Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 811

Chapter 22 : The Truth Always Reveals Itself

Dinner passed in a blur of conversation. Archer and Brandt finished several helpings of food before they relaxed into a guarded examination of the people sitting with us at the table. I watched them, wondering what they were seeing and hearing that I couldn’t.

Jared gently refused Aeris’s offer of a nightcap in Aeris’s private library, saying our crew needed to rest.

I rose from the table and followed the men out of the room, but I could feel the stares grazing the back of my neck as we crossed into the hallway and walked back to the wing that housed our bedrooms.

“Goodnight–” I began, trying to turn into my bedroom, but Jared reached out and grabbed my arm.

He opened the door to his room and ushered all of us inside.

“So,” Jared said, crossing the room to the bar cart along the far wall. He poured four glasses of what looked like scotch, then handed them to us. “What did you find out?”

Archer drank deeply, extending his glass for another dram.

“There was some talk of Ambrose but no one in his circle seemed to know what Ambrose used his stolen money on,” Brandt began, swirling his glass. “There is a ball tomorrow night, and the Alpha King of Egoren has sent a warning to Aeris about what sounded like Suncrest spies in the capital. The spies were apprehended and are being held by Alpha King Alexander’s warriors.”

I looked from man to man, wondering how the hell Brandt was able to gather so much information in the dining hall when it was filled with chatter over the clanging of silverware.

“Aeris is looking for a breeder to replace the heirs he lost,” Archer mentioned.

My eyes snapped to Archer, who shrugged, sipping from his drink.

“Keep your ears and eyes open. I need to know everything,” Jared said, then drained his own glass.

I looked down at the glass he’d handed me. I didn’t think I’d ever even tried scotch before. I brought to my lips, taking a tiny sip, and grimaced. Jared took it from my hands, his fingertips brushing against mine.

“Get some rest, Eliza,” he said, then turned to Brandt and Archer. “The two of you go out into the city tonight; check the taverns and brothels. See what else you can find out.”

Archer and Brandt walked away, their muffled conversation swallowed by the sound of the door shutting behind them.

“I’m going to keep you safe,” Jared began.

I answered him with a soft smile. “I know, I trust you.”

He seemed a little shocked by this reply, the hard lines of his face softening a bit. He drank my serving of the scotch, his eyes still locked on mine.

We were alone… in his bedroom. I could kiss him if I wanted to. He’d let me, I was sure.

“Goodnight, Eliza,” he said, breaking the spell.

I pursed my lips and turned toward the door, hurrying across the hallway and into the darkened sanctuary of my own room.

***

far wall, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. A clock on the far side of the room sounded, little

was almost four o’clock in the afternoon.

what I’d missed and what the guys were getting

heard a knock on my door. I turned just as a trio of maids bustled in, carrying

in exasperation, rubbing my

hair for the ball, miss. We don’t have

but thank you,” I said,

turned to the other maids, who shrugged helplessly. They bustled out of the room as quickly as they’d come, leaving me to munch on some toast and frown at the lace and beading on the gaudy, unbecoming

the dress I’d been wearing the day before but it was gone, as were my traveling

few hours until sunset, but the city seemed to be perpetually basking in a golden-hued glow. I sipped my coffee, wondering what Archer and Brandt got up to in the

and bounced against the

on the burn on my finger. “What the hell is your

smirked, tossing a large,

replied, eyeing

his hands tucked behind his back, rocking on his heels as he tilted his head toward

find you something to wear for the ball that isn’t… how do I

me

“Yes, exactly.”

the ribbon holding the box shut. I opened it, finding a gown made of pale blue silk. I set my coffee down on my bedside table and gently lifted the dress from the box, holding it up

long sleeves and high necklines of the dresses on the rack, it seemed rather scandalous. My arms, shoulders, and upper back

of the dress rested inside the box, as well as a necklace

fortune,” I breathed, meeting

with the witch’s money.” He turned to leave the room but paused at the doorway. “Oh, wear your hair down,” he added, his cheek dimpling with

stared after him until he closed the

***

just never bothered with it, having spent a good deal of time traveling from dig site to dig site over the years. I picked up a tube of lipstick, inspected it,

they’d behave. The dress fit me like a glove, and the shoes made me a few inches taller. I could walk in

warm to the

wide. Brandt turned to face me,

he said, thoroughly surprised. “You look

I took his

walking. I looked Brandt over, noticing his fine, well fitting clothes. He’d brushed his hair back from his face and shaved. He was an incredibly handsome man, especially with those stunning blue eyes reflecting the rich navy of his jacket. “Where’s

Archer wanted to wake you up several

what

worry about that now. We have a

“Oh?”

“We’re going to spy.”

symphony of strings. It was lively, and as we turned into

the center of the room, their bodies swept in a waltz. Brandt nodded pleasantly as we passed the guests

I whispered, my cheeks turning a bright pink from

you,” he corrected, flashing me

with a neckline that touches my chin,” I griped, feeling totally