Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 168

Chapter 168: Lion’s Den

The Sky is Broken

The surface of the ocean wasn’t much better than the bottom.

The Abyssal Hunter bobbed in the black, oily waves. The sky above wasn’t blue. It was a bruised purple, dominated by a massive, unblinking Black Eye staring down from the stratosphere.

"Well," Jax said, leaning back in the pilot’s throne. "That’s terrifying. I assume that’s the real Boss?"

"It is the Void Sovereign," Lucien corrected, staring up at the eye. "It hasn’t fully breached our reality yet. That Eye is just a periscope. It is looking for a weak point to tear the sky open."

Primrose sat on the deck, hugging her knees. The Heart of the Tide was safely tucked into a magical satchel at her waist. She had Six Tails now, but she felt exhausted. The Blue Tail rippled like water behind her, still settling into her spirit.

"We need a fortress," Caspian said, wincing as he adjusted his bandages. "Sunless City is in lockdown. The Obsidian Jungle is compromised. Our own homes aren’t safe."

Leonora stepped forward. She was cleaning her sword with a rag, her expression grim.

"We go to the emperor," she said.

Everyone looked at the Lioness.

"The Capital City?" Cassian frowned. " It is heavily fortified, yes. The Sun-Shields are impenetrable. But..."

"My father owes Primrose a life debt," Leonora said firmly. "She saved his niece, Ellia, from the Void influence months ago. He will not turn us away."

"He won’t," Lucien agreed quietly. "But his Ancestor might."

Primrose looked up. "Ancestor?"

"The First Lion," Leonora sighed, looking uncomfortable. "The Founder of the Beast Empire. His spirit resides in the Throne Room. He... had strong opinions about Ophelia."

"He thinks she’s a traitor," Caspian clarified grimly. "When Ophelia took the Heart of the Tide, the First Lion believed she was abandoning the war to save herself. He declared the Fox Clan enemies of the state."

"Oh right, I forgot about that," Primrose groaned, flopping back onto the deck. "Another ancestor with a grudge. Is there anyone in history my ancestor didn’t tick off?"

"The Wolves liked her," Rurik offered. "She threw good parties."

"We have no choice," Leonora said. "The capital city is the only place with a shield strong enough to hide us from that Eye while Primrose recovers. And Father is reasonable. If he commands it, the Ancestor has to... cope."

---

They didn’t sail to the capital. The Abyssal Hunter—being a magical dragon-skull—could fly.

It hovered about fifty feet above the ground, groaning and leaking water, but it moved fast. They crossed the continent. Below them, the world was in chaos. The purple light from the Void Eye was mutating the landscape.

But ahead, there was a beacon of hope.

It sat on top of a massive plateau. The architecture was pure imperial grandeur—domed roofs, manicured gardens, and towering pillars. A massive dome of golden light—the Sun Shield—covered the entire city, blocking out the purple sky.

"It’s shiny!" Vali cheered, hanging out the window. "So this is the Emperor’s place!"

They landed on the private airstrip of the Imperial Palace. A regiment of Lion Guards—massive warriors in golden armor—surrounded the ship instantly.

Leonora kicked the hatch open. She stepped out, radiating authority.

"At ease, Captain," she barked. "Princess Leonora returning. And I brought the circus."

The Captain’s eyes widened. He knelt immediately. "Your Highness! And... the Warlords!"

They were escorted directly to the Throne Room. It was vast and bathed in sunlight. The decor was pure Victorian-era luxury: velvet curtains, crystal chandeliers, and gold everywhere.

Sitting on the Golden Throne was Emperor Leonis.

When he saw them, he stood up and walked down the steps with open arms.

"Primrose!" Leonis boomed. He ignored protocol and pulled her into a massive lion hug.

"Your Majesty," Primrose squeaked, being crushed. "Ribs. Cracking."

"Apologies!" Leonis laughed, setting her down. He looked at the Warlords. "My friends. You look terrible. You smell like wet dog and swamp."

"Did you have some kind of disagreement with a kraken?" Prince Bastion’s deep voice echoed as he entered from the side.

Bastion strode in.

"Father!"

Ellia walked out from behind Bastion. She didn’t run.

"Ellia," Bastion smiled, lifting her up.

Ellia kissed her father’s cheek, then turned her gaze to the group. Her eyes landed on Primrose.

"Lady Primrose," Ellia said, dipping into a perfect curtsy. "It is a relief to see you well."

"Hello, Ellia," Primrose smiled, hugging her gently. "You look radiant as always."

"Thank you," Ellia said politely. "I missed you guys so much."

While the adults spoke, the children gathered.

Arjun straightened his vest. He patted down his hair. He looked at Ellia, and looked nervous. His ears twitched.

Ellia looked at him. She knew exactly what he was feeling. She found it charming, but she kept her expression serene.

"Lord Arjun," Ellia greeted him with a small, dignified nod. "I trust the journey was not too arduous?"

Arjun cleared his throat. He stood very stiffly.

"It was... adequate, Princess Ellia," Arjun said, his voice slightly higher than usual. "The city’s defenses are amazing."

"Indeed," Ellia agreed softly. "Uncle Leonis insists on the best security. Though I worry about the structural integrity of your... current attire. You are covered in slime."

Arjun looked down at his ruined suit. He blushed a deep red.

"It was a retreat through a sewer," Arjun mumbled, looking mortified. "It is not my preferred look."

"It suits you," Ellia said, a tiny, barely visible smile touching her lips. "Rugged."

Arjun stopped breathing for a solid five seconds.

Jasper walked up, observing the interaction. "Fascinating courtship rituals. But could we focus on the giant eye in the sky?"

---

The warm reunion was cut short.

The temperature in the room dropped.

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