Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 251

Chapter 31: Two Worlds Collide

Troy

I woke with a start, the pain in my arm radiating up through my shoulder and my chest. I blinkedagainst the sun as it beat down on the boat, tall grasses surrounding us as the boat bobbed gentlyin a small eddy, hidden from view of the main river.

Maeve was sitting with her knees to her chest, her forehead resting on her knees as she slept. Herhair was loose and falling over her, shielding her face.

Myla was limp in Cleo’s arms, her breath coming in short, pained gasps.

I got to my knees, using my good arm to grip the side of the skiff and stand just enough to peerover the top of the grasses, looking out over a wide, swampy area of the river.

How much time had passed? It was full daylight now.

This wasn't right. None of this looked right.

When I had shifted and ran from the port to the castle the night before, I had followed the river. Ihadn't seen an area like this at all. I remember coming to a fork in the river, where a tributary flowedinto the main river that ran through the city.

She must have taken it, and now we were very, very far from the port rocking in the skiff in broaddaylight.

Sitting ducks.

I cursed under my breath as I shuffled toward the steering wheel, then back to the engine that hungoff the back of the boat that powered the small propeller. I opened the gas cap, hoping to see theclear liquid shimmering in the sunlight, but there was none. The engine was completely dry and nolonger running.

I had the strangest feeling I was being watched as I screwed the gas cap back on. The women werestill asleep; they must have been so exhausted that none of them could stay awake to steer thedrifting skiff. Somehow, we hadn't run aground on the riverbank.

There wasn't a bird or creature in the marsh with us; no, it was completely silent. The hair on myarms rose as I crouched again, slowly. holding my breath as the sound of another boat's engine cutthrough the silence.

The boat came to a stop just ahead of us, turning and maneuvering through the grasses. I stood,clenching my good hand into a fist and swallowing against the lump of fear in my throat. If thesewere Poldesse’s men, I couldn't protect these women. I would kill Maeve myself before I'd let themtake her.

“Damn, Troy! You look like shit!” Robbie laughed heartily as he came into view, bumping against ourskiff with the nose of his boat. I let out the breath I had been holding.

Maeve jumped to her feet, blinking sleep from her eyes. She lunged forward, half asleep, her fistoutstretched as though she was going to throw herself on Robbie to defend us.

I caught her by the waist and pulled her back in our skiff, the action sending a fresh wave of intensepain rippling through my arm and shoulder.

I turned to Robbie, nodding at my arm. “I've seen better days, man. It's really good to see you.” Inreality I could have thrown my arms around him and kissed him on the mouth. I'd never been moreglad to see anyone. “What the hell are you doing here, though? I was going to try to meet up withthe crew at the port-"

Robbie shook his head, cutting his engine. “Cap sent me up this way. This river leads out to theeastern end of Valoria. The Persephone is waiting for us there. Cap sent a boat to the port earlierthis morning, and they were turned around. The port's shut down, Troy. Blocked.”

“Poldesse?”

Robbie nodded. It was not the answer I was hoping for.

I had underestimated Damian. I was not the only spy in the castle. Neither was Horace. The castlehad been torn to pieces before Damian's fleet could even make landfall, which meant he had hadpeople on the inside, probably servants, and people lingering in the village and Mirage to light thematch that would envelop the entire region in chaos before his ships could come to finish the job.If I'd had an extra hour, I thought bitterly, I would have been able to get Ernest and Gemma tosafety. I wouldn't have had to make the decision I did. Gemma would still be alive, and there mighthave been a chance that Maeve would forgive me.

Not anymore.

I looked up, a commotion breaking me out of my contemplation. Robbie was holding Maeve offwith one hand as he wrapped a rope around the steering wheel of our skiff, tethering the two craftstogether. Maeve was swinging at him, her lips pulled back in a snarl.

“This the one you mentioned in your note?” Robbie chuckled, raising an eyebrow and tilting hishead toward Maeve. Maeve was tall and strong in her own right, but compared to Robbie, shelooked almost childlike. Robbie was a massive man, towering several inches over me even, and hehad broad shoulders and a heavy set build that made him look like a giant compared to most men.He pushed against Maeve’ s chest with a single finger and sent her toppling backward into our skiff.I smiled, shrugged, then nodded toward Myla and Cleo. Cleo was awake, eyes wide as she stared atRobbie.

"We're taking them all. Myla here is hurt,”

"You are, too, by the looks of it,” said Robbie.

“My arm is broken, but I'll survive.”

“Excuse me,” Maeve cut in as she struggled to her feet, slipping on the wet floor of the skiff. “Whothe hell are you?”

“Robbie, at your service, Princess. Third Captain of the Persephone, ma“am.” Robbie boweddramatically, tipping his straw hat. Maeve scoffed, turning to me.

“I got us out of there, Troy. But I'm not going with this man.”

"Out of there? We're out of fuel. What are we going to do, sit here and wait for Poldesse’s warriorsto replace us? Get in the other boat, Maeve.”

Cleo was already standing, allowing Robbie to lift Myla and gently carry her into the other skiff.Maeve gaped at Cleo, her eyes wide with frustration and betrayal. “Cleo!”

“Troy's right, Maeve.”

“When I tell you what happened before I found you two last night you'll beg to differ-Maeve began.Robbie clutched Maeve by the back of her neck, holding her off the ground by the collar of herdress as though she were a puppy, and tossed her unceremoniously into the other skiff. I snorted asher head popped up again, her face twisted in fury.

“Come on, Troy. Up you get-“Robbie helped me into the skiff and untied us from the dead skiff.Before Maeve could utter another word of protest, we were gliding at a high speed back down river,the smoke from Mirage funneling in the far distance behind us.

Maeve

I used the cut on my arm again to deliver some of my blood to Myla’s lips.

Cleo was patting Myla gently on the stomach, trying to wake her. Myla’s head lolled back ontoCleo’s shoulders, her eye's fluttering. I could see the blood stains on Cleo’s shirt as Myla's headslumped down onto her chest. I looked Cleo in the eyes, seeing the concern flashing across Cleo'sdelicate features as I lifted Myla’s hair and gazed upon the oozing head wound near the base of herskull.

"How?" I asked, fear choking me. My blood was strong enough to heal superficial wounds, butnothing like this. Not until I fully came into my powers.

"We were knocked down in the street. We had just come out of the house, barely making it outbefore the roof started to cave in. She... she was barely able to stand. I was trying to carry her whentwo wolves ran by. I tripped. Her head hit the curb.”

I bit my lip as I eased Myla’s thick hair back over her shoulders. “I don't think I can help her,”

Cleo took my hand, squeezing gently. “It's alright, love. You've already helped her. I don't even wantto think about what would have happened to us if we didn't replace you.”

“That's the thing, Cleo. I can’t promise you that we're going to stay safe. I don't. I don't know thesemen.” Then I told her everything, my throat tightening around Gemma'’s name as I recounted herdeath. Cleo held tightly to my hands as I spoke, my voice a choked whisper against the thrummingof the skiff's engine.

Troy looked over his shoulder at us a few times, his eyes full of emotion. I hated him, and he knew it.I would never speak to him again if I could help it.

"We can escape, Cleo. I think I have a plan-"

“No, child,” she said gravely, adjusting Myla's weight on her lap. “I think we should stay the course.”"What? Why? I just told you he-"

"He saved your life, it sounds like. They can get us out of Valoria. I have family in Breles. We can askto be taken there.”

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“No, Cleo. I'm not certain these men are trustworthy.” I stole a glance at Troy. He was sitting againstthe side of the boat, talking inaudibly to Robbie over the sounds of the engine and the waterrushing past us.

"How can it be worse than what we just experienced? We are safe for now, that's what's important.We're all tired, injured, and hungry. Set your anger aside, and let them assist.”

“l'won't,” I said as I crossed my arms over my chest, sinking lower against the side of the boat. Cleorolled her eyes but gave me a soft smile nonetheless.

“Your bullheadedness will get you into trouble, Maeve.”

"Alright, everybody hold on!” Robbie said as the boat was suddenly swept sideways by an abruptchange in the current, the water throwing us in a full circle and bouncing us violently for what feltlike several minutes. Troy stood as the current slowed again, shielding his face from the sun with hishand as he peered toward the horizon.

I stood as well, sucking in my breath as I looked out over the water. We were no longer on the river.The narrow passage had given way to a wide estuary, the deep blue salt water mingling with thegreen murk of the river as our boat pushed forward into the strong, white capped

surf of the sea.

In the distance I could see a large boat, a vessel that towered over the cruisers and fishing boats Iwas accustomed to seeing back home in Winter Forest. Six sails billowed in the wind, pushing themassive vessel toward us, its glossy wooden body reflecting gold in the sun.

“I've never been happier to see her,” Troy said, his voice far away and dreamy as he spoke.

“What is that?” I said, not meaning to talk aloud.

Robbie turned his head, beaming, his soft blue eyes dancing with excitement. “That, Princess, is thePersephone.”