Chosen Mate Of The Beastmen Empire

The shadow's shape looked kind of familiar.

"Helly?" Nyx asked tentatively. After a few seconds of silence with no reply, she figured it wasn't Helly. Maybe a stray kitten.

Nyx walked toward the window, pulling a homemade, high-protein, salt-free sausage from her pocket-something she always carried to lure stray cats and dogs to her rescue shelter.

With her knack for animals, cats and dogs often got drawn to her, and she'd grown used to it. As Nyx got closer and looked carefully, the black shadow vanished in a blink, like she'd imagined it. She stood there confused, peering out the window.

Back in the private room, the director raised his glass again but paused when he saw her empty seat. "Did Nyx leave already?"

"No, she went to the bathroom," someone next to her spot explained.

But his question made them realize something was off. They exchanged looks. "It's been half an hour-why isn't she back yet?"

Someone tried calling Nyx, only to find her phone was off.

"What?" The director's heart sank. He pulled out his phone and dialed Marilyn.

*****

When Nyx came to, her eyes were blindfolded, and all she saw was darkness. Her hands were tied, and her mouth was taped shut. She stayed still for now, letting her sluggish body adjust. She figured she was probably in the back seat of

a car.

Even though she didn't move, the person in the passenger seat noticed she was awake, turning to glance at her without saying a word. The driver, though, spoke up when he saw. "She's awake?"

Then he grinned and chatted at Nyx. "Don't worry, we just want to borrow some cash. We won't off you that easily."

"Kidnapping for ransom?' she thought. Since they knew she was awake, Nyx saw no point in playing unconscious. She propped herself up with her elbows, frowning.

She'd let her guard down, sure, but the one who knocked her out and took her wasn't human-it was a demon clan member.

Because she never suspected small animals, she'd walked right to the window without a second thought, and then she was out cold.

'But why would a demon clan kidnap me for money? Did they have a grudge against Kai? Are they defying his authority?' She thought.

Up front, the driver kept rambling. "Seafarion's loaded, right? Global richest guy! He wouldn't skimp on ransom, would he?"

He didn't name a specific amount, just chuckled, "Our hundred or so brothers are counting on you for the rest of our lives' worth of riches!"

Nyx got it—he was planning to demand a fortune. 'But why Seafarion? If they have a beef with Kai, shouldn't they be targeting him instead?' Nyx thought. She was puzzled, but with her mouth taped, she couldn't ask.

The driver hummed a tune, clearly in a good mood. After a bit, he got bored and started fishing for gossip. "Hey, I heard you've got another boyfriend, huh? Online they say he's some big foreign noble. Probably just rumors, right?"

"If he's legit, why's he hiding so no one can dig up anything? Isn't that just smoke and mirrors?" he asked, glancing at Nyx in the rearview mirror. "Tell me the truth- is he just some pretty boy you're keeping? Nod if yes, shake your head if no. 1/3

10:38 Thu, 20 Mar

1. AA.

00, 87%L

"Man! Seafarion's cool with you using his money to keep a side guy? Is he crippled down there too? That foreign pretty boy must be good in bed-look at his build, seems like he's got it going on."

"Shut up!" the passenger finally snapped.

His voice dripped with anger. "Keep yapping nonsense, and I'll toss you out."

The driver clearly feared him. He clammed up instantly, only muttering after a long pause, "Toss me out, and you can't even drive."

Nyx was speechless. She started piecing things together. The passenger seemed to be the demon clan member-maybe the one who nabbed her.

His voice sounded young, like a teenager, and he couldn't drive. He seemed green, not seasoned. Since he defended Kai, he probably didn't have a deep grudge against him, so this wasn't about revenge.

He could be a rookie demon, tricked by crooks into joining a gang and going astray.

They reached their destination, and the car stopped. The passenger stayed silent the whole time, and even the driver quieted down, leaving Nyx with no more clues to dig into.

Someone opened the door and yanked Nyx out, pushing her forward. Without sight, Nyx walked slowly. Someone behind her got impatient and shoved her. "Hurry up, stop dawdling!"noveldrama

A hand caught her before she fell, then quickly pulled back. Right after, she heard

a thud of bodies colliding behind her, followed by an "ouch" of pain.

"You!" the guy who'd pushed her yelled, furious. But he seemed wary of whoever hit him, only grumbling under his breath before slinking off reluctantly.

After a few more steps and down some stairs, Nyx felt the ropes on her hands come off and the tape get ripped from her mouth.

"Damn, what's with her face? How'd it get this big red mark!"

"Anyone who didn't know better would think we hit her!"

"No big deal-it works as a threat. Quick, make her record a video to rush her guy for the money!"

They took off her blindfold. Nyx blinked to adjust to the light and saw a few burly guys standing there, debating what she should say in the video and whether to jack up the ransom.

A guy in a hoodie with his face hidden stood off to the side, keeping his distance from them, looking out of place. Nyx's gaze lingered on him. If she guessed right, that was the demon clan member who'd grabbed her.

He looked scrawny, as expected. His clothes were clean but worn, hinting at a tough life.

."What're you looking at?" the hoodie guy asked coldly, his voice confirming he was the teenage-sounding one. He glared at

Nyx, and she caught a glimpse of his brownish-yellow eyes-like animal pupils.

"Ooh, got a crush on him? Hoping he'll let you go?" the burly guys noticed and started teasing Nyx. "Don't think he's soft just 'cause he's young. He's fierce, bad- tempered, and beats people up all the time. He's the one who nabbed you!"

"Flatter him all you want-better off sweet-talking me!"

"I will protect you, keep you from getting hit!"

"First time I've seen a celebrity up close-damn, she's hot!"

10:38 Thu, 20 Mar A

Sure, the tape left a red mark on her face, but it didn't dim her beauty. The kidnapper eyes roamed over Nyx, and soon their thoughts turned dirty, their words getting flirty

One of them reached out, trying to put an arm around her thoulder playfully. Nyx was about to dodge when a gust of wind whooshed by, The hoodie guy lunged, landing a punch that sent the grabby kidnapper sprawling