Chapter 138: Hye Yang’s little schemes
Mira met with the cubs. She gave them their prizes and ensured all of them went back to their homes safely. After their whole adventure today, those cheetah cubs had officially become part of her little army.
They just needed to be trained to not think outside the box when it came to her, because ain’t no way one of them asked for more when she told him to lure her sister away.
Mira let out a sigh, she was alone in Ming Tao’s chambers.
After escorting each cheetah cub to their homes, she met with the adults to give them a share of the meat. Mira promised to make more tomorrow to satisfy the children’s needs but she promised to do so after the swim lessons.
And then, there was the last meeting with the cub. As Mira expected, he was safe and Hye Yang did not do anything to harm him but she also gave him a concoction.
It was firmly tied in two wooden bowls which served as the plate and a cover. It was tied at the center and looked like a large coconut. The fur tied around it smelled of fox and that was enough proof Mira needed to prove Hye Yang carried this thing that was banned in the beast world around with her.
It would not aid Hye Yang’s cause at all. Mira grinned. She did not open the plate to look inside but it has the same smell as the one in the pride land so she was sure it was made of the same thing.
Mira bent lower and dig the bowl housing the concoction underneath the bed then covered it with a lot of fur to hide it.
The cheetah home looked way too plain compared to modern houses to have a lot of hiding spots and Mira was sure this one would do.
She took a deep breath in then exhaled. She was all alone, again. No one was here to keep the other side of the massive bed warm and it seemed like she would be sleeping alone tonight again. Mira did not like this. She did not like getting used to not having company and she needed Ming Tao the most now.
No matter how much she thought about it, she could not understand her encounter with him in Hye Yang’s hide out. He was calm and seemed to protect her yet there was this contrast to his calmness.
Mira stood up then sat on her side of the bed.
*
Mira took her time getting ready.
With every slowed activity she did, she tried to think of a possible reason for this sudden summon but her head blanked.
And to make it worse, she was beginning to crave the scent of shoe polish.
Mira had heard about the crazy, out of this world cravings that came with being pregnant but never had she thought she would be among those who craved such. She always thought her cravings would be switching to meat even though she was vegan or wanting peas even though she normally hated it but here she was craving shoe polish. And at the worst time this craving could possibly come.
Mira stepped out of Ming Tao’s room. She made her way outside where the warriors were steadily, counting her footsteps with every movement.
Her chest felt heavy, she thought about so many things and none of them were good and she could not help but wonder if her sister had anything to do with this. Or worse, if her husband did.
Mira swallowed. Was this about poisoning Hye Yang’s food with laxatives? Was that crime enough to involve the Ruling Oracle? Mira could not tell, she just let her thoughts run wild even though it did not do her any good.
The moment she stepped outside the door, her eyes met the warriors.
Seeing them up close was intimidating. They were tall. Big chested and broad shouldered. They had massive, able bodies and it was hard to not see the muscles that came from intense training.
Each of them had a distinct marking with blue on their bare chest and their foreheads and they all bore gloomy, rigid and fearful faces. In their hands were sharpened spears with a blue cloth tied at the top and bottom and they had wooden shields tied behind their backs.
Mira could easily tell these men were trained for war and staying by their side without anyone with her was terrifying. At least with Jia Hao or Ming Tao by her side, she would not feel small nor intimidated.
Mira let her fingers cling onto her royal cloak as she tried to hide the nervousness from showing on her face.
"I am ready to go with you." She said.
None of the men looked her way until she spoke.
A man made his way to her. He looked the most defined and was the one among them that would be easily spotted and distinct.
He had markings but his were different. He looked stronger. Fiercer. And unlike the others who had the same markings at the centre of their foreheads, he had one that looked like a raindrop and two dots on either side of it.
"A pleasure to meet with you face to face, wife of the mighty cheetah." The man said respectfully and bowed.
The other men bowed along with him. They followed his lead without question and it did not take Mira long to know that he was the leader of the warriors.
"Please, rise." Mira worded. The moment he stood, they all did too. "Next time you are sent to get me, show me respect from the moment you arrive at my resting place. A cheetah could have come in to do the honours. You did not only disrespect me but the ruler of the cheetah clan by your actions. You should be punished." Mira stated. Deep down, her body was close to collapsing as she uttered these words to men who looked like snapping her neck would be like breaking a toothpick but she said her mind anyway.
"It would not happen again." The man said with another bow. "Please, do not hesitate to give us any punishment you deem suitable for the crime we committed. My men and I will humbly accept it."
Mira’s gaze narrowed. It was almost as if this man was trained to die.
What if she deemed the worthy punishment a beheading? Would they accept it that easily? It was almost as if they were unaware of who she actually was or chose to be respectful to her regardless of what they knew about her.
"Take me to the Ruling Oracle." Mira said. "I will think of something for you all later." She finished her statement.
The man bowed. "I will. Permit me to walk in front of you. My men will stay behind you."
Mira knew he meant for protection but something about over twenty men being behind her did not sit well with her at all. In fact, with them being as strong as they are, she would rather all of them be in front of her so she could keep watch of each of them.
But showing weakness was not something she wanted to do in front of them.
"Please, I am safe in my husband’s home and need no protection from your men. You all can walk before me." Mira stated.
"I. . ." The man stuttered. He looked completely stunned by her response to him and other refusal. "I do not dispute that. Please. . . allow us. It is what we do."
Mira tilted her chin up. Her bold countenance was hanging on a thread and she knew she would fall to the ground the moment she was away from these men but she did not want to show the truth one bit. "Whatever you say." She worded.
"Thank you." The man said. Mira did not ask for his name, in fact, she would rather not know nor remember any of their faces. The man gestured for his men to assemble behind her as he stayed in front of her. He led the way.
As Mira followed before him, she could not help but chew the inside of her cheek. She hoped that everything was okay, if not for her, for the sake of the baby that grew in her stomach.
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