Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Maeve

Damian was not what I was expecting. He was an older man, tall and lean. He was probably not much older than my own father, but was significantly gray, his eyes framed by wire-rimmed

glasses. He looked more like a kind old schoolteacher than the super-villain of my nightmares, but based on Troy’s body language I realized there was much more to the man than I could gather based on a single glance.

Damian was standing, rocking on heels, and watching us. Pete was lying on the ground nearby. unconscious, and another unfamiliar man of a size that rivaled Robbie was leaning against one of the dead trees, his arms crossed over his chest.

“What are we waiting for?” Damian said in a casual, almost friendly voice.

Troy didn’t move; he was still as a statue, his focus on Damian.

“How are you here?” Troy finally said, his voice edged with fury and confusion. Damian arched his brow, giving Troy an incredulous look.

“I made some new friends,” Damian smiled, shrugging as he took a single step forward, craning his neck to look around Troy to catch a glimpse of me. “Ah, would you look at that? The rumors are true She does look like Ethan.”

“We‘re leaving,”

“And going where exactly, Troy? I owe you; you know. When I first got word about the level of your intimacy with the princess, well, I thought it would cause me nothing but grief. But you’re here now, with her. This will all be over quite soon, and you can have your prize-”

“Prize?” I asked, looking up at Troy.

His shoulders fell a fraction of an inch, but he still stared straight forward, his eye on Damian, unblinking

I knew the original plan and the fact Troy was going to be paid handsomely for breaking Romero out of the castle, but that wasn’t what Damian had been planning all along. Troy was tricked. Surely, Damian didn’t mean to pay him still, if he had been planning to do so at all.

“I did promise you didn’t l?” Damian took another step forward.

“Promise him what?” I snapped, attempting to step out from behind Troy.

Troy blocked me, pulling me back behind him. But Damian had seen me fully, and his eyes widened, then his mouth curled into a malicious smile.

“Well done, Troy.”

“Don’t speak to me, or to her. Leave, now!”

I’d never heard Troy speak in such a tone before, his voice carrying through the clearing in a crisp. commanding way

“I was going to make you my heir, you know. You, the rightful prince-but wait, Romero is dead, isn’t he Troy? My man Horace saw to that, for you.”

“What is he trying to say, Troy?” I whispered into his back.

“Why don’t you tell her for yourself, Troy? Who you really are?”

“I suspect she already knows.” Troy answered, his tone biting.

I had no idea what he meant, honestly. He was Madalynn’s child; I knew that much. He mentioned his father’s name had been Behar. And his grandfather was

“You’re a prince,” I said quietly, the pieces falling into place. I didn’t know why the thought hadn’t crossed my mind before.

“More than that,” Damian folded his hands behind his back and paced, meeting my eye. “He’s the hereditary Alpha of Poldesse.”

I bit my lip to prevent myself from saying my thoughts aloud. Surely, Troy wasn’t planning on acting on that

“It can be all yours, Troy. The Kingdom of the Isles. Valoria is weak, ready for your hand to rule. I paved the way for the dynasty your grandfather always wanted. All you have to do is give me the girl.”

“No,” Troy said firmly without hesitation.

your mother’s

“I didn’t know her,”

would’ve been a different man had she raised you. A better

not allow you to lay a hand

it matter? I just need her

I could act, the large man, Damian’s crony, had his arm around Troy’s neck

feet, gracefully brushing the dirt from his knees.

Maeve would’ve given this man

was a little

just as the large man threw him to

heel and started back toward the tunnel but tripped over Pete, who was still sprawled out on the ground. I caught

grabbed me from behind, his fingers tangling in my hair as he yanked me off the beam and

off of me!” I screeched, reaching up

thrashed and squirmed against his hold on my hair until I heard his

trying to

his head toward her,” Damian commanded, and the man knelt on top of Troy, his knee keeping Troy flat on his stomach. Troy was furious, his lips pulled back over his teeth. “If you shift, Troy, I’ll kill her right now, right in front of you.” Damian

and closed my eyes, trying to calm myself

to be okay,” Troy said

my hair again, making me wince. He laughed,

Troy? Spawn of a White Queen,” Damian pulled up the sleeve of my

into power yet!” Troy

not to cry. Had it just been me, Damian would be on the

and

how to open the tomb?” I exhaled,

aback by my sudden submission, but seemed pleased, loosening

not going

me,” I said, my voice

me and Troy, blocking Troy’s view of my face. I

A dead White Queen must be laid before

wrong, Damian.” I mustered all of the courage I

brow, giving me a look of pure challenge.

I will open this door for you. I will show you how to access the

as he contemplated his response. “What makes you think I need you to

didn’t call my bluff. I didn’t know what to

to look down at Troy. Shrugging, he

it, especially as I examined the knife’s weight and feel in my hands. I could throw it at him, aiming

worry about after that, the same man who had his huge hand

calmly, tilting his head as he watched me while I lifted

shallowly into my skin. Damian was grinning broadly, his eyes creasing with pure, unadulterated greed as

as I stole a

it,

see the desperation in my gaze. Then I turned from him and walked to the entrance of Lycaon’s tomb, my breath catching in my throat as the air seemed to still around

What next?

hand, inhaling deeply, then placed it on the symbol in

of electricity racing through my palm and up to the tips of my fingers. It was uncomfortable, but I fought against it, keeping my hand

me, his voice lifted in excitement as

my chest and moving me out of harm’s way as the door splintered and fell

the hill, carved into the stone. Damian was already inside of it, looking around, his face twisted in delirium. He looked like a child, really,

for the

we have to get Pete and

Troy. Do you not remember what happened

you,” Troy protested,