Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 408

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Maybe it was the thrill of Nyx promising not to leave, or payback for her old ghost–story scam, but Erik cut loose big time. He didn’t slack when he worked for her, head down and all in–same deal when he claimed his reward.

Nyx couldn’t figure where he got all that energy. Same human bodies–she turned frail as a breeze, but both her guys were built like oxen. Honestly, they seemed more like monsters than she did.

Chopped trees half the day, dug a huge basket of dirt, carried her ten–plus miles on his back–and still acted like it was nothing. Meanwhile, she was a wreck–slept like a log ‘til almost noon and woke up already on the carriage back to Hilltop City.

Carriages back then had no shocks–fancy or not, comfort wasn’t in the cards, especially on bumpy dirt roads.

That long haul from Hilltop City to Nevaton had Nyx fighting nausea the whole way, powered through by sheer willpower to see Pale Wolf—and a quiet vow to fix the roads someday.

Right now, someone held her close, her head on his shoulder, body propped steady. She barely felt the jolts in her sleep. However long she snoozed, Erik held her like that the whole time.

Nyx peeked out the curtain, squinted at the midday sun, then tucked back in, leaning on her partner’s broad chest–deciding to forgive last night’s antics.

The trip back took its sweet time. Expedition General marched back with three hundred thousand troops, hauling the rebel leaders to Hilltop City. They rolled in by early May, summer kicking off.

Warm winds, long days, pomegranate flowers popping bright. Nyx sat in the carriage, curtains down, ear tuned to the crowd’s wild cheers and chatter outside, a small smile curling her lips.

When she’d first arrived, Pale Wolf was the fallen teen general in everyone’s mouths–leg wrecked beyond repair, a crippled has–been. Now, after a clean, slick rebellion takedown, his star was back on the rise–everyone singing his praises.

The triumphant general rode Cloudie down the streets, flower petals raining on him from both sides.

Though he was married, Erik was still Hilltop City’s hottest young catch. Common girls and noble ladies alike harbored crushes. Over six feet tall with a drop–dead gorgeous face–his looks alone could melt any woman’s heart.

Sure, some didn’t vibe with his fierce aura or battle–hardened edge, but he was Matay’s sole heir, stacked with war creds and a bright future. No concubines, no mistresses, didn’t even mess with brothels–advantages that blew other guys out of the

water.

Except for the super high–and–mighty noble girls, most would’ve signed up to be his side piece in a heartbeat.

Nyx caught an earful of the twittering outside. The women didn’t know she was in the carriage, drooling over her man right to her face. The shy ones just peeked from the crowd; the bold ones let loose, giggling behind their hands, rating him up and down.

“The general’s waist is so solid–bet he’s got crazy strength.”

“Oh my gosh!”

“You’ve got guts saying that!”

“How do you know? You’ve handled a guy before?”

“Never touched a man, but I’ve ridden a horse! That big black one looks tough to ride–takes serious waist power!”

“Makes sense, makes sense?

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Chapter 408

or twenty miles and I’d be too wiped

“Oof.”

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were meat–eaters too, practically starving for him. She rubbed her ears,

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actually tested that solid waist, felt how strong he really was. The kind of power that

wrapped up–Monka, his foster father, and the other ringleaders all executed, a tribute to the souls of Nevaton’s fallen governor and innocent dead. The rest of the barbarians got spared

more titles–just piled up gold, silver, and jewels as a

Emperor still treated him like a brother, no hint of

a bunch of capital bigwigs doubled down on hitching their wagons to him–probing openly and quietly, sending their wives and daughters to the duke’s mansion to

The general had a wife already, but

was gorgeous, no doubt, but surely Erik wouldn’t say no to more beautiful women.

of folks swaggered in with that logic, only to slink out covered in

The ones sniffing around Nyx ticked him off so bad he hit back hard–friendship off the

said. Three years after dropping that line, Erik still hadn’t taken a

drama, betting he’d cave eventually, finally gave up–convinced he was legit about keeping it clean. The general didn’t take concubines, but the madam picked up

and Empress tied the knot. The long–empty empress spot got filled–and the choice blew

if what they’d heard was real. “The Empress, she’s really the

wild to believe. The teahouse erupted in laughs. “It’s true! It’s

know, but His Majesty and Lady Nyx got engaged way

“Lady Nyx?”

the Empress–also the general’s

from the ministries–public works, personnel, the imperial college–doing real stuff. Officials called her Lady

suit.

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Chapter 408

merchants were still reeling, faces like

teahouse laughter died down, replaced by sharp stares sizing

merchants.

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feet were her idea! Without those smooth, wide paths, you southern newbies wouldn’t even dream

like an immortal who had descended

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officials of the Ministry of Revenue in awe, bowing in complete admiration. She’d also improved farming tools, invented something called

shops these days are cheap enough for us farmers to buy,” one said. “My little girl went to a few

take the imperial exams to work for the court–just

to Lady