Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 830

Chapter 41 : I Didn’t Miss

*Eliza*

Jared was gone for the rest of the day, leaving me alone in his huge bed. It was quiet in the house, and out the windows that lined the far wall of his bedroom, I could see people working in the gardens that circled the old manor. Large puddles of muddy water covered the village, reflecting the lights spilling from the cottages and shop fronts that wove along the well-beaten trail weaving through town.

I had no idea what Jared was up to. I also had no idea what exactly he wanted me to be doing right now.

I went through his dresser, trying to find something that would fit me other than the cotton pajamas I’d been wearing all day. All I had to my name was my journal, my pajamas, and the gray dress I wore during my job as a laundry maid… which Miriam hadn’t brought with her when dropping off my “things.”

I pulled out a soft, cream-colored long-sleeved shirt from his dresser, snapping it through the air to shake out the wrinkles. I changed into the shirt, which hit me mid-thigh. I rolled up the sleeves to my elbows and continued to rifle through his dresser, opening every single drawer until I found a pair of thick wool socks and a pair of thermal leggings that looked like they would have fit Jared when he was a child.

“Perfect,” I said, holding them up to test the length. I’d have to ask him for new clothes, I thought as I looked at myself in the mirror above the dresser. I ruffled my hair, grabbed my journal, and walked out of the room.

His study was just down the hall. I figured the best way to pass my time as the pretend lady of the house was to go through every book and artifact in his study and start to piece together the mystery of the Cryptex.

I closed the door behind me and looked around.

Dusty rays of muted daylight poured through the gaps in the shuttered windows. The bookshelves touched the ceiling on the far side of the snug room, some housing glass globes and crystals. It smelled like him in here, leather and parchment. I loved it, but also couldn’t work in conditions such as these. My mind was a tangled web in ordinary circumstances. I needed to do a little organizing, cleaning, and cataloging before any work could be done.

I knew Jared was going to be pissed I was touching his stuff, but I didn’t care. Wifely duties, right?

I walked to the windows and pushed open the shutters one by one until the room was filled with gray afternoon light, the smell of rain filling the room.

I set to work pulling books from the shelves, writing their titles and a brief description of their contents in my journal. I worked through a pile of books taller than me for what felt like several hours. I moved them into new homes, organizing them in sections by topic and content. He had quite a collection of lore and mythology, which would prove useful to us, I was sure, but I resisted the urge to start researching Draven and the Cryptex.

I needed to know everything he had in his collection and exactly where to find it, first.

Soon I’d gone through every single book he had in his study and cataloged every single one in my journal. This was a start, and a good one at that. Tomorrow morning I could wake up and get to work. I was impressed by the work I’d done today, smiling at myself as I looked down at his spotless desk and tidy shelves.

But I was impressed by him most of all. Some of his collection was just… unreal, a dream.

I couldn’t wait to talk to him about it the next time I saw him.

Another hour passed as I walked around the room, cataloging his collection of artifacts. By the time darkness fell and the room was cast in shadow, my journal was bursting with notes, and his study had never been so clean and organized.

I was just packing up to leave when I heard soft footsteps in the hallway outside the study, someone walking back and forth.

“Eliza? Are you up here?”

I opened the door to find Giselle and Scarlett standing in the hallway, both of them looking a little worried.

I asked, stepping out of the study with

here,” Giselle whispered. “But you

nodded in agreement. I let out the breath I

like someone was seriously hurt, or dead!” I

are married to Jared,” Scarlett whispered back,

know how

talk about this!” Giselle whispering, nudging Scarlett. “Effie’s apricot wine is ready. I want to

is for the men–” Scarlett began, but Giselle

plenty of times! Come on, it’ll be

turned her gaze to me, smiling

I chirped.

go then, it’s

and Scarlett through the house, the three of us speaking in low whispers as people went about their evening routines. Giselle rifled through the coat closet, handing me the same jacket I’d worn

at all?” I

didn’t see him or Brandt at dinner,

Interesting.

Lanterns lit the

the village, the largest building in the village other than the house it would seem. Its windows were well lit,

the far side of the tavern, several people leaning against it

to run into Jared here, but

against it and speaking with a man I didn’t recognize while Scarlett and I sat down at a

saw him last?”

turned to look at her, noticing the lines

was fine. Ready to get home,”

bit as she turned her gaze back

on the center of the table, the pink-hued liquid

Whoever Effie was, well, she could

quiet reflection. I told them everything I could about my experience at Aeris’s castle without giving too much away. I knew I could trust them, but I wasn’t sure how much they knew about Jared in particular. I did explain the certificate, and how Brandt and

late by the time we’d finished our glasses

on my jacket and

of her mouth tugging into a smile as I

“Are they mates?”

mentioned whether or

open for Scarlett as we exited the tavern, glancing over my shoulder and smiling as Giselle

distance as we walked, and I followed her gaze to the sparring ring, where a group of men was

out Jared’s form in

haven’t had a chance to meet,”