Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 140

Chapter 140: The Solar Festival

The Jungle didn’t sleep; it vibrated. But tonight, Suryapura was shaking the very roots of the world.

The Solar Festival was in full swing.

The entire city was lit by thousands of floating paper lanterns, drifting through the canopy like fireflies. Drums—massive, waist-high drums made of stretched thunder-lizard hide—beat a rhythm that synced with your heartbeat. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

The air smelled of roasted meat, jasmine, and gunpowder.

"This is unsafe," Orion noted. He was still in his water bubble, floating a few feet off the ground as he navigated the crowded street. "There is open flame everywhere. And people are swallowing swords. Why are they swallowing swords? That is terrible for digestion."

"It’s a celebration of Yang energy," Caspian explained, keeping a protective hand on Orion’s bubble so he didn’t float away into a tree. "Fire represents life, passion, and cultivation power."

Primrose walked beside them, holding a skewer of grilled mystery meat. Her two tails were wrapped tightly around her waist like a fluffy belt to avoid knocking over any children.

"It’s amazing," Primrose admitted, watching a group of Tiger-Kin martial artists spar in the street, their fists glowing with golden Qi. "It’s so... alive."

"It’s loud," Arjun squeaked. He was riding on Rajah’s shoulders, his little hands gripping his dad’s ears. "Dad, buy me a firecracker!"

"No explosives until you’re twelve," Rajah said automatically. He looked regal tonight, dressed in a formal silk sherwani embroidered with real gold thread. But his eyes were darting around nervously.

"Relax," Leonora said, appearing at his elbow. She wore a flowing crimson gown that left her scarred arms bare. She looked every inch the Warrior Princess. "Your mother isn’t here. She’s at the Temple prepping the Stone. You can unclench your jaw."

Rajah sighed. "I can’t help it. Festivals usually mean assassination attempts or awkward family conversations. I prefer the assassination attempts."

While the rest of the group got distracted by a juggler tossing flaming machetes, Leonora grabbed Rajah’s arm and dragged him onto a quiet balcony overlooking the canals.

The noise of the festival faded to a dull roar below them.

"Talk," Leonora commanded. She leaned against the railing, the moonlight turning her lion mane to silver.

Rajah slumped. All the bravado, the shouting, the Tiger Lord persona... it melted away.

"I don’t belong here, Leo," Rajah whispered. He looked at his hands. "Look at them down there. They are strong. They are fierce. They worship power."

He gestured to the city.

"I chose to leave, remember? I moved to the Capital because I wanted to build something of my own. Something separate from the dynasty. But now... coming back... I feel like I’m just playing dress-up."

"And?" Leonora asked, raising an eyebrow.

"And a King should be... more," Rajah said miserably. "My ancestor, the First Tiger, created the Temple of the Sun with a single roar. His voice could shatter mountains. Me? I just yell a lot."

Leonora stepped closer. She placed her hands on his cheeks, forcing him to look at her.

"You idiot," she said affectionately. "You think strength is just breaking things? You think being a King is just about roaring?"

She ran her thumb over his jaw.

"You took in Arjun. You raised him alone after... after she passed. You protect those kids with your life. You have a heart the size of this jungle, Rajah. That’s why I love you. Not because you’re a Warlord. Because you’re a Dad."

Rajah blinked. His eyes were wet. "You... you still want to marry me? Even if I’m just a glorified babysitter?"

"Especially because you’re a babysitter," Leonora grinned. "It means you’ll be good with our cubs."

Rajah turned bright red. "Cubs? Plural?"

"At least three," Leonora winked. "Now kiss me before the fireworks start."

Rajah leaned in.

BOOM.

A firework exploded overhead. Or at least, it sounded like a firework.

But the light wasn’t gold. It was purple.

"That wasn’t a firework," Primrose said, dropping her skewer.

She looked toward the top of the pyramid—the Temple of the Sun.

The golden glow that usually radiated from the peak was flickering. Like a candle in a windstorm.

"The Ritual," Rajah gasped, pulling away from Leonora. "The Stone is exposed. We have to go!"

The group sprinted. Through the confused crowds, up the endless stairs of the pyramid.

When they reached the top, the scene was a nightmare.

Queen Mother Durga was on her knees. Her gold jewelry was scattered across the floor. She was coughing up blood.

Standing over the Sun Stone—a massive, floating diamond the size of a carriage—was a figure cloaked in shadows.

It wasn’t the Boss. It was one of his elites. A man wearing a mask painted with a crying face.

"Stop!" Rajah roared, drawing his twin scimitars.

The masked man laughed. He held up a black crystal.

"Too late, Little Tiger," the man hissed. "The corrupted seed is planted. The Sun... is setting."

He slammed the black crystal into the Sun Stone.

The reaction was instant.

The blinding white light of the Sun Stone turned a sickly, bruised purple.

A wave of cold energy blasted outward.

"Get down!" Caspian shouted. He threw up a water barrier, shielding Primrose and Orion.

The shockwave hit them. It felt like walking into a freezer.

And then, the sky changed.

The moon above the jungle didn’t move, but a shadow began to eat it. An artificial eclipse. The golden light of the jungle died, replaced by a suffocating, inky darkness.

Down in the city, the drums stopped. The music stopped.

Then, the screaming started.

From the shadows of the pillars, shapes began to form.

They looked like tigers, but they were wrong. Their fur was made of black smoke. Their eyes were glowing purple rents in reality. They had no mouths, only jagged tears where teeth should be.

Void Beasts.

"Defend the Matriarch!" Rajah shouted.

He charged. His scimitars glowed with solar fire—but it was dim. The eclipse was dampening his power.

"How do we fix it?" Primrose asked, helping the old woman up. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

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