Chapter 104
“How is that possible? If it wasn’t a Love-Enchantment Stone, how could I have been unable to resist p>
Lex could not accept it. With his strength and self-control, how could he have lost control so completely? This female had to be lying.
And yet—when his eyes met Nina’s clear, steady gaze, something deep inside him wavered.
For a fleeting moment, he believed her.
“Let’s go,” Nina said softly to Odian.
Odian nodded and lifted her into the air.
Aviel, Kith, and the others released Lex and followed.
The remaining mermen were also freed. Wounded and bruised, they staggered back toward their emperor.
Lex remained kneeling where he had fallen, head lowered, his expression unreadable.
A heavy, oppressive gloom hung around him. The mermen sensed his dark mood and dared not approach too closely.
Seeing Nina’s group depart, Tao hurried after them with his people. Nashe pouted but followed nonetheless.
Shui, however, did not leave immediately.
Instead, she approached Lex with feigned concern.
“Are you all right p>
She extended a hand as if to help him up.
“Get away from me p>
Lex’s power surged outward, knocking her back violently. His eyes were cold and sharp as blades.
“What are you? How dare you touch me p>
Shui was flung backward and fell hard to the ground, pain radiating through her body. Her husbands rushed forward to help her up.
She stared at Lex in shock. This male was terrifying.
He dared to strike a female without hesitation.
So beautiful—yet so cruel.
She had thought that in his moment of frustration, she could comfort him, seize the opportunity, and win him over.
Instead, he had injured her without a second thought.
Biting her lip, she shot him a venomous glare. “Let’s go p>
She mounted one of her husbands and left angrily.
What was so special about him? There were plenty of powerful males in the world.
“Your Majesty… what should we do now?” Lando asked cautiously.
Lex looked in the direction Nina had disappeared, his expression clouded.
“Follow them—for now p>
He rose, straightened his appearance, and began walking after them, uncertainty weighing on his steps.
At noon, Nina’s group stopped in an open stretch of forest to rest.
Shui scanned the area and quickly located Aviel.
She walked up to him, lowering her voice into a sweet, coquettish tone.
“Your Majesty… my husbands aren’t very good at roasting meat. Could you roast some for me p>
She subtly adjusted her collar, revealing a hint of cleavage. Her eyes brimmed with deliberate seduction.
She had carefully chosen this outfit—no male had ever resisted her in it.
Aviel merely frowned and walked past her without a word.
Annoying female.
The dragon warriors looked at her with open disdain.
You think you’re worthy of our king roasting meat for you?
Seeing that Aviel did not even bother replying, Shui burned with frustration.
What was wrong with this male? How could he be immune to her charm?
Suppressing her anger, she turned to approach Kith and Finch instead—but they had already moved to Nina’s side.
Shui’s gaze darkened as she looked at Nina.
What did that ugly female have that she didn’t?
Aina approached Nina with several pieces of meat in hand. She shot Shui a mocking glance before turning warmly to Nina.
“Nina, thank you for sharing half the cave with us last night. Please accept this as a token of our gratitude p>
“There’s no need,” Nina replied gently. “Keep your food. You don’t have much yourselves p>
“Please take it,” Aina insisted with a smile. “We may have to trouble you for the next few days p>
She hesitated slightly. “My name is Aina. May I… be your friend p>
For reasons she couldn’t explain, she felt an immediate fondness for Nina.
Nina studied her. Aina had a spirited, almost heroic air about her. Her eyes were bright and sincere.
“Of course.” Nina accepted the meat this time.
Aina beamed and sat beside her, clearly eager to talk. “Nina, are all of these your guardian beasts p>
She glanced at Kith and the others.
“No. Only one of them is,” Nina replied.
“Oh? I thought they all were!” Aina sounded almost disappointed.
Shui’s eyes lit up.
Not even guardian beasts?
If she tried harder, surely those males would eventually abandon Nina.
Aina then glanced at the cubs in Nina’s arms, puzzled.
“Nina, where are your husbands? Shouldn’t they be by your side, taking care of you p>
None of the males here were formally bonded, and Nina clearly had cubs. Why wasn’t a single husband with her?
“Oh,” Nina said casually, “they all disliked me and ran away p>
“What? How could they do that p>
Aina looked outraged—and then guilty. She shouldn’t have asked. Nina must be deeply hurt.
A sharp smack echoed through the clearing.
Kith, eyes red with emotion, had slapped himself hard across the face.
She had no husband. No wonder she had faced mutated beasts alone.
How had she, a lone female, given birth to those cubs by herself? How difficult must it have been?
Why hadn’t they gone to find her? How could they have failed her like that?
His chest felt like it was being crushed by regret.
Another smack rang out.
This time, Kith had slapped Finch.
Finch clutched his cheek. “Kith, why did you hit me p>
“Because we deserve it!” Kith growled hoarsely.
He wished he could tear himself apart.
Finch lowered his head, guilt flooding him as well.
Yes—they deserved it.
If her husbands had abandoned her and they had never sought her out, then she must have borne those cubs alone.
And he had once shamelessly tried to claim one of them.
He hated the version of himself from before.
“What a bunch of irresponsible bastards,” Ridan muttered angrily.
They had thought the males Nina mentioned before were merely separated from her—not that they had abandoned her.
Poor Nina.
Odian’s heart ached unbearably. He pulled Nina gently into his arms, gripping her hand tightly.
He would never let her face hardship alone again.
“If I ever meet those bastards,” he said coldly, “I’ll tear them to pieces p>
Aviel’s golden eyes burned with fury. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked.
How dare they abandon her?
If only he had found her earlier p>
How much must she have suffered?
“Yes. We’ll kill them,” the other dragon and phoenix warriors echoed angrily.
To abandon such a wonderful female—those fools must be blind.
If they ever encountered them, they would avenge Nina without hesitation.
Nina had not expected such an explosive reaction.
Seeing the bright red handprints on Kith and Finch’s faces, she felt a little awkward.
It had only been an offhand remark.
Hidden among the trees, Lex watched everything, his emotions surging violently.
She… had no husband.