Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 18 Is It Really Warren?

I tried my best not to let my irritation show on my face as I digested the name the redheaded girl had just divulged.

She was under the impression that my brother might be the one person on the planet who could save the life of the woman I was meant to have a child with.

I needed to concentrate on the fact that the blood within the girl was the most vital part of the equation to me. I had no reason to want to see any harm befall Ciana. She was nice enough, I supposed, but to me, her true value lay in the blood coursing through her veins.

“Shall I send for Prince Warren, Your Highness?” Dottie asked me respectfully.

“No,” I said immediately, my voice stern enough that everyone in the room flinched. I took a deep breath to steel myself. “I will fetch him myself.”

The moment I walked into the hallway, my head cleared a bit, and I felt like I could pull a full breath of oxygen into my lungs. Something about being in that room with all of those concerned people had been like a weight on my shoulders. But now… my thoughts were sharper. I could sense reason.

Winding my way to the other side of the palace where my brother’s rooms were, I took my time.

He only needed to give it a try so we could see if it worked, but there was no need for him to know that Ciana was fond of

him….

Two guards stood here, neither saying anything to me but making a sign of respect. Unlike me, Warren was constantly surrounded by people. They knocked and opened the door for me.

My brother was clutching a book in his hand. “Oh, Theo,” he said, setting the book aside. Obviously, he was enjoying a leisurely evening. “What in the world brings you here?”

“I have a bit of an issue, and I was hoping you could help.” I tried to keep my tone as relaxed as possible.

Immediately, my overly helpful brother snapped to attention. “Of course. What is it?”

“One of the girls who is here as part of Father’s task was unconscious. Dottie thinks it may be a sleeping spell… a curse of some sort. There’s a possibility that you might be the one to wake her.”

“That sounds just awful!” he said, resting his palm against his heart. “The poor girl! Why does Dottie think I can be of

assistance?”

“I’m not exactly sure,” I lied. “I guess… perhaps… you know the girl… well?”

“Who is it?” he asked, leaning toward me slightly as he shook his head. “I haven’t spent much time with any of the girls. They are here for you, after all.”

Why did I feel relieved? Whether he knew Ciana well or not had nothing to do with me!

With a sharp nod, I tried to forget all of the times I had seen him with her myself. “She’s called… Ciana, I believe,” I said, forcing nonchalance into each word

“Ciana?” he repeated, his eyes widening. “Oh! Oh, no!”

that one?” I asked, sarcasm dripping from the question

a few times. Such a

my arms. “I

she your personal attendant now?” Warren asked

said, “You know, they all sort

do what I can,” he said, putting on a jacket. “Although, I hardly doubt there’s much I can do. It’

two of us were about to leave the room when we realized that he had another visitor who had been standing right outside the

how much

I hardly spared her a glance and

“Your Highness! Please!”

We both stopped.

here for me or you?” Warren whispered. “What’s her name

over at him.

got for you, right? I thought she used to be your personal

the food from

Warren, Sir,” she said, dipping her head. Then, she turned to me. “I beg your forgiveness, Prince

evening, Miss-?”

for interjecting, Sir, but I’ve been studying sleeping sicknesses like this one for many years, and

conversation?”

directly, only continued, “Sir, I believe it’ s a curse that’s been cast on her, and if you are to touch her, you could also become a victim of the same curse. You mustn’ t allow yourself to be

inconsequential as her!”

the right time. I was about to step forward and pull Warren away when I heard him say,

is not. Besides, you shouldn’t keep speaking about your peer that way! You made fun of her for feeding the animals and made demands of her while she

she looked up at him. “Forgive me, My Prince. I

her, and with that, he turned around, a more determined look on his face

in her place and was resolved to help Ciana, but I didn’t particularly like that he was

at my chambers, Brook was still there, sitting on a settee across the

resting, dreaming, and I wasn’t able to peel my eyes away from her. But then I forced those thoughts from my mind. She was a means to an end, nothing

concern marring his handsome face as he studied her. He picked up her delicate hand in his and stroked it gently. “How long has she been

had I? I pulled her hand

hours,”

“Poor girl,” he sighed.

simply press your fingers to her forehead, if you are truly the one she wants most in this world, she

to look at the healer. I hadn’t quite told him all of that, and I could see he was surprised. “But

sentence.

from her seat across the room. “She often spoke of how kind

smiled at one another for a moment

Ciana.

stomach twisted into a knot. I felt like I was going to be sick. It must have been because I was so worried about not being able to use her blood to