9 — The Self-Proclaimed Bride and Tribal Law

Part 1 — Exile, Then Saving the Nation

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Breakfast should have been peaceful. Instead, the dining room, or rather, my stomach felt heavy. Ellie had taken the twins upstairs; she returned looking like a porcelain doll. Beautiful. Terrifying.

She sat beside me, radiating murderous intent through a smile. Across from us, the foxkin woman we saved yesterday, Mimi, beamed cheerfully. “Foxkin girls aren’t supposed to show anyone but their mate our bare skin,” she said. “You saw all of me, Dan. Take responsibility and be my mate.”

Direct. Admirable. Problematic.

“No chance,” I said.

She shot to her feet. “Why not?! You saw everything!”

“I was saving you. And look at your outfit.” Mimi wore a tube top and hot pants. “Barely counts as clothing.”

“Excuse me? My chest and hips are totally covered!”

Quit lifting said chest. “Want another look?” she teased.

“Dan,” Ellie cooed, voice hollow. “What exactly did you do on the battlefield?”

Ellie, you were there. Please don’t. “Mimi, that rule is your tribe’s. Why would I follow it?”

“Because otherwise I can’t go home.”

“No.”

“Then…” She flashed a knife and went for my throat. Fast—but not fast enough. I caught her wrist, locking it in place.

“What are you doing?” Ellie snapped.

“Kill me,” Mimi hissed. “If I go back unmarried—”

I tightened my grip. She gasped and dropped the weapon. Ellie snatched it up.

“So foxkin murder their saviors when they’re inconvenient?”

“That’s not—”

I released her. She rubbed her wrist and stared at the table.

“Do you expect me to watch a human get murdered? That’s a war. Your village would be razed, your people executed or enslaved. Shame, really.”

She wilted. “No… I…” Tears welled. “Fine! What am I supposed to do?! I can’t go home, I can’t marry you, I’d be alone—and the moment I leave town I get snatched and sold!”

“All right, all right. Calm down.”

Her ears perked. “So you’ll marry me? Give me babies? I’m ready any—”

“No. But I won’t abandon you. How about this: say you’re doing bridal training here. Live with us, work as an adventurer, and head home once the heat dies down.”

Hope flickered. “You’ll let me stay?”

“We’ll see. But there’s no ‘mistress’ nonsense.”

She hugged me. “Thanks! So first let’s kiss—”

I flicked her forehead. Ellie’s smile sharpened. “Isn’t this fun, Dan?”

Help.

“Since you’re staying, you need chores and a class,” I said.

“Let me fi—ow! Fine, fine. I hunt. I tan hides. And my class? Scout.”

I snorted. “Some scout, getting captured.”

“I was covering hostages! Normally I’d wreck them.”

“I’ll be the judge. We’ll test you in the forest.”

“Deal. You’ll see.”

We headed out to gather the herbs we’d abandoned yesterday and evaluate Mimi’s skills. She nailed every task—tracking, camouflage, traps. “See? I’m useful,” she bragged.

“I’m impressed. Didn’t expect it.”

Her cheeks flushed. Ellie pouted but kept quiet, clearly conceding Mimi’s talent.

Mimi muttered under her breath, “This is too much. I’m gonna die from how much I like him…”

I had no idea what to do with that.

----- End of chapter -----