Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 17: Ernest’s Mate

Maeve

“Don’t say your name? Why?”

*Just in that context. I don’t… we can’t-”

“I know,” I said hurriedly, feeling foolish. It couldn’t be personal. That had to be what he meant. I fidgeted, looking past him toward the door. He followed my gaze, then snapped his head back around, giving me a serious look.

“Leave them alone, Maeve. I know what you’re thinking.”

“I just really need to talk to Ernest—”

“No, you don’t.”

“You don’t understand, Aaron. Gemma is in a bit of a crisis right now,”

“Because they’re mates? That doesn’t sound like a crisis to me.” He stood there, staring at me blankly as my jaw dropped open.

“How the hell did you know that?”

“Uh, he told me? Is it supposed to be a secret-”

I turned from him, pacing over to a set of couches that had been pushed up against the wall so that the maid could polish and wax the floor. I felt a little guilty as I looked down at the very obvious footprints left in the fresh wax, but the room was rarely used. It was my first time spending more than a few minutes here myself. “Well, if you know about it then it’s not a secret, is it?”

He shrugged, reaching up to crack open the window. “What do you need to talk to him about that’s so pressing you’d interrupt them?”

“I wasn’t going to interrupt them,” I lied, pursing my lips as he cast me an incredulous look. “I just wanted to talk to him privately.”

“About why he won’t marry and have children?”

Igaped at him again, my jaw nearly hitting the floor. “You know about that? You know why?”

“Yeah, he told me all about it.” Aaron’s tone was so casual that I laughed, unable to stop myself. He peered at me, tilting his head as I sat down on one of the dusty couches. “Do you seriously not know? How could you not know? Your whole reason for being here is to produce the heir he refuses,”

“Refuses? No, he can’t have children.”

“Oh, he’s perfectly capable of having children.”

“1-How?”

to hide it, either. He

“Aaron!”

on the couch, facing me. “Ernest said he had

gauge whether

me his own mother had the same vision, and she was the

I felt myself flush, my skin prickling with a chill as his words settled.

least, that’s what my parents told me after Aaron’s own

know how ridiculous it sounds. He said he thought it was just a dream until his mom said something about it. This all happened shortly before they left, I guess,

Aunt Georgia had ruled over Drogomor in my father’s place. Dad wanted to be in Winter Forest with us, not thousands of miles away in Valoria. I didn’t know the details of the exchange of power, but I do know Ernest became Alpha at

believes it. I tried to talk him out

I said with

paused, the

own mother cursed me,

have. It’s not real,

come into my power. I was. I told the nurse in the infirmary to save some of my blood for healing and

now determines your future?

He was watching me intentionally, his eyes lingering on mine. “She believed it. I could see it in her eyes.

exactly is this

to look down at the floor. “That I won’t find my mate. That I won’t come into my

“Well, when’s your birthday?”

up at him.”Not

worry about it until August.” He stood, holding out his hand

“Where are we going?”

he’s being

said not to interrupt

changed

got hurt in front of me, or his mother, or my possible curse. But, I was thankful for the break in conversation. I didn’t want to think

surprised to see Ernest walking quickly down

are you going?” Aaron called

grasp, but he squeezed my hand, tucking it behind his back, and we all came

arriving for a conference today. I have to go down to the village to

could go,” I said, digging my fingernails into Aaron’s hand. I felt him stiffen beside me and inhale, but his face was calm and firmly fixed on Ernest. Ernest ran his fingers through his

great things about this guy. Lance says

in a hiss, glancing up at him and noticing the abrupt change in his demeanor. He was looking forward, his gaze traveling well past Ernest and into a darkened corner of the

owlish eyes watching the three of us. I swallowed, exhaling as Aaron removed his heel from my toes. It had been

But why?

sound?” Aaron said, still looking over the top of Ernest’s head at the figure lurking in the shadows. Did I just see him narrow

leading to the castle. Lance will meet them there. I’d definitely feel better if you went with her, Aaron.