Chapter 268 Cute siblings.
*~Leon’s POV~*
“So… what are we going to do about Kovu?”
Aurora’s question punched the air between us. I sat up straight. “Kovu?”
She sighed, raking her fingers through her tangled hair. “I don’t know, Leon. We can’t take him to the High House. Not like this. Not when he’s… well…” She waved her hands helplessly. “Huge.”
Kovu—the giant golden lion currently resting near the tree line huffed loudly as if insulted.
“He’s not just huge,” I said. “He’s useful. The way he tore through those two demons earlier? He’s a warrior. A good one. And there’s no way I’m leaving a fighter behind when demons are tracking us.”
Aurora hugged her knees. “I know. He saved me. Twice. And he’s attached to me now.”
Attached was an understatement. The lion had practically imprinted on her like she was his favorite chew toy wrapped in sunshine.
“So what I’m hearing,” I said, “is that we shouldn’t go to the High House?”
“No.” She shook her head. “We need to go. But we can’t take him unless we figure something out.” Aurora turned toward the lion. “Kovu, darling? Do you happen to know how to… shrink? Or fold? Or compress your body into something that can fit through a doorway without ripping it off its hinges?”
Kovu stared at her.
Then he rolled his eyes—yes, rolled his eye and trotted off into the forest.
“Oh gods.” Aurora gasped. “I chased him away. You saw it! You saw what happened! He thinks I don’t want him anymore!”
She stood to run after him, but I grabbed her wrist. “Aurora. Relax. He’s a lion. He won’t go far. And when we get to the High House, their security will be tight enough. We might not even need his help.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “This is the first time you’ve said something partially true.”
“Partially?”
“Yes. We can’t confirm our safety there. We can only assume. Partially.”
I scoffed. “You’re unbelievable.”
Before she could retort, a small blur raced out of the bushes—a tiny brown cat that launched itself straight into Aurora’s lap and began licking her face.
She blinked. “Seriously? What is it with me and random animals? First a lion, now a cat.”
I stared. “It’s licking you. In the exact same spots Kovu licked you.”
Her eyes widened. Then she smacked my chest. “Leon.”
“Ow—what?!”
She hit me again. “Think, you walnut! Think!”
“About what?!”
“Kovu!” She pointed at the cat like she’d discovered the meaning of life. “This is Kovu!”
I squinted. “No, that’s a cat.”
“Exactly!” She slapped her forehead. “We told him he couldn’t come because he’s too big. So he made himself smaller. Look!”
When I reached to touch the creature, it hissed, ears flat, same attitude Kovu always had when I annoyed him.
“…Holy shit,” I breathed. “It is him.”
Aurora scooped the furious little cat-lion hybrid into her arms and nuzzled it. “My smart, sweet Kovu…”
“Smart and sweet are… generous words,” I muttered.
Kovu hissed at me again.
“Fine. Smart,” I corrected.
Aurora raised her oversized sleeve. “Well, these are my only clothes. If we’re going to the High House, I need more.”
“Me too,” I admitted. “We can’t show up with nothing.”
Aurora lifted the cat. “I’m carrying a whole lion. Does that count?”
“No,” I said. “Still empty-handed.”
She snorted, and we began walking toward the road, toward the High House,
We stopped at a roadside stand, bought some clothes and a single travel bag, and stuffed everything inside. Kovu—currently in cat form—was perched on Aurora’s shoulder like he owned the entire kingdom. People stared as we passed, whispering loudly, not even trying to hide it.
Aurora leaned in. “People must seriously think we’re a gay couple.”
I didn’t even bother looking around. “You think? You’re dressed as a man. I’m a man. We’re walking shoulder to shoulder with a cat-baby on your shoulder. Of course they think that.”
“And honestly…” She smirked. “It’s cute to think about.”
“Cute.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t be shocked if one of them throws a stick at us,” I muttered.
“I won’t,” she said proudly.
We trekked on, and finally—after hours—we reached the High House gates. I handed over the scroll the Alpha had given us. The guards checked the seal, bowed, and the towering doors opened.
The High House was… different.
Ours was bigger, yes, but theirs was magnificent. Regal. Golden light spilled across the stone floors like sunlight had been poured onto the ground. It felt old and sacred. Ancient. Powerful.
Maybe I only felt this way because this was the second High House I’d ever stepped into—the first being the one I grew up in.
Aurora shook beside me, eyes sparkling. “Leon… oh my gods… I can live here forever.”
“No, you cannot,” I muttered. “You are a witch. This is a werewolf High House. You should be the last person talking about moving in.”
“I don’t want to move in,” she corrected quickly. “I just want to… breathe here. Look at the walls. Look at the floors. Look at this—this air. I love it already!”
Before I could respond, a child sprinted toward us so fast I nearly stumbled backwards.
“Hey—hey—hey—back up,” I warned, catching Aurora’s arm so we didn’t both fall.
The boy skidded to a stop, chest puffed out like he was announcing himself to a kingdom.
“Hi! I’m Damien.”
“Damien?” I repeated.
“Mhm!” he said proudly.
Aurora melted instantly. She crouched down so fast I thought her knees might crack. “Damien! Where are your mama and papa?”
“They’re inside the High House,” he said cheerfully. “I am Damien Moretti, future Alpha of the throne! And I am welcoming every visitor today.”
Aurora squealed. “Leon! Isn’t he the cutest thing ever?” She reached forward and ruffled his hair, and Damien puffed up even more.
“Where is the way to the High House palace?” I asked.
“You’re in the High House,” he said.
I blinked. “No, I mean the palace.”
“Oh! It’s right there,” he pointed proudly. “Come! I’ll show you.”
The tiny boy marched ahead like a miniature king while Aurora whispered behind her hand, “He’s so freaking cute.”
“Shut up,” I hissed. “He’s the Alpha’s son. Children are sneaky. If he finds out you’re a woman, he’ll run to his father, and his father will chop your head off before dinner. So keep your voice down.”
Aurora just grinned unapologetically. “Still cute.”
I closed my eyes and prayed for patience.
Before I could finish inhaling, another tiny boy sprinted toward us—a smaller one with silver hair. Damien’s eyes widened.
“Lucien, NO!”
The little one—Lucien—ignored him completely and pointed straight at Aurora and me with suspicious eyes. Damien dove forward, grabbed his little brother, and yanked him back behind him.
“Lucien, you don’t invite strangers like that!” Damien scolded. “Stop it! Get back!”
Then he turned to us with the seriousness of a grown man.
“I’m very sorry. My younger brother is such a brat.”