Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 357

Chapter 16 Have A Baby with This Woman

*Theo*

I'd touched her.

I'd touched the girl, Ciana, and she hadn't pulled away from me. She wasn't afraid, nor did she seemdisgusted by me.

“Here you are, Father,” I said, giving my dad the book that he’ d requested. “If you would be morecomfortable working in your own office, I can have whatever books you require brought to you.”“Nonsense,” the king said, taking the book. “I am quite enjoying seeing my son with such a lovelyyoung lady. The two of you are quite a match.” He chuckled, and my stomach twisted in a knot.While I was happy my plan was working and we were able to fool him into thinking that Ciana was awoman of interest to me, I didn't appreciate having to pretend like this in my own office.

And that coffee she'd brought me was dreadful! It was clear she'd grabbed that nasty bananacreamer Jake uses, rather than my own. And she obviously didn't know what a “splash” of creamermeant!

As I walked back to my desk, I gave Ciana a look, hoping she could read it. I was somewhat regretfulthat I had come up with this idea now that my father was hanging around for so

long, but I was also hoping she would replace some magical way of making him leave.

She must've read my expression, because she came over toward me, which made me stop in mytracks.

What was she planning on doing now?

“Might I have a hug, my prince?” she asked me.

“A... hug?” I asked her, swallowing hard. “Not right now,” I said, stepping away from her. “I think weshould save that for when... we're alone.”

"Oh, but it's just your darling father who loves you so much who is present,” she reminded me, and Iknew what she was getting at. She wanted to hug me precisely because my father was there.

"Yes, let's have a hug!” my father exclaimed.

I turned and gave him a pointed look, and he chuckled under his breath.

I glared at him for a few seconds, unable to keep from doing so, and then turned back to the girl.“Really, I don't think-"

Before I could finish the sentence, her thin arms were wrapped around my shoulders, and she waspressing herself against me.

My breath caught in my throat. But when I finally relaxed enough, I gently put my arms around her.She was warm and soft, and I realized how small she was in my arms. This wasn't the first time shehad been in them. I

remembered that night in the greenhouse... but this time, it

felt different.

When she pulled away from me after a brief moment, she was still smiling. The hug was obviouslyfake, but it wasn't painful as I thought it would be, not even a little bit.

It was quiet and peaceful

I headed back to my desk, and Ciana reclaimed her chair.

Just then, my father cleared his throat and set his book aside. “That's it, then. I've made up my mindTheodore, this is the one, the girl for you.”

“Father?” I said, looking at him with a look on my face that would certainly tell him I didn'tunderstand.

“I want you to have a baby with this woman,” he said, a delighted smile on his face.

My eyes went to Ciana, and I could tell she was even more shocked than I was, if that were possible,with her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide.

“But... Your Majesty, sir,” she said, tipping her head down in respect. “We're not even betrothed, letalone married.”

"So what?" he asked. “You don't have to be married to bear an heir.” Turning his attention back tome, he said, “See to it,” and then he exited the room, leaving us staring at one another.

*Ciana*

King Sebastian's proclamation rang in my ears. I couldn't stay there alone with Theo any more, so Iasked to be excused. He must have felt as awkward as me, and that was why he agreed to myrequest.

Later that evening, I decided to go and check on Brook. It had been a few days since I'd seen myfriend, and I wanted to make sure she had fully recovered from her fainting spell.

As I walked down the hallway, I pondered what the king had said. Theo and I were ordered to havea baby together, even if we weren't married, and even though we most likely were not fated mates.The idea seemed preposterous to me. Only one man had ever crossed my mind as being someone Iwanted to have a baby with-and that definitely wasn't Prince Theo.

Images of my young man from the woods entered my thoughts, and then those visions morphedinto a picture of Prince Warren's face, and it was all I could do to concentrate on where I was goingThat was why when I saw the form of a woman being dragged outside through a window at the endof the hallway, none of it registered in my mind for the first few seconds.

The man who had a small redheaded girl under his arm looked up at me, his jade green eyes nearlyglowing in the dark outside of the window before he disappeared.

"Hey!" I shouted, running after him. “What in the world are you doing?”

It was Brook! I would recognize her anywhere, and as she disappeared from my sight, I picked upspeed, unwilling to let this man get away with whatever he was doing.

The man ran through the woods with Brook tossed over his shoulder. She was unconscious, or else Iwas certain she'd be trying to free herself from him by beating on his back with her fists, but shejust lay there limply, bobbing up and down with each of his long strides.

My pace was just quick enough to keep up with him as he twisted and turned through the gardensand nearby woods. I supposed the additional weight of the woman must have been slowing himdown, or else I wouldn't be able to keep up with him.

I was amazed by the size of the royal residence, because after almost half an hour of running, wewere still within the walls of the royal palace territory.