Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

The Moonstone.

Chapter 72: When a White Queen Dies Maeve

I didn’t even fight as Rex dragged me away from the tomb. I was limp in his arms, my strength spent, every cell in my body bursting with pure, unadulterated grief.

I felt empty.

I didn’t notice how the landscape changed as Rex carried me over a rocky hill and down into a small, sheltered cove. I didn’t notice when my hands were tied behind my back around a tree and I was left on the shore, facing the water.

Troy was trapped inside the tomb we had spent months trying to find

And something had happened to my mother.

I could feel it in my bones as I looked out over the water, a great transformation taking place within me minute after minute, the image of the two wolves I had seen in the circle of stones flowing in and out of my mind.

“Not yet. I’m not ready to lose them,” I whispered as I sat on the beach, waiting for whatever came next.

Damian’s cruiser was rocking on the water in the distance. It was a large, modern boat, its white frame glimmering in the sunset as I sat on the beach just outside of a large canvas tent at Damian’s beach camp.

I counted nine people in total, including Damian. I had been watching the cruiser for several hours and hadn’t seen a single person moving across the deck.

Nine people, that was it. That was all that was between me and getting back the Persephone for help freeing Troy from the tomb and doing whatever it took to get back to Winter Forest as quickly as possible. If I could get free….

I wondered how quickly I could get there if I stole Damian’s boat.

A laugh rang out somewhere behind me, and I winced, turning my head only slightly toward the noise. That’s when saw her, and my skin prickled with heat.

“Opaline?” I said, as though to myself.

She was within earshot, however, and looked right at me as she walked along the beach, her icy blonde hair trailing behind her.

She bowed dramatically, then laughed again as she rose, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Princess Maeve, our royal fugitive!”

“What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed, digging into my restraints with my nails.

“I could ask you the same thing, but I already know. On a little treasure hunt with your boyfriend, huh? I see he was a successful breeder.” She walked toward me, stopping short of me by mere feet.

My cheeks flamed with fury as I narrowed my eyes at her. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m here because my soon-to-be husband is here, that’s why.”

“Who? You’re already,”

“Oh, Julian? He perished in the invasion,” she said, giving me a faux frown before she began to laugh again.

I swallowed against the lump in my throat, sensing there was much more to her story about her brother’s, or husband’s-whatever he was-death. She watched me for a moment, then knelt so we were at eye level. She tilted her head from side to side, her black eyes narrowing.

making

I said, the sarcasm in my

will be Luna of all of it, Princess. Every inch of

“Okay,” yawned.

reaction she was getting out of me. “Did you not hear what I

of my father’s cold, dead hands before you

voice made the

behind her haunting eyes. “You’ve seen him? My

yes. I’ve seen him. He came to Mirage not long

gripped my chest as I leaned forward, frantically

lot has happened since you fled from Valoria, Maeve.

didn’t flee. I was being held against my will

the man you now love, the same

in the corners of my eyes from running down my cheeks. I

said firmly, my voice edged with righteous fury. Opaline smiled

voice wafted over to us, and Opaline turned her head,

looking tired, his eyes lined with dark circles and his hands bandaged, likely from the injuries he had sustained when he tore the tomb to pieces. He reached down and picked me up by my restraints, lifting me to my feet and roughly pushing me forward to keep in step

entrance to the tent. I gave her a menacing smile of my

back. I looked around, taking in the splendor of the tent. The sand had been covered with large rugs, and several couches had been placed around the table Damian had been using as a desk. This place looked lived in, like Damian had been

asked without even thinking. The question had been at the

shrugged, motioning for me to sit as he took a seat behind the desk. A large tray of food was sitting on a side table. It was nearly nightfall,

said casually, cleaning off his glasses

“A friend?”

she is upset you weren’t dealt

turned away from the food and stared at Damian, wondering

father went to

breathed, looking down at

Desperation was tying my stomach into a

They were

No one had ever been able to cross those mountains to

me if they were successful. I’ve been out of range for weeks chasing this damn-” He looked up at me, his face totally serious and tone stone cold as he continued.

knew there was more than one, but decided not

be in the tomb. That’s why we came… but you obviously didn’t find

“Don’t play dumb. What did you

stop you from

to be more to it than that, Princess. What were you planning

no idea what

me your powers were unreachable, but I wonder if that’s the truth or if you’re lying about

the mention of her name. Tasia, who had been so helpful, so kind

smile was wicked, and I felt

“Tasia is a good-”

powerful, that woman.