Chapter 126: Episode 125: I guess I deserve that.
"Mama. Hurt?" Theron babbled as he crawled to his mother.
"Don’t worry, Theron. Mama’s fine," Rue whispered.
But Theron didn’t think so. He decided that he was the only guard his mother needed.
The toddler didn’t like the sudden gasp she made. He didn’t like the way her pale face squeezed tightly in pain. He sat right on the soft grey blankets.
His bright golden eyes stared directly at her stomach. He absolutely blamed the new baby for hurting his favourite person. The new baby was loud and highly annoying. It kicked her from the inside. Theron refused to allow that.
A bright flash of silver light swallowed his chubby little body.
Theron disappeared. A tiny, shiny silver snake took his place on the big bed. He didn’t hesitate for a single second. He slithered straight up her bare arm in one fast, smooth motion. He curled tightly right around her neck.
His cold scales felt exactly like a thick metal collar against her warm skin. He rested his tiny head perfectly under her chin. He stared out at the empty stone room. He was on duty.
Rue chuckled softly. She reached her small hand up and stroked his smooth silver head.
"You’re too silly today," Rue told him.
Theron just let out a tiny, vibrating hiss at the empty air. He wasn’t playing a game at all. He was a highly lethal predator, and he was currently protecting his fragile mother.
Rue just rested her head heavily against the giant pillows. The brand new stone house was quiet. The thick walls blocked out the loud noise of the wind outside. She felt safe here. The baby gave her another sharp, violent kick right against her lower ribs. She winced loudly. She placed a hand directly on her swollen belly.
"Easy in there," Rue whispered softly. "You’re running out of room. Just wait a few more weeks."
Theron heard her wince again. His silver tail tightened slightly around her neck. He was vigilant. He didn’t blink. He just stared directly at the bedroom door, waiting for any enemies to attack.
The wooden bedroom door opened slowly.
Drax walked inside carrying a large silver tray. The Dragon King brought a tall glass of cold water and a small plate of sliced yellow fruits.
He stepped softly across the smooth stone floor. He didn’t want to wake her if she was finally sleeping. He devoted his entire day to making sure she was perfectly comfortable.
He got within three feet of the bed.
Theron lost his mind.
The tiny silver snake shot his head straight up from Rue’s collarbone. He opened his mouth wide. Two tiny white fangs flashed brightly in the afternoon sunlight. He let out a vicious, highly aggressive hiss directly at the giant dragon.
Drax froze perfectly still. He looked confused. He stared directly at the tiny snake, then looked down at Rue’s face.
"What exactly is he doing?" Drax asked quietly. He didn’t look angry. He just looked baffled by the tiny animal screaming at him.
"He thinks he’s protecting me," Rue smiled. She felt warm inside. Her little boy was literally trying to fight a terrifying warlord just to keep her safe. "The baby kicked me really hard a minute ago. I gasped. Theron believes I’m under a violent attack."
Drax took one single step forward.
Theron snapped his jaws loudly. He lunged forward, ready to bite the Dragon King right on the nose.
Drax stopped immediately. He didn’t want to hurt the baby snake by accident. He took a very slow, careful step backwards. He looked highly amused now.
"Fine," Drax said softly. He set the silver tray down right on a wooden table across the large room. "I’ll keep my distance today. He takes his guard duty very seriously. I won’t interfere with his absolute mission."
"He gets it from Caius," Rue pointed out happily. She picked up a piece of sweet fruit from the tray Drax pushed closer. "They both have that intense staring problem."
Drax nodded slowly. He sat down on a wooden chair by the window. He kept his word. He watched her eat, but he didn’t try to touch her. He just let the tiny snake win the standoff.
A few hours passed very slowly. Rue finally decided to get out of the big bed. She wanted to sit by the warm fire in the main hall. She felt restless.
She walked slowly down the stone hallway. Her lower back ached violently with every single step. Her swollen belly felt exactly like a boulder pulling her down. Theron stayed perfectly wrapped around her neck the entire time. He didn’t let go for a single second. He refused to abandon his post.
She reached the large living room.
Knox sat relaxed by the roaring stone hearth. The giant panther was carving a small wooden toy with a very sharp iron knife. He looked up and smiled widely the exact second he saw her.
"Come sit down, little one," Knox called out loudly. He patted the thick pile of woven rugs right next to his folded legs. "You shouldn’t be walking on that hard floor."
Rue waddled over carefully. She let out a long, highly pathetic sigh as she sank into the soft pillows. She leaned her back right against his warm side.
Knox put his sharp knife away immediately. He leaned over. He absolutely wanted to feel the new baby moving. He brought his heavily scarred hand directly toward her round stomach.
He didn’t make it at all.
Theron uncoiled fast. The tiny silver snake whipped straight through the air. He slapped Knox’s thick wrist extremely hard with his shiny tail. Then he hissed loudly, blocking the panther’s giant hand from touching her belly.
Rue gasped. She thought Knox would be furious. She expected the terrifying Southern warlord to yell at the toddler for being disrespectful. Knox was a proud alpha. He usually hated it when anyone challenged his absolute authority in his own house.
Knox didn’t yell.
The giant panther threw his big head back and laughed. His deep, booming voice shook the stone walls. He looked proud.
"Look at him!" Knox cheered brightly. He grinned directly at the angry little snake. "He has raw feral instinct. He refuses to let another predator touch his territory. That’s exactly how a highly strong male should act."
"He shouldn’t hiss at his father," Rue scolded gently. She tapped Theron’s tiny nose with one finger.
"Let him," Knox said happily. He pulled his giant hand back. He didn’t force the issue at all. He respected the tiny snake’s strict boundary. "He’s doing a perfect job. He’s keeping you safe from threats. I taught him exactly how to hold his ground."
"You absolutely didn’t teach him how to be a snake," Caius’s smooth, cold voice drifted directly from the open kitchen doorway.
The Serpent Alpha leaned gracefully against the stone wall. He held a wooden cup of hot water. His glowing golden eyes watched his son with total, unfiltered approval.
"He gets his highly protective nature strictly from my bloodline," Caius stated smoothly. "Panthers are too loud. A true guard strikes from total silence."
Knox just rolled his bright golden eyes. He didn’t fight the snake today. He was way too happy watching little Theron guard his fragile mate. He just wrapped his other arm securely around Rue’s shoulders and let the toddler run the show.
The afternoon slowly turned into a dark, chilly evening. The fire popped loudly in the hearth, throwing warm orange light across the stone floor. Rue felt her eyelids getting. The tiny snake around her neck finally closed his bright eyes, exhausted from a long day of screaming at giant warlords.
The front door suddenly opened.
A blast of cool evening wind rushed straight into the warm hall.
Axel walked inside quickly. The white wolf carried a large wooden basket full of fresh, sweet berries. He spent the entire afternoon running through the deep Northern woods just to find her favourite food. His thick white hair was messy. He had dry dirt all over his dark winter clothes.
He looked straight at Rue sitting by the warm fire. His icy blue eyes lit up.
"I found them," Axel announced proudly. He walked very quickly across the stone floorboards. "The exact yellow ones you like. They’re sweet today. I tasted one for you."
He didn’t notice the tiny silver snake resting right under her chin. He didn’t pay any attention to the warning signs. He just saw his pregnant, tired mate and wanted to feed her the best food in the world.
Axel knelt right down on the woven rug next to her knee. He reached his large, cold hand out to offer her a bright yellow berry.
Theron woke up instantly.
He didn’t hiss this time. He didn’t give a single warning. The white wolf got too close to the baby bump.
The tiny snake struck fast.
He lunged forward and clamped his tiny, sharp jaws directly onto Axel’s index finger.
Rue gasped loudly in pure shock.
"Theron! No!" Rue yelled, her eyes going wide.
Theron bit Axel’s fingers.
Axel just sighs. "I guess I deserve that."