Chapter 130: The Art of War

Kael narrowed his golden eyes, the pupils focusing sharply on the relaxed, smiling fox.

“What do you want?” Kael rumbled, his voice low and dangerous.

Vex smirked, his tails giving a lazy flick behind him.

“I want the same thing you do.”

That was all he said for a moment. Vex turned his back on the looming Tiger King and walked casually toward the bed of white furs where Ren was still soundly asleep.

His orange eyes swept over her form. The furs had slipped slightly, revealing the curve of her shoulder and the graceful arch of her neck, now marked with a fresh, bruising bite. There was sensuality in Vex’s gaze, a heat that lingered on her skin before he snapped his attention away.

He shifted his gaze to the floor, spotting the tattered leather loincloth he had so carefully removed from Kael the night before.

Vex picked it up with two fingers, as if it were a dead rat, and tossed it at Kael.

It landed with a soft thwack against Kael’s bare chest.

“Put that on,” Vex said, wrinkling his nose in distaste. “I have grown tired of staring at that monstrosity between your legs.”

Though currently flaccid, the Tiger King’s equipment was still… impressive. It was heavy, thick, and undeniably intimidating. It made Vex feel slightly insecure about his own anatomy, though he would sooner die than admit it out loud.

Kael caught the leather, a growl rumbling in his throat. He wrapped it around his waist, knotting it tightly, though the rage bubbling in his chest had nothing to do with his nudity.

“You didn’t answer my question, Fox,” Kael snapped. “What do you want?”

“Nothing impossible,” Vex replied with a casual shrug. “I want the Snake King dead.”

The air in the cave dropped ten degrees.

Kael froze. The mere mention of the Snake King made his blood boil.

“He wants us both dead,” Vex continued, his voice smooth and persuasive. “He wants the female for himself. We share a common enemy, Kael. It only makes sense that we work together. A temporary truce for a common goal.”

Vex leaned against a crystal-studded root, checking his nails.

“You kill the Snake King,” Vex proposed, “and I will consider your debt to me paid. Clean slate.”

Kael raised a skeptical brow, folding his massive arms across his chest.

“Why?” Kael jeered, looking the fox up and down with disdain. “Why do you need me to do it? Why can’t you kill him yourself? Are you that weak?”

Vex didn’t seem the least bit offended by the remark. In fact, his smile only widened.

’He needs a little push,’ Vex thought. ’A little spice.’

“Strength isn’t the issue,” Vex lied smoothly. “It’s about… distribution of labor. Besides, you have more reason to kill him than I do.”

Vex took a step closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“After all… you are sharing your mate with him.”

Kael stiffened as if he’d been slapped.

“I am not sharing,” he growled.

“Oh, but you are,” Vex corrected him, his eyes gleaming with malice. “While you were busy losing your mind to the madness, your precious little female was in the Snake King’s bed. He has claimed her, Kael. Countless times. He has given her pleasure, tasted her skin, and filled her while you were drooling in a cave.”

Rage, hot and blinding, boiled in Kael’s veins. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles popped.

“I would never share my mate!” Kael roared, his voice shaking the small cave. “Ren is mine! Only mine!”

Vex shrugged, pointing a clawed finger at the sleeping woman.

“Tell that to her when she wakes up,” Vex said callously. “She was the one who decided she wasn’t going to choose. She told the Snake King she would claim both of you. She intends to keep you both.”

“No!” Kael denied it instantly. “That is impossible!”

He paced the small space, his breathing ragged.

“He poisoned her mind,” Kael insisted, desperation lacing his anger. “Just like he took her against her will in the beginning, he has claimed her against her will now! Ren loves me. Only me!”

Vex watched the internal struggle with deep satisfaction. The Tiger was gullible, possessive, and blinded by love. It was too easy.

Vex decided to drive the dagger deeper.

“Perhaps,” Vex mused, tapping his chin as if trying to recall something important. “That would explain what I saw yesterday.”

Kael stopped pacing. “What did you see?”

“The Snake King,” Vex started. “He is in the forest. I saw him and his little guard by the river.”

Vex lowered his voice, leaning in.

“I think… I overheard them talking. They were laughing about leading Ren in the wrong direction. Syris… he wanted you to turn into a Shadow Beast. He wanted you to die, or worse, become a monster so he could kill you himself before she could find me to cure you.”

A twinkle of mischief sparkled in Vex’s eyes as he delivered the final blow.

“He wanted to erase you, Kael. So he could have her all to himself forever.”

That was the finishing move.

The last thread of Kael’s restraint snapped.

His golden eyes blazed with a fury that could burn the world down. He threw his head back and let out a roar—it was the call of a King declaring war.

“I DECLARE THE RITE OF THE SEVERED FANG!”

The ancient words echoed through the roots of the tree, sealing his intent.

Kael looked down at the smirking fox.

“I accept,” Kael snarled. “I will bring you the Snake King’s head.”

With that, Kael spun on his heel and marched out of the cave. He didn’t look back at Ren. He couldn’t. If he looked at her, he might stay. And right now, vengeance and fury were rushing through his blood.

Vex watched him leave, the heavy footsteps fading into the forest floor.

A slow, victorious smile spread across Vex’s face.

“Yes,” he muttered, “go get him, you dumb cat.”

The cave fell silent again.

Vex turned his attention back to the bed of furs.

He stalked over to where Ren lay, defenseless and unaware of the war that had just been declared in her name. He stooped by her side, his movements fluid and graceful.

A genuine, soft smile graced his lips—a stark contrast to the cruel smirk he had worn moments ago. He reached out, brushing some stray strands of red hair from her face.

He caressed her cheek with his finger, tracing the line of her jaw before running his thumb over her lips, which were still swollen from Kael’s kisses.

“Your husbands are going to kill each other,” Vex whispered to her sleeping form, his voice light and airy.

“It will be better this way,” he murmured. “Safer. Once they are out of the picture… it will just be you and me in this strange, backward world.”

He leaned down, his lips brushing her ear as he added in a voice so quiet it was almost inaudible.

“Our kind has to stick together, after all.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep