Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband-Chapter 31: The Gossip and the Shadow

The Little Whiskers Daycare was still officially closed for Festival Prep. Inside, however, it looked like a flour mill had exploded.

I was kneading dough for Moon-Cakes like my life depended on it (because with my rent, it did). Luna was piping frosting onto cookies with intense concentration, and Clover was quality testing the frosting bowl with her finger.

"So," Luna said, her lilac ears twitching with suppressed excitement. "I met someone."

I paused mid-knead. "A customer?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"No," Luna blushed, turning the frosting bag pink. "A... Fox-kin."

I raised an eyebrow. "A fox? Luna, your father faints if a dog barks too loudly. You’re talking to a Fox-kin right now, but I’m an exception. We are... natural enemies."

"He’s not scary!" Luna insisted. "He’s... charming. His name is Jax. He has this messy orange hair, and these sleepy eyes, and he wears this loose green shirt with the top button undone..."

"Scandalous," I deadpanned.

"And he has one tail!" Luna continued dreamily. "Just one. Big and fluffy. He’s a ’Procurement Specialist’."

"That sounds like a fancy word for ’swindler’," I laughed. "Or a thief."

"He’s funny!" Luna defended. "He called me ’Carrots’. It was... roguish."

Clover looked up from the frosting bowl, her face smeared with blue sugar. "Are you gonna marry him?"

Luna choked. The frosting bag exploded, covering a tray of cookies in a pink blob.

"Clover! Marriage?!" Luna squeaked. "I... we... I mean... Mom and Dad would never..." She sighed, her ears drooping all the way down to her shoulders. "They wouldn’t allow it. A merchant bunny and a... ’freelance’ fox? It’s impossible."

Luna looked at me, her eyes pleading. "What do you think, Prim? You’re a fox. Is it... wrong?"

I wiped my hands on my apron.

"I am not against interspecies marriage," I said honestly. "Love is love. Biology is just details."

Luna’s face brightened.

"But," I added, pointing a floury finger at her, "let’s be realistic. Your parents are traditional prey-kin. Your dad thinks a loud sneeze is a threat display. You and a ’roguish’ fox? It won’t work."

Luna deflated.

"Unless..." I softened my voice. "Unless you convince them. If he’s a good guy, Luna, make him prove it. Make him win them over. Don’t sneak around. Be bold."

Luna nodded slowly, a spark of determination returning to her eyes. "You’re right. I hope... I sure hope he asks me out for the Festival. Maybe if he brings a nice gift..."

She shook her head, clearing the romance fog. She looked at me with a sly grin.

"Speaking of romance... do you have any plans? Any ’Harvest Moon’ confessions planned?"

"Nope," I said, slamming the dough onto the counter. "I plan to sell three hundred Moon-Cakes and pay my utility bill."

"Oh, come on!" Luna nudged me. "What about the Four powerhouse of the empire? They’re basically camping on your doorstep. The Wolf brings you meat. The Tiger brings you armies. The Snake bought your building. Surely one of them..."

"They are clients," I said firmly. "And neighbors. And headaches."

"But they’re handsome!" Luna pressed. "Which one is your type?"

I looked at the ceiling. "Luna. Rurik tries to feed me raw organs. Rajah nearly crushed my ribcage with a hug. Cassian tries to solve emotional problems with tax loopholes. They are not my type. Let’s forget about it."

"You’re hopeless," Luna sighed.

"I’m busy," I corrected.

We finished the prep as the sun began to set. Luna and Clover packed up, waving goodbye as they headed home to dream of roguish foxes.

I locked the door. The shop was quiet. Finally.

I turned off the main lights, leaving only the soft glow of the streetlamp coming through the window. I stretched, my back popping.

"Three down," I whispered to myself. "Just a quiet evening alone—"

Click.

The lock on the front door didn’t turn. The shadows in the corner of the room just... deepened.

I didn’t scream. I was getting used to this.

"You know," I said to the empty room, "it’s rude to enter without jingling the bell."

The shadows coalesced. A figure stepped out of the darkness, silent as a phantom.

Duke Lucien Crepusci.

He wasn’t wearing his usual stiff, high-collared coat. He was wearing a loose, black silk shirt and trousers that seemed to absorb the light. His ink-black hair was messy, and his glowing violet eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made the air feel heavy.

"The bell is loud," Lucien whispered. His voice was like velvet dragged over gravel. "I prefer... silence."

"It’s after hours, Duke," I said, crossing my arms. "If you’re here to drop off Silas, he’s supposed to be in bed."

"Silas is sleeping," Lucien murmured. "He drew a picture of you today. He put it under his pillow."

My heart softened. "That’s sweet."

"He needs you," Lucien said. He took a step closer. "I need you."

Whoa. Okay. Yandere alert.

"To... cook?" I squeaked.

"To be quiet," Lucien said.

He reached out a gloved hand. "The Wolf wants to feed you. The Tiger wants to parade you. The Snake wants to buy you. They are... exhausting. Are they not?"

"Extremely," I admitted.

"Come," Lucien said.

He didn’t grab me. He didn’t pick me up. He just offered his hand.

I took it.

The shadows swallowed us.

---

I blinked. We weren’t in a dungeon. We weren’t in a bedroom.

We were on the roof of the highest tower in the Crepusci Estate.

Above us, the night sky was a tapestry of diamonds. The moon was huge and full. The city of the capital was spread out below us, a glittering ocean of lights, but up here... it was dead silent.

Lucien had laid out a black velvet blanket. There was no food. No wine. Just two cushions.

"Sit," he whispered.

I sat. He sat next to me, close enough that our shoulders brushed, but he didn’t touch me.

We sat there for ten minutes. Twenty.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t try to kiss me. He didn’t try to impress me.

He just let me... be.

For a woman who had spent weeks screaming at wolves, cooking for tigers, haggling with snakes, and managing five magical children... the silence was the most luxurious gift anyone had ever given me.

My shoulders relaxed. My breathing slowed. The constant Top Chef timer in my head finally stopped ticking.

"You are tired," Lucien said softly, not looking at me. He was looking at the moon.

"I am," I whispered back.

"Rest," he commanded. "The shadows will watch. Nothing will touch you here."

I leaned my head back. It was peaceful. It was safe.

"Lucien?" I asked, my eyes closing.

"Yes?"

"This is a really good date."

I felt him stiffen slightly beside me. Then, I heard a sound I didn’t think he was capable of making.

A low, rumbling purr.

"I know," he whispered. "I win."