Taming the Beast World with a Frying Pan-Chapter 202: To Be Brave is to First Be a Coward

Kael gently rested Ren on the grass.

He reached for a large, thick leaf and gently cleaned between her thighs. She didn’t stir. Her face was flushed pink, her expression peaceful, like she was dreaming of giant roasted pigs or whatever it was she mumbled about in her sleep.

Kael sat back on his heels, looking at her.

A thought crossed his mind.

’We could run,’ Kael thought. ’I could pick her up right now. We could leave the Snake, leave the forest, leave the mess of the Tiger Clan. We could go to the Southern Lands. Just us.’

It was a tempting thought.

But he shook his head. That would be cowardice.

’I cannot shift,’ Kael reminded himself bitterly. ’My beast is silent. My clan is in shambles. But I am still a King.’

And his mate? She was even more important. She had a divine duty passed down from the Moon Goddess herself.

’To cure the Feral Madness,’ Kael recited the mission in his head. ’She needs powerful mates. She needs energy. If I take her away, I doom the world.’

He looked at his hands. If she hadn’t cured him twice before, he wouldn’t be here. He would be a Shadow Beast, mindless and drooling. He couldn’t be selfish with his desires. Even after she bonded with Syris, she hadn’t forgotten him. She had risked her life and made deals with that trickster Fox for him.

"I will help her," Kael vowed to the sleeping woman. "Even if it means tolerating the reptile."

He looked at her outfit. Or rather, the lack thereof.

"Right," Kael muttered.

He got to work. He gathered more leaves and vines.

"She has a big butt," Kael noted with professional seriousness, holding a leaf up to her buttock. "For such a small female."

He had to make alterations.

"This will do for now," Kael decided, tying the new flap to the waistband.

Kael scooped Ren into his arms and carried her back to the massive tree.

When he entered the hollow, Syris was already awake.

The Snake King was sitting up on the furs, looking pale and irritated. Viper was standing beside him, frantically fanning him with a large palm frond.

"It is hot," Syris complained, his voice raspy. "Why is it so hot? I am itchy."

He stopped complaining when Kael walked in. His vertical pupils snapped to the woman in Kael’s arms.

Relief washed over Syris’ face. She was safe. She was here.

Then, he looked at Kael.

The relief vanished instantly, replaced by a look of profound annoyance. It was the look of a man who had ordered a steak and received a side of lukewarm coleslaw instead.

Kael walked over and gently placed Ren on the furs between them. She curled up instantly, snoring softly. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Kael stood straight, looking down at his rival.

"I am glad you are awake," Kael said stiffly.

Syris raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Are you? I’m sure you would have preferred if I slept forever so you could have the female all to yourself."

Kael clenched his jaw so hard his teeth creaked.

’Talking to him is already exhausting,’ Kael thought. ’He is insufferable. But I must do this. For Ren. For the Goddess.’

"I have something to say," Kael announced, ignoring his comment. "I am willing to share Ren with you."

Syris stared at him. The silence stretched for three seconds.

Then, Syris threw his head back and laughed. It was a dry, mocking sound.

"You? Share?" Syris wheezed, clutching his healing ribs. "What is this? A trick? Did you hit your head on a rock?"

"It is not a trick," Kael said seriously. "Ren told me the truth. About the Moon Goddess."

He explained it all. The mission. The cure for Feral Madness. The divine requirement to bond with powerful mates to increase her healing energy.

"She has been chosen," Kael finished reverently. "We must support her."

Syris looked at him like he was an idiot.

"The Moon Goddess isn’t real," Syris deadpanned.

Kael blinked. "What?"

"She is a myth," Syris scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "A bedtime story for cubs. A long time ago, I climbed the Highest Mountain myself. I went to the peak to challenge this so-called deity."

Syris leaned forward, his eyes cold.

"There was nothing. No temple. No Fox Spirit. No golden light. Just snow, ice, and the dried bones of fools who died looking for her."

"You are wrong," Kael argued, his voice rising. "The Moon Goddess is real. I have never seen her, but my mother met her. She told me stories. She saw the white fox!"

"Your mother was a liar," Syris spat.

Growl.

A low, menacing rumble started in Kael’s chest. He dug his claws into his own palm to keep from lunging.

"Whether she is real or not," Kael gritted out, "Ren has the ability to cure Feral Madness. We have both seen it. Would you not support her in that?"

Syris shrugged. "I do not care if the whole world becomes Shadow Beasts. Let them drool and rage. As long as Ren is safe, the world can burn."

He smirked. "I can keep her in the swamp. I can keep her fed. I can protect her while the rest of you rot. That is enough for me."

"You are selfish," Kael accused.

"And you are weak," Syris countered smoothly. "Thinking too much of others... putting the world before your own needs... that is how one ends up like you."

Syris’ eyes bored into Kael.

"A King unable to call on his beast," Syris whispered viciously. "A King who lost his clan. A King who is pathetic."

Kael flinched. The words hit their mark.

"Revoke the Rite of the Severed Fang," Syris demanded. "Leave the female with me. It would be the smartest and bravest thing you have ever done. Admit you cannot protect her. I won’t even call you a coward for surrendering. I will call you... realistic."

Kael looked at Ren’s sleeping face.

Syris was right. He was weak right now. He had destroyed his own kin. He had no beast.

’I have no right to claim the title of King,’ Kael thought sadly. ’But I will not leave her. I will step down, but I will stay as her guard.’

Slowly, Kael raised his right hand.

He extended his index finger. A sharp claw emerged.

He sliced a deep line across his own palm. Blood welled up immediately, thick and red, dripping onto the furs.

He offered his bloody hand to Syris.

In the Beast World, a handshake in blood was a binding contract. It meant the revocation of a challenge. It meant surrender.

"I revoke the Rite," Kael said softly. "I relinquish my claim to the title of Beast King."

Syris stared at the bleeding hand. His vertical pupils dilated.

’He is admitting defeat,’ Syris thought, a thrill of victory shooting through him. ’He is agreeing to revoke the challenge. He is giving up Ren to me. Finally. The Tiger has broken.’

Syris was beyond pleased. He liked Kael like this—broken, reasonable, and submissive.

"You are making the right choice," Syris grinned. "You finally understand your place."

But he didn’t shake the hand yet. Being Syris, he had to push it just a little more.

"We could still fight to the death, you know," Syris suggested casually. "Just to be sure. Whoever wins takes the female. Winner takes all."

Kael shook his head. Blood dripped steadily from his outstretched hand.

"Ren would be sad if one of us died," Kael said simply. "And the Moon Goddess would be angry. She would punish Ren."

Syris rolled his eyes so hard it physically hurt.

’This nonsense again,’ Syris thought.

"Whatever," Syris sighed. "I will not be difficult. I will be merciful. I will accept your surrender."

He reached out.

His pale, cool hand wrapped around Kael’s large, warm, bloody one.

Syris squeezed firm. The blood pooled between their palms, sealing the deal.