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–”

my head, sipping

he glanced at the

someone else?” I asked, my

he’s not here.” Aeris turned back to me, studying my

whoever was listening that

The rat-faced man who’d hit me in the head with a bat, I guessed. I also guessed that that was exactly the business Jared was taking care

feel it. I told myself to stop, to

the breeder your brother Ambrose

watering. I arched my brows, swirling my wine as I

“My dear–”

said curtly, lingering and drawing out the word Alpha with a hint of annoyance that made his face twist with shock. “I

what

you,” I

he is?” he asked, his eyes like frosted amber as he ran his finger in a line

shaking my head. “A Dark

Lord,” he corrected. “The true

the look of pure, unadulterated menace flash behind his eyes. What the hell had he meant by

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

breath as much as I was

deal. What do you

“N-no–”

he laughed, furrowing his brow. An awkward silence settled over the table as he tapped his fingers on

He’s-he’s not the brother–” I stuttered, Aeris’s breathy sigh cutting through my

to believe a woman such as yourself is a product of being raised this far west, or even in this realm at all. Even with a more… progressive father. You are far too educated and ill-mannered to be a high-bred lady from any of my neighboring territories, which leads me to believe I am correct in my assumption that you are,

“How dare–”

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 in my territory very soon to confirm

inside of my lower lip, keeping my eyes fixed on

auction had… the curls, the blue-green eyes… that filthy mouth and hot

tilted my chin toward the ceiling in preparation for whatever fight was coming my way. Filthy mouth?

I’m not letting you leave. That’s final. I want boys out of you, a few of them.” He threw

dare you speak to me in such a way!” I shouted, rising from

my hand. Fear ripped

injured hand into a bloody fist as I backed away from him. “You are not my Alpha, and I am not your breeder. I

“Your husband?”

to say it. I didn’t

into a scowl. “Jared.” I

lying,” he hissed, straightening

my voice level. I might have

teeth at me, looking

darted for the door, sure he was hot on my heels. But he hadn’t followed. My shoes clacked against the marble floor as I ran for our wing

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

***

my hand. Jared was pacing back and forth across his bedroom, his arms crossed and head bent as he mulled over my retelling of