Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 71 : The Dead City

I could barely catch my breath as I realized the entire city was still here and clearly full of people and life.

There was something off about the way the lights had turned on.

I could see into the streets of the city but I couldn't see any actual people.

Sure, lights were coming on all over the place, but where were the people? Initially, I thought the lights meant there were people still here in Myrel.

But where were they? Why weren't they coming out of the buildings to see what was going on? Ashudder ran through me when an eerie thought occurred to me.

Were there people at all? Maybe these lights were just responding to my presence like motion-sensored lights that came on when someone walked in front of them.

Had we discovered a dead city that still reacted when someone showed up? For some reason, that creeped me out in a whole different way.

I kept staring up at the lights as they came on, and that was exactly how Abe found me, dragging Jared along behind him.

Jared was a little pale, but he wasn't screaming in pain anymore.

His power had been contained, though it seemed like he was weak.

I couldn't tell if he was conscious...

his eyes were closed and his breathing was heavy and labored.

I knelt down next to him and put my hand on his forehead.

He didn't have a fever but his skin felt a little cold and clammy.

What had happened to him in the cave? Why had he lost control like that? What had caused him all that pain? "Eliza, we have a problem,"

Abe said.

He stood over me and Jared, his shadow swallowing us as more lights came on behind him.

Slowly, I stood up and pointed to the city above us.

Abe turned around and tilted his head back, looking at the city above us.

I heard him gasp and a strange look crossed his face.

"Okay, we've got two problems..."

Jared shuddered and opened his eyes.

Panting, he jumped to his feet.

"Hey.It's alright, we got you," I said, touching his shoulder.

Jared's eyes whipped around wildly.

Those big, beautiful, captivating orbs were so restless and unsettled.

I rubbed his arm comfortingly and finally, his eyes settled on me.

"Eliza.What...what happened?" He creased his brow.

"Don't you remember what happened in the cave?" I arched my eyebrow.

Jared had really scared me.I hadn't gotten around to doing what the vision of Draven had told me to do to help him.But he seemed recovered now...except for not being able to remember.He shook his head.

"No."

He pointed to all the lights, tilting his head back.

"What's going on up there?"

How could he not remember? He'd been in so much pain, screaming bloody murder.Maybe it was better that he didn't remember.I followed Jared's finger and saw he was pointing to the terrace above our heads where there were shadowy figures moving around.

Were they ghosts? Were they just shadows? At this angle and in this light, it was hard to tell.

"As I was saying, we've got a few problems," Abe jumped in again.

l opened my mouth to reply.

Crunch.

Crunch.

whipped around in the direction of

shadows,

like she was floating across the

peaked out under the hem of

her tanned skin and dark hair, it glowed ethereally, making her seem like an otherworldly

point, I was willing to

me," she said, beckoning us

whisper and yet firm enough to hear over the cascading waterfall nearby.I swallowed and stepped toward her, my

are you doing?" Jared asked, grabbing

us to follow her," I pointed

is or what she wants.We

like

in way over our heads here," Abe added, standing shoulder

Great.

both ganging

please," I begged,

tensed and he cast his

to be protective, but I couldn't let that interfere with every

This was important.

was doing this to

"Come, come, my children..."

my spine as the woman spoke again, that same otherworldly voice prickling the hairs on the back of my

was something

sense that I'd seen her before, but I knew I'd

bone.I'd definitely remember that...Before Abe and Jared could protest more, I turned around and followed " the woman.The ledge we were on led to a path that angled up to the city.The strange woman was

wasn't going to take any chances, not until I knew more about her and why she was

Abel walked close

practically feel the tension coming

both

one of the roads into the

the buildings were ancient W] and carved with incredibly intricate stone columns

have taken hundreds of years to carve all

building we passed,

didn't see anyone

and I couldn't

was that a figment of my ; imagination? We approached a large, well-lit building with a fountain out front : splashing sparkling water

air

we approached,

I glanced at

same song

that

woman led us up a large, wide

found ourselves in a ballroom with cathedral

huge, the largest room

with a matching floor, it was

music thrummed and echoed off

something else

moved around

flew around in

as the mist took form and then

a moment, I

to Jared

"They're ghosts..."

"Ghosts?"

asked, arching an

my stomach gurgle.I remembered how Abe

or having some kind of waking

Abe assured.

very beautiful

sighed, hanging

up behind me and put a

didn't know why it made me sad to see dancing

who they were or

heart clenched

dancing to an

the woman who led us here turned to

the bright light of the ballroom,

took a half

eye color as me,