The night before their departure, Rhea, Winston, and Alva found themselves camping under the stars. Winston and Alva worked together to set up the tents, while Rhea, despite her best efforts, found herself more of a hindrance than a help.

She had tried to assist with the ropes, but somehow ended up entangled in them. "Queen Rhea, how did you manage to do that?" Winston laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

She flushed, a bit embarrassed. "Can you help me get it off?"

Winston chuckled, his deep voice filled with warmth. "Alright, just give me a few seconds." He walked up, helping her untangle the ropes around her neck. His strength was measured, and it didn't take long to free her. "There."

"Thank you. I'll go get some firewood; at least I can't mess that one up," she muttered.

Winston looked at her fondly. "Can I touch you, Queen Rhea?"

His question took her by surprise. He had been touching her this entire time, so why ask now? "Yes?"

He lifted his hand to ruffle her hair. She looked up at him through his large hands in surprise. Permission to ruffle her hair? What the hell?

"Don't worry about the firewood. I'll go get it. I don't want anything to happen to you."

She nodded meekly as he headed off, rushing into the forest out of their clearing. By the time he returned, she was shocked to see he had also hunted some meat.

"Wow, you're very good at this," she said as she watched him prepare the meat.

"Well, I camped outside a lot when I was in Beast City since we had to save quite a few females."

"That's how I met you and Muir; you were saving females," she said. "Do females get kidnapped a lot?" She wouldn't know. Curtis had practically sheltered her, and her strength meant she laughed at the face of danger.

"Yeah, not just by ferals, but by other beastmen too. Remember you let the women free from the Black Wind Tribe? They were also kidnapped."

"Yeah, I told them to release them. I wonder if they got back safe."

"I'm sure they are grateful to you for saving them."

'Why would they be grateful?' she thought.

She hadn't stopped what happened to them from happening; she came at the end of everything. What difference did it make if she let them go or not? She just didn't like the idea of women in shackles. She didn't let them go for justice; she just hated the feeling of imprisonment they reminded her of.

After all, she was just like them, some things are unavoidable even in another world.

Harvey always said she was a good person, but when had she ever done anything out of kindness?

Her actions were fueled by what made her uncomfortable and what made her happy. She was just uncomfortable seeing those women like that, but when it came to women she disliked she didn't feel anything.

She was uncomfortable seeing the ferals so pitiful so she adopted them but she didn't care for the beastmen she killed in beast city.

Did that really count as being a good person?

'Harvey I don't think I will ever meet your expectations in this lifetime.'

If she needed to sacrifice her life for her people, could she?

Her useless thoughts carried on till dinner.

As they settled in for the night, the scent of roasted meat wafted through the air. The night sky is especially beautiful when you have some delicious meat.

'I wonder if he ate well today...'

The next day, they arrived at the Peacock Tribe. The village was populated with large treehouses, which Rhea found quite amusing. The peacocks, with their vibrant feathers, moved gracefully through the village, adding to the enchanting atmosphere.

Alva led them to the biggest treehouse, where his father, the tribe leader, awaited. The king, a regal figure with an aura of wisdom and authority, rose to greet them.

"Welcome, Queen of the Black Wind Tribe," the tribe leader said, his voice warm and welcoming. "We are honoured by your visit."

Rhea inclined her head respectfully. "Thank you, Peacock King. The honour is mine."

"I see you brought back my son. I was afraid he would never return to me."

Alva laughed nervously. Why would he return to such a dull place? The Black Wind Tribe had booze, delicious food, and countless beauties.

As the leaders talked, Winston found himself the centre of attention. His imposing figure and muscular stature attracted the interest of several peacock women, who made no secret of their admiration.

The collar on his neck did not deter advances from those who were more confident. Rhea found it a bit amusing since Winston was like a rock when it came to women he had no interest in-a cold, flaccid, rock.

That evening, the tribe leader invited them to a grand feast. The hall was filled with music, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. As they enjoyed the spread of exotic foods, the conversation inevitably turned to politics.

Rhea leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "I've heard there's been a salt ban affecting many tribes. Do you have any information on this?"

The tribe leader's expression darkened slightly. "Yes, the mermaid queen has enforced a ban on salt trade with the Black Wind Tribe. No village dares to defy her."

Rhea's eyes narrowed. "So, we're blacklisted. Do you have any solutions?"

The tribe leader sighed. "The only one who could intervene would be the Flame City King."

"The flame King?"

"Unlike beast tribes, he has the manpower and would do anything for enough profit."

Rhea's mind flickered back to the image of Rosa. The flame king had been calling out for her and it seemed like she would be the first to go to him after all.

.

Back in the black wind tribe Leo looked out on the small emerging city with a glass in hand, he wondered how she was doing, for someone who liked her mattress extra soft she would definitely be uncomfortable camping.

"Leo?"

Curtis's voice interrupted his line of thought.

"Ah, Curtis, is there anything I can help you with?"

"I know you and Rhea come from the same place. And she only tells you things she can't tell us."

Leo felt a bit scared, surely he wouldn't be assassinated while she was away right?

"Ah yes?" He was even scared to admit that.

"I want to know more about her and understand her, can you tell me a little bit about her world?"

Leo didn't know what to say, he knew everything about Rhea but he never expected this, for Curtis to lower his pride and ask him. So If he wasn't trying to assassinate him, why was Korrin hiding? What's happening?

"Well, What do you want to know?"

"What was she like? What makes her happy?"

Leo raised a brow, "But Curtis, these are all questions you know the answer to. There's no different Rhea. She is and has always been the way she is."

Curtis looked down, fiddling with his hands. "What was her family like? Ferals do not have family, but I know it's really important to humans. She still keeps the cravings Harvey made for her."

"Hm... Rhea loves her family a lot. But I wouldn't call them the best."

"She says all families are like that, a little bad but she never goes into great detail," Curtis said, his voice tinged with concern. Leo didn't know how to break the news gently.

"Curtis, Rhea was abused as a child." The words hung heavy in the air, and Leo wished he could take them back. He knew Curtis might not fully grasp the concept of abuse or how deeply it scars someone for life.

Curtis wasn't stupid, though. He might not understand every nuance, but Leo's tone conveyed the seriousness of what he was saying.

"Never mind, you wouldn't understand anything," Leo muttered, regretting bringing it up.

"Make me understand," Curtis insisted, his eyes meeting Leo's with cold determination. At least for once he wanted to see past what she told him.

Leo sighed and then a small smile crossed his lips. Maybe she got what she wanted after all, but was she smart enough to see it?

His mind wandered to the last conversation they had, he had asked her a simple question, "what is your desire? Something you want so much you feel so agonized over?"

At that moment she told him honestly, "I want to be loved."

What a ridiculous desire, coming from someone with 3 mates.

"Don't you think they love you? Curtis at least."

"Leo, don't you think the way beastmen love in this world is abnormal?"

Abnormal? Possibly, but that was only to humans, to them it was perfectly reasonable. "Do you not believe in their devotion to you?" He asked.

"I trust their devotion, but Leo if I was never pretty, or if I was never strong so you think they would like me?"

He felt the question was odd, it felt like she was asking if they would treat her the same if she was a completely different person. No they wouldn't, they liked her because she was Rhea. So why think such pointless things?

"You think too much." He finally said with a sigh, coming up with pointless what ifs and odd scenarios. Why couldn't she just enjoy the here and now? Like she was always looking for a reason to deny their love for her, as if the only way they could prove their love was dying for her.

Did her mates love her? Leo thought they did, their actions were proof, but would she ever believe it? Who knows, maybe to her their words were just that, words.

But Winston, he was different. He was the only one she pursued, was it because of what happened that year she got sick? Ultimately he got tired of thinking of her love life, that wasn't his business anyway, no matter how interesting.

He was her friend, not one of her mates, and for that reason he will always be one level closer to her than anyone else, that was probably the only way to win this game.

.

The next morning, Rhea and Winston stood at the edge of the village, preparing to say their goodbyes. Alva and his father approached them, his feathers shimmering in the morning light.

"Thank you for your visit, Queen Rhea," Alva's father, said warmly. "Your presence has been an honour, and your assistance, invaluable."

Rhea nodded, a smile on her lips. "The honour is mine, Peacock King. Your hospitality has been gracious, and I am grateful for your support."

With a final wave, Rhea and Winston set off, leaving the Peacock Tribe behind.

.

On top of the flame city tower guards stood outside the supposed throne room of the scorpion king. He sat on his throne leisurely unbothered by the screams and fighting outside as if it had nothing to do with him.

His yellow eyes glowed mischievously as he played with the soul stone in his hand. The news of the dark ban had spread far and wide even reaching him inside his castle.

"I wonder, if she will come."

That statement had no value, he knew she would come, since he was the only one who could give her the solution to the mermaid princess's wrath.