Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 426

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Nyx quietly looked away. The taunt didn’t get the reaction she wanted, and Joanna got all huffy about it. The man next to her noticed something off and frowned, “What’s up?”

“Terry.” Joanna said, softening her tone and flashing a smile, “nothing much, just saw someone I can’t stand.”

She had plenty of people she didn’t like, and Terry gave a vague chuckle, “Alright, got it. What’s her name?”

Truth was, he wasn’t clueless–his little starlet had a nasty temper, always starting trouble, looking down on this one, sneering at that one. Her reputation was trash.

But he didn’t care who was right or wrong–he wasn’t some judge. As long as she stayed pretty and kept him happy, he’d back her up, let her strut around the industry like she owned it.

Joanna leaned into his shoulder, pleased as punch. “Terry, you’re so good to me.”

She pointed at Nyx. “That’s the one–Nyx. She stole the role I had my eye on!”

Someone nearby overheard, frowned, and looked like they wanted to say something but held back. Joanna didn’t care who heard–she had her sugar daddy right there, so she glared at them one by one.

Terry followed her finger and caught just a glimpse of a figure from behind. That graceful silhouette looked like a one–in–a- million beauty. Dressed in a plain white skirt, she had an extra touch of innocence.

Terry lingered on that back view a little too long, suddenly recalling the “world’s greatest beauty” role that got snatched–he started feeling a spark of interest.

Joanna didn’t notice, still whispering in his ear, “She’s basically done filming–just cut her scene today, that’s all.”

It wasn’t out of kindness that she didn’t want Nyx totally crushed–if she asked to chop all of Nyx’s parts, the director, writer, and editor would flip, and it’d get messy.

Just axing today’s scene would be easy enough and still kill Nyx’s big moment. In the other scenes, she’d been swinging around in that ugly bronze mask–no way she’d blow up from that once the show aired.

“Please, Terry?” she cooed, nudging him.

Terry nodded absently, not bothering to head for the director. After a few more rounds of her wheedling, he yanked his arm free, annoyed, “Enough!”

Seeing her teary, panicked eyes, he softened a bit and said, “Hold on a sec. Let her shoot it first, then get the director to cut it.”

Zachary was a professional–getting a scene perfect meant tons of retakes, and Nyx’s bit involved wirework, falling from a tower. It wouldn’t be a breeze,

Letting Nyx go through all that hassle, only to trash the footage later, would really twist the knife. Joanna thought it over, wiped her tears, and broke into a grin.

The crew had already set up the outdoor tower to look war–ravaged–charred beams, crumbling tiles hanging by a thread. When Nyx’s turn came, it was dusk, the setting sun bleeding red across the tower’s weathered bricks. Everything was ready, and the camera locked on Nyx.

The vermilion palace gates hung crooked and wide open, rare flowers trampled into the mud, screams and shout from every direction as servants grabbed gold, silver, jewels, and silks, fleeing with whatever they could carry.

oing

Nyx wore a lavish cloak, its hem dusted with dirt but still elegant, her hair neatly pinned, a floral mark glowing between her brows–she held onto the dignity of royalty.

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Chapter 426

“Hurry, Princess! Get to the carriage!” a loyal guard urged, “The gates are breached–there’s no time!”

princess just stood there, gazing into the distance, her eyes drifting from the grand hall to the concubines‘ quarters, then

had nowhere to go. Her kingdom had fallen, her

gaze back and stepped toward the gate. She sped up, her hair ornaments jangling loose—a guard lunged to grab her robe, but she unfastened it, flung the cloak off, and left their pleas behind with it.

plain white. A troop of cavalry with the rebel king’s banners galloped through the streets, charging straight for the

would be a hell of

skin–their eyes glued to that slender figure as she bent to adjust her skirt, then touched her

like clouds or a waterfall–she yanked out the pin and drove it into her throat! The pin shattered

and plummeted from the tower, her robes fluttering in

called it, laughing and clapping,

had pulled off something even

of ancient times,” he said, still buzzing,

the busted fake blood pack, and gave him an awkward smile.

Maybe because I actually lived in the past for a few years,‘

of folks still caught up in Nyx’s

the tower flowed perfectly–no stiffness in her limbs

industry pros–they

clutched Terry’s sleeve. “You don’t want me anymore?”

Nyx held an admiration and fascination he’d never shown her. Forget dealing with Nyx for her–he clearly wanted

Terry said, prying her hand off and smoothing his wrinkled sleeve, “You’ve been with me this long.

two lovers at once was no big

get along with her from now on, don’t make trouble for me, got it?” he warned, patting

on his turf. He wasn’t about to let his backyard catch fire and spend his days playing referee for his

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Chapter 426

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Men always chased the new and tossed the old–Nyx was younger, prettier. She had no chance down

stopped stirring the pot, if Nyx

she cried, grabbing his arm, “You can’t go

seemed extra fond of Nyx, looking out for her a lot.

much can they like her? She’s still just a no–name sidekick, isn’t she? Besides, who I sleep with

some clout, sure, but at best they were equals–no way he’d stick his neck out for some random little

her?” Terry sneered, shaking her off. A lover could have some schemes, but she’d

Dragging out the director and writer now was just a bluff

ruin my plans.” With that warning, Terry

her shoot, too, and now her already chatty mouth was in

whole room went quiet. The chatter cut off like someone hit pause

had been everywhere. His face was no

show up here all of a sudden?‘ she thought. The makeup artist remembered Joanna’s blatant hostility toward Nyx and held her

Joanna herself—if that girl wanted

said, adjusting his tie and holding out

forever–Nyx didn’t take it. Terry pulled it back, not showing his irritation just yet. He sized her up, grinning.

a temper, might’ve been rude to you. But I

some awards, maybe even become a best actress,” he said, raising a brow, hinting, “I’ve been in this game a while, got some connections, resources.

privately,” he added, handing her a business

room was dead silent–everyone was stunned.

seen this coming at all. She’d thought he was there to hassle Nyx not

good news, though–if Nyx didn’t play the casting couch game.

anna,

18 Mar