Black Iron Magician - Chapter 45: The Beauty of the Country

Aurelia Holt had quietly sacrificed her career to be a stay-at-home wife for her husband, Blake Carson, so that he could work full time while also pursuing his dream of becoming a successful producer in the future.But on the night of their second wedding anniversary, she watched her husband come home with another woman in his arms. It was Stella, his first love whom he was never really over.“She is already upset, you don’t have to make her feel worse. Is it wrong to show care and concern for my friend?” He argued as he clenched his jaws and kept his gaze steady on my face.“She isn’t just your friend, she was your ex, your first love. And isn’t it so convenient that everytime she needs you or something happens whenever I just want to spend some time with you?”He had always chosen Stella over her, putting her needs and feelings above hers. And that night, she finally had enough.“All you ever care about is Stella!” I continued to yell so loudly that I could practically hear my voice ringing in my ears. “You always do this! You always choose her over me, you always put her feelings above mine.”I watched as a smirk tugged at Stella’s lips as she watched me argue with my husband over her. Blake walked to her side, wrapping his arm around her as she curled her fingers around his arm with a pitiful look.“Stop yelling, you are scaring Stella. Why can’t you be more understanding and stop being so self-centered? Not everything is about you!”The last thing she remembered was her running out into the pouring rain and the next thing she knew, she was asking a stranger to marry her. That stranger was Xavier Wilder, the billionaire CEO of one of the most successful companies in the country. But there was more to him that Aurelia didn’t know just yet, something he was hiding from her.Together, she vowed to make her ex-husband’s life a living hell. There were only two things he cared about the most―his reputation and his ego. And she planned to destroy it all, bit by bit.

“Ride this, my beloved consort!” Instantly rewarded with a punch in his charming face. He looked hurt, “I just wanted you to try out the mythical beast mount!”

In this world, orphans or just anyone without any hope for this world can apply to become a “walking target”. Their sole purpose is to be a practicing dummy for the students of the sect who train to become “Demon Hunters”. These students need “walking targets” to test their training on living, walking beings of flesh and blood.
In exchange, they will be provided with food & shelter.
Their existence value is lower than a slave, but if they manage to survive a few years they can receive a life long pension.

Xiao Han is such a “walking target”. One time he witnessed a powerful Demon Hunter disposing a demon. When the demon died, a fragment of the demon that managed to escape entered Xiao Han’s heart. No one saw that, and even Xiao Han himself only felt some discomfort for an instant.

But that thing in his heart soon gave Xiao Han visions, and the first one is of a cultivation method which allows Xiao Han to absorb damage to enhance his body. A perfect cultivation method for a “walking target”.

- Description from Novelupdates

What life is left for a warrior when there is no more enemy to fight?

…He knelt before her in the posture of a soldier giving honor to their Queen. And she didn’t even know it.

“Harth,” he rasped, “I come empty-handed. I bring no weapon. Because I swear to you, I will never choose to harm you. Never draw your blood—in anger, or in fear. I bring no shield. Because I vow I will never defend myself from your eyes, your hands, your mind. I am yours.”

*****

After a year of peace in Anima, Tarkyn finds himself… lonely. As the Captain of the Queen’s Guard and a lion-shifter, he has met every female in the tribes, but never found his mate. Certain he must have overlooked someone, Tarkyn undertakes a grueling ritual, pleading with the Creator to reveal her. But the ritual presses him to the end of even his formidable strength.

Yet, the Creator heard his cry…

Discovered on the brink of death by his mate, Harth, and nursed back to health, Tarkyn now faces the most difficult battle of his life. Because Harth isn’t just a stranger to the Anima, she is a weapon of the humans who tried to destroy them.

Can the love of a warrior and his enemy bring peace to Anima? Or will they be torn apart forever by war between their peoples?

*****

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STANDALONE STORY: While Tarkyn’s story is a part of the Anima world and fans will be reunited with some of their favorites as side-characters, Tarkyn and Harth are new POV characters and their story is a new plot arc, so their story can be enjoyed without reading the previous books! But please add Falling in Love with the King of Beasts, and Taming the Queen of Beasts to your library to enjoy later!