Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 810

Chapter 21 : I'm Not Your Darling

On closer expectation, Alpha Aeris was not as tall or as striking as I thought he'd been when heapproached us, and what was left of his warriors, on the road leading into his city. He was only a fewinches taller than me, and likely in his mid-forties, but he had the strangest eyes I'd ever seen in mylife. They were orange, like the fruit.

I couldn't help but stare at him as he chatted amiably with Jared while his warriors hissed andgroaned on the road around us, rolling around in pain. Jared had released his death grip on mywaist but was still standing next to me, one of his fingers curled around the back center belt loop ofmy pants. It felt rather possessive. I kinda liked it. But also I could feel him thrumming with rage ashe gritted his teeth and shared niceties with the Alpha standing before us.

I glanced at Archer and Brandt, who were standing beside us now, both of them covered in roaddust. Brandt had blood coming out of one of his ears, but otherwise, everyone was in one piece.

“I see you brought a treat for the road this time," Aeris grinned, his eyes falling on mine.

I squared my shoulders, blinking at him as my face twisted into a scowl.

"Eliza is part of my crew,” Jared said flatly. “She's an expert in antiquities, and will be examining thescroll you owe me."

“Ah, yes. I assure you I haven't forgotten,” Aeris drawled, still holding my gaze. “I replace it interesting afemale would be interested in the... intellectual pursuits of men.”

My teeth were on edge as I willed myself to calm the f**k down and not say anything to this toad ofa man, not yet.

"Well," Aeris said with a clap of his hands. “Come with me." He turned on his heel and walkedtowards the gate, leaving his injured warriors behind.

I glanced between Archer, Brandt, and Jared, silently urging them to explain what the hell justhappened. Jared gave me a quick shake of his head, giving me a little push so I was walking besidehim instead of behind him.

We walked through the run-down village and into the city. The difference between Aeris's territoryon either side of the wall was striking. The village was the definition of poverty, nothing but shacksand stalls and people dressed in tarnished homespun rags as they carried baskets of coal andproduce. But inside the wall?

"Welcome to Suncrest,” Aeris said proudly, his hands outstretched.

We passed white buildings lined with shop fronts as we snaked through the city toward the castle.People stopped to bow to their Alpha, surprised by the group of bandits who trailed them. All eyeswere on me, it seemed. Several people glared and whispered as I passed. I couldn't help but stiffenas we continued on our trek.

Jared was obviously on edge, and Brandt and Archer were keeping in step, walking closely on eitherside of me.

“Sorry about the warriors," Aeris said casually as we approached a massive gate leading into whatlooked like a garden, the castle rising beyond it. “I didn't want to waste the opportunity for them totrain with the lost prince.”

Lost prince? I glanced at Jared but he was expressionless, his eyes as cold as ice. The gate swungopen and we were ushered inside.

It closed behind us with a clang that sent a chill up my spine as the warriors guarding the gatelocked it in place.

“My servants will show you to your rooms,” Aeris said brightly, his orange eyes creasing withexcitement. “Make yourself at home. Jared, be sure to show your friends around, you know theplace well."

My room was directly across the hallway from Jared's, with Brandt and Archer housed on either side.It was in an inconspicuous and quiet wing of the castle, and seemed relatively empty save for therapid footsteps of maids scurrying along outside my bedroom door.

My room was furnished tastefully, with plush rugs covering the marble floor and breezy lacecurtains covering several ceiling-height windows overlooking the city below. I'd gazed longingly atthe massive bed for some time before going into the adjoining bathroom and sinking into thehottest bath I could handle, washing the journey away.

Maids had come into the room while I bathed, leaving behind a tray of cookies and tea and severaldresses. I had nothing else to wear but the soiled clothing we'd worn into the city, which wascovered in dirt from being pressed to the ground when I was rudely assaulted by Aeris's warriors

I held up one of the dresses, which was a pale cream color and sported short, fluffy sleeves and amodest neckline, but would drape around my ankles. Again, I felt as though I'd gone back in time asI dressed and slid my feet into a pair of satin slippers.

I hadn't seen any other women other than Aeris's maids, but based on the quality of the dress, Iassumed everyone here was dripping in wealth and would likely be showing it. I gathered my hairinto a bun, tying it with a ribbon, then left the room in search of my friends

Jared didn't answer when I knocked on his bedroom door, so I moved on to Brandt's room, replaceingthe door unlocked. Brandt was curled up in bed, still in his traveling clothes, his open mouth slightlyajar as he peacefully snored.

I smiled to myself as I gently closed the door and moved to Archer's room-also unlocked-andblushed furiously as I tore my gaze from him and exited the room. He'd also been asleep, but wassprawled out on his belly like a starfish, his bare ass on full display and his snores sending athundering echo through the hallway as I closed his door.

"Hmm..." I sighed, looking up and down the hallway.

I knew should be sleeping too, but I was still thrumming with adrenaline from our run-in with thewarriors outside the city walls. Why not do a little exploring?

I walked down the hallway for a bit, rounding a curve. I noticed an archway along one side of thehallway and walked inside, replaceing myself in a cozy sitting room full of natural light. Bookshelveslined the wall but were mostly bare. Two couches faced each other near the hearth, and in thecenter of the room...

A piano.

I arched my brows as I walked forward, plucking one of the keys... perfectly tuned.

I sat down on the piano bench, scooting myself in and flexing my fingers before settling them onthe keys. I took a deep breath, then smiled. It'd been so long since I'd played.

I started to play, letting the music fill the room. I'd chosen a song I'd composed myself as a childand perfected over the years when I'd trudge through the snow to the castle in Winter Forest, thehome of my great aunt and uncle, Rosalie and Ethan. Uncle Ethan would sit in an armchair nearbywhile I filled his home with music. I'd taught myself how to play and found it was the easiest, andsometimes only way to untangle the thoughts and schemes constantly running through my mind.

I felt instantly more at ease as my fingers moved across the keys in a practiced, dramatic fashion.The music carried through the room, light and sweet. I lost myself and closed my eyes as the songcrested into the crescendo.

"Where did you learn that song?"

I spun around, my heart leaping into my chest as Jared leaned against the archway to the sittingroom, a book tucked under his arm.

“You're incredibly light on your feet," I panted, trying to still my thundering heart rate. “You scaredme to death, again.”

He shrugged, eyeing me intensely. A heated blush prickled over my cheeks as I broke from his gazeand turned back to the piano.

“I made it up,” I said, answering his question.

“No, you didn't-"

I glared at him over my shoulder. “I did. Why?"

“Because I've heard it before," his face softened a bit, and he looked almost a little hesitant tocontinue. “I mean, I think I have, a long time ago. Play it again.” His last words were a sharp, almostdesperate command. The air in the room shifted as I broke from his gaze and turned back to thepiano.

I chewed my lower lip, replaceing it damn near impossible to convince myself to play anything else inhis presence. “How long have you been standing there listening to me?" I asked softly, my breathcatching in my throat.

“I saw you walking down that hallway and wanted to make sure you weren't getting into trouble.”“So the whole time?" My cheeks burned as I rested my hands on the keys.

“You're really good," he replied, and I turned to face him just in time to see the final hint of a smiletouch his lips. But there was something in his eyes that gave me pause, a distant, contemplativelook that made my heart squeeze in my chest.

“Thank you," I said softly, trying to smile, but I found myself locked on his eyes as heat flashedbehind them. I thought of the study, of his fingers trailing little circles on my inner thighs. For amoment, I was sure he was thinking the same.

"Aeris is expecting us in a few hours. You should get some rest. We're leaving directly after dinner,”he said as if he was holding himself back.

The room seemed to be full of electricity, like if I reached out and touched him I'd shock myself justlike when our fingers had grazed in the study. That felt like ages ago

“Alright,” I said, a little breathless. I rose from the piano bench, my eyes downcast on my slippers.Something was happening to the air in the room. I found it hard to breathe for a moment as Ilooked back up at him.

"Eliza," he said, sounding just as breathless as I felt.

"Yes?"

He opened his mouth but hesitated, his free hand curling into a fist at his side. “You look...beautiful.”

"Oh," I whispered. “Thank you."

He nodded, and turned on his heel, walking away with the grace of a big cat stalking silentlythrough the woods. I placed a shaking hand over my heart. I couldn't swallow. My whole body wasrevolting against him walking away.

“What's wrong with me?" I whispered.

The dining hall in Aeris's castle seemed to be made entirely of gold. We were seated at the head ofa long table filled with platters of food and wine, with Aeris presiding over the feast with a wide grinon his face. His court was there as well, dressed in riches that seemed unbelievable after the povertyI'd witnessed the past few weeks. Archer sat across from me, the two of us on either side of Aeris,who was sitting at the head of the table, the two of them bent in conversation. Archer and Brandtwere wholly focused on the food.

I was more interested in watching the people of his inner court, those high-ranking members of hispack who ran in his circle. I wondered who was his Beta, and who was his Luna, if he had one.

But the women seated at the table were mousy and poised, none of the speaking unless spoken to.“No, Aeris," Jared said in a clipped tone that made me immediately turn to witness theirconversation.

Aeris gave him a look and poured a substantial amount of wine into his glass.

“The scroll is not going anywhere, my friend. Your companions could use a few days rest after suchan arduous journey."

“We're not staying—"

"Jared," Aeris coaxed, a flash of annoyance creasing his eyes. “I think you'd replace spending a few daysin my court would be in your favor.”

I could tell Jared was seething but was maintaining his composure. His shoulders were rigid, and Iimagined his hands clenched into fists under the table. I slid my ankle against his. He didn't breakAeris's gaze, but his shoulders relaxed for a moment.

“Just until Friday," Aeris continued, and it was obvious he wasn't taking no for an answer.

To my surprise, Aeris turned his gaze on me, giving me a smile. But his eyes were alight with somescheme I couldn't decipher, I just knew it. “I need some time to get to know your new... companionWhat did you say your name was, darling?"

"Eliza," I said firmly. “And I'm not your darling."

Jared gave me a swift kick in the shin beneath the table but I held firm, my eyes locked on Aeris,who seemed amused more than offended.

“Marvelous,” he said, leaning back in his chair.