Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 349

Chapter 8: His New Personal Attendant

*Ciana*

“Wait for me!”

My new friend, the python, led me along winding paths, through beautiful trees with green, vibrant leaves, and enchanting gardens the likes of which I’d not seen closer to the main castle.

The colors were more vivid, the blooms in shades of purple and red that shimmered in the sun like gemstones, and the scents that filled my lungs were intoxicating. I felt like I was in a fairy tale.

It was so worth it to skip meeting the king. Instead of trying to please the two dreadful royals, I was able to experience this lovely place instead. I couldn’t help but smile to myself-it was certainly the right decision.

After half an hour of meandering about, I began to see a structure in the distance, rising up out of the ground like a beacon of enchantment. Wooden and weathered, it appeared as if it had been standing there keeping careful watch over these parts for many years, and since the python was slithering right toward it, I began to understand that this was where we were headed.

“Do you want to show me what’s hiding there?” I asked him.

He turned and looked at me, his eyes still gleaming, and his fork tongue flicked a response I had to assume was an affirmative.

I continued to follow him toward the hexagon-shaped building, and before we arrived I realized it was a pavilion, a place where one was meant to sit and enjoy the beauty of nature that inhabited this place.

I wondered how many people had ever had a chance to visit here. With it nestled in the heart of the prince’s private courtyard, it was not easily obtainable to just anyone.

The python glided up the stone path, right to the opening, and then lingered on the steps, waiting for me to come in.

I hesitated. Just because Prince Theo assigned me to care for his animals in his zoo, that didn’t mean he’d approve of me taking liberties with the rest of his territory.

Yet, no one was around, and I couldn’t see the harm in just peeking my head in. If someone did come near, I could always tell them that I’d followed the python inside and wanted to make sure he wasn’t causing any problems.

Tentatively, I climbed the three steps that led to the open door. Inside, plenty of plush seating invited one to sit and relax while listening to the sounds of the birds chirping in the trees, the animals playing in the distance, and the soft buzz of insects.

If the prince truly enjoyed visiting this place, perhaps he and I had more in common than I ever would’ve imagined.

I wasn’t sure how to digest that thought. The Dark Prince was cold and cruel, and I had never thought of myself even a tiny bit as either of those things. knew them.

The python seemed to be smiling as he peered up at me. I reached down and stroked his head. “Thank you for sharing this place with me. You’re a kindhearted friend.” He wrapped himself gently around my arm and then released me.

“You know, a friend like you deserves to be called something other than just ‘the python.’ Do you have a name?”

He seemed to nod at me again, but he had no way of communicating that name with me. Tapping my chin, wondered aloud, “What’s a good name for a python? Is your name… Bill?”

Python couldn’t laugh, but he did look amused at my first guess. “What about… Robert?” That didn’t seem to suit him either. Studying his face, I thought, “You look like a Pete. Pete the Python!” His eyes lit up and his grin widened. “May I call you Pete then?”

Enthusiastically, the snake bobbed his head at me, and I decided from now on, that’s what I would call him. “Pete it is.”

I wandered around the pavilion for a moment, looking at the intricate carvings in the wood, but then, I noticed that Pete had nudged against a panel in the wall, and a door opened up. “What’s that?”

Behind the door, there was a circular stairwell made of iron that led up in a tight spiral.

Glancing up at the ceiling, I noted that it was much lower inside than it appeared to be outside and thought there must be a second story.

“You want me to go up?” I asked Pete, but by then, he was already slithering up the stairs.

I looked around to make sure that no one was nearby before I followed the snake up the stairs,

When I reached the top of the stairs, 1 gasped. What lay before me was a greenhouse built into the top of the pavilion. It was unrecognizable from the ground level, but up here, it was clear that this was where the prince’s prized flowers and

other plants were grown.

Again, I hesitated to step inside, but I was so drawn in by the brightly colored plants, my feet started moving forward behind Pete as he crossed into the space. The scent of fresh earth filled my lungs, as well as the fragrance from the flowers and fruit that grew here.

Across the way, I saw a variety of berries and was immediately curious about them. They looked delicious, plump and dark purple, and they even had a pleasant fragrance.

I was just about to approach them when I heard something downstairs. Inhaling deeply, I held my breath and pressed my ear against the wooden floor, trying my best to listen and praying that it was just my imagination and I wasn’t about to be caught in Prince Theo’s private pavilion.

Voices hit my ears, and I closed my eyes, shaking my head in dread, because I recognized one of the voices.

“Your Majesty, you really do not need to come in here. I can protect you from my animals to a degree, but it is quite 288 Wauchoze, dangerous. Besides, this is a matter I can handle on my own.”

Prince Theo! I would recognize that voice anywhere. And was he talking to the king?

“Nonsense!” I heard an older voice say. Yes, it had to be King Sebastian himself! “I’m not frightened of your animals. I might be older than I was when my wolf used to fight on the battlefield, but I can defend myself, I assure you. Besides, I want to meet the lucky girl who meets your challenge.”

Challenge? What in the world was he talking about?

Pete, the python, slithered near my feet. I held a finger to my lips, silently begging him to be quiet.

“Where is Perceval anyway?” Prince Theo muttered just at the bottom of the stairs. “I haven’t seen him anywhere.”

As I heard the royal father and son begin to climb the stairs, my heart nearly ripped from my chest.

Oh, why did I have to be so curious? It always got me into trouble. And I already had so many strikes against me. What was more, I might have gotten our entire pack in danger!

Just then, the python, whose name was Perceval, apparently, and not Pete, though I thought Pete suited him better, slithered off toward the stairs.

Giving him a thumbs up, I encouraged him.

If he went down to meet his master, perhaps Prince Theo wouldn’t feel the need to come up the stairs. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself and prayed that this would all work out after all.

“What are you doing here?” Prince Theo scolded Perceval, although his tone wasn’t harsh at all, more like a spoiling father half-seriously reprimanding his naughty child, “Did you open the door again?”

I was hoping to hear his voice fade away, but it was actually growing closer. Then I heard a familiar hissing and realized what was happening.

Thad never cursed an animal before, but at that moment, was more upset with Pete-Perceval-than I had ever been with an animal in my life, including the bee that stung me when I was four and that mountain lion that had accidentally bit my finger when I was giving her some food once in the forest.

No, this was not going to work out in my favor after all.

“What do you want to show me?” Prince Theo asked the python, and I could tell that he was at the top of the stairs now, while I was still attempting to hide.

When Perceval slithered right over and wound himself around my feet, I knew it was all over. I looked down at him and sadly shook my head, wanting to thank him for killing me softly.

Prince Theo stared at me in disbelief.

I slowly stood, my legs shaking with fright as I averted my eyes from him. “Um…greetings, Your Highness,“ | bowed my head low. “I saw the snake enter the pavilion and wanted to make sure everything was okay…”

He still didn’t say a word, but from his heavier breathing, I could tell he was furious.

Itelt my heart freeze in my chest. It may as well cease to beat. I was a dead woman now anyway.

“Who is this?” King Sebastian’s voice broke the scary silence. I could see his boots now and recognized that he was standing next to his son.

With a deep breath, I raised my eyes to look at him, expecting him to be just as angry and annoyed as the prince.

But the king was smiling. “This is one of your girls, isn’t it?” He had his hand resting on Prince Theo’s shoulder.

Prince Theo clenched his fists and gritted through his teeth. “Yes, I suppose you could say that.”

A laugh left the king’s throat as he began to clap. My eyebrows shot up in confusion. “Well, well, well!” he said. “Nicely done, young lady. Great job, indeed!”

My eyes went from the king to the prince. His expression hadn’t changed much, though it might’ve grown a bit darker.

“Father, I think-” Prince Theo began, but the king cut him off.

“Now, now, son. This was your idea. All I did was agree to it. Come along. Let’s go back to the palace, Prince Theo.” He took a few steps toward the stairs before he turned back to look over his shoulder. “Oh, and don’t forget to bring your new personal attendant.”

Personal attendant?

My eyes met the dark orbs that were the mirror to Prince Theo’s soul only briefly as I realized a new horror was just beginning for me.

His new personal attendant-was me!