Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 800

Chapter 11 : A Special Gift

I wasn’t sure what I was thinking. My conversation with Jared had left me furious, then guilty, and overall… wanting.

I wasn’t able to sleep at all that night. I tossed and turned, going over every word that had passed between us.

On top of my severely conflicting emotions, I’d entirely forgotten about the reason I’d gone to his study again in the first place–the map.

He’d seen right through me, of course. He’d warned me of the dangers I’d face on my own. Maybe it was the fact that I’d been mulling all of this over at close to three in the morning, but I’d started to feel like maybe he was right. I was safer here than I was on my own, at least for now.

But Jared’s words continued to plague me well into the next morning. “Why are you so mean to me?” he’d asked.

Because I’m scared as hell, and too much of a coward to admit I’d bit off more than I could chew.

I slouched on my usual stool in the laundry, a cup of now-tepid tea sitting untouched in front of me. I owed him an apology, a real one.

Luckily for me, a cart had arrived in the village earlier in the morning, filled to the brim with groceries. Giselle had screamed in delight when a box of cherries was carried in, and now the entire house smelled of baking.

I was planning on bringing a basket of freshly baked cherry pastries to the sparring ring as a peace offering. It was the best I could do, other than behave myself and wiggle into his good graces. If he trusted me and didn’t find me a threat, I could eventually ask him to release me, and maybe even help me get home.

But when I thought about going home, I… well, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to go home, not yet. Despite everything, I’d made it this far, hadn’t I?

Exploring the Dark Realm, finding and touching actual artifacts here had been my dream, and while it’d had a rocky start… I was here. I found it unlikely Jared was going to kill me, especially if I stayed on my best behavior. I was safe.

I’d won the race to explore the secrets of the Dark Realm just by making it here. None of my colleagues had the guts. It was mine to discover, if I played my cards right. “Where is all of yesterday’s laundry?” Scarlett muttered to herself, looking around the room. It was nearly ten in the morning and our usual onslaught of dirty, tattered clothing from yesterday’s sparring and chores hadn’t been delivered the night before. The laundry room was empty.

“Maybe no one ruined their clothing?” I offered.

Scarlett gave me a look, obviously panicking about not having anything to do with her hands. She was picking her nails and fidgeting.

I turned my tea cup in a circle, wondering what I was going to do with the rest of my day if we didn’t have anything to wash and mend. Giving Jared a basket of cherry pastries, a beaming smile, an apology, and if he was lucky, a promise of good behavior going forward were the only things on my list.

I heard whistling in the hallway and Scarlett abruptly turned on her stool, facing away from the doorway. I arched my brow at her and straightened up just as Archer walked into the room holding a basket of the muddiest, most tarnished clothes I’d ever seen.

He dropped the basket at my feet, giving me a wink.

“What the hell is this?” I scoffed, gingerly picking up a shirt that fell to pieces in my hands.

“A special gift from Jared,” Archer grinned, his eyes narrowed and full of mischief.

“What? Why?”

of his personal space,” he replied with a smug smile. Scarlett was off her stool in an instant, rounding the table with desperate, outstretched hands as she reached toward the basket. “No, these aren’t for you, Lettie. You have the day

looked up at Archer, who towered over

thought we could take a walk, maybe. If you’d be okay with that,” Archer continued, the mischief draining from

I wasn’t so livid, I would have felt incredibly sad

glancing at me before turning toward the doorway,

on his heel and

basket. Scarlett and I usually tossed clothing

I picked up the basket and dumped the contents

and it was

I

***

I was still awake, and still sitting on my stool with the very

the basket, taking a moment to catch my breath. My fingertips were raw and covered in bandages. My back felt broken, and my legs were tingling from lack of use. I was afraid that if I stood up too quickly, my knees would buckle and all of the blood would rush from my

took it easy and slowly stretched my aching body until I was standing straight, then I clutched the basket and carried

laundry, giving me a smile and nod, then told me to deliver the laundry to Jared’s room

third floor of the house would be my final punishment, it

paused on the last few stairs leading to the third floor, out of breath, my legs shaking with fatigue. I

filled with muted light coming from an open door at the very end of the hall. I heard papers rustling, and the sound

the basket a little higher, which took an incredible amount of what strength I had left, and walked toward the door, making out what

as I approached. He was shirtless, his tattoos on full display. He was disheveled, his

his arms crossed over his chest, smirking as I neared and set the

to make sure it was up to snuff, but he just looked at me, his gaze trailing over my face. That smug

“Thanks.”

I exhaled, “For snooping around. I

my knees as my head began to spin. I heard him take a quick step in my direction, but I waved him away. “I’m fine,” I said. “I just haven’t

make you

looked up at him, quirking my

the kitchen, no,” he said,

of apologizing to me, but I turned and walked down the hallway before he could say

“Wait,” he said softly.

halted, but didn’t turn around right away. I heard him retreat into his room for a moment, then in a flash he was behind me, touching me lightly on the back of my arm. He gently placed a

“What is it?”

met his eyes, and the corners of his mouth twitched

I didn’t really know how to voice just

finger over the cover, tracing the uneven surface of the leather. It was hand-sewn, and as I

looked up

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