The room went dead silent. Fenric’s red eyes sharpened, and Noah’s smirk vanished, replaced by a look of sudden, intense focus.

They knew exactly what that meant. They knew that once I started with Damar, I would be locked away in the Sovereign Wing for three days, and the ’first mate’ would be completely out of his mind with the rut.

​"Tonight?" Fenric rumbled, his voice like grinding stone. "Arinya, the trenches are still being cleared of carcasses. The valley is barely secure."

​"I know," I said, holding his gaze. "But he’s reached his limit. He saved Thalor. He held the ridge. He’s waited longer than anyone, and I promised him he’d be first. If I make him wait another week, he might actually snap."

Even waiting till tonight seems too long. I want to get on with it right away because I can’t help but anticipate it as well.

​Noah let out a long, low whistle. "Three days of Damar in a rut. Great. We all know how that played out the last time." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

I recall quite well. After all, it was the first sex I had after giving birth. Damar woke up with a rut, and Noah was the one who helped to make sure he didn’t lose control.

Compared to then, he shouldn’t be so feral this time, right?

And my body isn’t as weak as it was back then. I’m strong and healthy and perfectly capable of handling Damar now.

"That means Fenric and I are basically running a two-man show while you two... well, you know." He rubbed the back of his neck, a flicker of something that looked a lot like envy crossing his face before he masked it with a shrug. "Fine. If the snake needs his fix, he needs his fix. But you owe me, Little Tiger. Three days of babysitting and wall-building are going to cost you."

​"I’ll pay up when it’s your turn, Noah," I promised, and the way his eyes flared told me he was already counting down the days.

​I looked at Thalor, who was watching from the bed. He looked pale, but he had heard everything. He didn’t look angry; he looked respectful.

He knew the hierarchy here, even if he was still trying to find his place in it. But he was content just being a part of it.

"Thalor will be next," I said, but they didn’t seem too surprised.

He was supposed to go first to begin with, but with Damar doing so much... sigh.

​"Fenric, you’re in charge of internal security like always," I said, getting back into my queen mode. "Noah, you have the ridge and the scouts. Talia and Solin will handle the village move-back. I’m trusting you three to keep this place standing while I’m... busy." I cleared my throat.

"We’ve got it, Arinya," Fenric said, his voice dropping into that low, reliable rumble. "You can start right away and not wait till tonight. The sooner you start, the earlier you’ll finish." Ah, it was like he read my mind. "We’ll keep the valley from falling apart while you’re gone."

I nodded, feeling a mix of nerves and a strange, buzzing anticipation.

"Ah, before you leave," Noah called and shoved Phina into my arms. "Feed this one to her heart’s content."

"Raiden too. He might get cranky again," Fenric added, pointing back at his son, who was once again chewing on his little cute feet.

Ah, that’s right. Before I head back to the Sovereign Wing, I need to make sure my babies have their fill of their milk since they might not see me in three days.

And speaking of, I nearly forgot that the most important thing for this marking ritual hasn’t even gotten to me yet.

The Pearl.

I looked up at Thalor and grimaced. He wasn’t well. And I can’t ask him to go to the sea to get the pearls either. Unless he has it on him right now.

The thought came, but I shook it off. No, he probably doesn’t have it on him... right?

I twisted my lips, wondering. What if he did have it on him?

"What is it, Arinya?" Fenric asked. "You look like you’re contemplating something and you can’t quite put a finger on it."

Ah, that’s exactly what’s going on with me, Fenric. You always know how to guess these things.

"Well," I tilted my head back and then glanced towards Thalor, who was silently watching me breastfeed. "I was just wondering, Thalor, do you have the marking pearl on you?" I asked, and they all flinched, except Thalor, and quickly turned to him.

It seemed like they also forgot that to initiate the marking on Damar, I would need the pearl.

"Ah, that’s right," Noah said. "Do you have it on you?" He asked, but seeing Thalor’s condition, he felt like he should retract that question. How could Noah have it on him when he doesn’t even have a pocket on his skin?

Fenric scratched the back of his neck, seeing the issue here. If Thalor did not have the marking pearl on him, then the marking on Damar would have to wait until Thalor was strong enough to return to the sea to get it.

There was no way they would push him far.

"I have it," Thalor’s answer immediately flipped the board, and I blinked.

"You... You do? How?" I asked, but quickly shook my head. "No, not how, but when? Did you get it after the conversation?"

Then that would be about two weeks back?

"No, not then, Arinya," Thalor answered. "Two days ago, I went to take a swim in the sea and to inspect the water barriers. I decided to get the pearls then." He said, and then raised his hands, summoning his vial, and the crest on my wrist glowed blue.

Once the transparent water vial had appeared on his palms, he stuck his hand in and took out what looked like a bead, blue and shimmering.

Wow, he hid the pearls in there?