Interstellar Beastworld: Raising A Cub With My Mummy System!-Chapter 37: YOU ARE A DAMN DISGRACE

Lin Yue walked away from Uriel’s study with steady steps, but her mind was racing.

"MS, if there is a rat in this house, Auriel is not safe. I need to be close to him."

[AGREED. THE NURSERY SHOULD BE YOUR BASE. OBSERVE FROM THERE. STAFF WILL COME AND GO. YOU CAN WATCH.]

She quickened her pace.

The nursery was warm and quiet when she entered.

Auriel lay in his crib, still sleeping peacefully, his tiny chest rising and falling.

A soft blanket covered him, and the mobile above his head spun slowly in the gentle breeze from the window.

Lin Yue pulled a chair close to the crib and sat down. From here, she could see the door.

Anyone entering would have to pass her.

"Now we wait."

[PATIENCE. THE RAT WILL SHOW ITSELF.]

She reached through the crib bars and touched Auriel’s tiny hand.

He stirred slightly but did not wake.

"I will keep you safe," she whispered. "No matter what."

Across the estate, in a wing far removed from the nursery, Varn lay in a large bed.

The room was lavish, fit for royalty, but Varn looked anything but royal. His face was swollen, bruises covered his arms and chest, and both hands were wrapped in thick bandages.

He lay against the pillows, eyes half-closed, breathing shallow.

The door opened.

Lord Varnak entered first, his heavy footsteps echoing against the stone floor.

He was a large man, broad-shouldered, with the same sharp features as his son but harder, crueler.

Behind him came Lady Serys, her face pale, her eyes red-rimmed.

Varn’s mother.

Lord Varnak stopped at the foot of the bed and looked down at his son with undisguised contempt.

"How can you be so stupid?"

Varn’s eyes opened fully. He looked at his father but said nothing.

"How can you be so stupid to fall into Uriel’s clutches after trying to poison his wife and child?" Lord Varnak’s voice rose with each word. "Ah, you are a damn disgrace. Is this how you are going to take over the throne? With these stupid tricks?"

Lady Serys stepped forward. "Husband, please. He is injured—"

"Silence." Lord Varnak did not look at her. His eyes stayed on Varn. "Uriel is a vile man, but he is not stupid. You thought you could play games with him and win? Look at you." He gestured at Varn’s broken body. "You are only alive today because you are my son and of royal blood. If I knew you were going to be this useless, I would have gotten another child years ago."

Lady Serys tried again. "Honey, he is trying his best."

"His best?" Lord Varnak laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "If this is his best, then he should give up. What a waste of time." He stepped closer to the bed, looming over his son. "Uriel is already asking for a visit. Now we get to decide if you live or die. Do you understand that? Your life is in our hands because you could not even poison a woman properly."

Varn’s jaw tightened, but he still said nothing.

Lord Varnak stared at him for another long moment, then turned and walked out. The door slammed behind him.

Lady Serys stood frozen for a moment, then moved to her son’s bedside. She looked at him, at the bandages, at the bruises, at the son she had raised.

Her eyes filled with tears. She shook her head slowly, sadly.

Then she turned and followed her husband out.

The door closed.

Varn lay alone in the darkness.

For a long moment, he did not move. Then slowly, painfully, he pushed himself up against the pillows. His bandaged hands rested in his lap, useless.

His eyes burned.

Not with tears. With rage. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

They thought he was stupid. They thought he was useless. They thought he was a disgrace.

His own father. His own mother.

They would see.

They would all see.

Varn’s lips curled into a smile. It was not a pleasant sight.

"Uriel," he whispered. "Father. Mother. All of you."

He looked at his broken hands.

"This is not over. Not by a long shot."

Varn lay in the darkness, staring at the ceiling. His broken hands rested on his chest, useless, but his mind was sharp.

Sharper than it had been in years.

They thought he was finished.

They thought he was weak.

They were wrong.

"Voice assistant," he said quietly.

A soft chime responded. [Ready.]

"Call Rylan Korr."

[Calling Rylan Korr.]

The line connected after a few moments. A voice came through, low and careful.

[This is Rylan.]

"Rylan." Varn’s voice was hoarse, but there was steel underneath. "I need you to release something into the press for me."

A pause. [You are supposed to be lying low. Your father said...]

"I do not care what my father said." Varn’s eyes narrowed. "Are you working for me or for him?"

Another pause. Longer this time. [What do you need released?]

"Something that will make them squirm." Varn smiled in the darkness. "Use the usual channels, make sure it’s untraceable, and let the press do the rest. You know what to do."

Silence on the line.

[Varn...]

"You owe me, Rylan." His voice dropped lower. "Remember that."

A long exhale. [I remember.]

[And what do I get out of this? This is risky. If I am caught, I am dead.]

Varn’s grin widened in the darkness. "Do not worry. I will give you the dick you love so much. All sixteen inches of it."

There was a long, disgusted pause.

[Take your gay shit away from me.] Rylan’s voice was flat, unimpressed. [I am being serious. I want money. Lots of it.]

Varn laughed, a low, broken sound. "Fine. Money. Double your usual rate. Triple if it works."

[I’ll get it done.]

"Good. Do it and do it well."

The connection closed.

Varn stared at the ceiling, his smile widening.

They wanted to see if he could still play the game.

He would show them.