Genia fixed her gaze on his eyes, her voice now like a command.
"I have one condition. And if either of you violates that condition, remember—I will not only change my mind, but I will leave this clan forever."
Kevin and Alex looked at each other. Their breaths stopped.
"What's the condition?" Alex asked in a serious tone.
Genia's mind was filled with the map of Alex's territory and the mysterious message from Gia. She deliberately crafted her conditions to clear her path.
"My condition is that for the next month, you two will not interfere with wherever I go, whatever I do, and whoever I meet. You must give me complete freedom. Whether I venture into protected territory or into the deepest reaches of the jungle—you will not stop me or follow me. If either of you loses patience before a month is up, I will reject him or her. If you both agree to this condition of mine, only then will I become your mate."
Kevin's face suddenly fell. He said, "What? Complete freedom? But Genia, this could be dangerous!"
"Dangerous?" Genia looked him in the eye. "Don't you trust your mate, Kevin? Or are you afraid I'll be happy without you?"
Kevin was startled. He assured Genia, "No! It's not like that! I... I trust you."
Alex also sensed the situation. He sensed Genia might be looking for something, but he also knew that if he resisted at this point, he might lose her.
"I accept this condition," Alex said softly.
"Me too!" Kevin added immediately, though the seed of doubt had already been sown in his mind.
A triumphant smile appeared on Genia's face. She felt victorious. She had not only calmed them both down, but had also opened the door for herself to what she needed most.
"Excellent," Genia said. "So now, to seal the deal, will you both take me out to dinner tonight? But the condition is that you both sit at the same table and eat in peace."
Kevin and Alex looked at each other. Disgust was evident on their faces, but they were helpless in the face of Genia's condition.
"Okay," they both said in unison.
As they both left the room, Genia took a deep breath and looked towards the window.
The blue-winged bird was sitting on a tree branch outside, watching him.
Genia gently waved her hand.
"The path is clear now," she whispered.
She felt the blue feather in her palm. She knew the coming days would be even more difficult. She not only had to find Gia's message, but also had to heal the old wounds between these four brothers that time had healed. She knew she was standing in the middle of a fire that could burn her, but she had decided to extinguish it, even if it meant fighting the whole world.
Some time later, the dining hall of Kevin's palace was as vast as a cave, where the yellow light of torches danced on the walls. A long, wooden table sat in the centre of the room, but it wasn't a modern table. It was just off the ground, surrounded by thick silken cushions for sitting. This sitting posture was customary among the Beast-Men—close to the ground, alert like prey.
Genia sat in the middle. To her right was Kevin, whose golden eyes flicked periodically toward Alex as if poised to pounce on an enemy.
On the left sat Alex, his posture as still as stone, but his cold gaze was piercing every little gesture of Kevin. The air was filled with the pungent aroma of roasted sweetcorn and wild spices. Silverware was adorned with a variety of dishes, but the silence at the table was so deep that even the faint sound of utensils clashing sounded like an explosion.
Kevin picked up a piece of sweet potato and offered it to Genia's plate, giving her a fake smile. He said, "Genia, this was brought in just this morning. From the best in the area. Taste it, you'll love it."
Without raising his eyes, Alex said in a low and cool voice, "Being from the best area doesn't mean that the sweet potato is tasty, Kevin. You have overcooked it. Its aroma is fading now."
Kevin's ears twitched. He looked at Alex, his pupils dilated like a cat's. He said, "Are you concerned about taste, Alex? Or do you just have a habit of finding fault with everything I say?"
Alex slowly picked up his glass and took a sip of water. He replied, "It's not a habit; it's the truth. The truth is often bitter, just like you."
Genia silently looked at her plate and then looked at both the brothers. She noticed Kevin's fingers lightly scratching the wood of the table. He was trying to suppress his anger, but his predatory instincts were eager to emerge.
Alex was calm, but his breathing had changed. He was waiting for an attack.
A mischievous smile appeared on Genia's face. She deliberately leaned toward Alex and said, "By the way, Alex, I think Kevin has great taste. This sweet potato looks really juicy."
Kevin's face suddenly lit up with triumph. He puffed out his chest and, casting a sideways glance at Alex, said, "Did you hear? Genia likes my choice."
Alex's eyebrows shot up. He looked at Genia, a hint of disappointment in his deep eyes. He said, "Taste varies from person to person, Genia. But quality is lasting. If you want, I can tell you about the special fruits and honey of my region, which calm the mind and soothe the soul."
Kevin slammed his plate down on the table. The utensils clattered as he threw them. He said, "Peace? Are you trying to put her to sleep? Genia wants adventure, not peace!"
Genia raised her hand to silence them, saying, "Enough! You both are forgetting that we are here to have dinner, not fight."
Kevin immediately softened his voice, like a pet bowing to its owner. He said, "I was just discussing, my love. I'm not fighting at all."
Alex sighed and said, "There's a fine line between discussion and fight, which Kevin has never understood."
"What did you say?" Kevin growled.
Genia narrowed her eyes and drew a line on the table with her finger. "Remember my condition? One month of complete freedom. And the condition for this dinner—silence. If either of you shouts, I'll know you don't respect my terms."
Both brothers froze at the same time. Kevin closed his mouth, but a muffled growl escaped his throat.
Alex lowered his gaze, but his fingers still clutched the rim of the glass.
Genia took a bite of the sweetcorn and closed her eyes. She thought to herself, "Such a powerful tiger-beast, and yet so helpless before a tiny rabbit-girl. This sight is nothing less than a dream."
She said softly, "By the way, why is this hatred between you two so deep? Did someone break each other's toys as a child?"
Kevin nodded abruptly and said, "Toys? Genia, this is a matter of pride and power. We have different views on what the future holds for this clan."
Alex interrupted, "His only concern is destruction and noise. He thinks he can rule through fear."
"And what do you think? That being polite will make people bow down to you?" Kevin whispered, though his voice still held anger.
Genia smiled and raised her glass. She said, "I think you two need each other. Alex's calmness can balance Kevin's passion, and Kevin's energy can add momentum to Alex's stagnation."
Kevin looked at Alex and then at Genia. He said, "You say really strange things, Genia. But these things you say… I like them."
Alex gave a faint, almost invisible smile for the first time. He said, "Maybe you're right. But it could take centuries to find that balance."
"Why centuries? When I have only a month," Genia said challengingly.
As she spoke, the lights in the room dimmed slightly, and the sounds of wolves howling drifted from the forest outside. The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Both Kevin and Alex's ears perked up simultaneously. Their senses were activated.
"Something's wrong," Kevin whispered.
He was now halfway up from his chair, his eyes fixed on the door.
Alex, too, became alert. His nose was trying to smell something in the air.
"The air outside has changed. Someone strange is nearing the border."
Genia felt the energy emanating from her body was different now. They were no longer lovers or rivals, but two hunters standing together to protect themselves.
Seeing this, Genia felt a strange feeling. She knew that these two would stand as a wall to protect her in this world, even if they didn't like each other.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. A servant came in and bowed, saying, "Prince Kevin, Prince Alex, Chief Rexon has summoned you both to his chambers immediately."
Kevin and Alex exchanged glances. The artificial peace between them was shattered again.
"Of course, elder brother will need me," Kevin said proudly.
Alex replied in a cool voice, "Or maybe he will need me to correct your mistakes."
Genia held her head and said, "You guys will never change."
***
At the same time, in the most sacred and secret part of the Beast World, where a white marble palace floated above the clouds, there was a wondrous sight. Fragrant flowers rained down all around, and a divine scent permeated the air.
The forest goddess, whose beauty was beyond words, sat in front of a huge crystal bowl. The bowl held a thin layer of water, acting like a magic mirror, which played out the dinner scene from Kevin's palace.
The forest goddess had a gentle smile on her face. Her eyes, which contained the knowledge of the entire universe, looked at Genia.
"How playful this spirit is," the forest goddess said softly. Her voice was like the ringing of a thousand bells.
Just then, a woman's footsteps were heard from behind. It was Mara—Kevin's mother and a great sorceress.
A mixture of affection and concern appeared on Meera's face. She bowed at the feet of the forest goddess.
"Forest Goddess," Mara said in a low voice. "I've been meaning to ask you a question that's been on my mind for a while."
The forest goddess replied without looking away, "Ask, Mara. Your curiosity will lead you closer to the truth."
Mara looked towards the bowl, where Genia was now scolding the two brothers. She asked, "Why didn't you allow us to tell Genia that her soul is actually connected to this world? We know she's no ordinary human girl. We're the ones who found her after all these years and restored her soul to its proper body. Shouldn't she know the truth about who she really is?"
The forest goddess gently waved her hand in the air. A gentle touch landed on the surface of the bowl, and the image in the water faded away. The bowl now looked like an ordinary container of water.
The forest goddess turned to Mara. A pure light emanating from her filled the entire room.
"Mara, the truth is always a blessing if told on time, but a burden if told before time," said the forest goddess seriously.