Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 86: My abs are way better than Jasper’s

Rory stood motionless, her pulse thrumming in her ears as Yuel’s request warning echoed through her thoughts. He had spoken so calmly about it—only a single drop of blood each day, nothing severe, nothing that would truly harm her. And yet, despite his reassurance, unease lingered like a shadow at the edge of her mind, refusing to be dismissed.

It was not the pain she feared.

It was the implication.

"Yuel," she said at last, breaking the silence, her voice cautious but steady. "You mentioned that Kather was the one who brought you back... that he entrusted me with taking care of you. When did that happen?" She frowned slightly. "I’ve never even seen him in person."

At the sound of Kather’s name, something flickered across Yuel’s face—an expression caught somewhere between concern and disbelief.

"He’s actually—" he began.

Then, without warning, his strength abandoned him.

Yuel’s body slackened entirely, his weight tipping forward as though the strings holding him upright had been cut. Rory barely had time to react before he collapsed into her arms, the sudden heaviness stealing the breath from her lungs.

"Yuel!" she cried, panic surging as she struggled to support him. "Yuel—what’s wrong? Yuel!"

"Female Master! Female Master, wake up!"

The urgent voice shattered the moment like breaking glass.

Rory’s eyes flew open, her heart hammering violently against her ribs.

Yuel was gone.

There was no warmth, no weight in her arms—only empty air. Standing before her instead was Nix, now fully restored to his human form. He looked solid, alive... and conspicuously unclothed.

"Nix...?" Rory stared at him, disbelief rippling through her. "You’re... healed?"

She scanned the room frantically, her gaze darting to every shadow. "Did you see Yuel? Where did he go?"

"Yuel?" Nix repeated, blinking in confusion. "No, Female Master. There wasn’t anyone else here." He tilted his head slightly, studying her face. "You were having a nightmare, though. You kept calling out... something that sounded like ’siren.’"

A nightmare?

Rory blinked slowly, the vividness of the memory refusing to fade. It had felt far too real—the touch, the weight, the emotion.

"Female Master," Nix said gently, waving a hand in front of her face when she didn’t respond. "Are you all right?"

She shook herself, forcing the lingering fog away. "I’m fine," she said, managing a small nod. "Just... a bad dream."

Relief flooded Nix’s expression instantly, his golden eyes lighting up. "That’s great!" he exclaimed. "And—look! I’ve fully recovered now. That means we can finally bond!"

Before Rory could fully register his words, Nix seized her hand and pressed it firmly against his abdomen. His skin was warm, solid, undeniably real.

It took her a second too long to realize something was very, very missing.

"Nix—!" Her eyes widened.

"See?" he said proudly, completely oblivious to her fluster. "My abs are way better than Jasper’s."

The declaration was delivered with absolute sincerity. The moment he’d regained his strength, he hadn’t even stopped to dress—he’d come straight to her.

That night, when he’d been lying weak on the floor, he had overheard her casually mention how much she liked touching Jasper’s abs. Apparently, that information had lodged itself firmly in his mind.

Rory stared at him, her thoughts scrambling for an appropriate response.

"Well," she said after a beat, choosing her words carefully, "they’re... defined. Very defined."

Nix’s face lit up instantly, joy bursting across his features like fireworks. Before she could react, he lunged forward with exuberant enthusiasm, tackling her back onto the bed.

"Since you like me, Female Master," he declared happily, "let’s bond right now!"

Ever since learning he had a huntress, he had spent every spare moment studying bonding rituals, techniques, etiquette—everything. If he hadn’t been so weak before, he would have come to her immediately.

"Nix—wait!" Rory pushed at his chest, scrambling to yank the blanket up and wrap it around him. "Slow down! Calm down!"

He froze, staring down at the blanket in confusion. Then his ears drooped, his expression falling.

Was I... rejected?

The thought struck harder than any physical blow.

"You... you don’t want to?" he asked quietly. "You don’t like me?"

Before she could answer, he tugged the blanket aside just enough to reveal his soft, fluffy beast ears, tilting his head toward her in an unmistakably hopeful gesture.

"What about now?"

He remembered how she used to pet them when he’d been too weak to move. Surely that would work. Surely she still liked him.

The moment her fingers brushed his ears, Rory instinctively gave them a gentle squeeze.

Good grief.

Whoever claimed awkward men couldn’t flirt had clearly never met Nix.

When she didn’t immediately respond, determination sparked in his eyes.

He revealed his final gambit.

His thick, plush tail slid around her waist, warm and secure, as he knelt before her. His gaze shone with nervous anticipation.

"Female Master," he asked softly, "do you like this?"

He remembered how she’d enjoyed Jasper’s tail wrapped around her before. Mine’s not as smooth as his, he thought anxiously, but maybe she’ll still like it.

"I... do," Rory admitted quietly.

That was all it took.

Joy exploded across Nix’s face. He lunged forward again, pinning her to the bed with breathless enthusiasm.

"Then let’s bond now, Female Master!" he said eagerly. "Don’t worry—I studied a lot! I’ll take good care of you!"

"Nix, wait!" Rory protested, panic rising as she pushed against him. "Just—just give me a second—"

As she lifted her arm, her light-brain slipped from her wrist, rolling across the bed. It buzzed once, then activated, projecting a familiar figure beside them.

"Rory, I forgot to tell you—"

Jasper’s voice cut off abruptly.

Projected beside the bed, he stared at the scene before him: Rory in her nightdress, one strap slipping down her arm; Nix bare-chested above her, his tail wrapped securely around her waist; her hand braced against him in surprise.

Silence fell.

No one spoke.

Even the air itself seemed frozen, suspended in a moment of perfect, unbearable awkwardness.