Spoiled By My Nine Beast Husbands (Emma Tibarn) novel Chapter 17

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**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**

Killing a match was no trivial matter; it brought forth the wrath of the Beast God, a fate that no Drakonid wished to tempt. Damian recalled the grim tale of a Drakonid who had once slain a rival match, only to find his mind unraveling, leading to a catastrophic self-destruction. Yet, despite the risks, the Drakonids remained relentless in their pursuit of females, their instincts driving them to eliminate any competition that stood in their way. It was a chaotic dance of power and desperation, with no one truly able to halt the inevitable clash.

Damian understood all too well that a male of Drake’s caliber would never willingly share Emma with anyone. The thought of another claiming her was intolerable.

Drake, sharp and perceptive, had already caught on to Damian’s underlying motives. With a slight arch of his brow, he urged, “Go on.” His tone was a mix of curiosity and challenge, as if daring Damian to lay his cards on the table.

Poor little Emma—every potential mate she encountered seemed to shy away from forming a bond with her. It was a heartbreaking pattern that played out time and again.

A sly grin crept across Damian’s face, a flicker of hope igniting within him. It seemed Drake was open to negotiation after all.

“Mr. Smith,” Damian began, his voice smooth and calculated, “I can assist you in driving away the other matches, ensuring that you can claim Emma for yourself. However, I have but one simple request: please keep my identity a secret from her.”

Drake let out a derisive snort, his confidence unwavering. “A few low-level matches? I can handle them myself. Why would I involve you in this?”

Damian knew that Drake didn’t need to resort to violence; a mere show of strength would suffice to send the others running. After all, no one could take Emma from him unless they could best him in combat. In truth, he had no intention of pairing with her himself; this was merely a game to toy with Damian, a way to assert dominance. The wealth of the Empire would ultimately be his, and he was willing to play the long game.

Anticipating Drake’s resistance, Damian clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “I know you’re on the hunt for a rare ore, and I can provide you with its exact location. Accept my terms, and I’ll share this valuable information.”

The spark of interest ignited in Drake’s eyes. “Deal,” he replied, a hint of eagerness creeping into his voice.

With the deal struck, Damian felt a wave of relief wash over him. He quickly sent the coordinates to Drake’s lightcore, knowing that the responsibility of extracting the ore now lay squarely on Drake’s shoulders.

With Drake now under his influence, Damian felt a sense of security. Emma was already blessed to be matched with two powerful males, and the remaining unmatched competitors were likely to be nothing more than average Rank 6 or 7 fighters. With a little cunning, he could easily outmaneuver them, swindling their star coins and sending them back to where they belonged.

Meanwhile, at Laura’s villa, Emma sat curled up on the couch, her eyes scanning the information Laura had sent her. The weight of her solitude pressed down on her; five long years in the interstellar realm had passed without any matches or family support. Laura was her only ally, the sole individual willing to partner with her for the perilous beast hunts that lay ahead.