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,”

I said bluntly. “Rowan hates me too, Mom. He

something

it?” I

“He found his mate, and… Hanna is wonderful. I like her a lot. But

has… powers.”

Red Lakes? Is that why Kacidra is

“Yes.”

is

“No…”

can

really

without struggling to get

know what

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

***

when I lost my powers?”

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 Troy

resting a sandwich 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 Gemma used her

of… Dianny? Is that what that pack

Sisters of Artemis is their

understand. They

think we’re supposed to be the ones to do it. Tasia wants them, though. I

the White Queens; at least that’s what Hanna and I think.” Mom had told me what

I felt suddenly at peace. We had made it this far, overcome so much. I was

then the door to the

walked into the room, his eyes downcast as he moved to the end of the

said, looking up

on,” I said with a

Mom said in

me, then

“For what, exactly?”

glanced at Mom, a silent plea for help

our constant

control.” He ran his tongue along his

apology,” I said, sitting up a

“No,” he said shortly.

to sleep in my

“Absolutely not.”

not like he can get me pregnant)” I

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

just as Troy knocked on the open

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

got her hands on him, I thought. She always

and at ease, a glimmer of mischief in

a slight bow, who was

owe you thanks, Troy, for taking care of our daughter,” she said, sounding every bit like a

near impossible task-Dad said, but then stopped when Mom’s gaze locked

shifted his weight uncomfortably.

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 at Dad before he took my hand and helped me onto

haven’t been able to talk to you since we got here.” Troy looked at

have

will arrive in the morning. Troy, we will have a lot to discuss with the two of them regarding your title,” Dad said over the soft murmur of my

fingers clasping down on my hand. “My

be taking your rightful seat as Alpha of Poldesse,

Mom and I said in

nodded, tucking his

Troy said, all

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

task-Dad said, but then stopped when Mom’s gaze locked on him. “Thank

welcome.” Troy shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I’m sorry for kidnapping