Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 404

Chapter 404

At noon, after lunch, sunlight streamed through the hanging flower gate into the courtyard, warming everything until it felt. like your bones might melt. Nyx lounged lazily on a low couch, teasing the wolf cub with a grass.

A few maids finished their tasks and gathered around her, stitching while stealing glances at the majestic wolf. Kellingtown had wolves too, but they were scrawny little things-nothing like this impressive beast.

It looked so big and fierce, with a mouth full of sharp fangs glinting coldly like it could snap someone's throat in one bite. Yet, when it lay at Nyx's feet, it fawned over her like a puppy.

The maids, who hadn't seen much of the world, couldn't quite put it into words- they just quietly marveled at how amazing Nyx was

After tiring of pouncing on the grass, Nyx pulled a ball she'd sewn from her old clothes out of her sleeve and tossed it far across the yard.

In a flash, the gray wolf cub bolted after it like a gust of wind, its sleek form vanishing out the gate. It came back quick, the toy dangling from its mouth. And it wasn't alone-someone followed behind. Spotting that tall, broad- shouldered figure, the maids shot to their feet, too nervous to keep slacking off.

They'd gotten over their fear of the wolf since it didn't bite randomly, but even knowing the general wouldn't kill without reason, they still couldn't help feeling spooked.

No mystery why-his presence was just too intimidating. It's amazing that Nyx managed to tame a beast like that.

Nyx stayed sprawled out, not bothering to move. She had no intention of getting up to greet her guy, just flicked her eyes up at him and gave a lazy ware.

Right away, the wolf cub's tail wagged like a blur, and the general's eyes lit up with a clumsy, eager grin. "Nyx, I got you a gift."

"Oh: Clothes?" Nyx's gaze landed on what he was holding. "Let me see.

Maybe some local Kellingtown specialty outfit. When she shook out the fabric, Nyx realized it was a sharp, practical set- narrow sleeves, cinched wrists, super crisp.

Erik had even matched it with shoes-a pair of long boots with simple cloud patterns stitched on. No extra frills, but she could tell the craftsmanship was top- notch, with serious care put into the materials and stitching.

"Why'd you suddenly think to get me this?" Nyx asked, running her fingers over it with interest.

She didn't need to try it on to know it'd fit perfectly. She hadn't gained or lost weight these past three months, and Erik had measured every inch of her a million times before-he knew her sizes like the back of his hand.

Thinking of that, she narrowed her eyes and shot him a knowing look. She thought, "He's not cooking up some naughty plan to try new tricks with me, is he?"

Ever since the Emperor back at the palace got a taste of role-playing he'd gone wild with it, always roping her into new roleplays.

One day it was a power-hungry minister forcing himself on a favored consort, the next a pure-hearted guard secretly comforting a lonely noble, then some priest claiming to use his energy to exorcise her.

Teenage males had endless stamina and greed to match-Nyx could barely keep up. She'd finally escaped out here for some peace, but had the other guy at home quietly picked up bad habits too?

Erik had no clue why she was eyeing him like that. He got nervous and started stammering, “I—I got you, uh, a horse?

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Chapter 404

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The old garrison commander in Kellingtown loved fine horses and had offered him

a few choice picks when he arrived.

Erik usually didn't take gifts and had plenty of horses already, planning to send them back untouched. But then he spotted a gentle, adorable foal and couldn't resist.

He remembered Nyx riding a white horse to see him off before the campaign-her cool, heroic figure burned into his mind, haunting his dreams.

He couldn't fight the selfish urge, kept the foal, and sent some gold and silver as payment, treating it like he'd bought it himself. After getting the horse, he made a bunch of riding outfits for Nyx-this was just one of them.

"A horse?" Nyx's eyes sparkled. "What kind? Where is it? Take me to see it now!"

a weird ache in her waist. Her smile froze on her face. Erik was quick on

quiet. Seeing her clench her little fists tight, the general's heart started pounding

mad again after the excitement wore off. After all, it was his fault she wasn't feeling great and couldn't ride

keep her cool. She

it back to normal, strolling into

unruly male to abstinence. Even when he gave her

kick her

holding her soft little body, he was too wound up sleep all night. He really wanted to kiss her but didn't dare

pity on her guy. After freezing him out for a day or two and seeing him squirm, she let him off the hook. This time, Erik

her obedient male plenty of warm smiles. Before breakfast, she

pup. Its green beast eyes locked onto the meat, practically

the food. "Slow down, slow down," Nyx said, patting its head.

you're incredible. You've got it

did it ignore him, but even famous dog trainers couldn't handle it. Teaching it to wait and eat slowly had been a bust; it stayed

tried to take it.

the cub, clearly starving but keeping its manners, and suddenly chuckled, "Yeah. Wolves are pretty well-

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starving like

situation would be completely different. They wouldn't stand a single

Snow Wolf back home, with eight hundred tricks up its sleeve. She coughed and thought, 'Guess it wasn't

again, feeling a little extra fondness. "You free

"Then take me to see the gift later. It'd been a while since she'd ridden a horse-she wanted to stretch her legs. Since Erik hadn't explained it clearly, Nyx assumed

young, like a fluffy golden cloud-full of life, with big, round, pure eyes that darted around curiously. The second it spotted Nyx from

so little,

When he held Nyx, she felt so light he barely noticed her weight-figured a foal could carry her

little foal for a bit, fed

daylight left, she decided to wander around. Sitting in the carriage, she lifted the curtain to take

all around. Too bad this era hadn't figured out tourism yet, and the place had been plagued by

she gazed into the

fortress-high, towering walls on all sides, solid and heavy, giving

finger and frowned. "That's the prison

held high-ranking barbarians or die-hard

uprising, waiting to be shipped back to Hilltop City for the

with.

a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Used to think he was spineless, but turns out he's got some guts.

yet he wouldn't rat out his foster father no matter what. Funny thing was,

a little, "I

a disapproving look. "There's nothing worth seeing in there,"

interrogation gets messy." Nyx might end up with nightmares if she saw

but Erik couldn't talk her out of it.

carriage toward where she

in the watchtower spotted the general's carriage from a distance and reported it

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carriage rolled up to the gate, a bunch of soldiers and jailers were already

sitting up front driving, the warden's

drive for them? The Emperor himself, maybe?' Everyone stood there shaking, hearts pounding with the jitters of facing some big shot. When the curtain twitched, they all held their breath, heads too scared to

personally lifted the curtain and reached in to help and hug -'Hug?' Realizing something was off, they jerked their

no one could mistake Nyx's gender. That moonlit face was like a fairy's-too perfect to belong

couldn't help butting in. "Why'd you bring madam to

damp, gloomy tunnel, reeking of

yellow flicker

torchlight, totally out of place

her shoes touching this ground. He'd been holding her

his solid arm like he was her human mount. Nyx gave an

a loud bang rang out-a sharp crash that