Chapter 95: Ducks, chase him.

She found Hunter near the dry water fountain, crouched awkwardly in front of the four mutated ducks. They looked plumper than they had been when they moved in. Their feathers were cleaner, with a healthy glow. Their eyes naturally far too intelligent for ordinary birds. Hunter was speaking to them in a low, commanding tone, gesturing with his hands as though directing soldiers.

Zyra butted in. "Look what I have?" She dropped the coats and most of the cargo in her hand on the ground.

He lifted his head, startled, just as she thrust the band toward him. The ducks quacked in confusion.

Hunter’s eyes widened. "What is that? If it’s a thank you to me for being the most amazing husband in the universe, then I accept it wholeheartedly. Let’s be honest, not all men can handle your half daring- half spoiled princess persona. But you are not to blame, its the way you were raised."

She kicked him on the butt. "Shut up. I intend to give you a beast link band but not as a thank you. It is totally out of necessity." She flipped her hair back. "What is a beast link band, you ask?"

"I didn’t ask." He murmured.

Zyra went on like she was deaf. "It is a device that can track your beast, make calls, normal ones and holographic ones. It’s a cell phone but better. You can take pictures and send messages with it. I can’t imagine what else you can do with it. They come in pairs, one for you and one for your beast. Tell me that it is not the most awesome thing in the world!" She squealed. "I have a phone Hunter, I have a phone!"

He blinked, stunned. His mouth fell open, his expression frozen in shock. Her heart leapt--this was the picture she wanted. She touched the beast link on her wrist and snapped a photo.

"I have got you now," She bellowed with laughter.

But when the image appeared, Hunter looked perfect. Regal. Handsome. Not ridiculous at all.

Zyra scowled. "No, no, no. That is not the picture I want. You are supposed to look stupid."

He raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Hold still. I am going to try again." She snapped another photo. Perfect again, like some of the men she had seen in magazines. His jawline set, his eyes intense, his crouched position almost heroic.

Zyra groaned. "Why do you always look good?! Even on the marriage certificate, you looked perfect while I looked like a hot mess."

He smirked. "Natural talent."

She stomped her foot, like the spoiled princess he had called her. "I am not giving up." Zyra coerced him into making faces; crossing his eyes, puffing his cheeks, sticking out his tongue. She snapped photo after photo, desperate for something embarrassing. But every image came out flawless. He looked like some kind of warrior prince in each one, even with his tongue out. In fact, that photo seemed seductive!

Zyra threw her hands up. "I give up! I hate you."

He chuckled, clearly enjoying her frustration.

She crossed her arms. "What are you doing with the ducks anyway?"

His smirk faded. He gestured toward the birds. "You said they would lay eggs everyday but they have not done so today. I was trying to command them to lay eggs. Like you did. But they won’t listen to me. I am trying to get them to re-align their hips, if the position is the problem."

Zyra tilted her head. "You mean...you have been talking to my ducks about egg laying positions."

"They are mutated and understand human speech," he said defensively.

Zyra bit her lip to jeep from laughing. "Show me."

He cleared his throat, straightening his shoulders and barked. "Lay down, lay eggs!"

The ducks blinked at him. One scratched the ground with its webbed foot. Another yawned, and another looked away, with wings spread. Not a single egg appeared.

Zyra snorted. "Looks like natural talent is falling short, eh."

He glared. "You think you can do better? Yesterday was a one off."

She stepped forward, and crouched, meeting the ducks’ eyes. "Rent ladies, pay up." she commanded softly.

Instantly, all three ducks quacked in unison and laid an egg each, right there on the spot.

Hunter’s jaw dropped. "What--how--?"

Zyra rushed to take a photo of him, her eyes gleaming in victory, only to be disappointed again. She huffed and scooped up one of the glowing eggs, cradling it like a treasure. "They like me more than you. What can I say, natural talent!"

The ducks waddled closer, nuzzling her legs affectionately. Zyra stroked their heads.

[Host, do you want to bond with the ducks and the drake?]

"Bond." She replied. It wouldn’t harm anyone and she would have free duck eggs and meat forever.

The system completed the procedure immediately, as if it was afraid that she would change her mind.

She straightened, pointing at Hunter dramatically. "Ducks, chase him!"

Hunter was about to smirk, but the ducks quacked loudly and launched forward, wings flapping, webbed feet slapping against the dirt.

Hunter yelped, stumbling backward. "Zyra! Call them off! We will be having duck for dinner if you don’t."

But Zyra was laughing too hard to listen, and taking photos. She doubled over, clutching her stomach, tears streaming down her face as her husband ran circles around the courtyard, pursued by three determined ducks.

"Zyraaa..." He bellowed.

She laughed harder. "I don’t think they liked your egg birthing suggestions."

The ducks chased Hunter relentlessly, nipping at his heels, flapping at his coat, quacking like war horns. He tried to climb a pillar, but they leapt after him. He darted behind a wall. but they waddled faster than her expected.

"Zyra!" he shouted, exasperated. "This isn’t funny!"

"It’s hilarious!" she cried, gasping for breath. She knew he could easily kill them, but he was holding back.

The ducks cornered him near the gate, quacking triumphantly. He waved his arms, trying to shoo them away, but they only crept closer.

Zyra followed them and relented, wiping her eyes. "Alright, alright. Ducks--stop."

The birds froze instantly, turning back to her with obedient eyes.

Hunter collapsed against the gate, his hair mussed, panting slightly. He could hear the men that had remained laughing. His dignity had been shredded. His eyes flashed with knowledge. He knew a soul bond when he saw one. Zyra had bonded with these ducks!

What kind of Soul maiden bonded with multiple half-life beasts? He had assumed three was a fluke, and her limit, but she had added four!

Only Somnivores could control beasts on a large scale, and she was no Somnivore. The only link she had to the aliens was her diluted soul maiden blood.

So, what kind of bloodline did she have? Or was this related to Beauty too? He didn’t know what it was, but he knew it would cause chaos when it got out. And it would bring problems to their doorstep.