Chapter 205: Custody Arrangements

Ren slowly released her death grip on her husbands. She sat back on her heels, her hands resting on her knees, looking at Syris with wide, nervous eyes.

’He made his decision,’ Ren’s brain spiraled. ’What decision? Is it a breakup? Is it a murder-suicide pact? Is he going to ask for Kael’s left kidney as a dowry?’

She was quietly panicking. The silence stretched for what felt like an eternity.

“Well?” Ren squeaked.

Syris smoothed his tattered silk robe, regaining his composure.

“I have decided,” Syris announced regally, “to agree to this… arrangement. I will share you.”

Ren exhaled so hard she almost blew his hair back. “Oh, thank god.”

“However,” Syris raised a finger, “it will be under my terms.”

Ren stiffened again. “Terms? Like… a contract?”

’Here it comes,’ she thought. ’He wants to get me pregnant first’

“What terms?” Ren asked cautiously.

“You must spend three moons per quarter with me in the Swamp.”

Ren blinked. She did the mental math.

’Moons equals nights. A quarter of the moon cycle… that’s roughly a week. So, three nights a week.’

She tilted her head. ’Three nights with the Snake. Four nights with the Tiger. Or maybe a rotating schedule?’

It was a custody arrangement. And honestly? It was doable.

’It’s like being the Head Chef at two different Michelin-star restaurants,’

Ren reasoned. ’Restaurant A serves spicy food and has a sauna. Restaurant B serves grilled meat and has a gym. I can work with this.’

In fact, she preferred it. Living under one roof with a Tiger and a Snake 24/7 was a recipe for disaster. This way, they got breaks from each other. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, or at least, keeps the murder attempts to a minimum.

“I can do that,” Ren nodded vigorously. “Three moons. Deal. What else?”

She braced herself. Kael looked at Syris with suspicion, waiting for him to continue.

Syris looked tired. He rubbed his temple.

“You cannot come to my bed smelling like him,” Syris stated firmly.

He pointed a pale finger at Kael.

Ren blinked.

“That’s it?” she asked, incredulous.

“That is it,” Syris confirmed.

Ren’s eyes widened with surprise, then lit up with pure, unadulterated glee.

“Yay!” Ren shrieked.

She didn’t think. She launched herself.

“Oof!”

Ren threw herself onto Syris, knocking the poor, injured Snake King flat onto his back on the furs. Her arms wrapped around his neck in a strangling hug.

“Ow,” Syris winced, his face scrunching up in pain.

“Oh! Sorry!” Ren scrambled off him instantly, realizing she had just body-slammed a man with broken ribs. “I forgot you were injured! I’m sorry! I’m just so happy!”

Her cheeks were rosy with happiness, her green eyes shining. She felt like a mountain had been lifted off her shoulders. The war was over. The harem was legal.

She leaned down and pressed a soft, chaste kiss to Syris’ lips.

“Mwah.”

Syris froze. His pale cheeks turned a distinct shade of pink. He cleared his throat and looked away, trying to hide the pleased flush.

“Hmph,” Syris mumbled.

He sat up, adjusting his dignity.

“I am going home,” Syris declared. “I hate this forest. It is hot. It is sticky. And I have better herbs in my garden to heal these wounds. The weeds here are substandard.”

Ren’s smile faltered slightly. She found herself in a pickle.

’I should go with him,’ she thought. ’He’s hurt because of me. I should nurse him back to health.’

’But Kael…’ She looked at the Tiger. ’He just lost his King status. His clan is scattered. He needs to rebuild. I should stay and help him.’

’And Vex!’ Ren realized. ’I need to sneak food to the Fox! But where? And how? I forgot where that underground cavern is.’

She wished she could clone herself. Ren A for the Swamp, Ren B for the Forest, and Ren C for the Fox delivery service.

Before she could spiral into indecision, Kael spoke up.

“Go with the Snake,” Kael said firmly.

Ren looked at him. “Kael?”

“He will heal faster in his own territory,” Kael reasoned. “And I… I have work to do here.”

He stood up, looking determined.

“I must find my kin,” Kael stated. “I need to locate the scattered members of the White Tiger Clan and bring them together. When you return, the Clan will be reassembled and ready to build your village.”

Ren looked at him. He didn’t look sad. He looked focused.

“Are you sure?” Ren asked.

“I am sure,” Kael nodded. “Go. Just… scrub hard before you come back.”

Ren laughed. “Okay. But I am preparing the food for you to give the clan before I go.”.

[System Balance: 45,500 XP]

Ren grinned. She had paid off her debt and she was still loaded. She felt like a billionaire.

’I am going to buy so much stuff,’ Ren decided. ’Spices. Sauces. Maybe a blender if they have one. I am going to revolutionize the culinary scene of the Beast World.’

Ren felt genuinely happy for the first time in weeks.

The bushes at the cave entrance rustled violently.

Viper burst through the overgrowth, looking disheveled but triumphant. He was dragging something massive behind him.

“I could not find the pig,” Viper panted.

Ren’s face fell for a nanosecond.

“But!” Viper announced, yanking on a rope of vines. “I found this! It was too lively to bring back alive, so I had to kill it.”

He dragged a massive, majestic Elk into the center of the cave. It was huge. It had antlers the size of a chandelier and enough meat to feed an army.

Ren gasped. She clapped her hands excitedly, rushing over to the dead beast.

“Forget the pig!” Ren declared. “Friendship ended with Porky. Elk is my new best friend!”

She circled the carcass, her chef brain activating instantly.

The System Shop had every ingredient known to man—spices, vegetables, oils, flours—but it didn’t sell fresh meat. That was the one thing she had to source locally. And Viper had just delivered a goldmine.

’Elk,’ Ren brainstormed, drooling slightly. ’Lean, gamey, delicious.’

’I can make Elk Steaks with a Red Wine and Rosemary reduction,’ she thought, visualizing the plate. ’I can buy the wine from the shop! And butter! Lots of butter!’

’Or maybe a hearty Elk Stew? With potatoes, carrots, and thyme, slow-cooked until the meat falls apart?’

’Oh! Elk Burgers!’ Ren gasped. ’I can grind the meat! I can buy flour and yeast to bake fresh buns! I can make homemade mayonnaise! I can make caramelized onions!’

“Viper,” Ren said, looking at him with starry eyes. “You are the best hunter in the world.”

Viper’s face turned a deep red at the praise. He stood straighter, puffing out his chest.

“It was nothing,” Viper mumbled, though he was clearly delighted.

Ren turned to Syris.

“Syris,” Ren said seriously. “Viper deserves a reward. Give him a raise. Give him a promotion. Give him a shiny rock. Give him something!”

Syris looked at his loyal subordinate. He saw the shy pride on Viper’s face.

“Very well,” Syris nodded. “Good job, Viper.”

Viper looked like he might faint from happiness.

He had redeemed himself.

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