"They are no different from autonomous machines working toward a blank slate, a world scoured clean and remade according to their design. Everything else, be it human, goblin, shifter or gorgon, is either a tool to be used or a stain to be removed to the likes of them."

He spoke not with hysterical warning, but with the flat, certain tone of someone stating undeniable facts. The lack of emotion in his delivery made the words even more chilling.

"Snow, was it?" Mr. Miller said, his focus settling on her. "I'm afraid you cannot remain in this forest, since a member of their group has set their sights on you. It won't be long before more of them come crawling around here."

"For your safety and the safety of our village, I think it's best we get you a new home."

Snow, who had been listening, dropped a question. "I thought you weren't afraid of the likes of them," she asked, her lips curling upwards ever so slightly. "What's the matter, finally revealing your true colours?"

Mr. Miller didn't bother falling for her obvious taunt. Adrian winced at the sight. Even if both of them were on the same side, it looked like Snow still couldn't forget the fact that the man was a hunter.

"This has nothing to do with one's stubbornness. I'm afraid I'd prefer not to put the innocent people of the village in harm's way because of the likes of you," Mr. Miller replied, his gaze unwavering.

"Luckily for you, this kind lad right here is willing to put up with the likes of you and even take you somewhere far away from here. Rather than picking a fight, I think it's best you try your best to hold that tongue of yours."

"Make no mistake, right now your lives are in my hands. If I refuse to help you then you and the boy will be in danger." Mr. Miller's face darkened slightly.

'Wait! What's going on! Why are you dragging me into this?!' Adrian stared, exasperated, at the doctor but his spine shivered when he felt three sudden killing intents emerge in an instant.

Grey, Emma and Snow all glared at the doctor, their expressions cold. It was clear they weren't happy with him threatening their mate. Even if Grey and Emma couldn't understand much, they still understood the hidden meaning within the doctor's words.

"Hey you guys! Stop it, what do you think you're doing!" Adrian hurriedly ran in front of the doctor, facing the three of them while waving his hands to calm them down. "Do I need to remind you all that we need his help right now?"

"But he dared to threaten you—" Snow spoke through gnashed fangs.

"Who cares!" Adrian's reply stunned all three of them.

"Whether he threatens or insults me doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that he can help the three of you—that's all I care about and I think you should too," Adrian yelled out loud, his eyes pleading.

The three of their expressions eased a bit. Seeing this, Adrian continued.

"That's better. Let's try to remain on good terms—" Adrian yelled mid-sentence when Snow's tail wrapped around him and pulled him towards them.

"W-What are you doing?" he blurted out but she silenced him by licking his lips.

"We appreciate what you're trying to do but next time, don't interfere… You're our mate. Anyone who dares to disrespect you has to deal with us, not you. As the weakest, you should let us protect you instead." Snow showed a rare soft look. Adrian blinked in surprise; he glanced at Grey and Emma who nodded as well, showing their first-ever united front.

"Alright, alright, I promise…" Adrian chuckled.

'If I'm the weakest I'll gladly let you three protect me but right now I'm the strongest so it's my job to bear that mantle.' Adrian said the latter part in his mind for obvious reasons.

"Are the 4 of you done yet? Need I remind you that this doctor has a clinic to run?" The doctor disrupted their moment, drawing all eyes onto him once more.

"So boy, what's it going to be? Are you really sure about this responsibility you're planning on taking?" The doctor's doubtful words irritated Grey, Snow and Emma but they calmed down when Adrian signaled for them to take a step back.

"Yes, I'm sure," Adrian nodded. "I already have a plan in mind," Adrian said, his voice gaining a sliver of conviction. He stood a little straighter to get his point across. "I'm fully prepared to bond with Snow and Emma."

"I truly want to make the both of them my responsibility as well, to keep them from hurting anyone and anyone from hurting them."

"When Leo leaves the village, I'll take the three of them with me."

"Including your dear old mother as well?" Mr. Miller's interruption caused Adrian to stiffen. He suddenly turned silent but he turned to his side when he felt a hand resting gently on his shoulder.

Adrian glanced at Snow who nodded to him as if promising him something. Grey also moved in closer and nuzzled against him as if agreeing as well. Emma was silent, her brows furrowed, but she suddenly walked up to him. She turned to the side while reaching towards him, placing her dagger in his hands which he unconsciously grabbed.

The young man blinked in surprise. "Y-You as well?" Adrian didn't understand her gesture completely but he took it as her promising him as well. Emma nodded, though she refused to look him in the eye. Adrian didn't mind her shy actions but became even more excited.

Mr. Miller studied Adrian for a long, silent moment, his expression unreadable. "I'm still waiting on your answer, boy."

"Choosing this path is a weight most grown men would not choose to bear, Adrian. Are you truly prepared for what that means?" He gestured to the girls. "What happens when one of them is startled in a city street and reacts with instinct instead of reason? What will you do if their nature leads them to harm someone who does not deserve it? The world out there will not be as understanding as you, I'm sure you're aware of that."

"So, what will it be?"

Adrian met the doctor's gaze. The fear was still there, but now it was far lesser than ever before; he felt a firm determination burning within him. The unspoken promises they had given him filled his conviction even more than ever.

"I won't let it come to that," he said, and this time, his voice was steady, devoid of the earlier tremor. "They are my responsibility now. Whatever happens, I'll definitely find a way to resolve it because from this moment on, I swear on my life that the four of us shall remain as one, until death do us part."

'Sigh… Amy dear, papa did his best. I'm afraid you'll have a lot of competition to come, and something tells me these ones won't be the only ones drawn to the young lad.' Mr. Miller lamented inwardly.

"Hey boy, don't go spouting off cheesy lines without warning me in advance, you hear?" Mr. Miller revealed a cringed expression—to think the lad would say such a thing.

Adrian only smiled sheepishly. He glanced at the girls and saw their confused expressions at the man's remark, even Snow, which made him glad they didn't understand Mr. Miller.

Regarding what he said just now, he didn't see it as anything flimsy; to him it was a promise.

He had no concrete plan to keep, but he decided to make that vow nevertheless. In that moment, standing in the snowy clearing surrounded by a hunter, a gorgon, a goblin, and a shifter, with an invisible enemy now hunting them all, it was the only thing he had to offer. It was the only card he had left to play. And a card he would be sure to remember from this moment onwards.

Mr. Miller soon got to work since Adrian had decided that he wouldn't change his mind. He cleared a small circle of earth in the snowy clearing; the circle wasn't wobbly but clean and perfect, which was surprising. Up next, he guided Adrian to stand in the center, then positioned Snow and Emma facing him. The gorgon looked intrigued, her serpentine tail twitching, while the goblin watched with narrowed, suspicious eyes.

The doctor didn't explain. He simply drew his dagger and made a quick, clean cut on Adrian's wrist like last time. Adrian winced in pain but endured it. His blood slowly dripped into the silver chalice until it was half full.

The doctor then traced the same glowing runic symbols with his fingers; once the symbols faded into the air, the doctor walked up to Snow and Emma and had them take turns drinking Adrian's blood.

"Darling's blood… tastes so good," Snow muttered beneath her breath. She revealed an infatuated expression the instant she tasted his blood, her body shivering ever so slightly. The sight unnerved Adrian a bit, but when his eyes landed on Emma he unconsciously gulped when she licked the faint traces of blood from her lips while staring at his, which gave a mischievous gaze.

The doctor ignored their strange actions and simply stepped aside. After a few moments, Adrian was confused because he felt no pain whatsoever.

"There," Mr. Miller said, wiping the blade clean. "It is done."

Adrian blinked, staring at the thin, already-fading line on his hand. "That's it? But last time… with Grey… it was agony."

Mr. Miller gave a curt nod. "Yes, but then you were trying to close her mortal wounds while bonding to her without her consent. It's not surprising she would resist," he said before his brows furrowed. He walked up to Adrian and whispered into his ear.

"They gave their consent so the magic doesn't have to fight its way in when the door is held open for it."

"But even so, there's supposed to be some level of disturbance—each disturbance depends on whether the other party might secretly have reluctant thoughts. The fact that you felt nothing is a bit unnerving… Lad, I think it's best you remain cautious around the likes of them. Sometimes no disturbance doesn't mean absolute acceptance…" Mr. Miller leaned away afterwards.

'What's he trying to say? Is he suggesting one of them might have ulterior motives?' Adrian wondered.

His thoughts were interrupted as a weight suddenly slumped against his back. He stumbled, turning instinctively, and his arms closed around a collapsing form.

It was Snow. But her appearance at the moment looked completely different from what he remembered.

Her magnificent serpentine lower body was gone. In its place were now two long, pale, stunning porcelain-skinned legs. The scales that had dusted her skin had vanished, leaving it soft and milky white. Her hair was a magnificent cascade of pure white, and her face, though still bearing a sharp, otherworldly beauty, was completely human. And she was utterly, breathtakingly naked.

Adrian's mind went blank. He was acutely aware of the soft, warm weight of her in his arms, the smooth skin under his hands.

"Boy, would it kill you to stop gawking?!"

"Hurry up and cover her up, or are you planning on leaving the poor woman to freeze out in this cold?" Mr. Miller yelled as he tossed a bundled fur coat to Adrian, then threw a smaller one at Emma. "You. Cover up…" he said dismissively before turning his back on them.

"Y-Yes, of course!"

Adrian fumbled, his face burning with embarrassment as he managed to get Snow's arms into the sleeves and wrap the heavy furs around her. As he tied the leather cord, he glanced at Emma. The transformation was just as shocking. The green-skinned, sharp-toothed goblin was gone, replaced by a petite girl who looked startlingly young. She had the same fair skin and a long, straight fall of white hair that reached her waist, covering where her pointed ears had been. Only her eyes remained the same, a vibrant, intelligent emerald green. She caught the coat with a scoff and an exaggerated eye-roll, but she didn't fail to put it on, the voluminous furs swallowing her small frame.

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