"Soren, I want to bathe alone today," Rayna said, her voice softer than she meant it to be.
"Why, my love? Is my special service no longer to your taste?" Soren asked.
Rayna's cheeks warmed as images flooded back—warm hands, hot water, the slick surface of the tub. They hadn't let her bathe alone in days. And they both were so gentle with the aftercare, it made her feel truly cherished. Sometimes it was Soren, sometimes Ezra. Sometimes both. And sometimes while bathing...it led to something else. Ahem! And not once had it felt unpleasant. That was the problem.
She cleared her throat. "That's not it. It's just... let me take a bath by myself today."
From across the room, Ezra chimed in.
"Are you finally bored of this bird, sunshine?" Ezra's head popped out from behind the fireplace where he was stirring a steaming pot of soup. The scent of Yunxi's herbs filled the little shelter, earthy and soothing. His herbs and the spices he gave really enhanced the taste of the meals they cooked. "I'm much more efficient when it comes to scrubbing. Let me help you." Ezra grinned and walked closer to the wooden tub.
Rayna sighed, firmer this time. "I said no. Neither of you are joining me. I mean it. Just—leave me alone for a while."
Rayna was exhausted from the past few days. Yes, as much as those "strenuous activities" were to blame, even the weather brought her a lot of boredom. It was still raining and she couldn't go outside, so that depressed her a bit. Soren had collected enough water for her to bathe, beforehand, so she was able to bathe properly, sometimes even in warm water which Ezra and Soren together heated for her to soothe her muscles.
But still, with no phones, no books or anything to do inside the hut, while it rained heavily outside, it frustrated her.
And at night...
Soren and Ezra pestered her. And it was not that she was not willing, well she quite enjoyed it. But doing it so often... it was now becoming too much. Her back was now at its limit and she wanted some rest.
"Hmm... if I had cards here, we all could have played." Rayna sighed.
Then an idea struck her mind.
Truth and dare.
A classic game. But one that could peel them open in new ways. They'd spent days tangled in heat but there were still questions hanging unasked. This game might help deepen their bond... let her see new sides of them, and let them know her better.
After the bath Rayna dried herself up, wore fresh clothes, and called out.
"Soren! Ezra! Come here sit down." She patted on the rug as she sat down.
"Let's play a game" she said, sitting cross-legged on the thick fur rug. The rain pattered hard against the wooden walls.
Ezra, sprawled across a cushion with his feet dangerously close to the fireplace, perked up immediately. "Oh, so what is this game?"
Soren sat next to Rayna ready to listen to her attentively.
"Truth and dare," she said, already smiling.
Ezra sat up. "Sounds ominous. Is this a punishment ritual or a courting one?"
Rayna laughed. "Neither. It's a simple game. Whoever gets the turn, has to choose between truth and dare. If they choose truth, you ask them any question — and they have to answer honestly. If they choose dare, you give them a challenge — something silly or bold — and they have to do it."
Soren looked intrigued. "So either way, you end up revealing something."
Rayna nodded.
Ezra grinned. "It sounds interesting. But how do we decide who goes first?"
Rayna looked around the hut. Her gaze landed on the smooth bone lying by the fire — one they'd kept after finishing their meal one night. She picked it up and set it in the wooden floor instead of the rug, so it's easier to spin.
"We spin this. Whoever it points to starts."
Ezra gave a low whistle of appreciation.
Rayna spun the bone. It spun once, then stopped — the broad end stopping at Soren and the narrow end pointing straight at Ezra.
"You're up first, Soren" Rayna said, grinning.
Ezra rested a hand over his chest. He turned to Soren. "Okay, truth or dare?"
Soren gave him a flat look, then with a small smirk said, "Dare."
Ezra clapped once. "Perfect. I dare you to compliment me three times. In a row. Genuinely. No sarcasm, no backhanded jabs. And no dramatic pauses to pretend you're choking."
Rayna giggled behind her hand. Soren's face remained still for a beat too long — like a man preparing to do something he clearly didn't want to.
He inhaled. "Fine."
"You... have a brain. That works." He said it slowly, as if each word had to be dug out with effort.
Ezra blinked. "I'll take it."
"You're... good at making things." Another pause. Soren glanced toward the fire, then the soup pot Ezra had concocted earlier. "Useful things. Most of the time."
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "Okay. Two. One more."
Soren's eyes narrowed slightly. He shifted on the rug, then looked pointedly away as he muttered,
"And you... have a nice tail."
Ezra burst out laughing. "What?"
Rayna practically fell over from laughter. "Soren!"
Soren gave a tired sigh. "You wanted honesty. That was genuine."
Rayna wiped a tear from her cheek. "This game is already being so much fun."
Soren without saying anything further, spun the bone.
This time it was Rayna's turn to ask Ezra.
"Your turn," she said, leaning forward with a glint in her eyes. "Truth or dare?"
Ezra stretched like a cat, arms overhead.
"Truth." His grin was lazy, but his eyes watched her closely.
Rayna tapped her chin, pretending to think hard. Then she tilted her head, curious.
"Okay, Ezra... did you ever like any female, before you met me? Even if it was just for a moment?" She added quickly, a smile playing on her lips, "Don't worry, I won't be upset about it."
Ezra's grin faltered just a bit.
"Well, there was someone."
Rayna blinked in surprise. Soren quietly raised an eyebrow, listening.
Ezra rubbed the back of his neck, voice softer now.
"There was this female fox. From this village only. Not particularly stunning or dramatic... but she helped me once."
He glanced at Rayna once then continued.
"I was a little cub— got stung by a venomous forest bug. I was out in the woods, crying like a fool, limbs going numb. She spotted me and ran to get the healer. Didn't panic, just... acted."
A soft shrug.
"So yeah, after that, I kind of admired her. It wasn't some big, intense romance, but I thought... maybe when we grew up, I'd ask her to be my mate. She was smarter than the rest, like she atleast used her brain and saved me, so."
Ezra's tone shifted — drier, edged with amusement.
"But turns out, by the time she came of age, she'd already taken three fox beastmen. And at that year's Nomei Festival, she added a wolf to her collection too."
He sighed.
"Then I saw the way she talked to one of them. All bratty and loud, throwing leaves at him because he brought the wrong mushrooms. I just stood there thinking, Yep. She's exactly like the rest."
He leaned back. "So I left a basket of meat and fruit outside her hut the next day. Quiet repayment. That was it."
He looked at Rayna, expression lighter now but not mocking.
"Never liked anyone after that. Not seriously. Until..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but his gaze said enough.
Rayna held it for a moment, her heart thudding just a bit louder than the rain.
Rayna watched him quietly, her fingers idly tracing the stitching on the rug. After a pause, she asked,
"So... was she your first love?"
Ezra shook his head almost immediately, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
"Not love."
His voice was softer now, less performative.
"Love is a serious word, Rayna. I don't use it casually."
He looked down at his hands for a moment, then back at her.
"It was just... simple admiration. Gratitude, maybe. She helped me when I was helpless. And in a world where we were all expected to pick our mates once we come of age, she seemed like the best at that time. That's all it was."
There was no bitterness in his tone, just honesty — the kind Rayna hadn't seen from him often. A glimpse behind the charm and constant teasing.
She nodded slowly, absorbing that.
"Still," she said quietly, "I'm glad she helped you. So, she still lives in this village?"
Ezra nodded, leaning back on one hand.
"Yeah... she still lives here. I saw her not long ago, actually. She took in a bear beastman at this year's Nomei festival."
Rayna's eyes widened slightly. Something clicked.
"Wait," she said slowly, "does she... does she have a fox cub now? A little one, with tufts of red-gold fur and a crooked ear?"
Ezra blinked, surprised.
"Yeah. That's her youngest. She's got quite a few cubs. Why? How do you know?"
Rayna let out a breath, almost laughing.
"Oh, so that was her..." (Reference to Ch 14)
Ezra tilted his head.
Soren then asked, casually but with a curious gleam in his eye.
"Just an add-on question, Ezra — when was it that you fell for Rayna and knew she was the one?"
Ezra paused.
The question hung in the air like mist — quiet, but present.
For a second, he didn't speak. Then he gave a half-smile, almost shy, and said,
"I guess I fell for you at first sight."
Rayna blinked, caught off guard.
Ezra rubbed the back of his neck, glancing away briefly before continuing.
"There was a commotion outside the chief's hut. I was curious — people were talking, gathering. I asked the chief what it was about, and she told me about you. Said you were new and hadn't found your place yet. That you didn't have any mates."
He gave a small chuckle.
"I knew what she was doing. Trying to set me up. But I still went."
He turned to Rayna then, gaze steady.
"And then I saw you."
His voice dropped a little — not dramatic, just sincere.
"You stepped out of the hut, a radiant beauty with hair like the midnight black sky and eyes that caught the sunlight, glimmering like dew at dawn."
Rayna felt her cheeks grow warm. Ezra didn't notice — or maybe he did, and didn't say anything.
"I was done for right there," he admitted. "But then I talked to you... and I fell even harder."
He smiled, the kind that reached his eyes.
"I guess you just made me fall for you."
Rayna blushed.
For a moment, she looked down, unsure of what to say. But then, she couldn't help but press, a soft kiss to Ezra's cheek.
Ezra froze — just for a second — and then smiled. A slow, almost boyish smile that made something flutter in Rayna's chest.
"Okay, let's continue the game."
Ezra gave a small nod, still smiling.
Soren, meanwhile, sat with his arms folded, a dramatic pout forming on his face.
Rayna chuckled, shaking her head.
The bone spun again. It was Soren's turn to ask Rayna.
Soren tapped his claw thoughtfully on the ground, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Rayna," he said at last, a mischievous glint breaking through his usual serious tone. "Truth or dare?"
She looked at him, a little suspicious.
"...Dare."
Soren didn't hesitate.
"Come sit on my lap for one whole round."
Rayna's eyes widened, clearly not expecting that from the usually reserved, brooding Soren.
"Just because she kissed me and not you, you're like this?" Ezra said in a teasing tone.
Soren raised an eyebrow, voice calm.
"You picked dare."
Then he patted his thigh. "Come on."
Rayna looked between the two boys, then gave a theatrical sigh.
"You're unbelievable."
Still, she stood and sat on his lap — trying to look annoyed, but the warmth in her cheeks gave her away.
"Happy now?"
"Getting there," Soren murmured, resting a hand gently on her waist, having a satisfied expression.
He wrapped his arms around her tightly, pulling her flush against his chest, draping her legs over his thighs.
"Childish." Devoid of any seriousness, Ezra whispered so that Soren couldn't hear.
Soren, smug and quiet, hugged her from behind, occasionally nuzzling into the crook of her neck or brushing a soft kiss to her shoulder. Rayna too rested more easily against Soren's chest.
The rain now falling less heavily than before. The game continued— softer, sillier, and threaded with the kind of quiet closeness that didn't need to be named.