Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 818

Chapter 29 : Inside Aeris’s Vault

*Eliza*

This was getting ridiculous.

I rolled over in bed, staring up at the darkened ceiling. This was the second time I’d slept through the day. My sleep schedule was all over the place. I was sure I’d missed out on something during the evening I spent glued to the mattress, especially since I woke to the sound of aggravated male voices whispering just outside my door.

I stepped out of bed, the muted green dress I was wearing now creased and wrinkled from sleep. I padded slowly to the door, leaning my ear against it.

“He’d be at one of the brothels in the city. Aeris wouldn’t be a man that… stay here–” Jared’s voice broke through the stillness of my room, his words slightly distorted by the door.

I threw open the door, much to the surprise of my murderous comrades, who snapped their necks to look at me.

“What’re you talking about?” I asked, stifling a yawn. “What did I miss? You really shouldn’t let me sleep like that. I know for a fact that none of you have qualms about just strolling into my room–” I tapered off, noticing the sharp expressions etched into each of the men’s faces. “What happened?”

I locked eyes with Jared. He looked… terrifying. My chest squeezed as I held his gaze, willing him to explain what the hell the matter was. But something behind his eyes told me I was better off not knowing. I fought the urge to go back into my room.

Jared broke from my gaze and motioned to Brandt.

“We’re going into town. Archer, stay with her. Keep the door locked.”

“What? Me?”

Jared shot Archer a dirty look, then walked away without glancing back in my direction even once.

“What the hell is going on?” I bristled as Archer took me gently by the elbow and led me back into my room.

He closed the door, locking it in place before crossing the room and picking up the heavy armchair near the fireplace. I gaped at him as he carried it over to the door as if it weighed nothing, then dropped it soundly against the threshold, sitting down with his long legs outstretched.

“Archer….”

his breeder. Jared and Brandt are trying to find a way to get you out of here without causing a war between our people and

There was no teasing note in Archer’s voice, not a single shred of his usual mirth. He was serious. It sent a shiver down my spine as

taken by force from a trading vessel?”

to talk about

to me over the past few weeks, but nothing compared to that night. I could barely think

Archer shifted his weight, noticing how I was picking at my fingernails. A heavy silence settled over the

be guarding you, but I can’t promise Aeris will let me into his vault, so you’ll be on your own for a little while.” Archer gripped his knees, fighting a smile.

mouth twitching into a smile. “I appreciate your confidence in my

meant to be one of

promise me that, I thought, my heart squeezing around Archer’s words. I was one of them. I was… theirs. And they were mine. They wouldn’t let Aeris have me, and in return, I was going to do everything I could to help Jared, even if it meant letting Aeris believe I was

radiating pent-up energy, and I could tell he was disappointed Jared had made him stay behind with me while they were off doing whatever the hell they were doing. “I was on the front lines with the allied armies. I

across

I saw of your realm… the war camps, a destroyed city….” He tapered off, sighing deeply.

said… my dad and brother fought. I stayed

siblings,” he said, a hint of sorrow in his

son, my nephew,” I smiled tearfully. “My sister just turned eighteen. She wants to be–to be a teacher–” Tears began to roll down my cheeks as I told him about Beatrix. I still couldn’t bring

***

in step together through the castle, following close behind Aeris as he rambled about nothing in particular. He was giving me a tour, apparently, no doubt trying to sweeten whatever plot to keep me here that he had roiling

told myself as I let the maid dress me and style

pretending I wasn’t nearly as intelligent as I was, according to Archer. Sure, I could know a thing or two about history and all of that, but the credit should go to my pretend late father who apparently had

frigid the further we went. I tightened my grip on the crook of Archer’s arm as we walked into crippling darkness for

of Aeris produced a torch, and suddenly the area was bathed in amber light. I stifled

forward with a key, chucking under his breath

in a very long time,” he

incredibly heavy. I also realized he’d just given away the fact that the scroll was, in fact, a fake. If it was as valuable and old as he said it

helped pull the door open and Aeris took a step to the side, allowing Archer and me to step through the threshold, but Aeris rested his

in a sickly sweet voice that sent a shiver of unease licking down my back. “You and I are meant

return. He gave a quick look that told me everything I needed to know. Be on your guard. Go straight back to your room.

answer any question she has,” Aeris continued as he turned Archer back toward the

at the warrior, whose eyes were bloodshot and shadowed by dark circles. He smelled heavily of alcohol, too… hungover, most likely, maybe