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,”

bluntly. “Rowan hates me too, Mom. He didn’t even say hi

is going through something

it?” I asked

twitched into a smile, but then she looked away. “He found his mate, and… Hanna is wonderful. I like her a lot. But

has… powers.”

Is

“Yes.”

is

“No…”

can she

dreams. I don’t really

physically capable of jumping to my feet without struggling to get out of the bed,

you know

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

***

it when I… when I lost my powers?” she

moment I met Troy to the second I stepped off the boat in Winter Forest, leaving a few spicier things

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

Dianny? Is that what that

Sisters of Artemis is

understand. They think… bringing the

would happen.” I swallowed, looking down at the sandwich. “But I think we’re supposed to be the ones to do it. Tasia wants

I think.” Mom had told me what happened

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

then the door to the bedroom

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

owe you an apology,” he said, looking up at me through his

said

Mom said in a

at me, then cleared

“For what, exactly?”

glare, then glanced at Mom, a silent plea for

our

for something outside of your control.” He ran his tongue along his lower lip, waiting for

accept your apology,” I said, sitting up a little

“No,” he said shortly.

to sleep in

“Absolutely not.”

can get me

turned bright red. Mom’s eyes widened as she looked down

as Troy

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

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

he had when I first laid eyes on him. He was rested and at ease, a glimmer of

gave mom a slight bow, who was watching

Troy, for taking care of our

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

Troy shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I’m sorry

opened in surprise, and Dad flexed his jaw, reaching up to scratch his beard as I exhaled deeply, rolling my eyes. I set the sandwich on the nightstand, attempting to

are you? I haven’t been able to talk to you since

don’t have to sleep in

are on their way back from Mirage; they will arrive in the morning. Troy, we will have a lot to discuss with the

his fingers clasping down on my hand.

taking your rightful seat as

and

tucking his hands behind his

Troy said,

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

stopped when Mom’s gaze locked on him.

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