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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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 his feet, catching her before she flopped back onto the couch and scooping her

her clench her little fists tight, the general's heart started

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

servants gawking from all sides, Nyx couldn't keep her cool. She shoved at his rock-hard chest.

but her legs felt like jelly. Her face twisted for a split second before she forced it back to normal, strolling into the room like nothing

laid down the law, sentencing her unruly male to abstinence. Even when he gave her those pitiful, rain-soaked-puppy eyes, her heart

rolled around, she couldn't bring herself to actually kick her partner out. She left

he was too wound up sleep all night. He really wanted to kiss her

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 learned his lesson- every move gentle

fine, no discomfort at all, so she gave her obedient male plenty of warm smiles. Before breakfast, she fed the wolf first, setting the basin on the

been a greedy eater since it was a pup. Its green beast eyes locked onto the meat, practically drooling, but it held back

dove in, pouncing on the food. "Slow down,

side, amazed. "Nyx, you're incredible.

him, but even famous dog trainers couldn't handle it. Teaching it to wait and eat slowly had been

tried to take it.

hands. Nyx looked at the cub, clearly starving but keeping its manners,

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like a good boy. Two

be completely different. They wouldn't

hundred tricks up its sleeve. She

goofy Pale Wolf again, feeling a

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 he'd gotten her some dashing, heroic steed. When they got to the stables and she saw it, her jaw

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

couldn't help reaching out to pet it, then shot her partner a mock-annoyed look. “It's so little, and you didn't tell me sooner?" If she rode it, it

his nose, looking sheepish. When he held Nyx, she felt so light he barely noticed her

Nyx didn't want to head back. She played with her little foal for a bit,

Sitting in the carriage,

greenery, tons of mountains, and water everywhere-beautiful views. all around. Too bad this era hadn't figured out tourism yet, and the place had been plagued

mood dipped and rose as she gazed into the distance,

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

finger and frowned. "That's the prison for serious

or die-hard rebels

waiting to be shipped back to Hilltop City for the

with.

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

coward who'd break at the first scare, yet he wouldn't rat out his foster father no matter what. Funny thing was, that foster father he adored so much had ditched him to save his own skin the second

"I

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

criminals, interrogation gets messy." Nyx might end up with

forth for a while, but Erik couldn't talk

toward where she wanted

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

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Chapter 404

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

front driving, the warden's

playing coachman? Is there someone in the carriage? Who could make the general 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,

reached in to help and hug -'Hug?' Realizing something was off, they jerked their heads up, eyes

a sleek, practical outfit with her hair tied high, no one could mistake Nyx's gender. That moonlit face was like a fairy's-too perfect to belong down here. "Greetings to the general and madam,"

you

was a damp, gloomy tunnel,

daylight, just the dim yellow flicker of torches. Nyx's pale, delicate face

torchlight, totally

her shoes touching this ground. He'd

solid arm like he was her human mount. Nyx gave an embarrassed smile to the guy leading the

bang rang out-a sharp crash