Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 24: Should I Date Him?

*Warren*

Sitting on the bench in the gardens, sipping wine, and listening to Ciana’s story, wave after wave of confusion washed over me.

She was speaking about an incident eight years ago, and yet… I didn’t remember it at all.

Lost in the woods? Wounded? Collecting a flower blossom for her from the top of a mountain on the cliff? I was fairly certain that if I had been there, I would remember at least a bit of this.

When she concluded her story with, “When I saw your bracelet, I knew for sure… you were the one. You were the young man I found in the woods all of those years ago. All this time, I have been dreaming of meeting you again.” Her cheeks blush a dark crimson, and I understood that she was saying these things as more than just a girl who has found a long lost friend.

She had feelings for this young man-for me?

“Wow…” I said, not sure how else to respond. “All of this time….”

“Right?” She beamed and then looked away from me, sipping her wine. “I can’t tell you how happy I was to find out it was you.” She wouldn’t look at me now, and I felt my own heat speeding up.

Ciana was a beautiful young lady. Her long blonde hair and light colored eyes that glimmer in the moonlight make her stand out, even above all of the other girls that had been brought to the castle by my father to court my brother.

Any man would be happy to be paired with such a lovely woman. Any, except for my brother. Just thinking about Theo set my mood off, so I decided not to think about him at all.

But the story Ciana had told me didn’t line up at all with how I’ d gotten this bracelet. She seemed certain that this was the same bracelet, too, the one she’d given to the young man.

So… how had my sister come across it?

I remember distinctly the day my older sister, Maggie, gave it to me, slipping it onto my wrist as she told me it would be a good luck charm for me, that she’d found it in a special place, and it would bring me blessings if I wore it every day.

Well, if it brought me to Ciana, then… my sister was right. It was definitely good luck.

Nevertheless, something wasn’t adding up here. Perhaps I was so injured in the woods that I simply couldn’t remember the events?

No, I was positive I had never been in that sort of situation. Whoever she’d met in the woods, it wasn’t me.

When she turned to look at me again, her cheeks were still pink, and she was smiling so happily at me, I couldn’t bring myself to be the one to make that smile fade. Rather than telling her the truth, I said, “I’ve always wondered what happened to that girl in the woods.” Her smile widened even

more. “It’s amazing that fate has brought us together again.”

“Yes, isn’t it?” she agreed, laughing softly before she diverted her gaze again. She raised the red liquid to her perfect pink lips again and took a sip.

I was lost in her smile for a moment.

only a few weeks ago. I could tell Dottie hadn’t told me everything, and that made me curious. I’ d wanted to know how it was possible

her.

a bit of time reading them because, honestly, my schedule was fairly empty most of

of the most dangerous, deadliest curses could not be completely cast on those

Ciana was one of those special

of the Moon Goddess anymore

Perhaps he could sense she was special and might

down my spine, just thinking about it.

you all right?” Ciana

on Theo. “I’m fine. I was just… remembering my injuries. I’m so glad that you were there to

but reach over and brush her hair back over her shoulder,

of heat and

kind, and… brave. She seemed to always know exactly what she wanted and took actions to make them happen. Like this time, she escaped my brother’s dungeon to make her way home when it was so far away, over such rough terrain. I couldn’t imagine any

prince, but had lived a

came to the palace, she was like sunshine, brightening the days for those who were around her, making the usually dull and gloomy palace

She was truly special.

brother, and my heart longed

her hair. She was smiling at me, but there was a slight shift in her eyes. I thought perhaps I should pull my hand away from

almost a whisper. “What would you think about the two

doing that?”

“Well, yeah, I guess so. But I

date?” She looked surprised

mean,

eyes, something that told me there was more to what she was thinking than what she was

glad she’d said

bright red, and she was absolutely adorable. “But…”

There was a “but,” of course. Why was she shying away

in crisis right now. If anything that I’ve been told is happening there is true, I need

if you still want

wait for you.” I placed my index finger against her lips and assured her again, “I’ll gladly

you for understanding.” The red on her face deepened, and

been full of revelations. Just when I thought I was starting

not.

most welcome,

***

*Ciana*

have just

I’d had the conversation with Warren I’d been thinking of starting since I’d first seen the bracelet on his arm,