Chapter 370: The untamed charm of a beast
Today was Nix’s turn to spend time with Rory.
Throughout the day, he had remained practically glued to her side, rarely more than a few steps away.
Yet after dinner, Rory hadn’t seen him once.
Now it was time to head back and get some sleep, and Nix was nowhere to be found.
She glanced toward Xarion, who was sprawled comfortably across a sofa in the lounge.
"Xarion, have you seen Nix?"
Xarion pointed toward her room.
"He went into your room before dinner."
His expression remained relaxed.
"And he hasn’t come out since."
Rory frowned.
What was Nix doing in her room so early?
"I see."
She headed toward her quarters.
As she passed the sofa, Xarion suddenly reached out and gently caught her wrist.
Looking up at her with hopeful eyes, he pointed at his forehead.
"Female Master, can you give me a kiss?"
Rory laughed softly and sat beside him.
Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to his forehead.
Then, before he could ask for more, she brushed a quick kiss across his lips as well.
Earlier that day, she had already performed a soothing session for him.
His mental sea was exactly as she had suspected.
Those icy spikes had begun growing again.
Fortunately, after today’s treatment, every last one of them had melted away.
Rory had already made a mental note to check on him regularly and provide additional soothing whenever necessary.
She had also performed a session for Paros.
What surprised her was how much stronger her mental power had become.
She could now complete two soothing sessions in a single day without difficulty.
As for Vincent, Vangar, and the others, their conditions remained stable for the time being.
None of them currently required her assistance.
Xarion didn’t keep her long.
After receiving the affection he wanted, he happily let her return to her room to rest.
Rory opened the door. The room was empty. Her brows immediately knitted together.
Hadn’t Xarion said Nix was in here?
Where was he?
Just as she turned to leave and continue searching, something on the bed shifted.
The blanket moved slightly.
A small lump rose beneath the covers, as though a tiny animal was hiding underneath.
"Nix?"
Rory called cautiously.
"It’s me." Nix’s voice emerged from beneath the blanket.
Immediately, Rory hurried over and pulled back the covers.
A small pale-blue liger cub was curled up beneath them.
The little creature lay comfortably among the blankets, gazing up at her with bright eyes.
Rory fell silent.
He was adorable. Dangerously adorable.
An overwhelming urge to scoop him up and pet him nearly overwhelmed her.
What kind of timing was this?
Rory silently scolded herself.
Trying to ignore how cute he looked, she asked nervously, "Nix, what’s wrong? Why are you in your beast form?"
"I’m fine." The little liger cub swished his tail and reached out a paw to tap the back of her hand. "Hurry and get on the bed."
His eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"I have a surprise for you."
Rory eyed him suspiciously but eventually climbed onto the bed.
The moment she settled against the pillows, the pale-blue cub immediately padded closer. His fluffy head rubbed affectionately against her cheek. Warm breaths brushed her skin, leaving behind a faint ticklish sensation.
Rory’s heart instantly melted. She was just about to reach out and pet him.
Suddenly, the little liger vanished. In his place stood Nix.
Before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her gently into his embrace.
Rory stared at him in shock.
"Nix, you..." Her eyes widened. "You aren’t wearing..."
The rest of the sentence died in her throat.
Meeting his heated gaze, she abruptly lost the ability to finish her thought.
For the first time, she became acutely aware of the warmth radiating from him.
Even through the thin fabric of her pajamas, she could feel the startling heat coming from his body.
Concern immediately replaced her surprise.
"Nix." She touched his forehead instinctively. "Do you have a fever?"
Rory immediately looked at him with concern.
"You’re..."
"It’s not a fever."
Nix gazed back at her, the fluffy ears atop his head twitching slightly.
He wasn’t running a fever. He was just...
No. He could handle it. He absolutely could.
"Rory..."
Nix tightened his arms around her, pressing her closer against his broad chest.
Then he gently took her hand and guided it around his lean waist before placing it atop his tail.
"Rory, pet it." His voice softened. "It misses you."
The moment Rory’s palm touched the fluffy tail, she was struck by its warmth and softness.
The thick fur was silky beneath her fingers, full of vibrant, untamed life.
She stroked slowly through the plush strands.
As she did, she could clearly feel the muscles near the base of the tail tightening ever so slightly beneath her touch.
Curious, she gave it a gentle squeeze.
A muffled sound escaped Nix’s throat. His chin pressed more firmly against her shoulder. Warm breaths spilled across the sensitive skin of her neck. The arms wrapped around her tightened once again.
Held securely against him, Rory could feel his heartbeat through the thin fabric separating them.
It pounded like a war drum. Each beat seemed stronger than the last.
Nix drew in a deep breath, desperately trying to calm the heat coursing through his body.
Burying his face in the curve of her neck, he spoke in a voice roughened by restraint.
"Rory... don’t move." His breathing hitched. "Just... give me a minute."
The instant Rory heard the strain in his voice and felt his reaction, she froze completely.
She didn’t dare move.
Her hand, however, remained resting on his tail.
Several long moments passed before Nix finally found his voice again.
Lifting his head, he looked at her.
His pale blue eyes seemed slightly misted, as though covered by a thin veil of moisture.
"Rory..." A trace of grievance crept into his expression. "I didn’t mean to not wear any clothes."
His voice carried an almost puppy-like mixture of embarrassment and wounded pride.
"I really wanted to wear pajamas."
He looked genuinely distressed.
"But I searched through my entire wardrobe and couldn’t find a single set that looked nice."
Like a dog afraid of disappointing its owner, he wrapped his tail around Rory’s wrist.
"Rory, don’t be upset with me, okay?"
His ears drooped slightly.
"My taste isn’t very good. The clothes I bought aren’t nearly as nice as the ones Yuel got."
The moment he said it, Rory understood.
This sneaky guy wasn’t upset at all. He was fishing for a gift.
Watching his beast ears droop sadly while he stared at her with such earnest anticipation, Rory almost laughed.
Without another word, she reached into her storage ring and pulled out an exquisitely wrapped gift box.
Then she placed it in his hands.
"I prepared yours a long time ago."
How could she possibly play favorites? Everyone had received a gift.
Nix stared at the box. His pale blue eyes lit up instantly. The transformation was so dramatic it was almost comical.
He looked up at Rory in disbelief.
"Rory..." His voice trembled with excitement. "You already bought my gift?"
"Of course." Rory smiled. "If I’m buying gifts for all of you, then everyone gets one."
Before she could finish speaking, Nix leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on her cheek.
"I knew it." His grin was dazzling. "You are the fairest."
He accepted the box with obvious excitement.
Yet despite his eagerness, his movements remained incredibly careful, as though he were handling a priceless treasure.
His long fingers fumbled slightly while undoing the ribbon.
Finally, he lifted the lid.
Inside was a beautifully crafted silk robe.
The color was a striking glacier blue that perfectly complemented the pale-blue tones of his beast form.
The luxurious silk caught the light and shimmered softly, like moonlight flowing across still water.
The robe featured an elegant V-shaped lapel that would reveal just enough of his collarbones and chest to appear effortlessly attractive.
A wide matching belt rested neatly at the waist.
The most thoughtful detail, however, was hidden at the back.
A specially designed opening allowed his fluffy liger tail to pass through comfortably without being restricted.
Beside the robe lay a pair of silver-rimmed frameless glasses.
The lenses were crystal clear.
The minimalist design carried a subtle futuristic elegance, perfectly suited to his identity as a master mech engineer.
When Rory had first seen the set, she had immediately thought of Nix.
The combination of the silk robe and glasses blended two sides of him beautifully.
The untamed charm of a beast.
And the bright, almost innocent appeal he carried without realizing it.
The moment she saw it, she knew it was meant for him.
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