The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe

Chapter 360: The babies are... mobile

​Thalor had taken his role as ’Nanny-in-Chief’ with a level of dedication that was almost frightening.

Every time I swung by the nursery—which was now reinforced with thick ironwood doors and had become his base of operation—I’d find him sitting on the floor so calmly that I deeply envied him.

​"How are they?" I panted, leaning against the doorframe during a quick lunch break.

​"They are... mobile," Thalor said, his violet eyes tracking a flurry of activity on the furs.

Mobile? What does that mean?

Are they crawling a lot?

I didn’t know what he meant until I turned my head to look, and ​I looked down and nearly choked on the water I was sipping.

Raiden and Phina had discovered that if they held onto each other’s tunics, they could wobble upright for approximately three seconds.

It was such a great moment, but Thalor probably didn’t see it as such since he was a water folk. He didn’t know learning to walk was a great achievement.

But then again, this isn’t the normal process. This... It was a disaster waiting to happen.

​"Raiden, no—" I started, but it was too late.

​Phina let out a joyous, squeaky roar and lunged forward. Raiden, caught off guard, lost his balance.

They went down in a tangle of tanned and pale limbs, rolling directly over a very composed Lyra, who had been sitting peacefully trying to study a smooth river stone Thalor had given her.

​"Ugh!" Lyra let out a sharp, indignant grunt as her siblings flattened her into the furs.

​She crawled out from under the pile, her silver hair a mess, and fixed them both with a look of such absolute, emerald-eyed disdain that even the brawling toddlers froze.

She sat up, straightened her little wool tunic with a regal huff, and crawled to the far corner of the room, staring at the wall as if she were officially resigning from the family.

That... is quite the personality, young lady. Even I feel intimidated.

​"She is very displeased," Thalor murmured, reaching out to untangle Phina’s hand from Raiden’s hair. "I believe she thinks they are beneath her dignity."

​"She’s got serpent blood, Thalor. Pride and Dignity? That’s their middle names," I laughed, though my heart squeezed with affection.

They were already learning how to lean on each other in order to stand. How adorable is that?

I walked up to Lyra and picked up the grumpy child, cuddling her. She seemed to have missed me and wrapped her arms around my face, snuggling her face to it. Cute.

"Did you miss me?"

"Babaa!" She spoke, and I froze.

What in the? When did she learn how to speak baby language?

I looked at Thalor, and he shook his head. Even he didn’t know she could do this.

"Wow, Lyra, you manage to impress me every time." I chomped on her cheek, giving her a big kiss, and she giggled, a rare sight from the ever-so poised Lyra. "I love you, baby, but I’ll have to get to work soon."

I sat down and gathered my other babies, hugging them to myself and giving them each a big kiss.

I missed them so much, but I was just so busy.

It made me wonder if it would’ve been better if I hadn’t hardened my hand with work. But then, there was still going to be danger around.

If I don’t do this, it will be difficult.

"Just wait for me, my babies," a drop of tears tracked down my cheek. "I’ll be done soon."

If I can just finish the layout and the foundation of the walls, then I can leave the rest to the workers. For now, during the delicate phase of the wall, I have to be there.

A hand swiped the tear from my cheek, and I fluttered my lashes open to find Thalor. It looked like he was comforting me, and it was a nice moment, until he licked the tear.

"Thalor,"

"It’s salty," he said. "Just like the sea, but... it is sweet," he added and then leaned in, moving closer to claim my lips.

I didn’t push back or stop him, and let him kiss me. His lips were... cool and slightly salty, maybe from my tears.

But we couldn’t kiss for long when Raiden began to sniff out my breast.

"Ah, you want this?" I asked and took them out. I fed them that morning, but it was already noon, so I guess they can crave it even when they liked the goat milk so much.

I remember when they did me dirty, these kids.

"Alright, drink up," I said.

Thalor looked at me, feeding Lyra and Raiden first, and then looked at my lips. He still wanted to kiss me. He wanted to hold me and ’taste me’.

"Arinya," he called, his voice soft and gentle, as if asking for it was just too much.

"Just a kiss, right?" I asked, and he nodded. "We kissed just now, was it not enough?" He shook his head. "Well," I glanced down at the babies and then back at him. "Alright,"

He leaned forward, one hand holding back his hair and the other reaching for my chin, but just before he could claim my lips again, I caught some pups staring from the window, and I instinctively placed my hand over Thalor’s mouth.

He blinked, confused.

"Sorry, Thalor. But we’re too open right now. The pups are staring."

He turned his gaze and saw the pups wide-eyed by the window.

"Maybe next time," I said, smiling awkwardly.

I would hate to set a bad example for the children who were already slightly sensible.

Thalor returned his gaze to me, looking a little upset, and then he kissed my palm.

"Alright, Arinya," he said. "I understand," then he reluctantly pulled back.

After the feeding, I held a sleeping Phina in my arms.

The other two had sucked to their fill and had fallen asleep, and Phina, usually always the last to get her fill since the other two were always so notorious when it came to monopolising my breast.

But it only meant she got to suck a lot more.

"I’ll get going now. The palace roof is almost done." I said, handing Phina to Thalor, and he nodded, walking me to the door.

Just before I left, he pulled me in with his free hand, looked left and right to make sure the cubs weren’t watching, and then kissed me.

The kiss was wet this time. Very wet, and I could feel something twitching in my skirt.

I was getting horny, dammit.

"This..." I panted, my arm over my mouth. "...Is enough for now, okay?"

Anymore than that, then I’d be slacking.

​"Yes," he smiled, his thumb tracing my wet bottom lip. "You can leave now." I nodded and turned to sprint away.