Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

“Sick?” He repeated the word in such a way that I couldn’t tell if he didn’t believe it had happened or if

he was actually slightly concerned.

I might’ve found the latter endearing if I wasn’t fully aware that there was only one thing the prince

wanted with me.

“That’s right,” I told him. “No food or water for days, a long walk over rough terrain, and a rainstorm.

Turns out, I’m human after all.” I cocked my head to the side and made a face at him, and I thought I

saw a flicker of guilt cross his face as he dropped his eyes slightly.

But then they were right back even with mine. “Sorry if I didn’t have a whole lot of empathy for the

woman who tried to stab me in my own garden and ran away with my brother.”

“Oh? Is that what you think happened? Seriously?” All I could do was shake my head at him. “It’s one

thing for you to continue to accuse me of trying to kill you, but you know, it’s just plain wrong for you to

think that your brother would sabotage your efforts in finding a wife!”

“Is it? Are we talking about the same man who snuck down into my dungeon and released a prisoner of

mine? Yes, he seems quite loyal.” He took a step closer to me so that only about three feet were

between us now.

It made my heart flutter in my chest, partially because I was growing more and more scared of him by

the moment, but I also felt a tingling sensation deep in my gut, one I seemed to only feel when Prince

Theo was around.

“Prince Warren was trying to help me because he is a kind man. You could learn a thing or two from

him!” I lifted my hand and pointed at him, but when his eyes focused on my finger, I immediately

dropped it.

“One thing you should know.” He studied my face like he couldn’t figure out how I’d managed to live

this long without pissing off the wrong person. “No one talks to me the way that you do, Ciana-no one.”

“Well,” I said, folding my arms and looking down at the faded blue carpet between my feet. “Maybe…

other people should.” Since I felt like my life wouldn’t be taken from me at that moment, it made me say

things I would ordinarily keep to myself.

He stepped forward, his gloved hand taking hold of my chin and forcing me to look him in the eyes. He

didn’t have to use much pressure to get me to comply, and when I looked into his eyes, I thought I saw

something shimmering behind his irises.

“You’re very lucky that you ate the dreamberry.” His voice was even and still, but it left me quivering. “If

you hadn’t, I would’ve killed you after the first time your smart mouth betrayed you.”

Realization sank in as I continued to stare at him. A loud guffaw escaped my lips as I pushed his arm

away. He let go; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been strong enough to free myself. “That’s right!” I said.

“You can’t kill me. You need me! My precious blood is so important to you! I bet when you go to bed at

night you think about that kiss we shared

“I do not!” he bellowed, his face turning a little red.

“Oh, I bet you do! I bet you think about how you kissed me- and how disgusting it was! How it’s the

worst thing you ever had to do because someone ate your treasured berry!”

He took a few deep breaths and stepped away. “I have no interest in arguing with an insane woman.”

“Insane? Maybe I am! But I’m an insane woman that you can’t touch because I have useful blood-or

something like that.” He turned his back to me, which inspired me to continue to mouth off. “So… if you

can’t kill me, what are you going to do?”

He spun around and glared at me. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched.

Then, before I knew it, I was pressed against the wall by him. His face was right next to mine and his

hot breath blew on my face. There was no way for me to get away now.

The worst thing was, his powerful and slender fingers were circling around my neck-they didn’t touch

my skin, but I knew that if he squeezed, I’d be dead.

My heart was pounding. Did I overestimate how much he needed that berry? I didn’t want to die yet!

“You… you can’t kill me.” I reminded him. “Not until after you use my blood. Otherwise, all of this lovely,

crimson juice will go to waste!”

“I might not be able to kill you, but…” He leaned even closer, and our lips were almost touching. “Do

not test me again.

You don’t want to know what I would do.”

With that, he backed away, and I sucked in the air greedily. Not that he choked me or anything-it was

just that I was so nervous that I held my breath on my own.

Neither of us spoke anymore. I took a few moments to calm my racing heart when I heard a slithering

sound. Then, I saw a familiar form peeking through the open window.

“Perceval!” I exclaimed, and the snake took my greeting as an invitation and slithered his way into the

room, making his way to me as quickly as he could.

“Really? You came all this way… for me?” I stroked the snake on the head. He gave me a gentle nudge to confirm my guess.

“Percy, come!” the prince ordered. The python turned his attention to his owner, and then looked at me, seemingly having a difficult time choosing a

side.

Seeing that Perceval didn’t immediately follow his order, Theo’s expression grew even darker. Eventually, after a short hesitation, Peceval moved to

Theo, nudged him gently, and licked his hand using its fork tongue, like a kid who had made a mistake and was begging for forgiveness from his

parent.

Theo pinched the bridge of his nose, and then he walked over and sat down on the bed, turning to stare at the wall. I

realized then that all of the anger had gone out of him. It was the most defeated I’d seen him.

By then, the tense atmosphere in the room had changed thanks to Perceval. Maybe the previous quarrel had also helped to let out some of my

build-up resentment. I was in a better mood now.

The snake returned to me and danced around me. I continued to pet him, so glad to see him again. I might not have had a lovely time while I was at

the castle, but at least I’d made some animal friends.

After a few minutes, I went around to the other side of the bed and sat down so that my back was even with his. If I leaned back, I could see his

face, but I didn’t want to, not to tell him what I needed to say.

Perceval continued to wind around me as I spoke. “Luther told me that my pack was in danger,” I explained to him. “My parents aren’t there, and I

am worried that some sort of upheaval is going on. That’s why I attacked you in the garden-I thought it was Luther who came back and didn’t

expect it was you. And… that’s why I needed to leave.”

Theo was quiet for a long moment. He probably wouldn’t believe so just based on my words. To my surprise, he didn’ t make any nasty comments.

He only asked, “Do you know what Luther is planning? Has he told you anything… about me?”

I shook my head. Feeling his eyes on the side of my face, I knew he could see me. “No,” I finally said. “We aren’t friends or co-conspirators. I have

no idea what the situation is between the two of you. I simply need to get back to my pack to see what the problem is.”

He pursed his lips together, a look I’d come to recognize as the prince in deep thought.

I had to press my luck. “I know I’m important to you- because of my blood. I get that. But… if you’ll just let me go back to my pack and check on the

situation, I promise you that I will return to you by the time you need my blood. I give you my word.”

“You want me to let you go off to your pack, on your own, without knowing if anything you’ve told me is true?”

“I know it’s a lot to ask.” I had to try, interlacing my fingers in my lap. “But please… just let me go.”

“No,” he said, and I couldn’t hold back the sigh of distress that shot out of me.

“Unless someone goes with you.”

“Really?” My eyes widened as I looked into his. “Who?”

I prayed he’d say Warren. But I wasn’t that lucky.

“Me.”