Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 81 : Don't Be Seen

*Eliza*

Traveling from Saboreef to the capital of Erogen took a week.

That was a week of roughing it on lumpy, rocky ground.

No matter where we put the tent, I always ended up with a root or something sharp poking into me.

Jared was there, serving as a comfy pillow that helped with the worst of the discomfort.

Even though we'd had a nice break from crummy camping food while we stayed in Saboreef, I was definitely ready to eat some real, well-cooked meals after that long, long week on the road.

If I could get meals cooked by someone else, professionally, that would be even better.

Fortunately, the weather was nice.

I wasn't completely expecting that, given the massive storm that had nearly flattened the village we were in.

For our entire trip to the capital, the skies were clear.

One morning, while Jared cleaned up the campsite and I made sure the fire was out, I kept glancing at the clouds in the sky.

"Eliza, what are you looking for?" Jared asked.

Sighing, I rubbed my hands on my thighs and kicked around in the ashes.

The fire was definitely out.

"The entire time we were preparing for that sea storm, I kept having this feeling that it was just the beginning, that the storm would bring darkness.But..."

I threw my arms out to the sides and tipped my head back.

Smiling, I spun around in the bright sunlight.

Jared chuckled and looped his arms around me, spinning me ina circle.

"Isn't it a good thing that the storm didn't bring some dark omen?" he asked.

I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder.

The warm sun felt good I on my skin, but it was nothing compared to the warmth from Jared's body as it permeated my tight-fitting hiking clothes.

"I guess.I still feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop...."

"Come on, Eliza.Maybe the storm did bring darkness, but it wasn't until after the storm that we got our first real lead for breaking the curse.Maybe all the light we have now is the hope we were missing before."

I bit my lip and nodded.

"You know, you might be onto something."

We finished cleaning up the camp and set out on the road again.

I felt like we'd been walking for weeks.

At least, when we'd been out in the wilderness, there'd been differing terrain-mountains, hills, rocks, rivers.

But the trek back to the capital was flat and tough.By the time we made it to the main road into the capital, my feet felt swollen.

"Can we rest for a minute?" I asked, plopping down on a rock on the side of the road.

another thirty minutes

me even asking, he lifted my leg into his lap and

hands started to work into the

just do that

his knuckles into the ball of my foot.He worked on that foot for a few more minutes and then started on

I thought there was nothing that could relax me as

sighed, melting into Jared's

he put

to the capital is just half the battle.We still need

stood up and held

I took his hand and he

all the aching and swelling

shifted my weight

a

because we aren't going to get into the capital on the main road.It is far too out in the open.We'll

a

all the things

me and led me off the main road.We looped around to a side road that wasn't

It barely looked used.

the edge of the capital, I

work on securing a vessel that will give us safe passage,"

to do?" I asked, creasing my

the radar and don't be spotted." He glanced over his shoulder at

we

directions to a small coffee shop where we could

said, hugging Jared's neck quickly before we

barely remember the last time we hadn't been around each I other every

This was different, though.

busy and there were

were filled with

packed full

was a heavy military presence

hung around on

clearly there for protection

he already putting his own defenses in place? While

warn her about what was going on and what!

it, but I really didn't want her to be

the coffee

hat tipped over my face, I ordered myself a latte and sat

of them seemed bothered by the presence of

each other like it was

stirred and

my stomach and tried

was

Or was I just getting weaker? Another latte landed on the table across

started and

had a sweater on with a hood.He had the hood over his head, keeping

a trading

sat down and cupped his latte between his

it

the most comfortable ride, but it will get us there.There's a

get in touch with my family

another sip from

would be ideal, but if not, at

just thought that she had the right to know what was going on.I

Jared smiled and nodded.