Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 412

Chapter 412

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“Master? Master!” Hearing a heavy thud from inside, his men called out a few times with no answer, then rushed in. They found Banon sprawled motionless on the floor, dead or alive, they couldn’t tell.

“The prince–the prince passed out.” They scrambled to lift him, hands slick with his sweat–he was drenched, like he’d just been pulled from a river. One gingerly touched his forehead, and his face cycled through shock, settling on pure terror.

By late July, the city gate guards reported Banon had returned to Hilltop City. No disguise, no tricks. After all that effort to escape and hide, he’d just given up and walked back in.

Nyx was floored when she heard. “What’s his deal?” Surrendering like that didn’t fit Banon at all.

“He’s sick–really sick,” Erik said. He’d gone to the gate himself to handle the handover and winced at the memory of Banon’s skeletal, haggard look.

“Sick?” Nyx nodded–that made sense. “What’s he got?”

“Dunno, and it doesn’t matter,” Aurelius said flatly. “He came back to Hilltop City because he’s probably dying and wants to save his skin. But why should I waste an imperial physician on a criminal?”

Live or die, it wasn’t his problem anymore. Whatever happened, Banon brought it on himself. Not killing him outright was already more brotherly kindness than he deserved. They’d dumped him at Four Peaks Mountain to fend for himself.

Nyx patted her partner’s hair soothingly, not arguing. She’d just asked out of curiosity–she didn’t actually care about the enemy’s health.

A guy who’d done so much evil getting what he deserved didn’t need her pity. The whole thing felt like a minor blip, and Nyx forgot about it fast.

Next time she left the palace, she swung by Marquis Anders’s place to tell the heir he could pull the wanted notice from the next paper. He didn’t need the heads–up–he’d already heard Banon turned himself in.

the newspaper’s bounty

on the

you to a meal at the tavern!” he said, bowing

never lacked money growing up, but earning it himself felt different. He tucked the silver into his pocket, eager to

Nyx smirked to herself

real connection started at the Mermaid Tavern across from the glass shop–where they’d patched things up and struck a deal. For this treat, the heir

The owner personally brought dishes she’d like, plus a chilled ice bucket. Nyx fanned herself lightly, gazing out the half–open

open so long, and the glass business is still booming,” the heir said, following her gaze to the bustling

always been curious about something,” he said, leaning in with a conspiratorial wink. “That glass business–is it

just a gut feeling. All the wild, amazing stuff in the world seemed

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Chapter 412

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didn’t confirm

yes.

up red, and he fidgeted, rubbing his hands. “I’d never tell a soul! My lady, could you sell me a life–sized glass statue? I want

one–of–a–kind in Hilltop City. His dad would be over the moon. After that, his dad might stop chasing him with a stick, yelling about what a rotten son he

gift for ages. Problem was, he’d haggled with the glass shop owner for years, and they always said they were out of stock or couldn’t make it.

clasped his hands,

But coming from the heir, it just gave her goosebumps–she couldn’t look at him.

is really touching,” she said, turning away with a faint smile. “Ask again in a

the price, she wouldn’t gouge him–might even throw in a