Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 795

Chapter 6 : I Need That Map "I asked you,"

he growled, taking a heavy step toward me, "a question."

"Your laundry," I replied casually, waving my hand toward the basket on the couch.

"You never mentioned you were a historian-"

"This room is off limits," he said, cutting me off.

Well, this wouldn't do.

I wasn't even close to finished looking through his treasure trove. He stopped short of me, crossing his arms over his chest.I did the same, mimicking his stance, even though my heart was thundering.

"If you didn't want anyone in here, you should have locked the door," I said tartly.

His steely expression didn't change, but I saw the flash behind his eyes and the way the corner of his mouth twitched with some unsaid, cutting remark.

‘Try me; I thought.

‘I've dealt with worse than you.He said nothing further, but I held his gaze.

"I have no idea where anything is in this house, let alone your room," I continued.

"It's a maze.Whoever built it should be ashamed of themselves."

"You have quite a mouth on you for someone allowed to stay in my house by the graciousness-"

"Like I have a choice? You brought me here against my will."

I was suddenly seething, every moment of pain, fear, and fury bursting to the surface as I stared up at Jared.

"By the graciousness of your heart? Oh, please-"

"Would you have rather been a breeder? Or left behind to be tossed into a brothel?"

I bit down on the inside of my lip.

Okay, he was right about that.

However— "What right do you have to go snooping around in my private quarters? Do you not realize how fragile-"

"Of course I do,"

I snapped, shifting my weight as I extended a finger to point at one of the glass cases.

"I've never seen the Dias of Orian before.But, that’s a model, I'm sure.Likely cast in granite.Oh, and-"

I stepped past him, my shoulder brushing against his arm.

"This author's theories have been debunked repeatedly.But him-"

I pointed to a large, dust-covered book on a shelf above my head, the title barely visible because of wear and age.

"His theories about the movement of the packs through the northwestern hemisphere of Findali are legend, still to this day.No one has been able to prove him wrong.But you only have volume one in your collection.Volume two covers..."

I trailed off, meeting his gaze.His mouth was slightly ajar, his eyes narrowed into slits as I let my arms drop to my sides.He was shocked, that was Clear, and I'd stupidly given too much of myself away.I didn't know what to do, so I curtsied and started for the door.

"Wait a f*****g minute," he rasped, and I halted.

"Who are you?"

"Eliza-"

"I know your name," he said with obvious annoyance.

together, turning to

head tilting as he looked down at

are you? A

I were

brows at me, and

like to read," I said, hoping this

"And you have books."

dumb.It

pursed his lips.I waited for his response, but none came.I eyed him, then turned on my heel

to read," he said sharply, "find something in the library. I keep it stocked for

the door and opened it, my hand gripping the knob so tightly my

said, his tone

I catch you in here again, you will be

chest tightening around the words as I

and I had to admit I was looking forward to his answer.He opened his mouth, then closed it again, but a spark of a

he said firmly, but he

heated, and not from

nothing about

lock

know he's

as the water began to heat for today's laundry.I'd spent the entire night laying awake, reeling from my run-in with Jared in his precious study.I needed that map, and I was going to get

a gaping hole in

exactly does their clothing get so tarnished? This is

was sitting across from me at the work table, said

was currently hiding from her responsibilities in

"Fighting," she said, matter-of-factly.

all members of the crew who are not on duty as a guard must practice in the ring for

their clothing to shreds?" I laughed, slipping a thread through

which warmed my heart tremendously. I grinned back, flushing with pride. I'd take

Giselle started, settling herself on a

of all I believe, then daggers and swords

and daggers?" I

eyes

"Why not as wolves?"

than other wolves to worry about in these parts, you know.Sometimes wolves are at

mean by...much more than

hair on the back of my neck prickled to attention as a rush of adrenaline

a look of

their hounds.But I've heard of elves

hanging open in

you

with a laugh, giving Scarlett a

up, waiting for

from...up north," I replied, unsure of how to answer

days to explain my connections and

tightly shut when it came to their origin stories, rather than air their past

seemed to accept my incredibly vague answer, much to my relief, and they moved on with the conversation without

for a few minutes as I pulled the needle and thread through the

of a duck.I got bored of it within a few hours and gave up, chasing my brother down to the rocky beach outside the village in Winter Forest instead.I should have taken it

seam of the

Giselle said

books back from his trips… romance,

like reading

and Scarlett both gasped, looking both

"What do you mean?"

Giselle pressed.

you read,

I stuttered,

sitting on my desk back in New Dianny, untouched and still in the paper wrapping it

non-fiction, things related to, well, lore

said, looking thoroughly