Kael didn’t comfort Kiona because he knew she didn’t need it. She was a strong woman who would prefer to fight rather than be protected and sheltered, so he respected that.
He just chuckled at her latter part and said, "I should be honoured then, as you did call your family."
"Because you are my family, Master." Kiona stopped and stared at him seriously. "You are a very cunning master, even though you pretend to be a silly person. I know you’ve already realised my feelings, so I won’t pretend to be shy about them or act like they don’t exist."
She took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and said, her voice full of resolve and determination, "I’m not worthy of you now, but I will beco soone who is. And the day that happens, I will co at you with full force. This is my declaration."
She paused, a silly smile appearing on her face as she added, "And we also need to repopulate the Sunmane Tribe, so I need your help with that."
Kael stared at her with a deep, unreadable look in his eyes. No one would have been able to guess his exact thoughts at that mont, and Kiona was no different, which made her a little nervous.
But she wasn’t willing to back down. She liked him and was ready to do everything to win him over. Before, she might have waited for so ti, but Rias’s appearance had given her a fright and a sense of urgency.
She realised that the position she currently held in her Master’s heart might be snatched away, and there was no way she was going to let that happen.
Lionkin tribes were generally too obsessed with their loved ones, and Kiona had inherited that sa trait. This was the reason she declared her intentions upfront—so if she were to be rejected, she wouldn’t have any regrets at least.
However, only now that Kael remained silent did she realise how terrifying rejection could be. Usually, she was the one who did the rejecting, so this was a brand-new experience for her.
Of course, she was prepared for rejection. She knew she was a subordinate, a tad beast of Kael, so in truth, she was overstepping her boundaries by trying to attain a status close to his.
Finally, Kael snapped back to his senses and knocked on her head, saying in a teasing voice, "Are you in heat?"
Kiona froze, too dumbfounded by the situation. She had prepared for acceptance, rejection, contempt, and many other reactions—but this was the last one she expected from him.
Her mind blanked, refusing to form a coherent response. She just opened her mouth and hurriedly shook her head without saying anything.
Kael chuckled and said, "Then chill down for now."
He raised his hand, patting her lightly like always, and said, his voice taking on a rare serious tone, "Give so ti too. There’s just too much happening around us that I’m overwheld."
"W-What? You didn’t reject ?" Kiona stuttered in shock.
"Why are you acting shocked when you’re the one who confessed?" Kael rolled his eyes and said. "And why would I reject soone as nice and lovely as you? I just need so ti to sort things out before I can think about myself properly, so I want you to give so ti."
"N-No no! Quite the opposite! I need so ti to beco powerful enough to stand by your side," Kiona bead with joy as her tail displayed her emotions behind her.
"Guess we both need so ti, so how about this—we’ll be in a relationship, but not sothing official? How about that?" Kael offered after so thought.
"Yes!!!" Kiona practically shouted upon hearing him and hugged him, forgetting the fact that she had been hesitant to even let him touch her before. "Thank you, Master. Thank you!!"
Kael caressed her back and chuckled, "Why are you acting like only you’re gaining benefits here? I’m also getting a girlfriend like you, after all."
"Girlfriend? Is that a term for mate?"
"Kind of."
"Then you are my... male friend?"
"Hell nah! I’m your boyfriend."
Kiona blinked in confusion, wondering why Kael seed so offended by being called a male friend. But since he didn’t like it, it was already blacklisted in her mind.
She nodded in excitent, still feeling her heart pounding against her chest. She closed her eyes and thought, Mom, Dad, bless to beco worthy of him. I want to walk close to him.
"As much as I’d like to just sleep in this state, there’s so work we need to finish, Kitty," Kael pinched her ears lightly, making her flinch as he reminded her.
She raised her head and growled, "I’m not a cat."
"Oh, you know what a kitty is?" Kael was surprised.
"My master used to tease by calling ’Little Kitty,’ apparently because I reminded her of the cat she had as a pet," Kiona growled, as if reminiscing about those terrible days.
"Haha! She’s only wrong in one thing," Kael smiled and lowered his head, whispering in her ear, "The kitty is no longer little."
"I’m not a cat!" Kiona protested, feeling seriously offended. "I’m a proud Sunmane Lion warrior—not one of those little lazy cats who just parasite humans and leech off them. Those humans are equally stupid. They beco those little parasites’ slaves and waste all their earnings on them. Pathetic beings! Hmph!"
Looks like I really stepped on a landmine, Kael mused to himself while listening to her rant, though she looked even more attractive in that fierce expression.
"Alright, I won’t tease you further, so can we get back to work?" Kael asked. "We need to finish it quickly so that Rias can stay with us."
Kiona stopped her rant and asked, "Do you like her too, Master? Do you want to mate with her?"
"I won’t deny that I’m attracted to her, but that’s it. She’s way too dangerous otherwise. Who knows what she’ll do once she gets her mories back? Maybe she’ll change completely?" Kael shrugged.
"But you seem very friendly with her?" Kiona asked in confusion. "I’m sure you aren’t faking it."
"Cuz I’m not. She genuinely seems like a good person and has shown it too. I’m sure even you feel the sa," Kael replied. "It’s just that a future with her can be very dangerous, so I would prefer being only friends with her."
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