Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 403

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Her brain worked at lightning speed as she recalled the strategy she'd come up with that afternoon. She casually asked, "So, how did you break into Barbarians' stronghold? Is the rebellion completely crushed now? What's going to happen to their leader? Are you sending him back to Hilltop City?"

She figured talking business would help her dodge other topics. But Erik didn't take the bait. He just kept staring at her with those burning eyes. After a long moment, he suddenly propped himself up and leaned in, kissing her like a storm rolling over the horizon.

The little rabbit had traveled a thousand miles to deliver itself straight into the wolf's jaws, devoured until not even its bones remained-too late to cry about it

now.

The next day at noon, Nyx finally dragged herself out of bed, her limbs soft as noodles. Erik stayed right by the bedside, jumping up the second he heard her stir to help her wash and get ready.

The maids' chores got completely hijacked-they could only watch as the general, with hands used to wielding swords and spears, deftly twisted her hair into a neat, pretty bun.

Just as they started to marvel at it, a massive wolf's head poked through the doorway, scaring the daylights out of the young

maids, their faces turning pale in an instant. "A wolf! How can there be a wolf here?"

It was clearly a wild wolf-every strand of fur bristling with untamed energy, its frame sturdy and thick. Though it still had the look of a young pup, it was already bigger than most grown wolves. In its mouth, it carried a tiny rabbit, probably its snack.

The maids trembled, torn between pity for the rabbit and terror that the wolf might turn its attention to them and take a bite.

But the gray-furred wolf didn't even spare them a glance. It padded straight toward Nyx with light, confident steps, then flopped down by her feet under everyone's nervous stares, rolling over to show its belly. A bunch of eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets at the sight.

Nyx looked down, her eyes crinkling with a smile. She rubbed its fur a couple times with her bare foot and said, “Had enough fun out there? Back home now, huh?"

was attached to her, that feral streak in its bones never

didn't want to sit still, had let it loose to romp around in

out a little "woo" like it was playing cute, then dropped the rabbit

me?" Nyx touched the rabbit, checked it was still alive, then picked it

second, brushing off the weird thoughts popping into her head, then poked the cub's head with a helpless grin. "Why do you love catching rabbits

thing for rabbits. Erik gave the cub a longer look. It never listened to him, and suddenly

Nyx's questions from last night. "The barbarians took a big hit this time because some insiders slipped a sedative into the food they brought. Pretty much anyone who ate at the feast lost the will to fight and got

father didn't eat the stuff they brought, so they didn't get drugged. We nabbed Monka, but the old guy was slippery

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Chapter 403

small number-but plenty of them slipped out in the chaos too. Those barbarians know Misty Ridge like the back of

the tens of thousands, but now only a few thousand stragglers remained. Most had been wiped out or captured in the last three months of fighting-technically, the rebellion was already as good as done. But he knew if they didn't stamp out this last pocket of resistance completely, the tragedy of Nevaton getting raided could happen

I catch Monka's foster father, I'll haul them both back to Hilltop City," Erik

picture of how things stood. But she didn't say anything-like she hadn't even heard Erik talking-and just kept playing with the wolf cub, leaving the big

knew he'd messed up, so he half-knelt down, resting his head on her knee in

fuming. She lifted her foot and pressed it against his shoulder.

how much he could handle. They'd been apart so long, though, so she let it

a little liquid courage, he

wolf said, sneaking a peek at Nyx's face.

can kick me out."

probably banking on knowing her too well, figuring she wouldn't say she disliked it or ever really kick him out. Whatever. He only gets

even if he usually got the short end of the stick against the sly little cat with eight hundred tricks up its sleeve.

out a vague little hum, leaving him to figure it out. Erik couldn't figure it

to smooth things over. If he could