Free Web NovelChapter 8: Chapter 8 Delivering Attraction
Elara’s POV
I was still mentally fretting over the little leopard in Chamber Three, completely unaware of the complex expression that had settled across Julian’s features. I quickened my steps and made a beeline for Chamber Three.
Dorian still hadn’t come out.
"He’s in rough shape. Doubt he’ll surface at all today."
That was Barrett from Chamber Four.
I made a small noise of understanding. As long as the kid was breathing.
I wheeled the cart up to Barrett’s door. When the robot moved in to assist, it jerked too quickly and caught a loose strand of my hair that had been draped over my shoulder. I sucked in a sharp breath, my head tilting back and revealing the smooth curve of my neck.
Barrett’s breathing hitched. He’d just caught sight of something.
I had been leaning down, reaching for the soup, when the robot snagged my hair. From where he stood at the delivery slot, Barrett had a perfect view of the mark tucked behind my ear.
"My apologies, Ms. Elara Sterling. I’ll exercise more caution next time."
So her name was Elara.
Barrett’s mouth quirked into the slightest grin as he accepted the tray from the robot.
He wasn’t the only one listening. The name drifted through the wards. So that was her name. Elara.
Chamber Five was completely dark today. I peered into the blackness. Honestly? Post-apocalypse, I’d encountered plenty of snakes—the human-eating variety. Yesterday’s panic had been genuine.
But after sleeping on it, I wasn’t quite so spooked. Realistically, if this guy was still alive, he was technically my husband.
Women in the Valerion Empire only got one divorce. Unfortunately, I’d wasted mine roughly five minutes after landing here.
So if the creature inside was a snake, I’d need to work out how to handle it. Unless he croaked. Death voided the contract.
——
Alistair caught the scent of food but remained motionless. Thanks to Dorian’s breakdown, they’d all been stuck with nutrient shakes last night.
This female might be jumpy, but her cooking was phenomenal. He’d only managed two meals yesterday, and by evening, the nutrient drink already tasted like sweetened paste.
Recalling how Elara had reacted to his beast form, he stayed hidden in the darkness. If he spooked me again, he’d be back to choking down slop.
——
Elara’s POV
I didn’t stick around. The instant the food was delivered, I moved along.
Finnian from Chamber Six had been anticipating this. He’d exercised this morning and was famished, practically counting seconds until the food showed up.
At the slot, the robot collected the tray. Finnian positioned himself at the door and went still for a moment when he spotted me. Alright, now he understood why the others had mistaken me for a robot yesterday.
"The food’s incredible," Finnian said, his tail giving an automatic swish.
I blinked. Maybe because all the previous beastmen had been enormous in their forms, I instinctively glanced upward.
"I’m down here."
"Oh! Sorry. I just figured you’d be massive too."
Massive?
Kaelen went quiet.
Julian remained silent.
Barrett offered no reply either.
Alistair was likely the most insulted.
Finnian chuckled at my remark, tail swishing again. Only then did I really notice him—a huge white fox.
My expression brightened. No wonder people spoke of fox magic. Who wouldn’t be mesmerized by this? That coat. Those eyes. That tail—fluffy and ridiculously plush. The desire to pet it was nearly irresistible.
I caught myself and quickly averted my gaze. But Finnian had already spotted my reaction. This female... liked his beast form?
That was rare. Females in the Valerion Empire typically preferred the large, intimidating types.
I pushed the cart toward Chamber Seven. Final stop. I hadn’t reached here yesterday, given the circumstances.
I’d prepared myself for another winged beast or four-legged animal. Instead?
A pale, radiant young man with rabbit ears stood at the delivery slot. When he noticed my approach, he greeted me courteously. "Good morning, Ms. Sterling."
"Huh?"
He laughed—a bright, clear sound. "The robot mentioned your name earlier."
"Oh. Right. Good morning."
I fumbled through the words. The rabbit-eared young man reached out with a slender, elegant hand, accepted the tray, and gave me a small smile with a nod.
Courteous. Reserved.
Oh hell. I’d been ambushed by visual perfection first thing in the morning.
Wide shoulders. Trim waist. White shirt with the collar slightly undone. Fitted black pants. Silver wire-rimmed glasses. Lethal.
Maybe around six feet tall? That wasn’t even the headline act. The headline act was the white hair—soft, layered, falling perfectly. Crimson eyes. Fluffy pink-tinted beast ears. And that face. A computer rendering couldn’t match it.
What a tragedy. The system hadn’t paired me with this one.
I was genuinely irritated. What was the sense in giving me five beastmen with wings and claws?
Even if I couldn’t, well, utilize him, it would’ve been pleasant just to admire. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
I mentally catalogued my five doomed spouses. Number One: whatever. Number Two: sea monster. Number Three: silver wolf built like a tank. Probably ordinary-looking in human form anyway. Built like a tank, with a pretty boy’s voice?
I didn’t want to contemplate it. That voice combination had a high chance of being... unappealing. Number Four was also hopeless.
I slapped the labels on ruthlessly.
Number Five?
Shiver. Life is so brutal.
At the same time, a chain of sneezes rang through the wards.
While I was studying Silas, Silas was quietly studying me. He’d never encountered a female this stunning before. His eyes dropped to the bondmark on his wrist. His mouth tightened. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
He didn’t even know if he’d survive this place. This wasn’t the moment for pointless thoughts.
I departed—but not really, because the young man framed against the light had a jawline that defied physics. Was this what beastmen were like? I was already gone.
Heaven. This place is heaven.
On my return trip, things were mostly routine. Finnian was eating with obvious bliss, pupils occasionally expanding. Ahhh, this is incredible. Another new creation. Being alive is marvelous.
Alistair slithered miserably through the shadows, too scared to reveal himself.
Barrett ate while contemplating me. Wolf beasts possessed exceptional hearing. I’d stayed longest at Chamber Seven.
Chamber Seven contained a rabbit beastman. Mutant lop-eared rabbit, if he recalled correctly. Former pharmacist at the Valerion Empire Crown Infirmary. Barrett had encountered him once, some time ago.
The notion made him look back. Right then, I walked past his door. Barrett jumped up quickly and called out, "Ms. Sterling. I’m Barrett."
He raised his furry wolf head, attempting to appear as commanding as possible.
His tail brushed the floor. He pressed his mouth together. Hmph. Far more intimidating than that rabbit.
Protection factor? Maxed out.
Unfortunately, I just paused, said "Oh," glanced at him briefly from the corner of my eye, nodded politely, and continued walking.
I thought: You can see this at any zoo. What’s the big deal?
——
Barrett thought to himself: That’s it? One look?
The second she disappeared, he rushed to the mirror. Tsk. Look at this form. Commanding. Regal. This coat color. These paws. One strike and that little rabbit would be finished.
The memory of Elara lingering at Chamber Seven left him unsettled. Frustrated.
