Melinoe's POV
The night was colder than she expected.
Melinoe sat by the small window of the inn, her arms wrapped around her legs as she stared at the night sky. The stars reminded her of home—the Empire of Nyxaris—where Nyxpanther's golden-blue eyes reflected the moonlight and where Havvaris' icy-blue gaze held unshakable resolve.
Her fingers brushed against her abdomen, a soft, almost absentminded caress. The cubs… her cubs. Were they safe? Would they be okay without their fathers near? It had only been more than a week since she learned of her pregnancy, and the idea of being alone, away from Nyxpanther and Havvaris, made her heart squeeze with pain.
They must be searching for her. She knew it.
She needed to go back.
A lump formed in her throat as she swallowed the wave of emotions rising inside her. She could still remember how careful Havvaris was around her, how Nyxpanther looked at her like she was his entire world. But now, she was stranded in an unfamiliar land, relying on a man she barely knew. Xyphor Hissandale—there was something about him, something he wasn't telling her. She had always been good at sensing when people were lying. And he was lying about something. But for now, he was her only ally in this foreign land.
She sighed. She had to endure, at least until she found a way back to Nyxaris.
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Xyphor's POV (Flashback to Serpenthis)
Xyphor stood in the grand hall of the Hissandale Estate, the air thick with the scent of burning incense and power plays.
Seated before him was his mother, Lady Meiyue Hissandale, draped in layers of embroidered silk, her dark eyes piercing through him. Behind her, his eight fathers sat in their respective positions, each exuding an aura of dominance, their gazes filled with silent disapproval. His six older brothers stood to the side, all dressed in their finest robes, observing the scene with concealed amusement and disdain.
"Xyphor," his mother's voice was smooth yet firm, "Sierra has been waiting long enough. She has already bonded with your brothers. It is time for you to accept your fate."
Xyphor clenched his fists, his long sleeves concealing the tension in his hands. "I have already given my answer, Mother. I will not take Sierra as my mate."
His eldest brother, Zhuhen, scoffed. "Still as unfilial as ever. Do you realize how much you disgrace our family?"
"Disgrace?" Xyphor let out a sharp laugh, the bitterness barely hidden in his voice. "You mean I disgrace you because I refuse to share a mate with the rest of you? Or is it because I refuse to be controlled like a pawn in your games?"
"Mind your tongue!" One of his fathers, Lord Yufan, slammed his palm against the table. "You should be grateful you were even given the opportunity! A beastwoman as powerful as Sierra—"
"Powerful?" Xyphor interrupted, his cold golden eyes narrowing. "Sierra does not care about our family. She cares only for the power that comes with it. She mates with my brothers to climb higher, not out of love. And you expect me to join her like some mindless beast?"
His mother exhaled, exasperation evident in her demeanor. "You always were a difficult child."
Difficult.
That was what they always called him.
The moment he was born, he was a disappointment. The Hissandale family had expected a beastwoman—another daughter to strengthen their political hold over Serpenthis. But instead, they got him. A son. One they had no use for.
Growing up, he had always received the least amount of love, the least amount of attention. He had to fight tooth and claw to carve a place for himself in a family that never truly wanted him. And now, they expected him to bow and accept a fate they dictated.
Never.
"You are the youngest, Xyphor," his third father, Lord Jianyu, spoke with a sigh. "It is your duty to follow the path laid out for you."
Xyphor straightened his back, his expression unreadable. "I will forge my own path."
Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the hall, ignoring the calls of his siblings behind him. That was the last time he set foot in the main house.
Present
Xyphor's eyes flickered open as he sat in his room at the inn, the memories leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
His family had never truly wanted him, yet they sought to use him when it was convenient. And now, he found himself protecting a woman who was nothing like the beastwomen of the Eastern Continent. Melinoe… she wasn't after power, nor was she trying to manipulate him.
She was different.
And that terrified him.
He let out a heavy sigh, standing up and looking out the window. The night was quiet, but his mind was anything but. One thing was certain—he had to keep his secrets buried. If Melinoe found out who he really was, she might turn her back on him just like everyone else.
And for some reason, the thought of losing her before he even had her unsettled him more than it should.