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,”

tried. They both beat the crap out of one another,” I said bluntly. “Rowan hates me too, Mom. He didn’t even say

something very complicated right

it?” I asked

into a smile, but then she looked away. “He found his mate, and… Hanna is wonderful.

has… powers.”

Hanna of Red Lakes? Is that why Kacidra

“Yes.”

Hanna is like…

“No…”

what can

dreams. I don’t really know how to

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

know what that

sighed, rolling over onto my back. “This is going to be a very long story,

***

when

to tell her everything. I recounted every detail from the moment I met Troy to the second I stepped off the boat in Winter Forest, leaving a few spicier things that happened between

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

people of… Dianny? Is that what that pack is

city, The Sisters of Artemis is their

understand. They think… bringing

“But I think we’re supposed to

least that’s what Hanna and I think.” Mom had told me

suddenly at peace. We had made it this far, overcome so much. I was looking forward to just being home for a

door to

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

an apology,” he said,

Go on,” I said with

said in a warning

me, then cleared his

“For what, exactly?”

for help in his eyes. She shrugged, smiling at him, clearly

our constant

control.” He ran his tongue along his lower lip, waiting for

your apology,” I said, sitting up a little straighter. “One on

“No,” he said shortly.

Troy is allowed to

“Absolutely not.”

like he can

bright red. Mom’s eyes widened as she looked down at her lap,

as Troy knocked

don’t think he was expecting. He blushed, taking a step into the room and coming into the

had given him a haircut. Georgia likely got her hands on him, I thought. She always gave Rowan a haircut

a glimmer of mischief in his eye. I smiled at him, hoping at least

gave mom a slight bow, who was watching him with

for taking care of our

said, but then stopped when Mom’s gaze locked

welcome.” Troy 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

to you since we got here.” Troy

You don’t have to sleep

will arrive in the morning. Troy, we will have a lot to discuss with

down on my hand. “My

your rightful seat as Alpha of Poldesse, after

and

nodded, tucking his hands behind his

Troy

Troy, for taking care of our daughter,” she said, sounding every bit

a damn near impossible task-Dad said, but then stopped when Mom’s gaze locked on him. “Thank you,” he said, clearing his

you’re welcome.” Troy shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I’m sorry