Nina followed Lex to a grassy hill just beyond their campsite.

The ground here rose above the surrounding terrain, offering an unobstructed view of the horizon. In the distance, layers of mountains framed the setting sun. Golden light spilled across the meadow, bathing the swaying grass in warm amber hues and painting the world in shades of honey and gold.

A long wooden reclining chair had been placed on the grass. In front of it sat a shallow basin filled with water.

Curious, Nina walked over and peered inside.

Tiny fish no bigger than her little finger darted through the clear water.

"Lex, where did you get these little fish?" she asked.

As far as she remembered, he had spent nearly every moment by her side during their journey. She did not recall them passing any streams or ponds where he could have caught them.

A smile curved Lex’s lips.

"I raised them myself. I’ve been carrying them in a waterskin these past few days."

He held up a specially made hide pouch with small ventilation holes near the top.

Nina suddenly remembered seeing him fussing over a strange leather bag every now and then whenever he visited Bjar. At the time, she had not thought much of it.

She looked back at the tiny fish swimming eagerly in circles.

"What are they for?"

The fish were so small that she had briefly wondered whether he intended to dry them as snacks.

"They’re cleansing fish," Lex explained. "They help clean and massage. They don’t have teeth, so they won’t bite."

Gently guiding her to the chair, he helped her sit down before kneeling beside her. Carefully removing her shoes, he lowered her feet into the basin.

The moment her feet touched the water, the tiny fish rushed toward them.

At first, Nina felt a strange tingling sensation that made her want to laugh. It tickled in an oddly pleasant way.

After a few moments, however, she found herself relaxing into the experience.

It was surprisingly comfortable.

Lex began gently massaging her calves and ankles.

"Whenever you’re tired from walking, they can help clean and relax your feet."

In truth, Nina rarely walked long distances. Most of the time, one of her mates carried her. Still, she occasionally preferred to stretch her legs and wander on her own rather than spend the entire day riding on someone’s back.

She wiggled her toes beneath the water.

The tiny fish immediately chased after them, darting back and forth.

"They’re actually pretty cute."

A smile lit Lex’s face.

"As long as you like them. I can keep raising them and let them give you massages every day."

To prepare this surprise, he had gone out of his way before their departure to collect the fish from the sea. He had spent days caring for them and helping them adapt to their temporary home before finally bringing them out today.

Seeing her smile made all that effort worthwhile.

Nina laughed softly.

"That won’t be necessary. Once in a while is enough."

Then she glanced toward him.

"You don’t need to keep massaging me. I’m not tired. Come sit with me instead. Let’s watch the sunset together."

"Alright."

Lex washed his hands before taking a seat beside her.

"Nina, you can lean against me. It’ll be more comfortable."

She settled into his embrace without resistance.

Wrapped in his arms, she gazed toward the horizon.

The sky blazed with brilliant shades of crimson, gold, and violet. Clouds drifted through the glowing heavens like brushstrokes across a painted canvas. The last rays of sunlight spilled over the distant mountains, creating a breathtaking scene.

Lex rested an arm around her waist.

Yet while Nina admired the sunset, his attention remained fixed entirely on her.

His eyes traced every delicate feature of her face.

Contentment filled his chest. Happiness settled deep within his heart. Simply holding her like this felt enough.

At some point, Nina lifted her head absentmindedly.

Her gaze collided with his. For a moment, neither spoke. The world seemed to grow quiet around them.

Lex stared into her eyes. Slowly, almost unconsciously, he lowered his head.

Their lips met.

The gentle contact sent their heartbeats spiraling out of rhythm.

The kiss deepened naturally, lingering and tender. Neither seemed willing to be the first to pull away.

Time slipped past unnoticed. Only after a long while did they finally rise and return to camp hand in hand.

The sight immediately drew jealous looks from the other mates.

Idir strode over without hesitation and swept Nina into his arms.

"Nina, dinner is ready."

His voice carried a hint of anticipation.

"I made a few dishes myself tonight. Come try them."

Recently, he had devoted himself to learning how to cook. Today was the first time he felt confident enough to let Nina sample the results.

Reluctantly, Lex released her hand.

He knew better than to monopolize Nina’s attention.

If he pushed too far, the others would certainly make life difficult for him.

He had learned from Yanai’s experiences and had no desire to accumulate obstacles on his own path toward becoming her mate.

Nina slipped her arms around Idir’s neck and smiled.

"Alright. I’ll be your taste tester."

Warm affection softened Idir’s gaze.

"I’ve only just started learning. If anything tastes off, tell me honestly. I’ll improve."

Nina leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

"Deal."

Instantly, his smile brightened.

Carrying her carefully, he headed toward the dining area with noticeably lighter steps.

Nearby, Phar watched the interaction unfold.

A strange feeling stirred within him. It was unfamiliar. Uncomfortable. A faint bitterness settled in his chest. Something sour and inexplicably lonely.

Meanwhile, the other mates followed behind them.

The children came running as well.

One by one, they climbed onto their tiny chairs and sat obediently at the table, waiting for their fathers to feed them milk and dinner.

Keil gently settled Mimi into her special little chair.

Dian immediately prepared a bottle of warm milk and handed it to her, while Lex busied himself making her supplementary meal.

Idir and Kith attended to Nina, serving her food and making sure she was comfortable. The other mates divided the childcare duties among themselves, helping the little ones eat, while Setan slipped into any gap he could find to lend a hand.

Phar remained curled quietly in a corner, observing everything in silence.

As he watched the lively scene unfold before him, an unexpected thought surfaced in his mind.

Perhaps a life like this was not so bad after all.

The evening meal passed in a warm atmosphere filled with laughter, affection, and easy companionship.

That night, after Nina had finished coaxing the children to sleep, Finch could barely contain his excitement. The moment she stepped out of the nursery area, he swept her into his arms and carried her back to his tent.

As soon as they entered, he drew her close and pulled her into a tender embrace.

His nine magnificent tails unfurled behind him, their soft fur spreading across nearly the entire tent.

Taking one of the fluffy tails, he placed it gently into Nina’s hands.

"Nina, would you like to play with my tails tonight?"

Her eyes immediately brightened.

"Of course."

The tails were impossibly soft and luxurious. She stroked them with obvious delight, unable to hide her fondness.

A big smile curved Finch’s lips as he brushed a kiss against her ear.

The rest of the night disappeared into quiet intimacy and affection as they enjoyed each other’s company beneath the glow of the lantern light.

The following morning, Nina rested comfortably in Finch’s embrace, feeling pleasantly lazy and in no hurry to move.

In contrast, Finch appeared thoroughly refreshed and in exceptionally good spirits.

He carefully helped her wash and get ready for the day before accompanying her to breakfast.

Once the meal was finished, the group resumed their journey.

Nina sat atop Kith’s broad back with the children gathered around her as they continued toward their destination.

Several more days passed on the road.

By then, Odian’s shamanic power had recovered sufficiently, so the group paused to establish camp while he prepared another teleportation array.

With little to occupy her time, Nina brought out a reclining chair and settled beneath the warm sunlight with Mimi nestled beside her.

The two lounged comfortably while several of her mates sat nearby, gently rocking the chair for them.

Not far away, Ridan, Viann, and the others remained busy with various tasks around the campsite.

The rest of the children played happily nearby under the watchful eyes of Sal and Aviel.

Phar found a quiet spot that suited him and settled down there.

Though he appeared relaxed, his gaze remained fixed on Nina.

The children darted back and forth across the campsite, their laughter carrying through the air.

Then one of them suddenly pointed upward.

Towering above them stood an enormous tree laden with fruit.

Its branches stretched high into the sky, heavy with clusters of ripe, colorful fruit that gleamed invitingly in the sunlight.