Chapter 72: A Mating Dance?

Syris stepped out of the steam-filled bath and into the cool air of the Nest.

He was gloriously, unapologetically naked. Droplets of water clung to his toned muscles, sliding down the ridges of his abs and losing themselves in the V-line of his hips. His long black hair was wet, plastered to his neck and shoulders.

He was exhausted. He had just finished the arduous task of dragging a comatose, heavier-than-lead Tiger King down to the dungeon with the help of his guards. It had been heavy lifting, and now, all he wanted was to dry off and perhaps sleep for a week.

He held a piece of thick bear fur in his hands, lazily drying his hair as he scanned the room, expecting it to be empty.

It wasn’t.

Syris froze. The bear fur stopped mid-rub. His amethyst eyes widened, the pupils instantly constricting into thin, vertical predatory slits.

There, in the center of the room, was a sight that short-circuited his higher brain functions and sent a direct signal to his reptilian hindbrain.

Ren was on the floor on all fours. She was wearing that ridiculous, puffy red coat, but because of her position, the coat had ridden up. Way up.

She was wiggling.

Her hips swayed back and forth as she struggled to reach something under the bed. The motion was hypnotic. With every wiggle, the coat shifted higher, exposing the smooth, pale curve of her bottom, the soft dip of her lower back, and the tantalizing glimpse of her inner thighs against the dark stone floor.

She looked like a decadent, cream-filled dessert wrapped in bright red packaging, presenting herself directly to him.

Syris felt the blood rush from his head to his groin with the force of a tidal wave. Fatigue vanished instantly, replaced by a primal hunger.

His “Twin Swords”—already semi-alert from earlier—snapped to full attention. He needed to possess her. The urge to coil around her, to claim that swaying softness, was overwhelming.

In his mesmerized daze, his fingers went slack.

Plop.

The heavy bear fur dropped from his hands and hit the stone floor with a dull, wet thud.

“Eep!”

The sound startled Ren so badly she jerked upward.

BONK.

“Ow!” Ren yelped as the back of her head collided with the stone frame of the bed.

She scrambled backward, clutching the silver lighter to her chest like a lifeline, her other hand rubbing her throbbing head. She stumbled to her feet, turning around.

“Syris!” she gasped, her eyes flying wide. “How long have you been—”

Her face went from flushed to nuclear red as her gaze dropped. He was naked. He was wet. And he was very happy to see her.

“Ren,” Syris growled.

He moved.

He was on her in a flash.

“Wait—”

Ren didn’t even get to finish the word. Syris pushed her backwards onto the mountain of black furs that dipped under their combined weight as he loomed over her, trapping her between his arms.

His wet hair dripped cold water onto her burning cheeks. He stared down at her, his eyes dark, swirling with lust.

Ren clutched the lighter against her heaving chest, her heart racing. The red coat remained wrapped around her upper body, but her bare legs were sprawled on the dark furs.

“What… what are you doing?” Ren squeaked.

“I should ask you that,” Syris murmured, his voice low.

He leaned down, his nose grazing the side of her neck, inhaling her scent.

“Is that how mammals signal?” he whispered into her ear, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine. “Are you asking me to mate with you, Little Chef?”

“N-no!” Ren stuttered, her face burning. “It was the coat! I was just reaching for the lighter! I didn’t know you were here!”

Syris chuckled.

“No matter,” he said.

His hand moved. His large, cool palm slid up from her knee, gliding effortlessly over the sensitive skin of her exposed inner thigh.

Ren gasped, her breath hitching.

He pushed her knee outward, spreading her legs wide open for him. He settled his hips between her thighs.

“I want to mate,” Syris said simply, his voice rough with need.

Ding!

[System Alert: Critical Threat!] [Target: Syris .] [Status: Fully Engaged Mode.] [Horniness Level: Maximum Capacity.] [Warning: The snake is ready to explore the tunnel.] [Time until Kael wakes up and murders everyone: 0 Hour 58 Minutes.]

Ren’s eyes snapped to the timer floating above Syris’ lust-filled face.

58 minutes.

She had to do it.

Ren placed her hands on Syris’ wet chest.

She had to pull the ultimate card.

“Wait!” Ren cried out. “Syris, stop! We can’t! Not now!”

Syris frowned, his hand stopping its upward journey just inches from her center. “Why? You want this. I can feel your heart racing.”

“I do!” Ren lied—well, half-lied. “I mean, I want to! But the time! Kael is going to wake up in less than an hour! If I don’t start the gumbo right now, the cure won’t be ready!”

Syris growled, frustration evident in the tightening of his jaw.

Ren took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. “Syris, listen to me. I promise. I promise.”

She swallowed hard, her face burning.

“Once I cure him… once the gumbo is done and he’s safe… we will mate.”

Syris pulled back slightly, eyeing her suspiciously. “You promise?”

“Yes!” Ren nodded frantically.

She squeezed her eyes shut and blurted it out.

“We will do it as many times as you want! I won’t complain! I won’t run! I’ll be yours! All night!”

Silence stretched in the room.

Syris looked at her flushed face. He processed the offer.

’As many times as I want.’

A slow, wicked smirk spread across his lips. The vertical slits of his pupils widened slightly. That was an offer a King could not refuse.

“Very well,” Syris purred.

He pushed himself up, removing his weight from her body and withdrawing his hand from her thigh.

Ren didn’t wait for him to change his mind.

She scrambled off the bed and bolted for the door. She slammed the heavy stone slab shut behind her and leaned her back against it, sliding down slightly.

Her chest was heaving. She clutched the silver lighter so tight it dug into her palm.

“That was close,” she wheezed, staring at the ceiling of the corridor. “Too close.”

Then, the weight of her words hit her. As many times as he wants.

She gulped loudly.

“That is a problem for Future Ren,” she whispered shakily. “Future Ren is going to be very sore. But at least Present Ren is alive.”

Ding!

[Countdown Update:] [Time Remaining: 0 Hour 55 Minutes.] [System Note: Run, Chef. Run.]

Ren’s eyes bulged.

“Shit!”

She pushed herself off the door and sprinted down the hallway toward the scullery.

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