The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe

Chapter 374: They all love me so can’t they just get along?

The mention of that made the air feel even heavier. I could see all eyes on me, and how Thalor seemed to narrow his eyes a little. They must’ve already realized why I told Damar that, despite already agreeing, Thalor would be first since he brought the method.

It would be a literal war if I told Damar that Thalor would get marked before him. Ah, no, that’s not literal. It’s definitely going to happen, and someone could really get hurt.

"You will be," I promised, reaching over to squeeze his hand but from the corner of my eyes, I kept an eye on Thalor’s reaction.

I should talk to him later. It might make him feel bad knowing I went back on my word just to please Damar.

"As soon as we’re settled in the palace and the ’rattle-lines’ are secure, we can have that marking done. I’m not doing something that permanent while we’re still in a tent."

And definitely not when the drawback was them going into heat. Welp, I have to be prepared somehow. Very prepared.

I looked at the four of them. The Wolf, the Tiger, the Serpent, and the Merman. My head was spinning just thinking about the logistics of this union.

One husband who wants to eat the other, one who thinks everything is a joke when he’s not acting like a king, one who is too tired to care though strong enough to break the fight, and the new guy who is currently winning a silent war of nerves.

Great! The universe definitely answered my prayer to be noticed and showered with love, and let’s not even forget the part of handsome faces and hot bodies.

And it definitely didn’t relent from throwing at me the setback that came with having four of them with different personalities.

They all love me so can’t they just get along? Sigh.

"One crisis at a time," I whispered to myself, rubbing my temples.

We were just finishing up when the tent flap was thrown open. I expected Talia or Solin, but instead, it was a wolf scout, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Queen Arinya! King Noah!" he shouted. "The Eastern ridge! Smoke is rising from the old path. There are hostile beastmen coming."

I groaned. Damar hasn’t even been home for a day and war is already breaking out? What the heck!?

"What shall we do?" The shit asked and I sighed.

"What else?" I slammed my fist on the table. "We’re going to show those snake bastards what they’re up against."

How dare they ruin the morning? How dare they invade our territory? And most importantly, how dare they have their eyes on our weak and resourceful folks?!

"Alright gang, the talk is over." I got up, getting my serious face on. No more sweet nice wife for this one. Not when my people are likely in danger. "The red-scales are likely coming, following the scent of the rabbits. So, we have work to do."

Noah was on his feet before the scout could even step out, the playful ’drama-watcher’ grin replaced by the cold, calculating eyes of a King.

Beside him, Fenric stood with a heavy, ominous grace,Damar didn’t move as quickly, but the air around him grew frigid. He carefully handed the half-empty cup of goat milk to me, his emerald eyes locking onto mine.

He didn’t need to say it; he was already planning how to turn those red scales into a new set of floor mats.

Ah, we could really need those pretty floor mats.

"Thalor," I called out, snapping the merman out of his defiant stare. He looked at me, his violet eyes wide but alert. "The palace water system—can you redirect the pressure to the external perimeter?"

We have been preparing a few things for the red scale invasion in case they ever come back in hordes. And part of those preparations was traps.

I’ve read a lot of novels to know how things go, but not enough to know the structure. So once again, I had Oryn and the beavers help in constructing it.

"We need those mud-traps ready if they try to scale the foundation."

Thalor nodded once, his earlier arrogance replaced by something more professional.

"It’s done. If they step within ten feet of the North-East trench, they’ll be fighting the earth as much as your warriors."

"Good. Noah, Fenric, take the scouts and secure the ridge. Don’t engage in a full brawl yet—find out their numbers. If it’s a scouting party, crush them. If it’s a migration, we hold the line at the Great Wall foundation. Let’s hear what their terms are."

Noah walked towards me to give me a quick, hard kiss on the temple. "You heard the Boss Tiger. Let’s move!"

I turned to Damar, who was still seated, his tail coiled like a spring. "Damar, you know that path better than anyone. You just came through it. You’re with them. Lead them to the choke points you found."

Damar lifted his body, his silver hair catching the dim light. He looked at Thalor, a silent warning passing between them—Stay away from her while I’m gone—then he looked at me tenderly and worriedly.

"Be safe, Ari. Stay within the kingdom."

"I have my own fight to manage here as the strategist. And don’t worry, I can protect myself." I said, letting out my claws for them to marvel. "I’ll protect the kids while you go protect our home."

As the three of them swept out of the tent like a literal storm, after each giving me a nice peck on the face, a space of their choice ,the space suddenly felt large.

It was just me, the babies, and Thalor.

"Arinya," Thalor said softly, stepping closer. "The scent of fear is strong in the village. The sheep and rabbits... they are not warriors."

"I know," I said, rubbing my temples. "That’s why we’re going to give them something to hide behind."

I looked at my children. Raiden was trying to chew on a wooden spoon, Phina was staring at the tent flap with wide, curious eyes, and Lyra... Lyra was looking at me with that unnerving, silver-haired intensity.

She knew. She could feel the shift in the wind. Ah, my baby could be so intense sometimes it was giving me the chills. How was it that a child who wasn’t even one year old could catch the scent of an impending war? Is this one of the perks of being part snake?

"Thalor, help me get the children to the palace."

Right about now, the safest space to be in during this impending war would be the palace. If we could keep all the young ones there while the rest were on high alert, then it should be fine.

"It’s the most reinforced structure we have. Once they’re secure, you and I are going to show these red-scales why you don’t mess with a queen and a Prince of the Sea."

I grabbed my cloak—yes, I have a Cloak—my heart hammering against my ribs.

The domestic war was on pause. The real war had just arrived at our doorstep.