviates pain. Would you let me ensure your bone is properly set, apply the medicine, and wrap up your injury?"
He didn't give me a moment to gather my thoughts before he flung himself to the ground, his nose practically kissing the floor. "I may not wield healing magic, but I'm skilled in herbal remedies. I can cultivate all the herbs and medicines you could ever need, along with crops. If you'd be so kind, please take me and my brother away from this place! I can cook and keep a tidy home too. I promise I'd be a fantastic partner, and I'll do everything in my power to uphold your honor."
I would have leaped to my feet, but my ankle was definitely not cooperating. "Please, get up! No need to throw yourself down like that. I had no idea there were other kinds of healers besides the magical ones. I get your worries about your brother, but how can I help him right now? I can't just go around snatching up males who already have mates. I truly appreciate what he did for me earlier, and I want to assist him, but I'm at a loss for how."
He hesitated for a moment, biting his lip as he weighed his options, unsure if he should continue. Finally, he sighed deeply and spoke up. "Your village must be quite secluded. A male can change mates if the female chooses to release him. If he's willing, it's not a painful process, but most males aren't eager to be discarded. The more reluctant they are, the more it hurts. However, Sam never wanted to be her mate; he only agreed for my sake, and she was only interested in him for his strength compared to the other males in the village."
"She holds a disdainful view of herbivores, seeing them merely as prey, regardless of their strength. In her eyes, he will always be a servant beastkin, never worthy of her affection or the privilege of having eggs. So, when you chat with Pamela later, please persuade her to release him so we can escape this place together. Frankly, I don't care what happens to me afterward. You could even make me your servant male, denying me the honor of being your true mate, but just please, get us out of here. I can't bear to watch my brother continue to suffer for my sake; the guilt of seeing him sacrifice himself for even one more day is unbearable. It's tearing me apart."
I frowned as I observed him still kneeling before me, though at least he had managed to sit up. "Do you really think your brother, who clearly cares for you, would want to see you like this? Would he want you to sacrifice yourself after all he's done to protect you? You need to prioritize your well-being; otherwise, all his efforts over the years will be in vain, won't they? Please, get up from the floor, or I'll have to ignore my own injury to help you stand."
He looked up at me with tear-filled eyes, slowly rising to his feet and cautiously approaching, as if fearing my wrath. His posture was so submissive, almost trembling. I couldn't help but notice the marks on his skin, confirming my worst fears—evidence of past abuse, faint bruises, and scars from repeated beatings. It seems that in this world, weaker males often face such cruelty.
I exhaled another sigh. "Do you really think you could be my male? You hardly know anything about me."
He gazed at me with eyes that shimmered with both hope and uncertainty. "Please, we have to escape this village, and I'm ready to do whatever it takes. You even asked me to stand up, and you let me meet your gaze. You're far more worthy than the females I usually encounter."
"Is that right? It sounds like your standards for a good female might be a bit low, which is a tad alarming. I'm not just going to pick anyone as my mate. However, I can help you leave this town. We can either part ways or you can choose to follow me, but I won't be giving you—or anyone else—eggs until I feel truly ready. Do you know the way to Duarte Village? That's where I'm currently staying, and I need to get there quickly to rescue a friend."
He looked down, biting his lip. "I don't know the way; I've never ventured beyond the village's outskirts. But once I help you get sorted, I can take you to the adventurers and gourmand guilds. There are bound to be some beastkin there who know how to reach Duarte Village."
"If you can find someone to help me get back to Duarte Village, I'll let you accompany me. I'll also see if I can persuade Pamela to release Sam to me. After we reach Duarte Village, you can decide what you want for yourself—settle down or move on. You could even stick around with me if you like, but I can't promise you'll become my mate. I won't choose someone I don't truly want, and right now, I don't know you well enough to make any commitments."
"I'll get you patched up, but let's hold off on visiting the guilds for a couple of days until your injury isn't so glaringly obvious. Trust me, if you stroll in there looking like you just survived a dragon attack, they won't take you seriously. Plus, it's best to keep that ankle still until the swelling goes down. As much as I'd love to wrap this up quickly, your well-being comes first."
I couldn't help but think about how frightened Elara must be right now, and then I glanced at my swollen ankle. He had a point; if I showed up with it looking like a balloon, I'd probably just be the punchline of their jokes instead of getting the help I needed. Thankfully, the Snatching Ritual isn't until the end of the week, so I have a bit of time to sort this out. "Do what you can for my ankle, and let's plan for a follow-up tomorrow."
"I doubt one day will make a huge difference, but I'll check in on you again anyway."
"Thanks a bunch." There was one more thing I could try to speed up the healing process, though it was a bit of a gamble. Elara mentioned that during my first shift, my aura could surge and help heal injuries. The catch? That surge could also expose me, and the last thing I want is to be discovered as a mermaid. I really should have chosen a different path; I just didn't foresee the trouble this one would bring.
Coming Next Time: The Escort