Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 820

Chapter 31 : Play the Game

I watched Aeris over the rim of my wine glass. He was dressed almost casually in a vest and white shirt, his thick golden hair and beard trimmed, but still slightly ruffled. He wasn’t a terrible-looking man by any means. Those eyes were strange, yes. But he was handsome, and he had a rather friendly face.

But I could see the strain and frustration behind his eyes as he cut into his steak and forked a piece of it into his mouth. He’d be surprised when I was the only one who showed up to dinner in his formal dining room, which he’d obviously taken great lengths to decorate with hot-house flowers and a dinner spread meant for an Alpha King.

But it was uncomfortably intimate with just the two of us.

“Play the game,” I’d been told by Jared.

Why me? What the hell were those men up to, anyway?

“What a pleasure it is to have you alone for an evening, darling,” he mused, tilting his wine glass against his lips.

I blinked at him for a moment, barely registering what he’d just said as I was so lost in thought, but gave him a tight smile nonetheless.

“Were you expecting company?” I asked, waving my hand in a short circle.

“Your companions, of course. I had something I wanted to discuss with Jared.”

“Ah,” I smiled, rolling my eyes. “Jared is quite ill. Archer and Brandt are useless without his direction. I do appreciate having you alone, however. I didn’t want to waste the opportunity to thank you for allowing me access to your vault. Jared isn’t nearly as interested in these things as I am.” A lie, of course.

“And how did you find it?”

I took a deep breath against the flush of unease rippling over my skin. How did I find his vault? Or how did I find the Cryptex?

Surely he knew Jared was looking for it, especially if he knew Jared as well as he said he did.

“A bit… messy,” I replied, flashing him what I hoped was a charming smile. “Tell me, how did you come across so many jewels?”

That was exactly what he wanted to hear from me. He wanted to prove I had no interest in the artifacts and books scattered haphazardly around the vault. He wanted to prove that I was just some bright-eyed, submissive female who could be bought for the right price.

Play the game, I told myself over and over. Keep him occupied.

But I wasn’t entirely sure what game Jared was wanting me to play.

“You like jewels, then?”

“Oh, yes. What woman doesn’t?” I batted my eyelashes at him, which he seemed to adore.

His face softened a bit as he grinned and poured us both another serving of wine.

“Did you find anything in particular you liked the best? I could take you there after dinner. You can have whatever you like.”

I wanted the books… the scrolls… the artifacts, even the broken ones.

“That’s not necessary, but thank you,” I replied, forcing myself to blush. “Jared keeps me well supplied and paid, I assure you.”

“But as a gift–”

head, sipping my

his lips, looking somewhat annoyed as he glanced at the door

you expecting someone else?” I asked, my stomach tying in

actually. It’s rather odd that he’s not here.” Aeris turned

was listening that my expression was

bat, I guessed. I also guessed that that was exactly

my nose, draining the rest of my wine. Aeris absentee refilled my wine glass. The wine was already turning my cheeks a ruddy pink. I could feel it. I told myself to

you really believe I’m the breeder your brother

my brows, swirling my wine as I watched him

“My dear–”

offensive, Alpha,” I said curtly, lingering and drawing out the word Alpha with a hint of annoyance that made his face twist with shock. “I am high born. My father is likely rolling over in his grave right now knowing his

tone sharpened to an edge, “is what you’re doing

already told you,” I said innocently. “I’m cataloging

eyes like frosted amber as he ran his finger in a line across the table. “Who he

waved my hand in dismissal, shaking

he corrected. “The true heir to the throne of

the look of pure, unadulterated menace flash

Queen from the Realm of Light as his bride. The Luna of Egoren, a White Queen, can you believe it? Lycaon’s most hated enemy was a White Queen… the reason he brought our people to this sacred place. I’ve even heard rumors she is masquerading as the Moon Goddess reincarnate! What a travesty. King Alexander should be hung by the castle walls with

fighting for breath as much as I was fighting

deeply from his wine glass. “But maybe… you and I can strike a deal. What

“N-no–”

An awkward silence settled over the table as he tapped his

brother–” I stuttered, Aeris’s breathy sigh cutting

in this realm at all. Even with a more… progressive father.

“How dare–”

on the trading vessel was kept alive for questioning by the pirates who boarded it? They tortured him for days.” Aeris grinned, pouring himself another glass of wine. His lips and teeth were stained red now, making him look like some unearthly creature sent from hell to set me on edge. “He mentioned a girl had snuck aboard and only gave her name when the captain of the ship was about to turn the boat around and take her back to the port. This man is still alive, and will arrive

of my lower lip, keeping my eyes fixed on his despite the

breeder auction had… the

in my breath and tilted my chin toward the ceiling in preparation for whatever fight was coming my way. Filthy mouth? He’d hadn’t

boys out of you, a few of them.” He threw his napkin on the table, motioning to me as he rose to his feet. “Lift your skirts and bend over.

in such a way!” I shouted,

the palm of my hand. Fear ripped the air from my lungs as Aeris began to loosen his

my injured hand into a bloody fist as I backed away from him.

“Your husband?”

that caught him off-guard. I hadn’t meant to say it. I didn’t

into a scowl. “Jared.” I took a step back, noticing the

lying,” he hissed, straightening

trying to keep my voice level. I might have taken

bared his teeth at me,

followed. My shoes clacked against

s**t, s**t, s**t.

***

was pacing back and forth across his bedroom, his arms crossed and head bent as he