Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32: The Bunny and the Bandit

Three Days Ago.

Luna was in the shady part of the market. She shouldn’t have been there, but she was desperate. She wanted to buy a Good Luck Charm for Primrose’s new business.

She stood in front of a rickety stall run by a twitchy Weasel-kin.

"Yes, yes, beautiful lady!" the Weasel hissed, holding up a dirty, grey rock tied to a string. "This is a Dragon-Scale Amulet! Guaranteed to ward off bad luck, bad spirits, and bad taxes! Only 50 gold coins!"

Luna hesitated. "It... it looks like a rock."

"It is a camouflaged dragon scale!" the Weasel insisted. "Very rare! Buy it now, or I sell it to the Duke!"

Luna bit her lip. She reached for her purse. She was too nice to say no.

Suddenly, a hand—an orange, furry hand with sharp claws—slammed onto the counter, right on top of the amulet.

"Fifty gold for a piece of gravel?" a lazy, raspy voice drawled. "Inflation is rough these days, eh, Weasel?"

Luna jumped. Standing next to her was a Fox-kin. He was leaning casually against the stall, wearing a loose green shirt and a grin that spelled trouble. Jax.

The Weasel paled. "Jax! I... I am conducting legitimate business!"

"You’re selling driveway gravel to a tourist," Jax laughed. He picked up the rock, tossed it in the air, and caught it. Then he crushed it in his hand. It crumbled into grey dust.

"Oops," Jax smirked. "Must have been a defective dragon."

Luna gasped. "It was fake?"

"Everything here is fake, Carrots," Jax said, looking down at her. He eyed her expensive silk dress and her basket of vegetables. "You shouldn’t be in this district. The sharks will eat you alive. Or the weasels."

He grabbed the Weasel by the collar. "Give the lady her entry fee back. And an apology."

The Weasel scrambled to hand Luna a silver coin (which she hadn’t even realized he’d pickpocketed from her earlier). "Sorry! So sorry!"

Jax released him, and the Weasel bolted.

Luna stood there, clutching her basket. She looked at the Fox. He was a predator. He was a criminal. She should be terrified.

But he had saved her money.

"Thank you," Luna whispered, her ears trembling.

Jax shrugged, turning to leave. "Don’t thank me. I just hate bad liars. Go home, Carrots. Before someone sells you a magic bean."

"Wait!" Luna called out.

Jax paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Yeah?"

Luna reached into her basket. She pulled out the freshest, crispest, most perfect carrot she had.

"I... I don’t have gold on me," she lied (she had plenty). "But... for saving me."

She held out the carrot.

Jax stared at it. He stared at her serious, terrified olive eyes.

He snorted. Then he chuckled. Then he laughed.

He walked back, took the carrot, and took a loud, crunchy bite.

"Payment accepted," he said, juice running down his chin. "You’re weird, Carrots. I like that."

He winked and vanished into the crowd.

And that was how the Merchant’s Daughter met the Bandit.

Presently

Luna’s heart was beating so fast she was certain her long, lilac ears were going to vibrate right off her head.

The merchant’s daughter stood behind a crate of Sun-Apples in the shady part of the market, clutching a small, wax-paper bag to her chest like a shield. Inside was a Honey-Glazed Moon-Cake that Primrose had helped her bake. It was perfectly round, golden, and in Luna’s mind, it smelled like destiny.

She needed destiny. Because ten feet away, leaning against a lamppost like he owned the shadow it cast, was Jax.

He was... unbearable.

He was a Fox-kin, but he didn’t look noble like Primrose’s family. He looked like trouble. He wore a loose green shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing lean arms, and his messy orange hair looked like he’d just rolled out of bed. His single, massive orange tail flicked lazily back and forth, keeping time to a tune only he could hear.

He was currently tossing a red apple in the air, haggling with a fruit vendor who looked very confused about where his wallet had gone.

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