The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 297: I do not fear you, Land-Warrior

Thalor tilted his head, his purple hair shimmering as it shifted over his broad shoulders.

"In the deep, we have no need for such barriers, Land-Mother. The tide covers all." How comfortable that must’ve been for you. "Is the land-air not meant to be felt?"

"The land-air is meant to be felt while wearing clothes in places that shouldn’t be exhibited!" I exasperatedly threw my hands up.

Fenric stepped forward then, his feet crunching in the sand, and then stopped inches from Thalor, towering over the merman with the sheer bulk of a seasoned warrior.

They looked about the same height but Fenric was much more intimidating.

"Look here. I don’t care if you’re the King of the Sun," Fenric growled, his voice vibrating in his chest. "You claimed your life belongs to my mate. You walk onto this shore, standing before her like this, and speak of debts without a shred of decency. Even if she saved you, she didn’t ask for your life. So show more sincerity towards your attempt to repay her and get lost."

He glared at Thalor.

Fenric could already feel it. The magnificence of this man, and that was even more provoking.

The fact was, he knew I was into hot guys, especially ones with chests that could lull me to sleep. And then standing in front of me, out of nowhere, was a man just as hot, just as chested, and just as loaded down there. There was no way he wouldn’t feel hostile.

And to top it all, he claimed his life belonged to me.

If that wasn’t a proposal to become one of my spouses, then he didn’t know how else to interpret it. And he definitely didn’t find it welcoming.

Damar felt the same way too.

To them, Thalor was an enemy they needed to get rid of before I showed any ’interest’ in him.

Honestly, I’m just worried a war will break out because of their jealousy and I’d have to fix the aftermath because, you know, I’m the queen.

Thalor didn’t flinch even at Fenric’s threat. He looked Fenric in the eye, his violet gaze calm and strangely deep.

"I do not fear you, Land-Warrior. I have faced the monsters in the deep, the crushing depths of the currents and trenches, and the poison of the bitter dust. And now, I am here for her." He boldly declared and Fenric’s fist clenched even harder.

"Okay, okay! Enough with the ’here for her’ talk." I scrambled over before Fenric could throw that punch he was preparing. "Just wait here for a moment and nobody move."

I rushed to get a large umbrella leaf and came back, wrapping it around his waist.

"Hold this, and don’t let go," I said, putting his hand on the edge where I couldn’t pin. If I let go, the leaf would fall off, so he has to hold on to it.

Thalor nodded and held on to it.

"There," I panted, stepping back and wiping a stray hair from my face. "Now we can have a proper conversation without me feeling like I’m at a very specific type of art gallery."

Just as the ’wardrobe’ situation was somewhat contained, I heard heavy strides coming from the other side.

Someone was coming, and judging by the footsteps... It was Noah. He was back so soon?

Ah, but that’s not all.

My ears twitched a bit, catching more footsteps.

He wasn’t coming alone.

Noah was accompanied by a few of the elders—the ones who were already skeptical about my ’outsider’ status.

As soon as Noah saw the situation, his eyes falling on the specific bronze statue with a leaf wrapped around its torso, he stopped dead in his tracks.

His gaze went from Fenric’s murderous expression to Damar’s lashing tail, then to me, and finally once again to the tanned, purple-haired man.

"Little tiger," Noah said, his voice dropping into that dangerously calm ’King’ tone. "I wasn’t gone for long but it seems something happened. Why is there a male I have not seen before, and why..." His eyes landed on the leaf skirt. "...does he look like he’s just been dressed by my wife?"

Ah, he was so on point.

I looked at Noah, then at the livid Talia who was—of course—lingering in the back of the group with a triumphant smirk, and then at Thalor.

"He... he’s a guest?" I offered, giving a weak, shaky smile. "A very... high-ranking, appreciative guest?"

I wasn’t even sure of what I was saying anymore. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"He’s from the sea," I said and the ones who accompanied Noah gasped in shock.

"The... Sea?" Noah asked, unsure and taken aback.

Thalor, never one to miss a beat, stepped forward and bowed to Noah.

"King of the Land people," he greeted, his voice echoing with authority. "I am Thalor, Prince of the Sea. And I have come to claim my place by the side of the one who gave me back my soul."

"Who are you referring to?" Noah asked, his eyes narrowed as he already suspected who the one who gave him back his soul was.

He looked up at me and I honestly wanted to hide behind Fenric. I didn’t do anything but I was already looking guilty.

"It is your Queen, the Land mother herself. Arinya." He said with a flashing smile spreading over his lips and I swear I saw a vein pop up in Noah’s neck.

Talia let out a sharp, theatrical gasp.

"By her side? Noah, do you hear this? Your ’Queen’ is collecting mates from the ocean now! Doesn’t that sound like a very queenly thing to do?"

"Shut up, Talia. No one asked for your inclusion." I snapped at her and she frowned, her brows knitting together.

"Just admit that you’re not content with being queen by Noah’s side and want to also rule the mer folks." She threw the accusation out in the open.

Ah, I never even thought about ruling fishes.

This, just keeps getting more and more frustrating.

I dropped my hand on my face, feeling the headache of the century brewing.

"Shall we... Take a moment to go about the situation?"