Villainess is being pampered by her beast husbands

Chapter 479 --479

Kaya checked his pulse. Still there. Weak, but there."He needs rest. Fluids. Proper medicine." She looked at Veer. "None of which we have."

"He also needs not to die in the next hour," Veer said pragmatically. "Which means keeping the hunters away from him. From us."

"Agreed."

Cutie appeared at the gap in the rocks, slightly out of breath. "I covered our tracks as best I could. Used branches to sweep the ground, scattered leaves. But if they have someone who’s good at tracking—"

"They’ll find us eventually," Kaya finished. "I know. But eventually is better than immediately."

She positioned herself at the gap, looking out at the approach. From here, she had a clear view of anyone coming. And anyone coming would have to squeeze through a space barely wide enough for one person.

"Veer, watch the sides. Make sure there’s no way to climb over or around. Cutie—" She paused, considering. "Can you fly?"

"Yes?"

"Get up high. Find a tree with a good vantage point. Watch for movement. If you see them coming, you signal us. Three sharp calls, like before."

Cutie nodded and immediately transformed, his small Rabbit form taking flight and disappearing into the canopy.

Kaya settled into position at the gap, her knife ready, her mind already running through combat scenarios.

Behind her, Ryn stirred slightly, his voice barely a whisper. "You... you should leave me. Save yourselves."

"Shut up and rest," Kaya said without looking back.

"They want you... specifically. Not me. Not them. Just you."

"I said shut up."

"Why?" The question was barely audible. "Why risk yourself for someone you don’t know?"

Kaya was quiet for a moment, watching the forest, listening for sounds of approach.

"Because someone once told me," she said finally, "that you don’t leave people behind. Ever. No matter what. Even when it’s stupid. Even when it gets you killed." She glanced back at him. "Now stop talking and conserve your strength. You’re going to need it."

Ryn looked at her with something like wonder in his pain-glazed eyes. Then he closed them, either accepting her answer or simply too weak to argue.

Veer moved up beside Kaya, taking position on the other side of the gap.

"You know this is insane, right?" he said conversationally.

"Yep."

"We’re outnumbered. Outmatched. Defending an injured stranger against trained hunters."

"Yep."

"And you’re still not going to run."

"Nope."

Veer smiled that sharp, dangerous smile. "Good. I was hoping you’d say that."

"Why?"

"Because I’m tired of running too." He flexed his hands, his amber eyes gleaming. "And because if we’re going to die anyway, might as well make it memorable."

Kaya found herself smiling back. "That’s the spirit."

They stood together at the gap, watching. Waiting.

From above, Cutie’s voice drifted down—a single chirp. ’All clear. For now.’

The forest remained quiet. Peaceful. Deceptively calm.

But Kaya knew better.

The storm was coming.

And this time, they weren’t running from it.

This time, they were going to face it head-on.

Whatever happened next, at least they’d face it together.

At least they’d face it fighting.

And for a soldier, there were worse ways to go.

---

Minutes crawled by.

Five. Ten. Fifteen.

Nothing.

The forest remained undisturbed. No sounds of pursuit. No movement.

Kaya’s muscles were starting to cramp from holding position. Her grip on the knife was so tight her knuckles had gone white.

"Maybe he was wrong," Veer murmured. "About how close they were."

"Maybe."

But Kaya didn’t believe it.

Her instincts were screaming danger. That prickling sensation at the back of her neck, the one that had kept her alive through countless combat situations.

Something was coming.

She just didn’t know what.

Or when.

Or from where.

The waiting was the worst part.

The not knowing.

The anticipation of violence without the release of action.

She breathed slowly, evenly, keeping her heart rate controlled. Staying ready.

Behind her, Ryn’s breathing had steadied slightly. Either he was stabilizing or slipping into unconsciousness. Hard to tell.

From above, Cutie chirped again. ’Still clear.’

"Kaya," Veer said suddenly, his voice tight.

"Do you smell that?"

She sniffed the air. At first, nothing. Then—

Smoke.

Very faint. But unmistakable.

"They’re burning us out," she said, her blood running cold.

And then, from the forest ahead, she heard it.

Laughter.

Low, cruel, amused.

And the sound of many bodies moving through undergrowth, no longer bothering with stealth.

The hunters had arrived.

The smoke was getting thicker.

Kaya could see it now, gray wisps curling through the trees, drifting toward their position like ghostly fingers. The hunters weren’t just burning them out—they were creating a wall of fire, cutting off escape routes, herding them toward a kill zone.

"We need to move," Veer said, his voice tight with urgency. "Now."

"Where?" Kaya demanded. "They’ve got us boxed in."

From above, Cutie’s panicked chirps came rapid-fire. Three sharp calls. Then three more. ’Danger. Multiple hostiles. Everywhere.’

The laughter from the forest grew louder, joined by more voices. How many were out there? Ten? Twenty? More?

Behind them, Ryn stirred, his eyes opening slightly. "The creek," he gasped. "Follow the creek... upstream. There’s a gap in the rocks. Hidden. They won’t... won’t know about it."

Kaya looked at the wounded wolf, then at Veer. "Can you carry him and run?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really."

A voice called out from the smoke-filled forest, deep and mocking. "Little humans and little beastmen! Why do you run? The Snake Lord only wants the female. Give her to us, and the rest of you can go free!"

"That’s a lie," Kaya said flatly.

"Obviously," Veer agreed. He was already moving, scooping Ryn up again despite the strain it put on his injured shoulder. "But we should probably not stick around to argue the point."

"Cutie!" Kaya shouted up at the canopy. "Lead us upstream! Find that gap!"

A brown blur shot out of the trees—not a sparrow, but a small rabbit with brilliant blue eyes, moving with surprising speed through the branches above. Cutie in his true form, something Kaya hadn’t seen before.

"This way!" his voice called, high and urgent. "Hurry!"

They ran.

Kaya took point, knife in hand, following the creek upstream as Cutie bounded ahead through the trees. Veer came behind her, carrying Ryn, his breathing already labored.

Behind them, the smoke thickened. And beneath the smoke, shapes were moving. Dark forms slipping through the gray, closing in.

The creek narrowed as they ran, the banks becoming steeper, more rocky. The water rushed faster here, tumbling over stones and fallen logs.

"There!" Cutie’s voice called from above. "Between those two boulders!"

Kaya saw it—a narrow gap between two massive rocks, barely visible, partially obscured by hanging vines. The creek flowed through it, meaning the passage would be treacherous, but it was their only chance.

She plunged through without hesitation, the cold water immediately soaking her to the waist. The current was strong here, trying to pull her feet out from under her. She braced her hands against the rocks on either side, pushing forward.

The gap opened into a narrow gorge, walls rising high on either side. The water was deeper here, coming up to her chest, shockingly cold.

Behind her, she heard Veer curse as he struggled through with Ryn’s weight.

"Keep moving!" Kaya shouted back. "Don’t stop!"