Spoiled By My Nine Beast Husbands (Emma Tibarn) novel Chapter 39

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

“Emma was the one who took down every single one of these beasts. There’s absolutely no reason for us to let them go to waste,” Edric declared, his voice dripping with that characteristic smooth arrogance that always made Damian’s eye twitch in irritation. “Damian, why don’t you lend a hand and help clean up? After all, you’re also one of Emma’s suitors. I’m sure you wouldn’t dare turn down such a request, would you?”

Damian clenched his jaw so tightly that he could feel his teeth click together.

Emma caught the glint of smug satisfaction dancing in Edric’s eyes. He was doing this on purpose again, wasn’t he?

Part of her wanted to scold him for his provocations, but the truth was, compared to the constant scheming and plotting that Damian engaged in, Edric’s arrogant charm was surprisingly hard to resist.

Peeking from Edric’s arms, she called out, “Damian, I’ll leave the carcasses to you. Once we sell them, I’ll split the profit with you fifty-fifty.”

Damian’s tail twitched once, an involuntary reaction to her words. Fantastic. She’s siding with the snake again.

As if it weren’t enough that Edric got to hold her, now he had her assigning him the dirty work.

Fine, you smug reptile, he thought bitterly. Enjoy this moment while it lasts.

It was one thing to pick a fight with another male in front of the huntress; it was another to blatantly ignore her command. That wasn’t just foolish—it was practically asking for a death wish.

Despite the burning frustration in his chest, Damian forced a tight smile onto his face. “Serving Ms. Tibarn is my honor. But tell me, who will protect her if I’m stuck here processing these beasts?”

Emma offered him a soft, reassuring smile. “It’s alright. Edric is with me.”

That statement stung more than he cared to admit. Damian’s tail lashed out behind him, but he quickly tempered his voice. “You’re right. Edric does have the advantage. He’s better equipped to keep you safe.”

Damn, this fool could act. Almost too convincing, Edric mused to himself, a smirk threatening to break through his otherwise composed demeanor.

He shifted his stance just enough to block Emma’s view of Damian, his tone remaining courteous yet laced with a hint of triumph. “Since you’ve acknowledged that I’m the better protector, it’s time for you to get to work.” The subtle grin beneath his polite facade made Damian’s fists clench tighter.

Turning back to Emma, Edric’s voice softened. “Emma, let’s go track down a few more level 5 beasts to keep our skills sharp.”

With that, he gathered her close, his tail flicking once, and in an instant, they vanished in a streak of dark purple light.

A sly attempt to outmaneuver me? Not on my watch, he thought, determination flaring within him.

Edric led her straight into another pack of level 5 beasts, carefully controlling the energy he released to match her level. Watching her fight ignited something fierce within him—a potent mix of pride and awe that left him breathless.

Meanwhile, as Damian finished processing the last batch of carcasses, Edric tossed him another pile with a casual flick of his wrist. “Emma just took these down. Process them quickly.”

Damian’s lip twitched in disbelief. This snake is truly unbelievable.

—

Edric’s tail carved a glowing boundary in the dirt, creating a protective barrier around the space where Emma was engaged in battle. His aura pressed against the air like a crackling static charge. Even a Rank 8 Etherian like Damian couldn’t push through that barrier.

Trapped outside, the fox glared at the scene unfolding before him, but soon returned to the task of skinning the carcasses, the distant sounds of Emma’s fierce combat echoing in his ears.