The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe

Chapter 343: Three different thoughts

Thalor knelt in front of the fire and started to stir the coals with a long stick to coax the fire back to life.

"It is a beacon," he said, his violet eyes meeting Noah’s with a quiet, steady intensity. "To show that the sea has finally found its home on land."

"Or it ensures she trips over him every time she turns around," Noah shot back, though he was busy tracing the line of the mark curiously with his thumb.

I swatted at his hand.

"If you two start measuring territories while I’m this hungry, I’m going to eat the first one of you that shifts."

Noah suddenly grinned.

"Why, that’s actually not a bad idea. I think it would be great if you ate me, Little tiger?" He purred, his eyes insinuating all the perverted things in the world as he rubbed his cheek over my thigh, and I clicked my tongue.

But I didn’t refute it, my face heating up gradually, "Maybe... maybe next time," I murmured, and his eyes widened.

"Really?"

He wanted to come closer, but I stepped on his chest and kicked him back.

"Get away from me, pervert. I said next time," I yelled, and he laughed. "Where’s Fenric?"

As if on cue, a heavy thud echoed from the edge of the clearing. Fenric emerged from the shadows, a massive deer draped over his shoulders. Then, he dropped the deer near the pit.

Ah, were there still live deer around here? I was sure they’d have almost all been hunted during the occasional large-scale hunts for the beasts working at the construction site. He must’ve gone far to get this.

"Breakfast—or midnight snack—is served," he panted, his red eyes immediately locking onto the way Noah was still holding my ankle. He didn’t say anything, but stepped closer, his gaze softening as it landed on me. "I’ll prepare the meat right away so you can eat, Arinya,"

"Ah, thank you, Fenric. You can prepare it with Thalor," I said, but he suddenly pouted, side-eyeing Thalor.

"I think I can do a better job making the meal alone," I twisted my lips. This... wasn’t going to be easy.

I have to create a situation where he needs Thalor’s help.

"Then, you’ll at least have to use Thalor’s water to wash the meat. It’ll take too long to get to the well and back. I’m really hungry, Fenric." I looked at him with big googly eyes, and he had no choice but to accept Thalor’s help.

"Fine, I’ll work with the fish to prepare the meal." My face beamed right away.

"That’s great. And try not to argue so you don’t delay the meal, okay?"

"Yes, Arimya. I’ll do that."

Fenric was not very thrilled with the idea, but he went with it anyway. In the end, he’d have to put aside his jealousy and accept Thalor. It might not be now, but eventually.

I watched them, and they didn’t fight. Instead, Fenric seemed to actually learn a thing or two from Thalor. He was disgruntled, but he did not brush off the opportunity to learn something he didn’t know about.

After the meal was ready, I ate the meat with a satisfaction that made my belly swell. Ah, I almost seem pregnant with such a big belly, but who cares, haha.

"Ah, by the way," I said, opening my eyes only to find all eyes on me. They had been staring at me as I patted and rubbed my satisfied belly. My face flushed right away. "What’s with the staring, you creeps?"

They didn’t say anything and turned their heads, each muttering something to themselves.

Arinya is so adorable.

I think I can suck on that belly.

She must be so happy to be heavily fed. Point taken.

"Ahem," I cleared my throat. "I was about to say something,"

"What is it?" Noah asked.

"I think I’ve found a way to mark my mates," I said, and Fenric and Noah flinched. "Thalor said there’s a way for their females, their mermaids, to leave a mark on their mates. So we’re going to try it out tomorrow while I’m on my break." I explained, and they both turned to Thalor with skeptical gazes.

"Yes, there is a way," Thalor said, as if answering their questioning gaze. "But Arinya, do you plan to mark all three of us tomorrow?"

"Of course, the sooner the better, right? I asked, but he didn’t seem to share that excitement with me. Why? Was it because he wished to be the first and only for the meantime? Or was there something else? "Is something wrong? Does it not work on land dwellers?"

He shook his head rigorously.

"Ah, it should work on land dwellers, too. It is not strictly for the fins." He said, but still had that scepticism. "Well, if you can handle it, then I don’t see a problem marking all three of us at once."

I tilted my head, trying to make sense of it, and then I slammed my fist against my palm.

"Ah, that’s right. I didn’t get to ask," I said as the most important thing crossed my mind. "What are the side effects?"

It seemed like that was what he had been worried about.

He pursed his lips, looking away for a second, and then answered,

"Yes, there is one side effect." He said, and from his tone alone, and the way his tanned face was slowly heating up, I guessed what that side effect was right away.

"Are you going to go into a rut if I mark you tomorrow?" I asked. "With the pearl?"

He flinched, turning to look at me in shock.

"How did you know?"

Ah, chucks! I palmed my face.

Right! Nothing ever comes easy in this world. There’s always a price.

"It’s not hard to guess," I said, feeling my heart drum softly. "Ah, you’ll all go in a rut? That’s dangerous. I can’t mark you all tomorrow, then."

"That certainly sounds like a lot for you to handle," Fenric said. "You shouldn’t overdo it, Arinya."

Thalor nodded to Fenric’s words. Yeah, I shouldn’t think of marking all three of them at once if it’s going to leave me needing to construct a wheelchair.

The three of them going into a rut and me having my heat were two different things. They’d be too aggressive and out of their mind.

"But I think she can handle it," Noah suddenly said, and we all shot him a ’What are you saying?’ stare. I, for one, shot him a ’Are you insane, you pervert?’ gaze.

"What do you mean, I can handle it?"