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?”

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

looked up at Archer, who towered

be okay with that,” Archer continued, the mischief draining from behind his eyes and

I would have felt incredibly sad for

Scarlett stammered, glancing at me before turning toward the doorway, her

another wink, then turned on his heel and followed Scarlett out of the room, leaving

I looked down at the basket. Scarlett and I usually tossed clothing this ragged into the fire, or

to you,” I said beneath my breath as I picked up

the punishment he’d threatened me with, and

then I had

***

the house had gone to bed, but I was still awake, and still sitting on my stool with the very last piece of

neat square and set it on top of 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,

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

in on me only once during the tortuous day. He’d peeked his head into the laundry, giving me a smile and nod, then told me to deliver the laundry to Jared’s

to the third floor of the house would

the stairs, too tired to care that every step creaked loudly throughout the house. I paused on the last few stairs leading to the third floor, out of breath, my legs shaking with fatigue. I was exhausted. Maybe Jared was right. A day full of mending had been enough to keep

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

strength I had left, and walked toward the door, making out

his tattoos on full display. He was disheveled, his hair still wet

his arms crossed over his chest, smirking as I neared and set the basket down a few feet away

I panted, unable to form any other words. I nudged the basket forward, giving it a little kick with my foot. I was expecting him to inspect the laundry to make sure it was up to snuff, but he just looked at me, his gaze trailing over my face. That smug

“Thanks.”

snooping around. I

over, my hands on my knees as my head began to spin. I heard him take a quick step in my direction, but I waved him away.

make

looked up at him, quirking my

kitchen, no,” he said,

just going to go to bed,” I yawned, and gave him a soft smile. He looked like he was on the verge of apologizing to me, but I turned and walked down the hallway before he could say anything further. Better to let him stew on his idea

“Wait,” he said softly.

in a flash he was behind me, touching me lightly on the back of my arm. He

“What is it?”

the journal. I met his eyes, and the corners of his mouth twitched into a smile. “I figured

know how to voice just how much it meant. I’d lost my journal just before I was captured, a journal I’d had for many years and taken on

uneven surface of the leather. It was hand-sewn, and as I opened it, I noticed the rough, hand-pressed paper that was dappled

whispered, and looked up to find him

glad you