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!"

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 up

her little fists tight, the general's heart started pounding like

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

sides, Nyx couldn't keep her cool. She shoved at his rock-hard chest. "Put

hit the ground, 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 was wrong. She shut the door and glared at the culprit. “I'm not touching you again until

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

herself to actually kick her partner out. She left

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

day or two and seeing him squirm, she let him off the hook. This

next morning, Nyx felt 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

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

pouncing on the food. "Slow down, slow down," Nyx said, patting its head. It obediently

"Nyx, you're incredible. You've got it trained like

it to wait and eat slowly had been a bust; it stayed a beast through and through,

tried to take it.

turn so tame in Nyx's hands. Nyx looked at the cub, clearly starving but keeping its manners, and suddenly chuckled, "Yeah. Wolves

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to go hungry, and he'd actually sit there starving like a good boy. Two days of that, and

the situation would be completely different.

thought of the Snow Wolf back home, with eight hundred tricks up its sleeve. She coughed

Wolf again, feeling a little extra

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,

of life, with big, round, pure eyes that darted around curiously. The second it

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 would be

sheepish. When he held Nyx, she felt so light he

yet, Nyx didn't want to head back. She played with her little foal for a bit, fed it some treats to get it used to her smell

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

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 by barbarian raids for years, leaving

gazed into the distance, then pointed suddenly. "What's that over

all sides,

frowned. "That's the prison for serious

or die-hard rebels now-key figures

shipped back to Hilltop

with.

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

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

little, "I

"There's nothing

carefully. "Since they're hardcore criminals, interrogation gets messy." Nyx might end up with nightmares if she saw

while, but Erik couldn't talk her out of

carriage toward where she

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

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a bunch of

the general himself sitting up front driving, the warden's legs went

general 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

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

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," the head guy said, leading the salute, and the rest followed in

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

was a damp, gloomy tunnel, reeking of rot

just the dim yellow flicker

totally out

shoes touching this ground.

sit on his solid arm like he was her human mount. Nyx gave an embarrassed smile to

a loud bang rang out-a sharp crash