Chapter 54: Pamper Me More!
She touched her cheek with wet fingers, and the reflection did the same. The water rippled and the image distorted, but when it settled, the face was still hers.
How was this possible? Tera was in someone else’s body, a different world, a different person’s life, but the face was hers.
"System," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the trickling water. "Why do I look like... me?"
[This system does not understand your question]
’Urghh! My body. This face! It’s the face I had in the world I am from!’
[Ah...]
[This query falls outside this system’s jurisdiction]
[This system manages tasks and Host’s general well-being]
[But fear not!]
[(ᵕ—ᴗ—)]
[Your case is not the first]
She stared at her reflection for another long moment and decided that dwelling on it would not get her anywhere.
This was such a strange coincidence, though.
When she turned back toward the clearing, Ermin was watching her.
His gaze flicked away the moment their eyes met, but not fast enough. He’d been looking at her.
’Why is he acting like a shy cutie?’ Tera thought to herself, trying to stop the smile creeping up her face as she recalled the sharp contrast between his sheepish demeanour and the domineering beast while mating.
A slight blush crept up her face.
For her sake, he needed to stop acting like one shy boy or else she would just keep thinking of the contrast.
She made her way back to the mat of leaves, then stood up, about to join Ermin to watch the fire, when he looked up, confused.
"What are you doing?"
"I want to help you. The fire—"
He frowned. "Sit back down. I will do everything until he comes. This is not what you are here for."
Tera grumbled and returned back to her spot, pouting.
His tail twitched. She could have sworn the corner of his mouth almost curved upward.
Xavi returned shortly after with a bundle of herbs, looking very pleased with himself. "I found the sweet ones you like."
"You remembered which ones I like?"
Tera immediately realised that it must have sounded like a silly question. Xavi would know certain things about her from how much he had been watching her.
However, she could not clearly recall constantly using that specific herb, or had she been unaware of it?
"I remember everything about you," Xavi answered.
Tera’s face heated. Ermin made a quiet sound that might have been a dissatisfied scoff.
The fire crackled, the meat sizzled, and Tera let herself relax as she watched them. It was especially cute to see how their ears and tails were twitching and shifting.
They were so eager to please her.
She had been snacking on the fruits and had been careful to leave some for both of them. After a while, the smell of good meat filled the air, and the meat was served in front of her.
Tera hoped they were going to eat out of it, too, because she could not finish all of this.
"Here." Xavi appeared in front of her, holding a piece of meat between his fingers. "Open."
"I can feed myself—"
"Please."
She opened her mouth, and he fed her. It was soft, and the flavour burst across her tongue. Smoky, tender, and seasoned with the sweet herbs he’d gone out of his way to find.
"Good?" Xavi asked, his ears perked forward.
"Very good." Tera nodded enthusiastically.
It really was delicious, and now she wanted more.
Xavi’s tail wagged. He immediately turned to get another piece.
Ermin watched this exchange with slight frustration.
He wanted to feed her, too, but felt too ashamed to ask.
He also didn’t like how Xavi was hoarding all her attention.
When Xavi returned with a second piece of meat, Ermin spoke up,
"You are going to choke her if you keep pushing food at her that fast."
Xavi paused, meat hovering inches from Tera’s mouth. "I am not pushing it. She is opening her mouth herself."
"You are too close."
Xavi’s face twisted with a confused frown. "What does that have to do with her food?"
"She has not finished chewing the first piece. Wait for her to finish before putting another piece in her mouth."
"I am waiting."
Tera chewed faster, her eyes darting between them.
Xavi eyed Ermin. "You are not the feeding expert."
"And you are?"
"I have fed her many times now."
"Congratulations. You have achieved the bare minimum of caretaking."
Tera swallowed her meat so she could speak. "I am sitting right here—"
Both males ignored her.
Ermin rose from his spot with the deliberate grace of someone who had reached a decision. He picked up a piece of fruit from the leaf pile and sat beside Tera.
He didn’t hover like Xavi. He simply held the fruit out to her.
"You should eat this too," he said. "It will calm the heat of the meat."
Tera stared at the fruit, then at the two beast men with wide eyes.
This was so weird, but she was not going to complain.
’Am I in heaven?’
Ermin’s ears flattened slightly, and a faint flush crept up his neck. He didn’t pull his wrist away. "Are you not going to eat it?"
’Omg!!!! stop looking so adorable.’
"Of course, I’m going to eat it!" She sat up, alert before Ermin could change his mind.
She popped her mouth open, and Ermin slipped the fruit into her mouth, his finger brushing her lips, which left behind a nice tingle across her skin.
Tera ate, letting out a small, satisfied sound before she could stop herself.
Ermin’s tail flipped with excitement.
Xavi, who had been watching this entire exchange with narrowed eyes, immediately picked up another piece of meat. "She needs more of this, too. The fruit is not enough."
"She just ate meat."
"She just ate fruit."
"You are going to make her stomach hurt."
Tera watched them bicker over her like two hens arguing over a single chick. It was absurd. It was ridiculous. It was also, against all odds, making her chest feel warm.
"I can just choose what I want to eat, though."