Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 64: Out of Nowhere

Maeve

“It’s coming toward us from the east.” Pete pointed to the radar screen, the green blotch inching toward the Persephone and then cutting backward as the image timed out. I couldn’t make sense of the screen, but I looked up at Troy, who was watching it with intensity, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“Where the hell did it come from?” he said to himself, leaning toward the screen.

“What is it?” I asked, looking around the engine room. It was a small room with a wide window overlooking the water. Keaton was leaning against the far wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Weather,” he said shortly, running his tongue along his lower lip.

“Unusual weather,” Pete replied, glancing at Keaton before looking back at the screen. “There are no surrounding storm patterns, it’s just… there.”

“Well,” Keaton kicked off the wall, clapping his hands together. “I’ll warn the crew-” “We need to get the ship closer to shore,” Troy said as he turned to Keaton, his voice edged with seriousness.

“I don’t think we have time,” Pete said hurriedly, watching the green blob on the screen inch

closer to the dot that I assumed was the ship.

I walked toward the window, looking out over the white-capped sea. In the distance, I could see dark, swirling clouds. The clouds lit up as a jolt of electric blue ripped through them, followed by several faint booms of thunder.

“We ride it out, then,” Keaton said dramatically, giving Troy a cold look. Things hadn’t been the same between them since Robbie decided to stay behind in Dianny. Keaton left the room, and Troy turned to me, his hands on his hips.

“I’m staying with you,” I said firmly, tilting my chin.

“I’m not arguing with you about this. Go back to our room,”

“I can help above deck!”

“Doing what, exactly?” Troy was teetering on the edge of fury. His eyes narrowed on mine.

I bit my lip, inhaling deeply as I stepped away from him, walking briskly to the door, I turned to him before exiting the room, looking over my shoulder. I had it in mind to remind him what had happened the last time I had been in our stateroom during a storm, but I swallowed back the words when I saw the expression on his face.

I had no earthly idea what the radar screen was showing us, but whatever it was, it was making Troy and Pete very, very nervous

crewmen to pass. I could hear the rain beginning to pound the deck as I reached our room, and I climbed up onto the bed and stood to peer out of the circular window. The storm was funneling over the water, moving so quickly, I could see the wind manipulating the water as it drew near at an incredible pace.

“Holy shit,” I whispered, watching as the storm seemed to pull apart, the clouds suddenly racing toward us at an unnatural speed.

seemed to be suspended in the air for a split second as

I thought bitterly. I had almost lost Troy once. That

once more, another violent swell shaking the room. I got up, stumbling around as I

and Cleo would be holed up in Keaton’s quarters. I heard shouting above my head on the deck and turned

“Goddess, help us.”

as he spoke, his eyes wide and focused as he barked commands. “We‘re lying

command. Keaton was at the helm, his voice lifted in shouts as the crewmen ran from one end of the boat to

of Troy. Panicked, I stepped out onto the deck, looking

climbed the ratlines, tying the sails back. Troy was with them, his shirt billowing around him as he worked, the muscles in his forearms taunt

were brought in, and suddenly we were still, rocking in the waves as the storm

called out to me, jumping down to the deck. He stalked over to where I was standing, the wind whipping his shirt open to reveal his chest. I felt a blush rise on my cheeks as he moved toward me, eyes blazing

I saw in his eyes made my stomach

through my body.

hand clasped around my

to our room, right

to reply, but then stopped, bringing my hand

arm, spinning around and looking up toward the sky where the clouds had parted, the

the hell,” he said as the clouds spiraled away from us as quickly as they had come. The only sound was the waves lapping against the side of the ship as

that?” Keaton’s voice rang out through the

climbed the ratlines to draw in the sails hadn’t even

me, his eyes shining with confusion as the last of

I said slowly, a strange, uncomfortable

Troy answered, reflexively taking my hand in his

sounding every bit the captain and not in the snide,

stairwell, my footsteps echoing on the stairs as I ran to the engine

bent to grip the seat of the chair as he shook his

I

his hand over his heart as he turned around to face

see it-”

deck.”

this, you know? I’d only been Robbie’s apprentice for a few months.

of my spine

the radio during the storm, a woman’s voice. It was familiar, but I just

mean, from another

I just…” He exhaled, tucking his hands in our pockets.