Before Xarion could finish speaking, Rory let go of his chin.

She leaned in instead, her warm breath brushing against the curve of his ear, her voice carrying a teasing, dangerous edge.

"And how do you know I’d like this more?"

The warmth made his body stiffen instantly, the tips of his ears flushing red.

He had meant to tempt her... so how had it turned into him being the one flustered?

Trying to recover, Xarion turned his head, aiming for her lips—but she slipped away effortlessly.

"Female Master..." He looked at her, clearly aggrieved.

Did she not like this?

He pressed his lips together, voice low and faintly hurt. "You promised to make it up to me today."

Rory nodded, holding back a smile. "I did promise."

Her fingers traced lightly over the cool golden chain around his wrist, her gaze playful.

"But I never said I’d make it up to you like this."

That only made him look more wronged.

"Then... how does Female Master want to make it up to me?"

Rory looked at him, reached out, and gently stroked his exposed wolf ears. Then she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

After that, she straightened, putting on a serious expression.

"I thought about this all day. I’ve decided... I’ll give you a child."

"...What?"

Xarion froze, certain he must have misheard.

He stared at her in disbelief. "Female Master... what did you just say? I didn’t hear clearly. Say it again."

Normally, Rory would have burst out laughing.

But now, she held it in perfectly, meeting his gaze with complete seriousness as she repeated,

"I said I’ll compensate you with a child. Actually, not just one."

She raised three fingers. "At least three."

Xarion was speechless.

He stared at her like she had just suggested something utterly horrifying.

Then he shot upright on the bed.

"Female Master... how do you even come up with something that terrifying?"

He had once entertained the idea of having children—back when Yuel used Terry to win favor.

But ever since Aren started calling him "Dad" nonstop... That thought had died completely.

If he ended up with a child just as clueless—running around feeding him fruit all day—would he even survive?

Watching his reaction, Rory nearly lost control and laughed.

She quickly lowered her head, tugging at the blanket Xarion had tossed aside so he wouldn’t see the expression on her face.

"How is that a terrifying idea?"

Rory wrapped the blanket back around him, then cupped his face, her expression full of dreamy sincerity.

"My Xarion is so handsome. Our children would definitely be just as handsome as you."

"Just imagining having three little wolf cubs as cute and charming as you makes me so happy."

Happy?

No.

Xarion was not happy at all.

"No, Female Master."

He grabbed her hands quickly, trying to persuade her. "I wasn’t cute at all when I was little. Our cubs definitely won’t be as well-behaved and adorable as Terry."

"If you really want children... why not have Jasper’s instead?"

He started to get off the bed as he spoke, as if ready to go find Jasper right now.

He really didn’t want children that badly?

Rory grabbed him and pushed him back down.

"Jasper said he doesn’t want snake babies right now."

"Then Nix," Xarion said immediately. "He’s from the Liger Clan. Little lion-tigers are very cute."

Rory shook her head. "Nix isn’t home today."

He was still at the lab.

"Vincent then. Vincent is a firebird. Baby firebirds are even cuter."

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.

"Female Master, he’s your first partner. He’s the most suitable."

He sat up again, trying to get off the bed.

"I don’t need compensation anymore. I’ll go get Vincent right now."

Whoever wanted children could have them.

He absolutely did not.

Rory quickly pulled him back again.

"Alright, I’m not teasing you anymore."

If she kept going, she was genuinely afraid he would march off and drag Vincent over.

She leaned down and kissed the corner of his lips, smiling.

"I don’t actually want children. I was just teasing you."

Xarion froze.

...His Female Master was really something.

Watching her smile so happily, his silver-gray eyes flickered. Suddenly, he grabbed the thin chain he had undone earlier and fastened it around her wrist instead.

"Female Master, not only did you not compensate me—you even tricked me."

His fangs brushed lightly against the pulse at her neck, his voice dropping into something dangerous and low.

"So tell me... how should I punish you?"

She saw the dangerous gleam flickering in Xarion’s eyes—and instead of shrinking back, she smiled.

"Punish me?"

Rory tilted her head up, her warm breath brushing lightly against his ear as she spoke in a soft murmur.

"How do you plan to punish me?"

Her voice dropped, teasing. "Are you going to bite me?"

A pause. "Or..."

She lifted a finger and tapped gently against his throat, feeling the subtle rise and fall of his Adam’s apple beneath her touch as it betrayed his reaction.

Xarion’s entire body went rigid.

He had meant to intimidate her, to seize back control—but Rory showed no fear at all.

His Female Master was far too cunning. Somehow, she always found a way to unravel him completely.

"Female Master..."

His voice turned hoarse, the edge of danger melting into something softer—almost like a plea.

"You know I could never hurt you."

He buried his face in the curve of her neck, drawing in a deep breath of her scent—warm, sweet, and unmistakably hers. Like a great beast that had finally found its home, he nuzzled closer, reluctant to pull away.

Rory let out a soft laugh, her fingers threading through his silver hair.

The chain around her wrist chimed faintly with her movement, a crisp, delicate sound.

"I know you wouldn’t," she murmured. "So..."

Before he could react, she shifted—swift and fluid—reversing their positions in an instant.

Now she was above him.

Xarion blinked, staring up at her. "Female Master, you..."

Rory leaned down, brushing her nose lightly against his.

"What?" she asked softly, her voice gentle but teasing. "I’m compensating you, aren’t I? Don’t you want it?"

For a heartbeat, Xarion simply looked at her.

Then something in his silver-gray eyes ignited—hot, fierce, undeniable.

"...I do."

***

Elsewhere, Yuel stepped out of the bath, still drying his hair when his gaze fell on the message blinking on his communicator.

It was from that same unfortunate "big spender" again.

He scanned the contents, and a trace of exasperation crossed his face.

After all this time... and the man still hadn’t managed to get along with his Female Master’s other partners?

His emotional intelligence was astonishingly low.

Yuel had half a mind to ignore him. But tonight, he couldn’t accompany Rory—and with nothing pressing to do, he might as well respond.

Changing into his nightwear, he reclined on the bed and tapped a quick reply.

Moonlit Heart:

Getting along with others is simple. First, you need to take the initiative.

If you can casually offer up an eleventh-rank beast core over such a minor issue, then you’re clearly powerful—and not lacking in resources.

In that case, give some gifts to your bonded brothers.

***

In another room, Paros had been staring at his communicator, waiting.

After sending his message to "Moonlit Heart," there had been no reply for a long time. He had begun to assume he’d been ignored.

But then, a new message came through.

Paros immediately opened it.

As he read, his brows slowly drew together, a faint frown forming on his face.