Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 585

*Lena*

I didn’t have to open my eyes to know who they’d laid in front of me on the other side of the bars. An electric pulse echoed through my body, lighting all my senses on fire in a single breath.

I’d been here for a week, at least, based on the number of times I’d been fed–a week spent praying Xander wouldn’t come here… that he wouldn’t be taken here.

But as I fixed my pale gray eyes on the bloodied form of the man who was facing me with his cheek pressed painfully against the stone floor, my heart sank into my stomach just as a warm, shadowed embrace wrapped itself around me, guarding me–protecting me.

All I could see were his eyes, black and flaked with amber as they reflected the dim lantern light. Blood… so much blood–it slid down his forehead in a steady stream.

I heard a hiss as something large and heavy was extended backward and then slammed into his back. But he didn’t make a sound. His eyes were fixed on mine, searching my eyes for pain, for evidence I’d been hurt.

‘Xander,’ I begged down the bond as they continued to beat him in front of me. He blinked, but his face remained guarded and expressionless.

But I could feel him tugging on that invisible thread he’d wound around my heart. Whatever this was, it was more than a mind-link. Not only could I hear his words flooding my mind, but I could feel him. I could feel every emotion gripping him. And I knew if he hadn’t laid that shadow of his power over me, I would be able to feel the pain wrecking his body, too.

‘Use it on yourself,’ I pleaded down the bond, my eyes spilling with tears. ‘Use this power to shield yourself–’

‘You’re pregnant,’ he said, his voice heard by every fiber in my body as it whispered silently across my skin. Another whack, and this time he winced but then steeled his expression.

A daughter–I sent this between us, and through the pain etched into his face, I noticed the tightness around his mouth as his lips twitched into a smile, a tear rolling off his lashes and sliding across his cheek before dripping to the ground.

How’d we end up here, separated by rusted iron bars? I felt like just yesterday he was standing in front of me on that gravel path leading to the greenhouses on campus, the embroidered “Morhan Varsity Wrestling” sweatshirt he was wearing glinting in the sun as he squinted down at me, a wry, somewhat devilish smile on his face.

He’d put himself in my path. He’d followed me to Crimson Creek. He’d gone through every trial and tribulation I’d faced.

And now? We were mates. I was carrying his child. This was everything I’d ever wanted but had refused to let myself admit.

I reached for him, my fingertips touching his through the bars as another blow landed on his shoulders.

Why us? Why this?

words were cut short by a grunt of frustration as whoever was standing over him ripped his shirt open to expose his

of me so

her up,” came Maxwell’s voice through the

yet taken stock of those who were standing in the tight, damp corridor leading to the cell. Xander was dragged out of the way, and the cell door swung

grime, and my clothes were damp and stained. I was still wearing the bloodstained, tattered sweater and sweatpants I’d been wearing the night Cedar

I cried out in response to the way Xander curled his body into the fetal position. He was hurt, badly. I bucked against the grip the guards had

to do this?” he asked casually, as though a man wasn’t being beaten to death only a

heat and mist coursing through my veins. I could blast them all

Xander could

he growled aloud, spitting

my mind and over my skin. I let the

you continue to hurt him,” I snarled at Maxwell, who only smiled in response and snapped his fingers before Slate

as he glanced down at Xander with pure hatred,

looked at the guards and nodded, stepping out of the way as I was taken away, the tips of my toes brushing the floor as the guards held me upright and walked through the

where I was. Was I underneath the manor? Was I even in Crimson Creek? No one had told me

stairs. There was no door at the top, nothing but a worn-out wooden hatch that hid the stairs from the world above. I was dropped onto my knees, and fine dust swirled around my legs as I looked up, seeing nothing

where we were now. We were in the hills outside of the Radcliffe Estate. The hills rose up around me, sheltering me as I knelt in a narrow glen speckled with gnarled, dead trees. I turned my head to look back at where we’d come and watched as Maxwell and Slate dragged Xander out of the hole that led to

he struggled to pull Xander up the last of

yards away from the ancient temple, centering me at the base of the glen where the hills began to give way, and a view of the

was darkened, empty, not

power Xander had embraced me with started to tighten around

bond, and the mark on my chest seared with heat as

turned to look over my shoulder at him, narrowing my eyes as Maxwell walked toward me, his

his skin in the cloak of night and the way his eyes glowed like sparkling,

late. I knew nothing of his kind. He could hide this side of himself and blend in, pretending to be one

Maddox. I thought of the butler. I thought of

he wanted me to unleash the

you don’t comply with the king’s demands,” Maxwell

You’re killing him, right now!” I snapped, rounding on him and positioning myself on my hands and knees. He was standing between Xander and me, with the guards