After Giving Birth, All My Beast Ex-Husbands Suddenly Want Me Back-Chapter 108: Hanging from a tree

When Aviel stepped out of the cave, he saw a male waiting nearby—one of the beastmen traveling with Tao’s group.

"You said Nina was looking for me?" Aviel asked.

"Yes. She’s waiting for you in the woods over there," the male replied, pointing toward a patch of forest.

Aviel narrowed his eyes slightly, suspicion flickering across his face. Still, he decided to go.

What if it truly was Nina? And even if it wasn’t, he had nothing to fear.

"Viann, head back first."

"Yes, my lord. Good luck!" Viann grinned and returned to the cave, silently wishing his king success in securing the position of first beast-husband.

Aviel strode toward the woods. After walking a distance and seeing no sign of Nina, he frowned, about to venture deeper, when a soft, delicate voice called out behind him.

"Lord Aviel, what are you doing here?" Shui approached with feigned surprise, trotting lightly toward him.

Aviel’s face darkened instantly. "You tricked me into coming here?"

In that moment, he understood everything.

So it truly wasn’t Nina.

A faint thread of disappointment tugged at his chest.

"I didn’t!" Shui said smoothly. "I just came out for a walk and happened to run into you. See? We must be fated to meet."

High above, Odian sensed movement below.

He pressed Nina’s head gently against him and deepened his kiss, more possessive now, not allowing her attention to stray. At the same time, he erected a soundproof barrier with his power.

If that wretched dragon got entangled with this female tonight and stopped coveting Nina, all the better.

Nina, kissed until her thoughts blurred, noticed nothing at first.

Below, Aviel’s gaze turned icy.

"A coincidence? Do you think I’m so easily fooled?"

Shui felt a flicker of fear under his sharp stare, but she forced herself forward.

"Lord Aviel, don’t be so fierce. I only wanted to talk with you, and..."

She slipped off her outer garment, revealing far more beneath than was proper.

Aviel’s expression grew colder. He activated his power.

Instantly, Shui felt as though her blood had frozen in her veins. She couldn’t move. A suffocating pressure crushed her chest, stealing her breath.

"For the sake of you being female, I won’t kill you this time," Aviel said coolly. "But if there’s a next time..."

He intensified his power. The suffocation worsened; her vision blurred, her mind turning hazy.

"I will not spare you again," he finished with a cold smile. "And you are not worthy to speak my name."

This female had dared to deceive him. He would not let her off lightly.

With a flick of his hand, vines shot forward, binding Shui tightly. He hoisted her up and—by sheer coincidence—hung her from a tall tree directly opposite the one where Nina and Odian sat.

Shui had barely recovered from the suffocating force when she realized she was suspended high above the ground.

She stared at the distant earth below and began to tremble.

If she fell... she would be crippled, if not dead.

"Please! Let me down! I won’t dare again!" she sobbed.

Aviel merely snorted and turned to leave.

If she liked wandering out at night, she could stay out.

Desperate, Shui lifted her head and scanned her surroundings—and froze.

Across from her, on another towering tree, was Nina. And that incomparably handsome Odian was holding her...

Shui’s eyes went red with fury.

"Nina!" she screamed, voice breaking.

Odian cast her a cold glance and continued what he had been doing.

Was that dragon insane? Hanging her right across from them?

Below, Aviel heard Nina’s name and looked up. The sight that met his eyes made his fists clench instantly.

On the tree, Odian was holding Nina, kissing her as though the world contained nothing else.

Aviel shot upward, shattering the barrier with a sharp surge of power. "Nina. It’s late. It’s dangerous outside."

Especially with the phoenix beside you.

Nina startled at the sound of his voice, snapping back to awareness. Blushing, she pushed Odian away.

Then she felt an unfriendly stare. She turned her head—and blinked.

Why was Shui hanging from a tree? And why was Aviel here, too?

"Nina, it’s late. You should return to rest," Aviel said, his tone carrying faint grievance.

So she hadn’t been looking for him at all. He had even foolishly imagined she had.

Odian was thoroughly displeased at the interruption. He hadn’t nearly had enough. And it wasn’t even that late.

This dragon was insufferable.

Nina coughed lightly. "It is getting late. Let’s head back."

She glanced at Shui. "And her..."

"No need to mind her," Aviel replied coolly. "She brought it on herself."

Nina nodded. She didn’t particularly want to deal with her either.

Though Odian had no desire to leave, Nina had spoken. With a resigned breath, he gathered her in his arms and flew back toward the cave.

"Don’t go! At least let me down first!" Shui cried desperately.

No one answered her. She was left swaying in the night wind, shivering alone in the dark forest.

In order to seduce Aviel, she had even told her husbands not to look for her tonight.

Now, who would save her?

Listening to distant beastly roars echoing through the forest, Shui trembled and wept.

She hung there the entire night.

Only at breakfast did her husbands finally find her and lower her down.

From that day forward, whenever Shui saw Aviel, she avoided him at all costs.

For several days straight, she didn’t dare stir up trouble again.

***

Nina’s group soon arrived safely at the Half-Mountain Tribe.

The tribe’s location was unique—built halfway up a mountain, nestled between several peaks, concealed and defensible.

At the entrance, the gate guards hurried to inform the tribal chief, who quickly came out to greet them.

"Chief Karo, it’s Tao. Do you remember me?" Tao stepped forward respectfully.

"Of course I remember," Karo replied, eyeing the large group behind him. "What’s happened?"

"Our tribe was destroyed by a mutated beast horde. We’ve come to seek refuge. We wish to join your tribe."

Seeing so many females among them, Karo didn’t hesitate.

"You’re welcome to join."

Relief washed over Tao’s face. "Thank you, Chief."

At last, they could settle down.

Nina stepped forward once their discussion concluded. "We’ve escorted you safely. It’s time for my payment."

Tao reluctantly handed over the elemental stone.

They hadn’t encountered any mutated beasts these past few days. A part of him felt the exchange had been a loss.

But Nina’s group was far too powerful to cheat.

Nina stored the stone away and turned to Karo.

"Hello, Chief Karo. My name is Nina. We’d like to stay here temporarily. Could you lend us a few houses? We’ll pay."

She produced several beast crystals.

Karo accepted them with a smile. "Of course. I’ll have someone show you."

The tribe had recently renovated, leaving several older houses empty. Earning some crystals was welcome.

Soon, Nina’s group was settled into a cluster of slightly worn but serviceable houses.

They would remain at Half-Mountain Tribe for the time being.

***

Meanwhile, deep in a forest of the wildlands, Mino had been searching for Nina for a long time, his mood sinking lower with each passing day.

He stood in the trees, lost and uncertain. Then his gaze caught something.

A familiar ribbon tied to a branch.

His eyes lit up.

It was Nina’s!

A marker she had left behind.

Excitement surged through him. "Father! This way!" he called to Ming.

Without hesitation, Mino led Ming and the others in the direction Nina’s trail indicated.