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.

thirty minutes of walking." Jared sat down

lifted my leg into his lap and pulled my shoe

into the tender, aching

just do

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

there was nothing that could relax me as much as...that other thing

sighed, melting into

couple of minutes, he

got to keep moving.Getting to the capital is just half the battle.We still need to secure passage to

and held his hand

hand and he pulled

all the aching and swelling was

feet and shifted my

feel a lot

to get into the capital on the main road.It is far too out in the open.We'll need to use

know a secret entrance?"I

be surprised by all the

off the main road.We looped

It barely looked used.

one was on it and when we got to the edge of the capital,

securing a vessel that will give

you want me to do?"

spotted." He glanced over his

we meet

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

hugging Jared's

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

This was different, though.

busy and there were people

were filled with pedestrians

packed

heavy military presence

royal army hung

clearly there for protection and

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

wanted to warn her about what was

best way to go about it, but I really didn't want her

coffee shop once the message

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

them seemed bothered by the presence

with each other like it was any

curse shadow stirred and

hand on my stomach and tried to

shadow was getting

curse was running out? Or was I just getting weaker? Another latte landed on the table

and

a sweater on with a hood.He had the hood over

out of the capital on a trading vessel.It should give us cover to travel without

and cupped his latte

it take

as Breles.It won't be the most comfortable ride, but

should be able to get in touch

another sip from

but if not, at least we will be a lot

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

Jared smiled and nodded.