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

her eyes drifting from the grand hall to the concubines‘ quarters, then she moved–not toward the carriage.

She had nowhere to go. Her kingdom had fallen, her people scattered, her home gone, her

sped up, her hair ornaments jangling loose—a guard lunged

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

would be a hell of a prize. The riders whooped, spurring their

Closing in. They could already make out her pale cheeks, her delicate skin–their eyes glued to that

waterfall–she yanked out the pin and drove it into her throat! The pin shattered as it hit the ground.

she spun and plummeted

it, laughing and clapping, “Perfect!”

Nyx had pulled off something even he hadn’t

times,” he said,

the busted fake

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

folks still caught up in Nyx’s

her fall from the tower flowed perfectly–no stiffness in her limbs or body. It pulled you

pros–they knew how

praise, Joanna’s face went pale. She clutched

else–his eyes on Nyx held an admiration and fascination he’d never shown her. Forget

I don’t want you,” Terry said, prying her hand off and smoothing his wrinkled sleeve, “You’ve been with me this long. Stay sensible,

really hit his sweet spot–he wanted her in his pocket, too. Keeping two lovers at once was no big deal–with enough cash, he

don’t make trouble for me, got it?” he warned, patting Joanna’s cheek.

not 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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chased the new and tossed the old–Nyx was younger, prettier. She had

the pot, if Nyx hooked up with Terry, she probably wouldn’t let

grabbing his arm, “You can’t go after Nyx—Zachary and the writer

at auditions, during filming, Zachary seemed extra fond of Nyx, looking out for

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

equals–no way he’d stick his

sneered,

boldly. Dragging out the director and writer now was just a bluff to scare him off from chasing Nyx.

for you, get lost–don’t ruin my plans.” With that

out to watch her shoot, too, and

a knock–some middle–aged guy walked in, and the whole room went quiet. The

daddy Terry visiting had been everywhere. His face was no secret.

for Joanna? Why’d he show up here all of a sudden?‘ she thought. The makeup artist remembered Joanna’s blatant hostility

stayed put, expression blank. She hadn’t clashed with Joanna herself—if that girl wanted to stir up nonsense anyway, she’d

adjusting his tie and holding out a

Terry pulled it back, not showing his irritation just yet. He sized her up, grinning. “Relax, I don’t mean any harm.”

spoiled my girl a bit–she’s got a temper, might’ve been rude to you. But I really

you could snag 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. I could help you out.”

talk it over privately,” he added, handing

dead silent–everyone was

coming at all. She’d thought he was there to hassle Nyx not hit on

news, though–if Nyx didn’t play the casting couch game. The artist glanced at Nyx,

anna,

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