[Stacy's POV]
"Who are you!? How did you get in here?" I yelled, slamming open the doors to Kitsuna's room so hard that the hinges rattled. The sharp echo of my voice carried through the chamber like a whip crack.
"Ah, ah, where am I?" The wolfkin stuttered, blinking up at me with wide, watery eyes. Her ears pressed flat against her skull, her whole body coiled with tension like a cornered animal. She looked utterly bewildered, trembling as if she couldn't decide whether to run or beg.
"How did you get in here?" I repeated my demand as I stepped into the room. My hand twitched toward the hilt of my blade out of sheer habit. She didn't look like a threat, but in this house I'd learned not to take appearances at face value.
Her lips quivered as she tried to find her words. "Ah, ah," the shadowy figure said, "she comes from the Draigs," and then added, "I am sending you to my room." I don't understand what's going on here," she stammered, shrinking back. Her body shifted subtly, edging closer to something behind her. That's when I noticed it—a massive green egg tucked against the wall like a sentinel. The faint sheen of its surface caught the dim light, and my heart skipped a beat.
"...Is that your egg?" I asked, raising a brow, finally taking in the full picture.
"Ye-Yes?" She whispered, her voice trembling as she wrapped both arms protectively around the egg's curve. Her posture screamed desperation—like she'd fight me with her bare hands if I tried to touch it.
Sigh. "What the fuck did Kitsuna send us this time? Wait here. You're safe now, I guess." I muttered, rubbing my forehead before shaking my head. Another headache courtesy of my daughter.
"What?" she squeaked, her voice brittle.
"I'll go and call Kayda to talk to you. She's a dragon, so she—" I began, but her sudden panicked cry sliced the air.
"No!! Don't! Please spare my kid!" The wolfkin shouted, clutching the egg so tightly I thought she might bruise her own skin against its shell. Her eyes were wild, frantic, and full of terror.
"What?" My confusion doubled, but then the word "dragon" seemed to trip something inside her. Her pupils contracted to slits, raw fear flashing across her face.
"Oh, I see. Okay, I won't bring her here then," I said softly, lowering my tone, nodding as if to reassure her. She looked so fragile that raising my voice felt like it would shatter her.
"Thank you," she whispered, though her body stayed tense, like she didn't believe me entirely.
"I'll also send in a maid with some food for you," I added, deciding to ease her into this place with kindness. Without waiting for her reply, I stepped out and closed the door behind me with deliberate care.
Rebecca was waiting right outside, arms crossed, her eyes narrowing at my expression.
"Get someone to bring her food. Preferably a wolfkin. Furthermore, she's terrified of dragons—make sure no one mentions anything about dragons around her for now. Please go and personally retrieve Kitsuna; she needs to provide an explanation for this situation.
"Will do," Rebecca said crisply, already turning on her heel.
Sigh. "Now I need to go get Kayda and make sure she doesn't blow a fuse," I muttered, dragging a hand down my face.
"Why do you need me?" Came a smooth voice from behind, and I stiffened.
"Ah, well, you see..." I turned to find Kayda leaning against the wall, arms folded, eyes watching me curiously. "Is it possible for a dragon to have a kid with a wolfkin?" I asked, wincing at how clumsy that sounded.
Her brows rose. "Yes, it is—if she's in her human form," she answered simply. That alone made me realize—so the father dragon was female.
"And if it's a he?" I asked, a knot of unease forming in my gut.
"It is still possible, but the mother dies every time during childbirth," Kayda said bluntly, her brow furrowing as she processed my reason for asking.
"Ah, I see. But is there any chance the mother could survive?" I pressed, already knowing the answer.
Kayda's eyes narrowed. "Stacy, why all these questions?" Her tone carried suspicion now.
"My daughter found something outrageous again," I said with a defeated sigh, my shoulders sagging.
"...Haah, what is it this time?" she asked, already looking tired of the conversation.
"In her room, there's a wolfkin with a green dragon egg," I said, pointing to Kitsuna's door.
"And I presume the wolfkin is female?" Kayda asked, her tone quiet but sharp.
"Yes."
"Let me see," she said, pushing past me, shaking her head.
"No, wait. Allow me to explain more," I interrupted, stepping in front of her.
"What?"
"She's terrified of dragons. Like, seriously terrified. Who can blame her? She gave birth to a dragon egg the size of her." I spread my hands helplessly.
"...I guess it would be quite dramatic to give birth to an egg," Kayda mused, nodding slowly.
"Somehow I think we're thinking about two different things," I said flatly, raising a brow.
"Huh?? What do you mean?"
"She's scared of dragons—not because of the birth—but in general," I explained, watching realization dawn on her.
"Oh... so you mean it like that." Kayda folded her arms again, thoughtful. "Well then, we just need to wait for Kitsu to show up." She turned away, heading toward the nearest drawing room.
"Yeah," I muttered, following with a heavy step.
As we walked, two wolfkin maids hurried past us, arms laden with folded clothes, blankets, and trays of food. At least Rebecca had taken my instructions seriously.
[Two hours later]
The sun had shifted low, painting long golden beams across the courtyard. I sat with Kayda at the outdoor table, tapping my fingers impatiently against the polished wood.
"Oh, Rebecca, you finally got her," I said with relief as Rebecca appeared, dragging Kitsuna by her arm like a sack of grain.
"Yes," Rebecca said dryly, dropping my daughter beside the table without ceremony.
"Zzzzzz," came the utterly shameless sound of Kitsuna snoring.
"Is she out cold?" Kayda asked, frowning with concern at the sprawled fox.
"Yeah, I found her like this outside some big hideout. Most of it was burned down by the time I got there. Amari and Zagan were nearby too. They seemed to be doing something... but I couldn't get any info out of them," Rebecca explained, her voice tight with disapproval.
"Why? Did something happen to Amari?" I asked quickly, alarm flickering.
"They both looked red-eyed and depressed," Rebecca admitted with a sigh.
"...Okay, one thing at a time," I said, forcing myself to focus.
"Agreed. Let's go talk to Amari first," Kayda said, lifting Kitsuna gently onto the couch like she was a wayward child.
"Agree."
"Do not worry. Amari is on her way here. She just went to freshen up before coming to you, ma'am," Rebecca added, bowing slightly.
"I see. Kayda, dump some water on this dimwit," I said, pointing at the sleeping fox.
"No! Let me rest, for crying out loud!!" Kitsuna suddenly shouted, springing upright with a glare that could've curdled milk.
"Oh, you're awake," I said, utterly unsurprised.
"Of course I'm awake! Do you think this BDSM woman would be gentle with me?" Kitsuna snapped, shooting Rebecca a dirty look.
"But it seemed like you liked it," Rebecca smirked.
"Woman, you are married," Kitsuna said flatly, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"True. Well, I'll take my leave," Rebecca replied with a bow, still smirking, before walking off.
Sigh. "Whatever. So, how is the little wolf?" Kitsuna asked, stretching like a lazy cat.
"Scared. She got some food and is sleeping in your bed with the egg."
"Tsk. And no angry dragon showed up? Boring," she muttered with a click of her tongue.
"What do you mean by that?" Kayda asked sternly, her eyes narrowing.
"Uhm."
'At least Kayda can shut her up,' I thought, crossing my arms and waiting for the inevitable excuse.
[One long-ass explanation with many gaps later.]
"So you wanted to fight an unknown dragon because you were bored?" I asked, one brow raised.
"Yeah, the tournament isn't as fun as I thought it would be," Kitsuna replied with a complete lack of shame.
"Going after an unknown dragon isn't exactly smart," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"It's like the guy let his girl go with no protection," Kitsuna muttered, sounding genuinely baffled.
"What do you mean, his girl?" I asked, frowning.
"Well, she had his baby egg," Kitsuna said as if it were obvious. Her ears flicked in irritation.
"Kitsuna, dragons aren't loyal to anyone but their soulmate. And finding your soulmate is like finding a needle in a haystack," Kayda said firmly.
"Yeah, so? A descendant is a descendant," Kitsuna argued.
"The kid will be half-dragon, half-wolfkin," Kayda countered.
"Exactly! Both races have combat advantages," Kitsuna pointed out eagerly, tail swishing.
"Yes, and there are many weaknesses as well," Kayda said sharply, causing me to facepalm.
"Hey! Why did we shift from trying to help someone to discussing how the kid will perform in fights? I shouted, exasperated.
"Ah, right, sorry. Let's get back on topic," Kayda said quickly, clearing her throat.
"So the woman is asleep in your bed with her egg. And her egg is huge, even for royal dragonborns," I said, giving Kayda a pointed look.
"This is a common occurrence with interspecies births," she replied casually.
"...So what now?" Kitsuna asked, sounding more grounded than usual.
"I don't know. Maybe we talk to her?" I suggested with a shrug.
"Good luck with that. I'm going to bed," Kitsuna said, flopping toward the couch.
"Whoa, whoa, don't run away now."
"What?" she asked, tail flicking.
"She'll probably talk to you easiest."
"Why?"
"You're the one who saved her."
"Yeah, but I only did that to get her dragon here so I could kill him," she said bluntly, tilting her head as if that excused her.
"Dragons aren't easily killed, Kitsu," Kayda said firmly.
"Meh. Never tried," Kitsuna shrugged.
"Sadly for you, he's not coming. He might've already forgotten the egg existed," Kayda said, voice calm.
"..."
Kitsuna's expression darkened. Without a word, she stood and walked out, her silence sharper than any retort. Kayda blinked after her, confused.
"Why? What'd I say?"
Thud.
I smacked Kayda on the head hard enough to drop her to the floor, out cold.
"Lucy, get Kayda in a room. When she wakes, make sure she understands what she just said," I instructed, glaring at the maid who'd peeked in.
Lucy bowed quickly.
'To think Kayda can be denser than Kitsuna… I hope Kitsuna will forgive her.'