Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

“No…”

“Then what can she do?”

“She dreams. I don’t really know how to explain-”

If I had been physically capable of jumping to my feet without struggling to get out of the bed, I would

have. “She’s a Dream Dancer?”

“How do you know what that is?”

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

***

“So, you felt it when I… when I lost my powers?” she asked.

It had taken me over two hours to tell her everything. I recounted every detail from the moment I met

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

between Troy and me out, of course.

I was sitting up in bed now, resting a 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 to life, like Gemma

used her moonstone on you.”

“And the people of… Dianny? Is that what that pack is called?”

“Dianny is their city, The Sisters of Artemis is their pack.”

“I see. I think I understand. They think… bringing the stones together is,”

“Una wasn’t sure what would happen.” I swallowed, looking down at the sandwich. “But I think we’re

supposed to be the ones to do it. Tasia wants them, though. I don’t know what for.”

“She 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 temple.

The pieces were falling into place, and I felt suddenly at peace. We had made it this far, overcome so

much. I was looking forward to just being home for a moment.

But then the door to the bedroom opened.

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

crossed over his chest.

“I owe you an apology,” he said, looking up at me through his lashes.

“Oh? Go on,” I said with a smartass grin.

“Maeve,” Mom said in a warning tone.

Dad glared at me, then cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.”

“For what, exactly?”

Dad sharpened his glare, then glanced at Mom, a silent plea for help in his eyes. She shrugged, smiling

at him, clearly enjoying and

having missed our constant bickering.

“For being terse with you for something outside of your control.” He ran his tongue along his lower lip,

waiting for my reply.

“I accept your apology,” I said, sitting up a little straighter. “One on condition.”

“No,” he said shortly.

“That Troy is allowed to sleep in my room.”

“Absolutely not.”

“It’s not like he can get me pregnant)” I laughed.

Dad turned bright red. Mom’s eyes widened as she looked down at her lap, trying not to laugh.

“Whatever,” he said, just as Troy knocked on the open door.

The three of us turned to him. Mom gave him a beaming smile, which I don’t think he was expecting. He

blushed, taking a step into the room and coming into the light.

He had showered and shaved, 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 life with long hair.

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

his eye. I smiled at him, hoping at least one of our children grew to look exactly like him.

He gave mom a slight bow, who was watching him with interest.

“We owe you thanks, Troy, for taking care of our daughter,” she said, sounding every bit like a queen.

“It’s a damn near impossible task-Dad said, but then stopped when Mom’s gaze locked on him. “Thank

you,” he said, clearing his throat.

“Uh, you’re welcome.” Troy shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I’m sorry for kidnapping her.”

Mom’s mouth 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 swing my legs out of the bed

but struggling. Troy came to my side, glancing at Dad before he took my hand and helped me onto my

feet.

“How are you? I haven’t been able to talk to you since we got here.” Troy looked at me with concern.

“I’m fine… just huge. And tired. You don’t have to sleep in the garage again, I promise.”

“Ernest and Talon are on their way back from Mirage; they will arrive in the morning. Troy, we will have a

lot to discuss with the two of them regarding your title,” Dad said over the soft murmur of my words to

Troy.

Troy froze, his fingers clasping down on my hand. “My title?”

“You’ll be taking your rightful seat as Alpha of Poldesse, after the wedding.”

“The wedding?” Mom and I said in unison.

Dad nodded, tucking his hands behind his back.

“Of course,” Troy said, all business

“We owe you thanks, Troy, for taking care of our daughter,” she said, sounding every bit like a queen.

“It’s a damn near impossible task-Dad said, but then stopped when Mom’s gaze locked on him. “Thank

you,” he said, clearing his throat.

“Uh, you’re welcome.” Troy shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I’m sorry for kidnapping her.”

Mom’s mouth 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 swing my legs out of the bed

but struggling. Troy came to my side, glancing at Dad before he took my hand and helped me onto my

feet.

“How are you? I haven’t been able to talk to you since we got here.” Troy looked at me with concern.

“I’m fine… just huge. And tired. You don’t have to sleep in the garage again, I promise.”

“Ernest and Talon are on their way back from Mirage; they will arrive in the morning. Troy, we will have a

lot to discuss with the two of them regarding your title,” Dad said over the soft murmur of my words to

Troy.

Troy froze, his fingers clasping down on my hand. “My title?”

“You’ll be taking your rightful seat as Alpha of Poldesse, after the wedding.”

“The wedding?” Mom and I said in unison.

Dad nodded, tucking his hands behind his back.

“Of course,” Troy said, all business.

I looked at him, searching his eyes for understanding. He’d already said he wasn’t going to be Alpha of

Poldesse.

“Troy-“I began, but Dad cut me off.

“The wedding will take place here, at the house, so your mother can attend. Preferably as soon as

possible, before the child arrives.”

“It’s twins,” I said, and Dad was shocked, his eyes going wide. “And why wouldn’t Mom be able to attend

if we got married somewhere else? The bluff is beautiful in the spring-”

“Because I don’t have that long, Maeve.” Mom’s words seemed to float in the air for a moment before

crashing down and suffocating me.

I looked over at her, my stomach tied in a knot. “What?” I managed to whisper.

“I don’t have my powers anymore, honey. I should’ve died a hundred times by now, you know. And I…

I’m not strong without them. I was badly hurt when Hanna and I were attacked. The wounds aren’t

healing…”

“She’s getting weaker by the day.” Dad’s voice broke with emotion, the words catching in his throat.

Igaped at them, my hands shaking as I gripped Troy’s hand for dear life. “Where is it?” I whispered, and

he reached into his pocket, putting the moonstone into my hand.

“Maeve, wait, we don’t know-” Troy warned.

I was already halfway across the room, heading toward Mom’s jewelry box. Dad stepped in front of me,

trying to stop me, but I

stepped around him and began to rifle through her jewelry.

“Where is it? The necklace?”

“The-in the safe, downstairs,” Mom replied.

I turned to Dad, giving him a look that told him exactly what I meant to do. He didn’t protest.

“Maeve, listen to me. Una warned us-” Troy tried again.

“She didn’t know for sure what would happen, but I saw this, Troy. I knew something was going to

happen to her and now… now it has. I have to.”

“Listen to him, Maeve!” Mom said sternly. “What if-”

“No! I’m not going to let this continue!”

Troy and Mom were staring at me in shock as I left the room, meeting Dad at the top of the stairs. He

gave me the necklace, looking me in the eyes.

“What now?” he asked.

“I need something sharp-”

He pulled out a pocket knife, placing it in my hands. But he grabbed my wrist, holding me tightly. “Are you

sure you want to do this?”

11

“Save her?”

“You’re pregnant. There could be consequences. Troy said you weren’t sure what was going to happen.”

“I have to bring them together. It’s the only thing I know I’m

supposed to do.”

I turned from him and walked back into the room, shaking as I stood at the end of the bed. I held the

moonstones in the palm of one hand, looking at them for a moment before I brought the knife down over

the base of my thumb, closing my hand into a fist as | walked over to my mother.

My hand felt warm, the wound throbbing.

And then I felt… nothing.