Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

 Chapter 17: Ernest’s Mate

Maeve

“Don’t say your name? Why?”

*Just in that context. I don’t… we can’t-”

“I know,” I said hurriedly, feeling foolish. It couldn’t be personal. That had to be what he meant. I fidgeted, looking past him toward the door. He followed my gaze, then snapped his head back around, giving me a serious look.

“Leave them alone, Maeve. I know what you’re thinking.”

“I just really need to talk to Ernest—”

“No, you don’t.”

“You don’t understand, Aaron. Gemma is in a bit of a crisis right now,”

“Because they’re mates? That doesn’t sound like a crisis to me.” He stood there, staring at me blankly as my jaw dropped open.

“How the hell did you know that?”

“Uh, he told me? Is it supposed to be a secret-”

I turned from him, pacing over to a set of couches that had been pushed up against the wall so that the maid could polish and wax the floor. I felt a little guilty as I looked down at the very obvious footprints left in the fresh wax, but the room was rarely used. It was my first time spending more than a few minutes here myself. “Well, if you know about it then it’s not a secret, is it?”

He shrugged, reaching up to crack open the window. “What do you need to talk to him about that’s so pressing you’d interrupt them?”

“I wasn’t going to interrupt them,” I lied, pursing my lips as he cast me an incredulous look. “I just wanted to talk to him privately.”

“About why he won’t marry and have children?”

Igaped at him again, my jaw nearly hitting the floor. “You know about that? You know why?”

“Yeah, he told me all about it.” Aaron’s tone was so casual that I laughed, unable to stop myself. He peered at me, tilting his head as I sat down on one of the dusty couches. “Do you seriously not know? How could you not know? Your whole reason for being here is to produce the heir he refuses,”

“Refuses? No, he can’t have children.”

“Oh, he’s perfectly capable of having children.”

“1-How?”

see the outline of his cock in the comically tiny shorts he was wearing, and he made no move to hide it, either. He caught

“Aaron!”

facing me. “Ernest said he had a vision that his mate and their child would die, so

to gauge whether or not Aaron was messing with me.

he told me his own mother had the same vision, and she was the driving force behind getting your

Georgia? You’re joking!” I felt myself flush, my skin prickling with a chill as his words settled.

my parents told me after Aaron’s own mother cursed me,

messing with you right now, I promise. And I know how ridiculous it sounds. He said he thought it was just a dream until his mom said something about it. This all happened shortly before they left,

with a little laugh, despite the painful tightening in my chest at his words. My Uncle Talon and Aunt Georgia had ruled over Drogomor in my father’s place. Dad wanted to be in Winter Forest with us, not thousands of miles away in Valoria. I didn’t know the details of the exchange of power, but I do know Ernest became Alpha at a ridiculously young age, sixteen or seventeen, when his parents decided to leave Valoria and travel west to take up residence in Breles. Ernest had refused to go with them. The castle of Drogomor was all

it. I tried to talk him

I said with

right? It’s fanciful at best-” He paused, the muscles of his neck contracting in the dim light as he swallowed. “You’re not cursed, Maeve. Neither of

mother cursed me,

real, just like Ernest’s vision was

I told the nurse in the infirmary to save some of my blood for healing and

something an angry woman said now determines your future? How do you know your blood doesn’t

was watching me intentionally, his eyes lingering on

exactly is this

shrugged, leaning forward over my knees to look down at the floor. “That I won’t find my mate. That I

“Well, when’s your birthday?”

up at him.”Not

you shouldn’t worry about it until August.” He stood, holding out his hand

“Where are we going?”

tell Ernest he’s being

you said not

I changed

beyond measure. Aaron was a master of deflection. He obviously didn’t want to talk about the day he got hurt in front of me, or his mother, or my possible curse. But, I was thankful

me back into the hallway, but we were surprised to see Ernest walking quickly down the corridor away from us, his back turned and his shoulders

Where are you

from his grasp, but he squeezed my hand, tucking it behind his

down to the village to escort him to the castle. Give him a little tour.” He sighed deeply, running his fingers through

could go,” I said, digging my fingernails into Aaron’s hand. I felt him stiffen beside me and inhale, but his face was calm and firmly fixed on Ernest. Ernest ran his

I haven’t heard great things about this guy. Lance

at him and noticing the abrupt change in his demeanor. He was looking forward, his

in the shadows, his owlish eyes watching the three of us. I swallowed, exhaling as Aaron removed his heel from my toes. It had been a

But why?

guy, how does that sound?” Aaron said, still looking over the top of Ernest’s head at the figure lurking in the shadows. Did I just see him narrow his

his entourage from the train station to the road leading to the castle. Lance will meet them there. I’d definitely feel better if you went with her, Aaron. Thank you for