Chapter 181: I should make you two sleep beside that well for a week

Words : 1058 Updated : Oct 4th, 2025

Chapter 181: Chapter 181: I should make you two sleep beside that well for a week That night. That night. The one where they’d made a sport of throwing pebbles at the strange new thing that had wandered into their world in ragged clothing and dry lips. Cyrus’s eyes widened slightly in alarm just as Isabella launched. No hesitation. No buildup. Pure fury. She lunged forward with enough speed that even Bird-Nest stumbled back. Judgy Hair flinched, clearly unsure if he needed to throw his spear or duck. But before Isabella could even reach them, Cyrus’s arm gently curved around her waist, pulling her back. Not forcefully—he’d never grab her like that. No, he just anchored her like a soft weight tied to a kite string. His face wore that infuriatingly calm smile, one dimple poking out faintly. "You really thought you could take down two palace guards?" he murmured near her ear, amusement dancing in his pink eyes. Isabella didn’t answer. She fumed. "Crazy dirty woman? CRAZY?" she spat over Cyrus’s arm. "You’re lucky I didn’t bite you that night!" Bird-Nest scratched his head, clearly trying to figure out if that was meant literally. "I mean... you were kinda wild," he mumbled. "Wild?" she screeched, trying to kick past Cyrus’s leg now. "I asked for WATER! You gave me ROCKS!" Judgy Hair cleared his throat, cheeks reddening beneath the moonlight. "To be fair, we thought you were a hallucination. A very dramatic hallucination." "She passed out in front of the eastern fire pit!" Bird-Nest said like that justified everything. Cyrus sighed softly and placed his hand more firmly around Isabella’s waist, gently pivoting her body back toward him. "She’s not a hallucination," he said softly. "And a little too good for this place." Bird-Nest opened his mouth. Closed it. Judgy Hair blinked like he’d just been struck by lightning. Isabella tilted her head, brow arching, but didn’t say anything. She was still furious—obviously—but now she was furious while vaguely impressed. Too good for this place? Alright. That wasn’t even a compliment. Just a well-timed truth. She gave Cyrus a side-eye. "I’m still mad," she said, because she needed to remind everyone. Cyrus just smiled, because of course he did. Like she hadn’t just been about to throw hands with two men twice her size. Like this was a normal Tuesday. "I should make you two sleep beside that well for a week," she muttered, brushing back a loose piece of hair from her cheek, finally stepping out of Cyrus’s hold with the kind of exasperated dignity only an annoyed princess could pull off. The two guards straightened. They looked like giant toddlers who had just broken someone’s sacred bone flute. "We... we didn’t know," Judgy Hair said at last. "We were stupid. That night... We shouldn’t have stressed you out like that." "We’re really sorry," Bird-Nest added, his voice small now. "You built the well." Cyrus tilted his head. "She did." "She saved our water system." "She did." "And she’s terrifying," Bird-Nest muttered under his breath. "She is," Judgy Hair said quietly, voice low with something like awe. Isabella gave them one final glare that could’ve broken stone and turned on her heel, walking back toward the palace with a swish of her hips and pride wrapped around her like a cloak. Cyrus followed, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. Still smiling. Still warm. "Crazy dirty woman?" he echoed softly beside her. She gave him a sideways glare. "I’ll let you know when I forgive you for laughing." Cyrus only chuckled, offering her his arm. And just like that, with two guards awkwardly bowing behind them, they walked back into the palace like the drama never happened—one graceful, the other glowing, and both unforgettable. Hurried footsteps from the right, Isabella was fast enough to dodge... "Zara?" Isabella’s voice was confused as she turned sharply, locking eyes with the woman who looked like she’d just been caught committing a crime. Zara froze, her face pale, sweat glistening across her forehead despite the cool night air. Her arms were wrapped tightly around a basket like it held her last breath. Cyrus appeared beside Isabella without a sound. His presence was quiet, solid—like he’d always been there. His eyes narrowed just slightly as he examined Zara. He’d never trusted her. And anyone who didn’t like Isabella? He didn’t like them, either. Isabella blinked, glancing from Zara’s rigid form to the trembling basket. "Where could you be sneaking off to at midnight?" she asked herself more than anyone. "Clutching a basket like it’s going to fly away. And looking like you’ve seen a ghost..." Zara hadn’t even noticed them coming. That alone set off every red flag Isabella had. She took a step closer, tone suddenly sing-songy. "Zara! Where are you going? Looking so scared? Is it fun? Can I come? Will you let me?" Zara flinched like the words were arrows. Her grip on the basket tightened so fiercely her knuckles turned white. "Out of my way," she snapped, voice dry and cracked like she hadn’t spoken in days. She looked Isabella up and down, eyes glinting—not with fear, but with something colder. Something almost... feral. Cyrus moved before Isabella could react. One smooth step. Then another. He placed himself between the two women, calm as ever. But his voice dropped, his tone colder than the stone beneath their feet. "One wrong move," he said quietly, "and I’ll rip your head off." Isabella blinked. What. That voice... she’d never heard that tone from Cyrus before. Not even when he was annoyed. Well had never seen him in a bad mood, but... It sent a chill down her spine. He hadn’t raised his voice. He hadn’t even changed expression. And that—that—was what made it scarier. Zara’s lips curled, and for a brief second, her teeth looked... longer than usual. She let out a low, unnatural growl, something too guttural to be human, then turned and stormed off into the shadows without another word. Isabella stood frozen, eyes wide. "Oh my god," she whispered. A second ago, she’d been half-asleep, yawning and ready to sneak back into her bedding. Now her heart was hammering like a wild drum. She rubbed at her arms like she could wipe the tension off her skin. "What is up with her?"

Chapter 181: I should make you two sleep beside that well for a week

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