Chosen Mate Of The Beastmen Empire

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She didn't know Kellingtown grew trees like this. Nyx rode around it a few times, her eyes getting brighter.

Cloudie the black horse nipped off some branches, chewed a bit, then spat them out, tail flicking like it tasted awful.

"What's up, Nyx?" Erik caught up. "What're you looking at?"

Nyx grinned and patted the trunk, in a great mood. "A cinchona tree."

You could pull quinine from its bark-good for treating malaria. No big epidemics were raging now, but stumbling on a plant that could cure something still thrilled her-collector's itch kicking in.

Thing was, this tree liked Kellingtown's climate. Taking it back to Hilltop City to grow might not work.

After mulling it over, she picked a few semi-woody branches to cut as slips, planning to hand them to Jinx and Jules to try growing in a greenhouse. Worked out, great. Didn't, no biggie.

Erik got to work chopping branches and digging dirt, no complaints. The grand general gripped his sword with a serious face-not killing enemies, just playing farmhand. He wouldn't let Nyx lift a finger for this grunt work.

Nyx leaned on the horse, chin in hand, watching him, then piped up. "Aren't you curious how I know this tree can heal

stuff?"

Not just that.-All-seeing Eyes, glass, distilled liquor, and the textbooks she planned to have written, covering all kinds of subjects. That stuff went way beyond explaining away with her old ghost story fibs.

In this era, pulling out tricks like these was risky-standing out too much drew trouble. She didn't even like the spotlight- originally just wanted to be a quiet mascot, maybe manage the duke's accounts at most.

But with one partner off at war and the other wrestling scheming nobles, she couldn't sit by. Had to roll up her sleeves and dive in. Once she started, she couldn't stop.

Nyx let out a sigh. She knew full well the things she'd revealed didn't add up with her supposed identity or past. She didn't care much what outsiders thought-just found the "fairy lady" title a bit cringe.

But her partners' opinions mattered to her. Weird thing was, neither Pale Wolf nor the little cat ever asked-like it was no big deal

Erik paused mid-dig, his voice low. "Not curious."

Everyone's got curiosity-he did too. His pillow partner was a walking mystery; of course he'd want to know more. But if Nyx didn't tell, he didn't dare ask. He was scared she didn't want to say-or worse, couldn't.

What if, like in those storyteller tales, she was some fairy or spirit, and once her secret got out, she'd vanish in a puff of wind? he thought

Many nights, he had dreamed Nyx saying she had to go back to the heavens, disappearing from his arms. No matter how he grabbed or begged, she'd slip away, and he'd jolt awake, staring into the dark 'til dawn. He'd rather know nothing-curiosity be damned.

Nyx was speechless for a moment. "Really not curious?" She circled him, sensing a bluff, then grabbed his chin to make him look up. "What if I lied to you before?"

She'd made up a story on a whim to fool the dummy-looking back, her conscience twinged.

Their eyes met. Erik pressed his lips tight, his face an open book. "Are you leaving?" he asked.noveldrama

16:13 Mon, 17 Mar MOD

43%

'Has she grown bored of me, and now she is heading back to the sky?' he wondered. His eyes darkened, wrestling inside. He grabbed her wrist hard, a wave of pressure rolling off him. Like a wolf ready to pounce, jaws aimed at her throat.

Anyone else would've been quaking, but Nyx wasn't fazed-just confused. "Leave? To where? Aren't we heading back to Hilltop City tomorrow together?"

Meeting Erik's complicated stare, it clicked-she understood him.

"Relax, I'm not going anywhere," she said, tilting her chin to peck his cheek, holding back a laugh. "I'm right here with you- nowhere else."

Yeah, she'd tricked him before, but she'd come here to be with him forever-that was as true as it got.

Erik stared at Nyx, long and hard, finally sure she meant it. His whole body loosened up, eyes red as he pulled her into his arms. "A mortal life's short-stay with me a little longer, Nyx."

Her lifespan might be beyond his wildest guesses. He didn't expect her to remember him forever-just hoped she'd spare a few decades to stay by his side, give him the dream of a lifetime together.

Nyx felt a pang for her silly Pale Wolf, wrapping her arms around her anxious partner and stroking his back. "I'm not a fairy or a ghost, actually.

"Think of it like I came back from the future to find you and Aurelius. That's why I've got all this future stuff in my head."

Erik half-got it, only caring about one part. "We're together in the future too?"

Nyx nodded without a pause, and his mood shot up, eyes sparkling. He totally ignored the fact that there was another guy in her future.

With the general cheered up, he got back to work-harder than eight farmhands combined-neatly bundling the cut branches and packing the dug dirt into a basket they'd brought.

Seeing Nyx worn out from riding, he hung all the stuff on the horse, squatted down, hoisted her onto his back, and led both horses home.

The folks they passed by covered their mouths, snickering.

"Never seen a general so whipped!"

"Look what madam turned him into!"

Back in the room with the door shut, Nyx flopped on the bed, wiped out. Riding

really was too much for her twiggy arms and legs now.

She closed her eyes, pretending to nap, hearing water brought in but not budging.

A pair of big hands picked her up, undressed her, and set her in the tub.

Then a loud splash-her tall guy stepped in, squeezing in with her. Nyx's eyes snapped open. His scorching heat roasted her up close, danger vibes making her hair stand on end.

"I-I'm beat," she stammered.

Erik leaned closer anyway, his voice rumbling against her.

"It's fine," he said, dead serious-just like when he worked for her. "You don't need

to lift a finger."