Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 227

Chapter 227: The King of the Deep and the Yellow Flotation Device

Every monarch requires a sanctuary. For Caspian, the Merman King and former Final Boss of the oceanic realm, that sanctuary was the indoor aquatic pavilion located in the eastern wing of the cliffside manor.

It was an architectural masterpiece. Orion had spent weeks designing the vaulted glass ceilings to let in the natural moonlight, while Cassian had laid complex, glowing blue thermal runes along the marble tiles to keep the saltwater at the perfect, soothing temperature. It was a place of absolute tranquility. A place where a terrifying apex predator of the deep could shift into his true form and enjoy a moment of silent, undisturbed peace.

Caspian dove smoothly through the crystal-clear water, his massive, powerful tail propelling him forward with effortless grace. His scales shimmered in brilliant shades of deep sapphire and iridescent silver. The water muffled the chaotic sounds of the Warlord estate. There were no booming wolves, no lecturing snakes, and no exploding kitchen experiments.

Just perfect, glorious silence.

Creeeeaaak.

Caspian paused mid-glide. His sharp, finned ears twitched.

The heavy, carved oak doors of the aquatic pavilion slowly pushed open.

Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap.

Caspian broke the surface of the water, smoothing his damp, silver hair back from his face. He rested his arms against the edge of the marble pool, his teal eyes narrowing as he looked toward the entrance.

Standing in the doorway, looking incredibly small inside the massive, echoing pavilion, was a bright yellow frog.

Pip had completely bypassed the magical security wards—mostly because Cassian had set the wards to detect threats over three feet tall. The two-year-old Duck-kin waddled into the room, his yellow canvas raincoat swishing around his knees, the giant stuffed frog eyes on his hood bouncing with every step.

Pip stopped at the edge of the polished marble floor. He looked at the massive, glowing pool of perfectly heated saltwater.

His dark eyes went entirely round. A massive, gummy smile stretched across his chubby face.

"Water!" Pip gasped, his voice echoing loudly off the glass ceiling.

"Halt," Caspian commanded, his deep voice rolling across the room with all the regal authority of a reigning monarch.

Pip blinked. He looked across the pool and saw Caspian. He saw the shimmering silver hair, the broad shoulders, and the massive, glittering sapphire tail swishing lazily beneath the surface of the water.

Pip pointed a chubby, accusatory finger directly at the King of the Deep.

"Big fish!" Pip shrieked happily.

Caspian felt a vein throb gently in his temple. "I am not a fish, little bird. I am a Merman. And this is a restricted aquatic zone. The Sovereign’s bathtub is located on the second floor. Turn around and waddle back to your father."

Pip did not turn around. In fact, Pip didn’t even hesitate.

He took three running, waddling steps toward the edge of the pool, his little downy duck wings flapping wildly beneath his heavy canvas coat.

"Pip, no. The canvas is not rated for deep submersion—" Caspian started to warn, actually pushing off the wall to intervene.

It was too late.

With a joyful, high-pitched "Honk!", Pip launched himself off the marble ledge.

He hit the water with a surprisingly massive SPLASH, sending a wave of warm saltwater crashing right over Caspian’s flawless face.

Caspian wiped the water from his eyes, his sharp teeth gritting together. He immediately dove under the surface, fully expecting to have to rescue a sinking toddler weighed down by a heavy, wet raincoat.

But when Caspian opened his eyes underwater, Pip wasn’t sinking.

Because Pip was a duck.

The toddler had instinctively kicked his chubby little legs, bobbing right back up to the surface. Furthermore, Cassian’s paranoid waterproofing spells on the yellow frog-cloak had effectively turned the entire garment into a giant, airtight balloon. Pip was floating perfectly in the center of the pool, looking exactly like a bright yellow, highly buoyant cork.

Caspian surfaced right next to him, letting out a long, long sigh.

"You are a menace to my peace," Caspian informed the toddler flatly.

Pip giggled, aggressively slapping the surface of the water with his chubby hands. Splash! Splash! "Fishy play!" Pip demanded, entirely unimpressed by the intimidating, lethal aura of the Merman King.

"The fishy does not play. The fishy is trying to meditate," Caspian replied, swimming slowly backward to create some distance. "I am going to call your father to retrieve you."

But Pip was a waterfowl, and water was his domain. He paddled his little booted feet furiously, gliding across the surface of the pool with surprising speed. He completely ignored Caspian’s personal space, swimming right up to the Merman’s chest and wrapping his chubby arms around Caspian’s neck.

Caspian froze.

He was a creature of the deep. He was used to commanding krakens and summoning tidal waves. He was absolutely not equipped to deal with a wet, sticky toddler clinging to his neck like a very cute barnacle.

Pip rested his chin on Caspian’s shoulder, his downy yellow wings fluttering happily against Caspian’s collarbone. "Ride?" Pip asked, his dark eyes looking up with absolute, devastating hopefulness.

Lucien stopped dead in his tracks. The terrifying, swirling shadows around his feet instantly fizzled out. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

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