Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 82: The Two Stones

Maeve

Mom patted the bed, inviting me to lay next to her.

I wiped the tears from my face before turning down the thick covers, sliding into bed beside her. She was in a sitting position, holding the cup of tea in her lap as she looked over at me, taking me in.

“You’ve changed a lot,” she said with a smile, reaching out to tuck my hair behind my ears. “You’re very tan. And I’ve never seen your hair quite this light-”

“You can mention I weigh a million pounds now. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings.”

She rolled her eyes and sipped her tea. “You look beautiful, Maeve. Healthy.”

“I don’t want to be pregnant anymore,” I whimpered as I buried my face in the pillow.

“Well, by the looks of it, it could be over any day now,”

“Five more weeks…” I grimaced as one of the babies kicked me firmly in the ribs.

“Five? But-”

I pulled the covers over my head. “I’m having twins.”

“Oh,” Mom said, unable to hide the joy in her voice. “Well,

sometimes twins come early. We’ve had a few sets born in the village. Remember when the triplets were born a few years ago? That was quite a feat-”

“Mrs. Abrams was miserable, Mom. I’m sure she still is-”

“I saw her a few days ago at the market, sweetheart. She seemed happy, just… a little frazzled.” She set her teacup down on the bedside table with a clang, and then reached over to stroke my side. “You’re going to suffocate under there.”

I pushed the covers away, my face twisted in hurt. “Dad hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you!”

“I’m pregnant with his arch nemesis’s grandchild, Mom!”

“Arch nemesis?”

“Maddalyn! He’s so, so mad at me. I’m surprised he hasn’t killed Troy.”

“We definitely discussed it,” she laughed, her eyes creasing with mirth.

Tarched my brow. “Last night? I figured Troy told him who he was this morning,”

“We‘ve known for a while, honey. Ernest brought Troy’s sketchbook back from the castle. The one of Maddalyn is… impossible to deny. Dad told me he looks like her, too. He must be beautiful.” There was pain in her voice when she said the last part.

“What did Maddalyn do, exactly?”

Mom exhaled, then laughed softly, shaking her head. “I don’t know where to begin!”

“The beginning would be fine.”

“Hmm… well, Maddalyn came into my life before… I was still a breeder then. She was unhappy with the arraignment. Your father and Maddalyn were betrothed; at least that’s what Romero and King James had wanted. She was cruel to me in those days, before the war. Just… a mean girl, not yet a villain.”

“Does it bother you that Troy looks like her?”

“Well, I haven’t met him yet, Maeve. But no, from what Ernest and Gemma have told us, it sounds like Troy is nothing like his parents. I won’t deny that Maddalyn was beautiful. She was. She truly was. Just not on the inside.”

“He wasn’t raised by her. He doesn’t know her at all.”

“I gathered that from what Ernest knew about Troy’s relationship with Romero.”

Thank the Goddess for Ernest. He had saved me from having to explain everything that had happened before the invasion.

“Your dad isn’t going to kill Troy. But he will be asking questions. I heard Rowan tried to fight him,”

hates me too, Mom. He didn’t even say hi to me when I

going through something very complicated right

is it?” I asked with

but then she looked away. “He found his mate, and…

has… powers.”

of Red Lakes? Is that why Kacidra is

“Yes.”

is

“No…”

what can

dreams. I don’t really know how to

without struggling to get out of the bed, I would have. “She’s a Dream

do you know what that

back. “This is going to be a very long story,

***

I… when

to the second I stepped off the boat in Winter Forest, leaving a few spicier

up for me on the swell of my stomach. “And… the moonstone we found in the tomb, I used it to bring Troy

people of… Dianny? Is that what that

Sisters of Artemis

They think… bringing the stones together

happen.” I swallowed, looking down at the sandwich. “But I think we’re supposed to be

the White Queens; at least that’s what Hanna and I think.” Mom had told me what happened to her and Hanna, how Tasia had come through

place, and I felt suddenly at peace. We had made it this far,

the door to the bedroom

room, his eyes downcast as he moved to the end of the bed and stopped, his

owe you an apology,” he said,

I said with a

in

then cleared his throat. “I’m

“For what, exactly?”

then glanced at Mom, a silent plea for help in his eyes. She shrugged, smiling

missed our constant

you for something outside of your control.” He ran

sitting up a little straighter. “One

“No,” he said shortly.

is allowed to sleep

“Absolutely not.”

not like he can get me pregnant)” I

Mom’s eyes widened as she looked down at her lap, trying not

said, just as Troy knocked on

smile, which I don’t think he was expecting. He blushed,

had showered and shaved, and it looked like someone had given him a haircut. Georgia likely got her hands on him, I thought. She always gave Rowan a haircut whenever she visited, not liking the men in her life

ease, a glimmer of mischief

a slight bow, who was

taking care of our daughter,” she said, sounding

but then stopped when Mom’s gaze locked on him. “Thank you,” he

shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I’m sorry for

I exhaled deeply, rolling my eyes. I set the sandwich on the nightstand, attempting to swing my legs out of the bed but struggling. Troy came to my side, glancing

to talk to you since we got here.” Troy looked

huge. And tired. You don’t have to sleep in the garage again,

lot to discuss with the two of them regarding your

his fingers clasping down on my

rightful seat as Alpha of Poldesse, after the

wedding?” Mom and I said

his hands behind his

Troy

for taking care of our daughter,” she said, sounding

then stopped when Mom’s gaze locked on him. “Thank you,” he said,

shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I’m sorry