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.

have another thirty minutes

my leg into his lap and pulled my

to work into the tender, aching muscles of my

really great.If you could just do that for a few

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

was nothing that could

melting into Jared's

minutes, he put my shoes back

the capital is just half the battle.We still need

and held his

I took his hand and he pulled me

aching and swelling was

feet and shifted my

I feel a lot better,"I

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

a secret

might be surprised by all

main road.We looped around to a side road

It barely looked used.

edge of the capital, I noticed there weren't any guards

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

what do you want me to do?" I

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

should we meet

me directions to a small coffee shop where we could meet up once he had our travel arrangements

be seen," I said, hugging Jared's

could barely remember the last time we hadn't been around each I other every second, minus the

This was different, though.

capital was busy and there were

filled with pedestrians and

packed

a heavy military

hung around on the

there

got wind of Aeris' plans? Was he already putting his own defenses in place? While waiting for Jared, I snuck to a place where I could send my

wanted to warn her about what was going on and what! was

way to go about it, but

to the coffee shop once the message

I ordered myself a latte and sat out on the patio, sipping my drink and watching people

them seemed bothered by the presence

each other like it was any normal

stirred and my stomach

hand on my stomach and tried to

was

mean the time of the curse was running out? Or was I just

and

sweater on with a hood.He had the hood over

capital on a trading

down and cupped

will it

comfortable ride, but it will get us there.There's a lot more security on passenger

get in

I took another

at least we will be a lot

sent word to my cousin while we were here.I just thought that she had the

Jared smiled and nodded.