Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 416

Chapter 416

“Look at you–not even that sad, huh?” Banon shook his head. “Royalty’s heartless, as expected.”

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As a fellow royal, he got it better than anyone. Aurelius had the same blood as him–naturally, they were cut from the same cloth. Nyx might’ve had a place in his heart, but it’d never outweigh himself, the throne, or the empire.

One Nyx died, another queen would come along eventually. The world’s full of beauties–none might match her, but he could find traces of her in others. An emperor wouldn’t die for love; he’d just fake some sentimental mourning.

“Come on, kill me to avenge her,” Banon said, pointing at his chest, inviting Aurelius to stab. “It’s the only thing you can do for her now.”

S

He’d waited for this day too long, long past wanting to live, just lacking the guts to end it himself. The sickness tormented him beyond death. He craved a quick end. Dragging Nyx down with him before dying was his proudest scheme.

“Hurry up already. Maybe I’ll catch Nyx on the road to the underworld,” he taunted, grinning wickedly. “You broke her heart -maybe she’d rather run into my arms and be my ghost bride.”

Setting aside hatred, Banon still remembered that first stunning glimpse–her delicate features, dressed in finery, sitting there like a goddess.

Every time he bedded the Voss sisters after that, he tried to find Nyx in their faces. But despite some slight similarities, they were nothing like her.

“The Voss sisters are still alive, right?” he said, pretending to be helpful. “They’re Nyx’s half–sisters. Not as pretty, but still beauties. I trained them well. If you miss Nyx, you could use them to take the edge off.”

“Shut up,” Aurelius snapped, too disgusted to listen. Smiling, he drew his sword and stabbed it next to Banon’s head.

The sharp blade sliced off a strand of his hair. He felt a cold sting on his cheek, then pain–blood trickling down into his ear. His already trembling body shook harder. Fear gripped him, leaving him speechless.

“Aurelius?” Nyx tied up her horse and stepped inside with Erik, catching the scene. Her eyes widened in shock. She thought, “He didn’t kill him, did he?‘

She lifted her skirt and hurried over. Seeing the guy on the bed still breathing, she relaxed, grabbed Aurelius by the collar, checked him for injuries, and then pulled him away. “Stay back from him.”

He hadn’t showered for so long. He was filthy, sick, and probably crawling with fleas. She rarely judged people, but it was hard not to judge Banon.

Once a dazzling royal, he’d let himself fall apart without servants, losing all dignity. Noticing Nyx’s look, the clean–freak kitty quickly retracted his claws, obediently stepping to her side.

Banon lay still, limbs rigid, staring blankly at Nyx’s face. ‘So alike. How can she look so much like her. Not just her face- every frown, every gesture, every move was identical.

After a long silence, it hit him. “No wonder you’re not grieving–no wonder you scoff at the Voss sisters. You’ve already found a better replacement!”

“Replacement?” Nyx’s ears perked up at the weird word. Her brain churned, finally getting it. She nearly lost it, thinking,

‘Does malaria mess with his brain too?‘

The two males flanked Nyx, shielding her from Banon’s prying eyes. No replacement. There’d never be one. Nyx was Nyx.

Aurelius looked down at him, cutting through his delusions. “Deep down, you know you’re a total loser. You’re just lying to yourself, too scared to admit it.”

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thoughts laid bare, Banon felt stripped naked in public, his face turning liver–red. With all his strength, he

are you still alive? Why didn’t

strong and fit, had all caught it from him one by one. He’d seen the signal that day–his plan worked. Nyx should’ve

sword sheath into him, knocking him flat. He couldn’t even crawl. It was

were so red–like the prettiest gems, a color he’d never seen. He mumbled, “She’s a fairy. Fairies don’t catch plagues. The

she cursed me with this sickness, making me suffer every torment. I disrespected

had driven him nuts. Losing all

Give him the medicine twice a day, check his pulse once daily, record any changes, and

was the old director’s star pupil, skilled and trustworthy. Nyx felt good leaving it

her skirt flutter away with a fragrant breeze, flanked by two fierce beasts. His soul seemed

waiting to

what he thought was slow poison twice a day, he

you giving me?” With some strength back, he finally emerged from his despair and spoke

tone was flat.

didn’t sound like poison. He studied the man’s face. “Are you one of my

or deathsworn who looked like this. But this guy saving him outta nowhere had to

reason.

physician gave him a look like he was an idiot. “No.”

me?” Banon bristled at the look, barely keeping his temper

you,” the physician said plainly, then bent back to his notes without

pupils shrank. “Nyx is saving me?”

racing with fantasies. ‘She finally picked me this time? Does she want me on

the physician’s sleeve. “Go tell Nyx I’ll do anything she

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ready to serve her willingly. A fairy always rewarded

of ink splattering onto the paper. He set the pen down, checked Banon’s pulse, stared

this recipe could go to disaster relief, along with her mosquito–repellent formula. It’d solve the south’s

dose,” he said, pulling out the

fairy’s gift, Banon snatched it up and swallowed it without a second thought. Maybe his mindset had shifted- today’s

already picturing himself in dragon robes on the throne, Nyx

in his throat, blood rushing up. Banon stumbled and fell, eyes wide in disbelief. He stiffly looked down, seeing his clothes soaked

The physician packed

was a dead man walking. Once the trial ended, he’d act. That was Aurelius’s order.

to blame–only Banon himself. Even when he plotted rebellion, escaped Hilltop City after his crimes, and turned

He crossed Aurelius and the general’s line. Death

**

Peaks Mountain, dropped dead in the villa and was

sense, so no one cared. Common folk only mentioned it over tea, clapping and

south started getting relief supplies–medicine, grain, and a recipe from the court. Newspapers ran detailed mosquito–prevention

epidemic didn’t make big waves. By winter, as the weather cooled, it