Chapter 401: A most excited Lita.

He quickly threw his regular clothes back on and stepped out of the treatment pod.

Zyra was still fast asleep on the waiting chair, curled up tight and breathing softly. Hunter walked over on tiptoes, leaned down, and gently scooped her up into his arms.

"Mmm...no..my energy stones. Bad Beauty." Zyra mumbled, her head lolling against his chest as her small hands instinctively grabbed his shirt like she wanted to use it to strangle him.

"Shh," Hunter whispered, smiling down at her. "Go back to sleep. I’m taking you home."

He walked toward the exit of the flying ship. As he crossed the threshold, he paused and called out over his shoulder, "Hey, Warden Trixy? Thanks. You’re not a bad machine after all."

The second his back foot left the ship, the heavy metallic doors slammed shut with a loud thud. A flash of golden light sparked, and the ship’s entry key vanished completely into thin air.

Hunter blinked at the empty space. "Right. Beauty’s work. She really doesn’t like leaving her doors open."

Holding Zyra tightly against his chest, Hunter leapt up the shaft and carried her back to the surface of the Sanctum.

Night had fully fallen fully over the city. The bright moon hung high in the dark sky, casting a soft silver glow over the exhausted group waiting outside. Tyrant was leaning against a rock, snoring softly, while the rest of the team looked like walking corpses.

"Alright, everyone," Hunter called out softly so he wouldn’t wake Zyra. "Good work today. Go get some rest."

Achilles walked over, yawning heavily as he slapped Tyrant awake on the back. "Sounds like a plan. I already booked us a bunch of high-end suites at the Mount Evers Hotel downtown. Soft beds, hot baths, hot food, the works. The bill is on the mother empress of the earth. We were allocated ten percent of the ill-gotten wealth we found here."

Hunter shook his head. "Change of plans. We’re heading to the Kaelion Estate."

Achilles froze, his jaw dropping slightly. "Wait... the Kaelion Estate? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," Hunter said, adjusting Zyra in his arms.

Achilles stared at him for a second, seeing the look in Hunter’s eyes. He wisely chose not to ask any stupid questions. He shrugged, a grin spreading across his face.

"Alright cousin... meet you there then! I wouldn’t miss this family re-union for anything in the world."

Achilles put two fingers to his mouth and let out a sharp, loud whistle. His eagle dropped out of the night sky, its wings creating a gust of wind as it landed right beside him. He fed it one sugar fish and jumped onto its back.

"Tomorrow will sure be an exciting one." He muttered.

******

The excitement that Lita felt was visible as she could barely settle in her seat. They had arrived at around 8:30, thirty minutes earlier than the time that Logan had given to them, but that did not matter because the Ocean Wild Park belonged to her father—the great Mayor of the city!

In Lita’s mind, her father was basically a wealthy politician from a wealthy background of legendary businesspeople, and she was the long-lost Young Mistress finally returning home to claim her rightful inheritance!

Lita’s eyes were sparkling when she looked at her mother. Ursula had barely touched any of the luxurious, mountain-high platters of food that had been served to them.

"Oh, come on, Mother, stop worrying!" Lita said, waving her chopsticks—well, her fork—like a magic wand. "Father has already shown that he is ready to embrace us... I mean, me!"

She leaned in, her eyes shining with absolute delusion. "Look! He even cleared the whole park! Usually, this place is crowded with visitors until midnight, but he kicked them all out just so I would feel comfortable! If that isn’t fatherly love, what is?"

Ursula shook her head, feeling a headache coming on. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Dear Gods of universe, Ursula thought. Is this what people call ’pregnancy brain’? Has my daughter’s IQ dropped from ordinary straight down to the mud?

Normally, Lita was sharp and quick-witted. But right now? She was blind. Logan hadn’t cleared the park to make Lita feel like a princess. He cleared it so no witnesses would see him talking to his secret, illegitimate daughter!

"I don’t like that we met here," Ursula whispered, her voice trembling. She glanced at the huge, terrifying lions pacing inside their iron cages nearby. The beasts looked at them like they were hot, fresh steamed buns. Ursula swallowed hard.

Subtly, she reached up and adjusted a tiny button camera hidden on her shirt. It had been given to her by Samuel.

Samuel had patted his chest earlier and swore, "Don’t worry, my dear wife! I will stand outside the gates and watch the live video. At the first sign of trouble, I, your hero, will fly in and rescue you with the police!"

Ursula had stupidly believed him because she still wanted him to take her back. Why? Because Samuel had promised that after they squeezed a fat stack of money out of the Mayor, they could leave this cursed city and start a new life together.

"Mother, stop making that ugly face!" Lita warned, pointing a fork directly at Ursula’s nose. "When Father gets here, you better be smiling like a flower! Don’t ruin my golden ticket!"

Suddenly, Lita winced, grabbing her lower stomach. "Argh... actually, maybe you should leave. You’re giving me bad luck with your bad vibes."

"I am not leaving you alone with that hypocrite," Ursula said firmly. "He has the heart of a viper!"

Lita sneered, rolling her eyes so hard they almost flipped into the back of her head. "Then you better behave and not spoil this for me! I am about to step into the clouds, mother. Don’t pull me back into the dirt! Tomorrow, I will be the one running this whole place. The Kaelions will not be able to touch me."

Just then, the heavy footsteps of guards echoed in the air. The giant, muscular men who had been watching the two women from a distance, like hungry hawks suddenly stood up straight and bowed deeply.

Lita’s face lit up like a sunlit lotus. She waved her hand cheerfully, completely forgetting her stomach pain.

"Look, Mother! Father is here!" Lita giggled, sitting up straight like a proud peacock. "Time for the Young Mistress to claim her throne!"

Ursula just looked at the dark shadow walking toward them, tapped her little button camera, and prayed to whatever deity was listening that they wouldn’t end up as lion food before the sun rose.