Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 49: The Sacred

Maeve

Troy and I walked through the building, surprised by the amount of noise coming from the corridors as we headed down the many, many stairs to the lower-level courtyard.

The buildings are where everyone lives, stacked on top of each other,” Troy said, smiling as a little girl ran past us, chasing after what must have been her older sister.

*This place is ancient, Troy. How old do you think this place is?”

Troy exhaled, looking around as we walked towards the courtyard, reaching up to run his hand along the wall.

“A thousand years, maybe more?”

“More?” I sucked in my breath, unable to process it.

“Well, how many White Queens have there been over time? Count back and that’s likely as old as this place, and even Winter Forest, should

be.”

“Mom said Winter Forest wasn’t the original settlement of the White Queens. There’s a ruin on an island across from the inlet. That’s where the pack used to live, but everyone believes it was taken over by the water hundreds of years ago.”

“See? This is very, very old stuff.”

I nodded, swallowing against the anxiety tightening my chest and throat. This was an old place. A strange place. And I had the oddest “out of body feeling as we walked the halls. We finally turned the corner and passed through the archway leading to the courtyard, stopping short of the entrance as Duck came bounding towards us, followed by Myla and Pete.

“Where’s Robbie?” Troy asked, furrowing his brow.

“He’s out chasin’ tail,Myla said with a laugh. Pete blushed deeply, lowering his gaze to his feet.

“Still?” Troy snorted, shaking his head.

“So, you saw him? And he was alright?” I asked hurriedly. Myla nodded her head, wiggling her eyebrows at me and Troy.

“Oh, he’s more than alright, I’ll say that much. He told me all about it,” Myla said.

“Why?” Troy asked, looking from Myla to Pete, who was looking more and more uncomfortable with the conversation.

“Why not?” Myla said with a soft chuckle, “What else were we supposed to do while we were waiting for you guys to come down? What were you up to, anyway?”

Troy cleared his throat, and I stifled a blush. Myla arched her brow, puffing out her cheeks as she tried not to laugh.

Pete said, annoyed, “Please, can

little jealous-” Myla

blushing. And I had the opportunity to, you know, do what Robbie is

laughed, crossing his arms over his

saving himself

Myla. I think that’s very gallant of you, Pete.” I said, smiling at Pete,

standing still as a rod in the archway, her eyes wide with nerves as she spoke. She was young, very young, likely no more than ten or eleven years old.

narrow bridges rising up over the river. People were swimming in the slowly moving, shallow water. It looked like a refreshing activity in this unforgiving heat. I made a mental note to do the

a thicket of trees. Stepping out of the trees, we stopped, all of us looking out over a massive, turquoise colored lake that was sparkling

setting sun.

at the city’s entrance. Music was wafting up from the lake, and

through the trees. It was beautiful, and quite romantic, and I felt a sudden urge to find a dark

clearing my throat. Troy looked down at me, squeezing my

my mind,” I murmured, feeling a little hot.

exclaimed, looking up at the sea of paper lanterns above

“Have you been able to mind-link with

“No, I tried but I couldn’t get through. Do you

close to mine as we walked, “Something is weird about this place. Do

I don’t think these people are going to hurt

he said firmly, but his eyes were still hyper focused on the area around

the dock, and sprays of flowers I couldn’t name were in full bloom.

huge, circular table that was low to the ground, and Una was

stiffened suddenly, then relaxed, nodding to one of the two men sitting on the cushions. The older man must have been Ismir, Una’s husband. The younger one couldn’t have been

said, excitement evident behind her eyes. We sat around the table, as did the young girl, who elbowed

wide, and

Keaton,” Troy whispered, leaning his head close to mine as we sat

“Myla will have ten

low and filled with yearning. I hadn’t expected it. I looked at him, seeing the confusion flash behind his eyes, his tanned face

is it about this place that is making us

as he knitted his fingers in mine underneath the table,

He laughed, his eyes creasing with what I can only describe

mouth to say something, but the words were lost,

I thought, unable

brought out over the course of three hours. Hot, spiced tea was poured in a

was watching me closely, a look of mingled hope, and maybe even fear, etched

the table late, his face pink, and his eyes unable to hide

reminded me of the color of the inlet