My Three Beautiful Vampire Wives can hear my Inner Thoughts-Chapter 106: Insulted Elder

Zenaya did not answer right away.

The question hung between them like something fragile and dangerous.

"Would you like to tame it?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line. The owl stood quietly beside Cain, its enormous body casting a shadow across the broken ground, its golden eyes half-lidded as if bored by the conversation. It did not look fierce at the moment. It did not look terrifying. It looked... available.

Zenaya exhaled slowly.

"No," she said at last. "I refuse."

Cain blinked. "Refuse?"

She nodded, folding her arms across her chest as if building a wall between herself and the temptation in front of her. "I have no talent for taming. I have tried more times than I care to admit. I know my limits."

Cain tilted his head again, that faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"You did not try this one," he said lightly.

Zenaya let out a short breath that was almost a laugh, but there was no humor in it. "You think I did not try everything? Pills to calm their blood. Rare herbs mixed with essence to improve affinity. I studied ancient taming scrolls. I sought advice from beast masters in hidden valleys. I used threat when coaxing failed. I used coaxing when threat failed. I brought food. I brought blood. I even tried starving myself to match a beast’s temperament."

Her voice lowered slightly as old memories pressed forward.

"There was a crimson ridge tiger," she continued quietly. "I spent three months tracking it. I learned its territory, its hunting routes. I approached slowly, day by day, never forcing contact. I thought patience would work."

She paused.

"It bit my arm and left."

Cain listened with open curiosity, though inside his mind he already knew the stories.

"There was a bone-wing falcon," she went on. "I prepared spirit pills to increase resonance. I refined them myself. I fed it by hand for two weeks. When I tried to form the bond... it screeched and flew into the sky. It never returned."

Her fingers tightened against her sleeves.

"I even tried a lesser beast. A low bloodline wolf that most elders would not even glance at. I thought perhaps starting small would help. I tried threat. I tried kindness. I tried both at once. It only howled at me and refused to eat until I left."

She looked at Cain steadily.

"I am not suited for it."

Cain hummed softly.

"Maybe those beasts were just blind," he said.

Zenaya frowned.

"Or maybe," he added, his tone almost playful, "you were not stubborn enough."

She stared at him in disbelief. "Not stubborn enough?"

"You gave up each time."

"I did not give up," she snapped, a flicker of heat entering her eyes.

"You stopped trying," Cain corrected gently. "That is the same."

Zenaya inhaled sharply, forcing herself to calm down. "You are a child. You do not understand the humiliation of repeated failure."

Cain shrugged. "Then fail again."

She glared at him.

"I said no."

"Why?" he asked calmly. "Afraid?"

Her pride flared instantly. "Afraid? Of failing again?"

"Yes."

She scoffed, but something tightened in her chest.

Cain took a slow step closer, lowering his voice slightly as if sharing a secret.

"It obeys me, yet I do not own it," he said. "It stands free. There is no contract. If you do not try, someone else will."

"There is no one else here," she said stiffly.

"Are you sure?" He asked again.

This rime, Zenaya looked at the owl again.

It was strong.

Stronger than she had imagined.

Stronger than many elders.

Her heart beat a little faster.

She’s hesitating.

Cain watched her carefully.

Inside his mind, however, his tone turned mischievous.

Kekeke. Let this girl tame this low bloodline beast as punishment for interrupting that damn Elder Noir. What a funny scene. Just look at the face and ugly appearance of this ugly owl. And look at you. Everyone would laugh. The beautiful Elder Zenaya paired with this ugly thing.

On the other hand, Zenaya’s eyes widened slightly.

Ugly?

She slowly turned her head toward the owl.

Its beak was large. Its eyes were fierce. Its feathers were dark and thick. It was not elegant like a falcon. It was not majestic like a dragon.

It was... rough.

But ugly?

Her lips parted faintly.

Taming a beast had been her dream since she was young. Since before she became an elder. Since before she learned to fight.

And so what if it was not beautiful?

This guy...

This guy...

If not for the owl standing there like a silent mountain, she would have rushed forward and pulled his ears until he begged.

Zenaya snorted softly in her head.

Alright.

Once I tame this beast, I will make sure I punish you.

Outwardly, she straightened her posture.

"Fine," she said calmly.

Cain’s eyes brightened.

"Fine?"

"Yes," she replied. "I will try."

Inside his mind he burst into laughter.

She accepted. The old lady accepted.

Zenaya heard every word.

Her fingers twitched.

Just you wait, she promised silently.

Cain turned to the owl and gestured lightly.

"Prostrate."

The owl lowered itself immediately, bowing before Zenaya, its enormous head dipping toward her in obedience.

Zenaya took a slow breath and stepped forward.

This time, there was no pride. No anger. Only focus.

She closed her eyes.

Blood mana gathered around her palms, swirling in intricate patterns as she began to draw a taming circle in the air. Crimson lines formed one by one, intersecting with precise angles, ancient symbols glowing faintly as they connected.

The air thickened.

The forest seemed to quiet.

Her voice lowered into a chant, each word careful and steady.

"Blood to blood. Spirit to spirit. I seek not to dominate but to walk together."

The magic circle expanded, rotating slowly above her hands, layers stacking over one another as more runes ignited.

Cain watched quietly.

Inside his head, he commented lazily.

Let us see how badly you fail.

Zenaya pressed her palm forward.

The circle descended and touched the owl’s head.

At once, crimson light erupted between them.

Blood mana surged violently, flowing from Zenaya into the owl, then back toward her in a powerful wave. Her body trembled as the beast’s immense aura pressed against her like a mountain.

She grit her teeth.

"Accept," she whispered.

The owl remained still.

For a brief moment, the circle glowed brighter.

Then cracks appeared across its surface.

Zenaya’s eyes snapped open.

"No—"

The circle shattered into fragments of light.

The connection collapsed.

She staggered back half a step, breath uneven.

Cain’s inner laughter rang loud.

Ah, I didn’t expect this.

Outside, he said warmly, "It is alright. First attempts are always unstable. Try again, Elder."

Zenaya’s jaw tightened.

She began again.

Another circle.

More mana.

This time she adjusted the rhythm of her chant, softening the pressure, focusing on harmony instead of force.

The circle descended.

Mana collided.

Again the beast’s aura pressed against her.

Again cracks formed.

Again it shattered.

Cain inside his mind sighed dramatically.

Perhaps you truly have no talent. Even this ugly thing rejects you.

Out loud he said gently, "Your formation was slightly off. The third rune. Adjust it."

Zenaya’s cheeks burned.

She began a third time.

Her mana reserves dipped lower now. Sweat formed along her brow.

Again the circle formed.

Again it touched the owl.

Again the surge.

Again collapse.

The more she failed, the louder Cain’s inner mockery became.

Maybe you should give up. Save face.

Perhaps beasts just dislike you.

Even this low bloodline creature refuses.

Outwardly he clapped lightly. "You are close this time. I can feel it. One more Elder. You can do it!"

Zenaya’s hands trembled.

Anger and humiliation mixed inside her chest, yet beneath them something else stirred.

Determination.

She refused to fail again.

She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes once more.

This time she did not rush.

She did not think of Cain’s voice.

She did not think of past failures.

She only listened to the owl’s heartbeat.

Steady.

Calm.

Strong.

She adjusted her mana flow to match that rhythm.

Not forcing.

Not demanding.

Inviting.

The circle formed again, slower, cleaner, each rune steady and bright.

When she pressed it to the owl’s head, the surge came once more.

Her knees nearly buckled under the pressure.

Blood mana roared through her veins.

She felt the beast’s will.

Huge.

Ancient.

Watching.

She did not resist it.

She met it.

Her voice was steady.

"Walk with me."

For a long breath nothing happened.

Then the cracks that had formed before did not appear.

The circle pulsed.

Light flowed between them in both directions, weaving threads of connection.

Zenaya’s eyes widened slightly as she felt it.

A link.

Not forced.

Accepted.

The magic circle sank into the owl’s forehead and vanished.

The violent aura settled.

The air calmed.

Zenaya’s body swayed, but she did not fall.

In her mind, she felt it clearly now.

A presence.

Large and quiet.

Connected.

The ritual was complete.

Zenaya and the owl were now contracted partners.