Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 49: The Sacred

Maeve

Troy and I walked through the building, surprised by the amount of noise coming from the corridors as we headed down the many, many stairs to the lower-level courtyard.

The buildings are where everyone lives, stacked on top of each other,” Troy said, smiling as a little girl ran past us, chasing after what must have been her older sister.

*This place is ancient, Troy. How old do you think this place is?”

Troy exhaled, looking around as we walked towards the courtyard, reaching up to run his hand along the wall.

“A thousand years, maybe more?”

“More?” I sucked in my breath, unable to process it.

“Well, how many White Queens have there been over time? Count back and that’s likely as old as this place, and even Winter Forest, should

be.”

“Mom said Winter Forest wasn’t the original settlement of the White Queens. There’s a ruin on an island across from the inlet. That’s where the pack used to live, but everyone believes it was taken over by the water hundreds of years ago.”

“See? This is very, very old stuff.”

I nodded, swallowing against the anxiety tightening my chest and throat. This was an old place. A strange place. And I had the oddest “out of body feeling as we walked the halls. We finally turned the corner and passed through the archway leading to the courtyard, stopping short of the entrance as Duck came bounding towards us, followed by Myla and Pete.

“Where’s Robbie?” Troy asked, furrowing his brow.

“He’s out chasin’ tail,Myla said with a laugh. Pete blushed deeply, lowering his gaze to his feet.

“Still?” Troy snorted, shaking his head.

“So, you saw him? And he was alright?” I asked hurriedly. Myla nodded her head, wiggling her eyebrows at me and Troy.

“Oh, he’s more than alright, I’ll say that much. He told me all about it,” Myla said.

“Why?” Troy asked, looking from Myla to Pete, who was looking more and more uncomfortable with the conversation.

“Why not?” Myla said with a soft chuckle, “What else were we supposed to do while we were waiting for you guys to come down? What were you up to, anyway?”

cleared his throat, and I stifled a blush. Myla arched her brow, puffing out her cheeks as she tried not to

said, annoyed, “Please, can we

is a little jealous-”

had the opportunity to,

it?” Troy laughed,

here is saving himself for

I said, smiling at Pete, who

young girl standing still as a rod in the archway, her eyes wide with nerves as she spoke. She was young, very young, likely no more than ten or eleven years old.

the river. People were swimming in the slowly moving, shallow water. It looked like a refreshing activity in this unforgiving heat. I made a mental note to do the same

minutes of walking, we entered a narrow gravel pathway leading downhill into another shallow valley through a thicket of trees. Stepping out of the trees, we stopped, all of us looking out over a massive, turquoise colored

setting sun.

lakes edge were several buildings made of the same red stone as the towers at the city’s entrance. Music was wafting up from the lake, and voices lifted in gaiety and laughter rang out as we

breath, inadvertently taking Troy’s hand as we passed beneath several rows of paper lanterns that were strung through the trees. It was beautiful, and quite romantic, and I felt a sudden urge to find a dark corner

my throat. Troy looked down

losing my mind,” I murmured, feeling a little hot. What was

Myla exclaimed, looking up at

been able to mind-link with him since

I tried but I couldn’t get through. Do you think

mine as we walked, “Something is weird about this place. Do you

I replied. “But I don’t think these people are

eyes were

led us out onto a wide dock. Flowerpots lined the dock, and sprays of flowers I couldn’t name were in full bloom. The deep floral

pillows had been laid out around a huge, circular table that was low to the ground, and Una

stiffened suddenly, then relaxed, nodding to one of the two men sitting on the cushions. The older man must have been Ismir, Una’s husband. The

her eyes. We sat around the table, as did the young girl, who elbowed her

have eight children?” Myla said, her eyes wide, and a look of sheer longing on

Keaton,” Troy whispered, leaning his head close to mine as

brood. “Myla will have ten children, I’d bet

him, seeing the confusion flash behind his

it about this place that is making

looking directly into his eyes, my heart quickening as he knitted his fingers in mine underneath the

his eyes creasing with what I can only describe as pure, unadulterated

words were lost, hanging

love you, I thought, unable to

large platters of the most delicious food I had ever tasted were brought out over the course of three hours. Hot,

me closely, a look of mingled hope, and maybe even fear, etched across her