Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 256

Chapter 36: Everything in This Room is Mine  

Troy

“I thought you never wanted to talk to me again, ever,” I said as I closed the door to my room behind me, leaning against it.

Maeve had followed me all the way back after calling up to me in the crow’s nest. Reluctantly, I’d come down to see what she wanted.

It was a relief to be here, on the Persephone, standing in my room. It would have been even better if the woman on my bed was willing, maybe even naked, not giving me the look Maeve had in her eyes.

“I changed my mind, for now.”

“I see,” I said as I crossed the room, pulling the chair from the desk and sitting in it backward, my legs on either side of it, and my chin resting on its back. “I’m sleeping in here tonight, just so you know.”

“No, you’re not.” Maeve said with conviction, jutting her chin.

“Well, it’s my room. Always has been. You can sleep here, with me, or go bunk with the boys three stories down.”

She glared, crossing her legs. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing one of Young Pete’s poet shirts. It was way too large, but the look suited her somehow, especially in a pair of Young Pete’s trousers that fit very well.

I cleared my throat, waiting for her to begin. I knew that it was supposed to be a serious conversation, but I was in a light mood. I was happy to be home.

And even though she hated me, I was happy Maeve was here with me, too.

“Why does Damian want me?” she asked point-blank.

I shook my head, unsure of how or where to begin. I reached into the pocket of my shirt and pulled out the map Romero had given me, the only thing I had managed to bring with me from the castle, and held it out to her.

“Toss it to me,” she said.

“It’s fragile, come get it.”

Her eyes narrowed into silts as she stood, walking gingerly toward me. I could’ve given it to her, of course, but I enjoyed the view of her body in the tight pants she was wearing too much to let the opportunity pass me by.

We had all given Pete shit for it, of course. He was a gangly young man, and Maeve filled out those trousers better than he ever would

“What is it?” she asked, looking down at the ragged, coarse paper as she sat back down.

“It’s what Damian was after. You were only a piece of the puzzle.”

“What do I have to do with. I don’t know what this says?”

“It’s in another language… an ancient language. It’s a map to Lycaon’s Tomb.”

“Lycaon? From the legend?”

I nodded, watching her face as she looked over the map, her brow arched as she tried to make sense of it.

“He was supposedly the Moon Goddess’s son, right?” she continued.

“Yeah, that’s the guy.”

“But that is a fairy tale? A myth?”

“I thought so too, but this map… it’s authentic. At least, it looks to be. Whoever made it, well, they made it a long time ago. I think I could get us there-” I said.

“Why? You just said this is what Damian is after. Wouldn’t he be looking for the ”

“He doesn’t know where the tomb is. He wanted the map. Romero had it, for some reason. That’s why Damian needed Romero, at least. paused, unsure of how to tell her about our last night in the castle. “Horace attacked him. Something must have changed between Romero and Damian”

“Horace did what?” she was shocked, her mouth hanging open.

12.07

Chapter 36: Everything in This Room is Mine

“Horace,” I breathed, “was one of Damian’s spies.” And then I told her everything, how Ernest and Gemma came with me to see him. How Romero died right in front of us.

“I wasn’t sent to Valoria to find the map. I was sent to get Romero out of the tower. That’s what I was told. It was simple; I’d free him and be on my way, getting him safely back to the isles, and we would receive a huge sum of money for it. But I was deceived, Maeve, tricked into believing that was all. I agreed because well, Damian knew my parents. At least he said he did. He said Romero was my grandfather and that he-look, I just needed to see him.”

“Keaton told me. She paused, looking guilty

“Told you the whole story, huh? Yeah, I knew he would.”

“I promised him I wouldn’t tell you what he told me,” she said.

“Well, I promise I won’t tell him you told me; how about that?”

She nodded, once, a brief smile touching her lips. I felt a little sick at the sight; it was the first time I’d seen her smile since we’d left the castle.

“Romero said something about you being the key, Maeve. Do you have any idea what he meant?”

She shook her head, her brow knitted in a frown. “I don’t.”

“Well, we’re stuck then. That’s all I know.” I lied, deciding not to tell her about Romero’s desire for Maeve to produce an heir for my line that he would raise and use for its powers. He was dead, after all.

“Keaton said we were heading south for the Southern Pass,” she said, her voice wavering. “He said I can’t that I can’t even write home.”

“Do you understand why?” I asked, hoping she could see the sense in the decision.

“It would put us at risk-”

“it would put your family at risk, most of all. It’s unlikely Damian will try anything; he won’t invade Winter Forest. Your mother is too powerful.”

“I’m not worried about my mom, Troy. I’m worried about my dad.”

**Your dad?”

“He’ll go to Valoria to try and find me. I’m worried about what will happen when he gets there. He won’t stop looking for me, and he’ll put himself in danger doing so. He’s still strong and clever, but he’s not the man he was twenty years ago. Age changes people. I just… | understand why I can’t write. Keaton said it’s better if everyone thinks i’m dead. And maybe he’s right but.”

“You’re going to see them again,” I stood, crossing the room as I sensed her beginning to crumble. She didn’t move away when I sat down next to her, taking the map from her hands and laying it beside her on the bed. “I promise you,”

“How can I trust you after everything that has happened, Troy?”

“I’m trying to fix this Maeve, I promise. Right now, my only concern is keeping you out of Damian’s hands. The Persephone sticks out; it’s known in the port cities. We have to get far away and hope this blows over

“My parents will start a war over this, you know.”

*That’s what Damian wants, I think. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

We sat in silence for a moment, shoulder to shoulder.

“Did you really lock Gemma in the utility closet?” she asked, sniffling.

“Well, I was in there with her. She was pissed.”

“I’m sure she was,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion as she laughed and cried at the same time.

“Did you know that Myla and Keaton are mates?” I asked, looking over at her.

“Yeah, Keaton told me. Myla hasn’t woken up yet, though. She doesn’t know. That’s all she ever talked about. There was nothing else she wanted more than to find her mate.”

“What are the odds, huh? That they’d find each other like this?”

*The same odds as Gemma and Ernest,” she said, sadness cracking in her voice. She looked down at her lap, tears falling down her cheeks. “His vision came true. He lost his mate.”

“I know. That’s why I told you we couldn’t go looking for him. He… Ernest was my friend, Maeve. I really liked the guy. He trusted me like I’ m asking you to trust me now.”

12-07

Chapter 36: Everything in This Room is Mine

“I need time, Troy.”

“I know.”

“Are you really going to sleep in here?” she asked, wiping her eyes.

“Would that be okay?” I wanted to say it was MY bedroom, so, of course, I was going to sleep in it, but I kept my mouth shut.

She shrugged, climbing over the bed to turn the sheets down. She took the elastic band out of her hair, letting it full and loose over her shoulders. Then she reached down, unbuttoning her trousers before stopping, her cheeks blushing deeply. “Will you look away?”

“Oh,” i said, not even realizing I was staring so intently. I stood, crossing the room with my back to her, and pulling a large quilt from one of the drawers in the built-in. I stood there, holding the quilt in my hands until I heard her slide into the bed and pull the covers up, shielding her body from my view.

It wasn’t like I hadn’t seen her completely naked before. I saw her in my dreams. I was obsessed, honestly.

I turned around, walking across the room and laying the quilt on the floor on the other side of the bed, taking my pillow from the bed and dropping it onto the quilt.

“What are you doing?” she asked as I started removing my clothes.

“Look away.” I said, teasing her.

She blushed a little deeper, but her eyes didn’t leave mine. Hmm, bold choice. It was a little unfair that she was watching me now after telling me to turn around, a direction I had followed.

Are you going to sleep on the floor?”

“Uh, yeah. I am.”

“Why?”

“Why? You don’t want me in… Well, it’s my bed but, nevertheless. I’m sleeping on the floor.”

I stepped out of my pants, staring at her for a second. I was nearly naked, and her eyes were still on me. Maybe I did still have a chance here.

When she didn’t say anything else, I laid down on the floor, wrapping the quilt around me. She shifted on the mattress a few times, quieting eventually and long enough for me to start to drift into sleep.

*Troy?”

I opened my eyes to see her staring down at me, her head practically hanging over the side of the bed.

“Yes, Maeve?”

“Were you really an orphan?”

“I was.”

“Did you really spend your whole childhood unattended, being a pirate?”

“We wanted to be pirates, Maeve. Every little boy wants to grow up to be a pirate.” I yawned hugely, blinking up at her.

Maeve struck me as someone who had rarely ever been alone as a child. She always had someone there to comfort her, to encourage her. She was seeking comfort from me, even after I totally upended her life. She was livid, rightfully so, but it didn’t stop her from reaching down and taking my hand as she laid her head back on the pillow, her fingers gripping mine as she fell asleep.

I had told her I loved her. I had meant it. I still did.

And I prayed like i prayed every night since I first saw her that she would soon realize what I had known for a while.

She was my mate.

And i’d do anything to protect her.