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?”

shorts he was wearing, and he made no move to hide it, either. He caught my gaze and I blushed, which was actually the reaction he had wanted. His mouth twitched into a smile as he stretched

“Aaron!”

his feet on the couch, facing me. “Ernest said he had a vision that his mate and their

whether or not Aaron was messing

told me his own mother had the same vision, and she was the driving force behind getting your dad to

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

me after Aaron’s own mother cursed me, after his accident. My mom’s powers were well known, but we descended from the Moon Goddess herself as White

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, his

know the details of the exchange

believes it. I tried to

true,” I

at me, shaking his head. “You’re kidding, right? It’s fanciful at best-” He paused, the muscles of

mother cursed me,

she couldn’t have. It’s not real,

nurse in the infirmary to save some of my

That something an angry woman said now determines your future? How do you know your blood doesn’t

breathed, looking over at him. He was watching me intentionally, his eyes lingering on mine. “She believed it. I could see it in her eyes. I know

exactly is this

leaning forward over my knees to look down at the floor. “That I won’t find my mate. That I

“Well, when’s your birthday?”

looked up at him.”Not

shouldn’t worry about it until August.” He stood, holding out his hand to me and

“Where are we going?”

Ernest he’s

said not to interrupt

changed

hand, suspicious beyond measure. Aaron was a master of deflection. He obviously didn’t want to talk about the day he got hurt in front of me, or his mother, or my possible curse. But, I

to see Ernest walking quickly down the corridor away from us,

you going?” Aaron called

he squeezed my hand, tucking it behind his back, and we

conference today. I have to go down to the village to escort him to the castle. Give him a little tour.” He sighed deeply, running his

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 hair

haven’t heard great things about this guy. Lance says he’s kind

work things out with—”Aaron stepped backward, his heel crunching my toes. I let out my breath 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 corridor where it wound back toward

us. I swallowed, exhaling as Aaron removed his heel from my toes. It

But why?

looking over the top of Ernest’s head at the figure lurking in the shadows. Did

to escort him and his entourage from the train station to the road leading to the castle. Lance will meet them there. I’d definitely feel better if you went with her, Aaron.