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,”

crap out of one another,” I said bluntly. “Rowan hates me too, Mom. He

going through something very complicated right now,

is it?” I asked with

then she looked away. “He found his

has… powers.”

Lakes? Is that why Kacidra

“Yes.”

Hanna is

“No…”

what can

dreams. I don’t really know

feet without struggling to get out of the

do you know

onto my back. “This is going to be a very

***

when I… when I lost

every detail from the moment I met Troy to the second I stepped off the boat in

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

Is that what that

their city, The Sisters of

think I understand. They think… bringing the stones

the sandwich. “But I think we’re supposed to be the ones to do it. Tasia wants

wants to end 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 the dream and wrecked the

had made it this far, overcome

the door

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

he said, looking up at me through

I said with a smartass

Mom said in a warning

glared at me, then cleared his

“For what, exactly?”

Mom, a silent plea for help in his

missed our constant

terse with you for something outside of your control.” He ran his

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

“No,” he said shortly.

Troy is allowed to sleep in my

“Absolutely not.”

can

widened as she

just as Troy knocked on the

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

him, I thought. She always gave Rowan a haircut whenever she visited, not liking the men in her life

rested and at ease, a glimmer of mischief in his eye. I

a slight bow, who was watching

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

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

his weight uncomfortably. “I’m sorry for

up to scratch his beard as I exhaled deeply, rolling my eyes. I set the sandwich on the nightstand, attempting to swing my legs out

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

have to sleep in the garage again, I

way back from Mirage; they will arrive in the morning. Troy, we will have a lot to discuss with the two of them

fingers clasping down

be taking your rightful seat as Alpha of Poldesse, after

wedding?” Mom and I

nodded, tucking his hands behind his

Troy said, all

our daughter,” she said, sounding every

but then stopped when Mom’s gaze locked on him. “Thank

weight uncomfortably.