Jahi PoV
Walking back inside with Mom, I could tell that everyone was worried; Mother was frowning as she stared at her wife, while Miss Julie was looking between Kat and I, her brow furrowed.
Kat was...
Well, her pale blue eyes shone dangerously as she stared at Mom, only to let out a huff as she saw me walk in unscathed, turning back towards the sink and resuming her washing.
Anput and Leone were both worriedly staring at me, the Vampire pale as she looked me over while the Jackalkin had clenched fists, her ears drooping slightly.
However, Mom chuckled as she came back in, her arm still draped around my shoulders.
"Well, I beat some sense into her, so we should be good."
Mother's frown deepened, her azure eyes moving over to me, only to sigh as I gave her a nod.
Retaking our seats, Mom and I stared at one another for a moment before she grinned, reaching forwards and grabbing the bottle of wine in front of her.
Uncorking it, she drank right from the bottle, making both Mother and Miss Julie frown.
"Ah~ That hit the spot~! Hey pup, did you make something sweet?"
Mom glanced over at Kat, who stiffened as she heard her words.
I pursed my lips as I felt her mild anger and irritation through our bond, only to watch as she stiffly turned around, a strained smile on her lips as she nodded.
Lifting the giant ice box, she dissolved the ice to reveal a white cheesecake, the scent of vanilla wafting through the air making me lick my lips.
Using her mana, Kat sliced the cake into even pieces before handing them our, making sure everyone got a slice.
Kat handed me mine last, and her eyes flickered to those chilling ethereal blue orbs, making me shiver.
Her stare was like a deep void, and I gulped slightly as she kept her gaze locked on mine.
The bond between us was going haywire; Kat's emotions were flooding it, and for a moment I blanked, not knowing what to do.
Her piercing stare was chilling my body, making me feel like I was outside on a cold winter night.
All her anger, annoyance, worry, love, desire, possessiveness, lust, bloodlust...
It was all pouring into our bond, and for that moment I was given a deep insight of what kind of person Kat was...
I had said it before, but she was a hedonist, a sadistic, depraved killer.
However, when you take that out of the equation; you place that one scary, yet important side of her away, what's left is an even scarier woman.
There was no doubt in my mind, at that very moment, that Kat might have been crazy enough to go after Mom, to try and 'protect' me...
While it was warming, I gave her a smile, matching her more positive emotions, as well as a few of the darker ones, trying to calm her down.
Thankfully she stopped, her eyes reverting to that warm amber I was so fond of, and she gave me a grin.
Leaning forwards, she brought her lips to my ear as she whispered "Fine, but I want something in return..."
Feeling her lust surge forwards again, I grinned as well, nodding.
Seeing her tail wag, I watched as she moved to her own seat, happily digging into her own slice of cheesecake, while everyone else gave her a glance.
Mom and Anput smirked at her, knowing full well what she had just asked of me.
Mother and Miss Julie frowned, likely not enjoying that that happened in front of them.
Meanwhile, Leone was alternating her stare between Kat and I, her gaze envious.
As we all ate the dessert Kat made, we made more small talk, but this time it was rather subdued.
The only people who seemed to be unaffected from earlier were, surprisingly, Mom, Kat and I; everyone else were quieter than normal, picking at the slices of cheesecake before them.
Before I knew it, the meal was over, the wine finished, and table cleared.
Getting up, Mom grinned at me as she shrugged on her coat, Mother slipping swiftly behind her and helping her.
I rose as well, approaching her and accepting the hand that fell between my horns, her large hand ruffling my hair as she stared down at me.
Seeing her ruby eyes shine with warmth, I smiled at her, only to glower as she said "If I see you like that again, I'll beat you to a pulp, got it?"
Hearing that, I stared at her in silence for a few moments before grinning, arrogantly saying "Next time you see me, I'll be the one beating you!"
She let out a snort, while Mother raised a brow, her azure eyes alight with mirth.
"In your dreams brat."
Giving me a quick hug, Mom moved towards the others, while Mother approached.
Standing before me, she straightened out my shirt, her dainty hands rhythmically stroking my chest as she said "I... might not agree with the method, but the message was sound, Jahi. You're... not much of a thinker; once you get going, it spirals uncontrollably. I have no doubt that Kat tried to use words first, but they clearly didn't work. Just keep that in mind... Please Jahi, keep it in mind."
Smiling down at her, I returned her embrace, enjoying the familiar warmth and sickly sweet smell wafting from her golden hair.
She gave me a wide grin before turning around, joining Mom as she talked to Kat and the others.
Seeing Miss Julie standing off to the side, I approached her, my steps hesitating for a moment as her hard gaze met mine.
However, just like Kat she swiftly changed from that to the stoic, serious woman that I was familiar with.
"Miss Julie..."
I stood before her, scratching my cheek as I tried to find the words to say to her.
To apologize for putting her daughter in trouble.
To thank her for allowing Kat to remain here despite that.
To sincerely wish her well in the future...
"Lady Jahi, there is no need to speak; trust me, I know what it is that you wish to say. Just... take better care of her, alright? She's..."
Miss Julie peered over at her daughter, who was staring at Mom and Mother, nodding as they spoke to her.
"She's my little treasure. I know that she loves you; she's like Lady Ria in that regard, so no matter what I do or say she'll always be on your side, but..."
Turning back to me, she stared into my eyes for a few seconds, and I shivered as they mirrored her daughters from earlier; those dark, deep voids of almost black eyes stared at me, and I knew that, in this moment, I was looking at not a maid, not a serious, responsible mother, but an overprotective, lethal mother, one who has already killed to guarantee her daughter was able to be born in a safe place.
Gulping as those eyes bored into me, I nodded as I said "I swear it, on my name, on my life... I'll protect her. After what happened... I'll protect her."
Miss Julie's eyes reverted back to her warm hazel, and I felt my heart race as she gave me a dazzling smile, making me even more aware that Kat, and her mother, were not women to be messed with.
Giving her a shallow bow, I made my way over to Kat, who was still smiling up at Mom.
"Haha~! You've got grit, pup. Just make sure to use it properly."
Kat nodded at Mom, before giving Mother a quick hug.
Anput and Leone also gave Mother swift embraces, while they bowed to Mom.
Watching as they exited the cottage, I stood with Kat outside the door, waving at them as they made their way down into the dark city.
"What did you say to Mom?"
Kat smiled at me, her amber eyes shining with a mischievous light as she coyly said "Nothing important, Mistress~"
Giving her a dry look, I glanced back towards Mom, watching as her tall figure faded into the distance.
As I made my way back inside with my Dogkin wife, I made sure to try and engrave that lesson she taught me into my heart.
I needed strength.
I wanted to be able to confidently face any threat and know that my women, my family, would be safe.
That, in a few years time, my children would be safe.
I had to stop overthinking everything and just push forwards, striding to improve myself as best as I possibly could.
Not only for me...
But for this smiling Dogkin beside me; I wanted to ensure that every last strand of her silky brown hair would be safe.
I wanted to confidently say that I was married to the Princess of this Empire, and be able to proudly, and smugly, show her off to the world.
My other puppy, Anput, would likely join me in my endeavors, being at the forefront of our training, pushing herself to the brink everyday to guarantee that we could rely on her for anything.
All three of my women would be safe.
All four of us would be strong enough to defend one another.
That is a vow I dare to make with confidence.
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So, I think tomorrow I'll try and release two chapters; one lemon and one normal, all to prepare for the start of banquet, which is long overdue lol.
However, don't hold your breath; who knows what shenanigans my mom is going to want to get up to tomorrow...
On Christmas Day I WILL be uploading two chapters; be it one new and one extra, or two new.
Anyways, yeah, that's the plan, and I hope I can stick to it.
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