Behind the cold iron bars of the cage, a weakened Freya forced her head up with the last remaining bit of her strength. Her eyes trembled as she watched a man step out from the deep shadows. She had never seen a creature like him in her entire life. He was well-built, but lacked the thick fur, razor-sharp fangs, or heavy tails of the Beastmen she knew. His features were sharp and commanding, set off by elegant golden armor that radiated a quiet, lethal danger. To Freya, he looked like a bizarre species of Beastman she had never encountered before.In truth, Ryker hadn't planned on visiting this remote slave market. He was simply patrolling the outer boundaries of his domain after settling things with Marina. But a persistent ping from the System interface had guided his path straight to this auction block, notifying him that his destined fifth mate was currently up for sale.Ryker strolled casually through the parted crowd. Right behind him, Gork, Brok, and Thrum grinned, massive weap

The warm steam rising from the marble pool slowly washed away weeks of dirt and bone-deep exhaustion. For the first time in what felt like forever, the suffocating grip of terror in Freya's chest completely loosened. Squeezing her silver eyes shut, the fox princess leaned back into the water, letting the heat soak into her skin while her nine white tails drifted clean and luminous in the pool.When she finally stepped out, reality hit her. She stood dripping wet on the cold tile, staring at her torn, mud-caked gown crumpled in the corner. Putting that trash back on was out of the question."Now what...?" Freya muttered, clutching a silk hand towel over her chest.A soft click echoed through the bathhouse as Cora walked in, carrying a fresh, plush towel and a folded stack of clothes."All done?" Cora greeted her with a bright, welcoming smile. She handed over the dry towel. "Here, wrap up in this to dry off those thick tails. Lucky for you, Ryker picked up a few gorgeous dresses from t

The horrifying vision of the continental apocalypse still burned vivid in Ryker’s mind. The raging flows of cosmic lava, deep fissures swallowing whole settlements, and relentless rains of fire left no room for doubt—time was running out. Without wasting a single breath, Ryker strode straight out of the master suite and into the great hall.He ordered the guards to summon all five of his mates.Before long, the women gathered around the massive stone table in the hall. The dark, unusually stern look on Ryker’s face instantly blanketed the room in a heavy silence."Ryker... what is it?" Cora asked, searching his eyes with clear concern. "You’ve looked like you’ve seen a ghost ever since you woke up."Ryker took a slow, deep breath, looking each of his mates in the eye. "I brought you all here because a massive catastrophe is coming to this continent. Before long, everything we know is going to change. We're talking chain-reaction volcanic eruptions, the earth splitting open, and rains

Ryker kissed Freya’s forehead gently before turning to face his mates and the warriors gathered in the main hall. His expression locked back into a serious, commanding posture."The rest of the bandits are taken care of," Ryker announced, his deep voice carrying clear authority across the room. "But don't get comfortable. Varkas’s raid was just a minor inconvenience. Our real problems are only just beginning."Lyra stepped forward, a worried line creasing her brow as she gently stroked Doran and Lilian’s heads. "Ryker, if the sulfur stench keeps getting thicker and the firestorms actually hit... what happens to our water? The outer courtyard wells and the stream running along the fortress walls will get poisoned by sulfur and volcanic ash in no time."Marina, possessing the deepest understanding of water as a mermaid princess, nodded in grim agreement. "Lyra’s right, Ryker. Water is our lifeblood. Once acid rain and scalding ash blanket the land, surface water will boil off and turn t

Instead of answering, Ryker pulled a clear crystal flask filled with pure underground water from beneath his cloak and set it on Madam Lora's desk. A subtle, soft blue glow shimmered beneath the surface, immediately catching the textile merchant's eye."Taste it yourself," Ryker said calmly. "Consider it proof that I'm not blowing smoke."Madam Lora popped the stopper, taking in the refreshingly crisp aroma before taking a small sip. Her eyes went wide. The lingering exhaustion in her muscles melted away instantly, replaced by a surge of vitality she had never felt before. This wasn't just clean water—it was pure, unfiltered perfection."Incredible..." Madam Lora whispered, looking up at Ryker with a newfound sense of wonder. "You weren't lying. Fine, Sovereign Ryker—I believe you. I'll mobilize fifty of my strongest men from the haulers' guild to help build your outer wall."She let out a slow breath, her expression growing hesitant. "However, fifty men from my crew won't cut it. If