Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 65: Nothing At All

*Ciana*

The air was chilly, more so than I had planned for. It was much warmer during the day, so I did not expect the temperature to drop so dramatically at night.

I had left my room about an hour ago to walk out here. My mind had been on the possibility of whether or not Theo would be here to meet me, so I hadn't even thought about the chance that it would be cold.

Now, I was sitting on the steps of the pavilion, staring back at the palace, waiting.

I'd been sitting here waiting for a really long time now, and every intelligent part of my brain was telling me that I needed to get up and leave.

Not only was it cold outside, I was beginning to shiver. My nose was starting to feel a little stuffy, and I could feel the urge to sneeze.

What in the world was I doing?

I didn't have an answer for that. I knew that this was stupid. If he was going to come, he would've been here a long time ago.

Yet again, I found myself questioning what in the world I had been thinking. If Prince Theo hadn't made it clear earlier that he didn't care about me, this should've been a really big clue. But my bottom continued to stay firmly planted to the step I'd been sitting on for more than three hours because I was a fool.

A familiar sound caught my attention, and I couldn't help the smile that came to my face even though it was followed by a sneeze. The slithering got closer, and when Perceval wrapped himself around my shoulders, I felt a bit warmer.

Petting his head, I said, "Hello there, friend." His forked tongue darted out of his mouth, and he licked me. "It's nice to see you again."

He coiled himself around my arm and rested his head on my shoulder. It didn't make me too much warmer since he was a reptile, but it was nice of him to try.

"Well, at least I can count on you, my little friend." I rested my head gently on top of his.

Perceval was just further proof to me that animals were often better than people.

"It's not like I would've known what to say to him anyway," I said to the snake. "I mean, what was I going to do? Beg him to let me stay? He'd made himself pretty clear earlier when he told me to go. And even if he does, I wouldn't stay anyway. I need to go home..."

Of course, the snake said nothing in response. It was probably just as well. What could he possibly say?

I didn't even know what I wanted from all this, other than... seeing him one more time, and to talk to him.

If what Sophia told me was true, why did he act so strangely? Why did everything have to be so complicated? Why wouldn't he just be honest with me?

I figured that I really just wanted to have a real conversation with

reconciled with

about me? Would he treat me like a friend?

me while I

spine as a cold breeze blew past me. I sneezed again and my eyes

me to sit out here in the cold pining over someone who might not want to have

shoulder and wrapped himself around my legs. I wasn't sure if he was trying to guide me to get up or if he was saying I shouldn't

warm fabric

into a pair

"Warren?"

next to me on the step.

jacket over my shoulders, which I appreciated. I was much warmer now,

doing out here?" I asked

out here?" he

say? He had seen how Theo treated me while we were in the garden. He probably would

there. I tried to figure out where you might've gone, and Brook said that

over there to say goodbye to the other

here instead,

you end up here?" I asked him.

python normally guards this pavilion, and I thought you might have come here

wonderful man in front of me. I thought

and dismissive of others the way that... some other

looked down at the ground. Should I just tell Warren the truth? But, eventually I decided to keep that to myself.

good to see you here..."

let's go back."

head. I

and cleared his throat. "I don't think he's coming, Ciana."

the fact that we were sitting outside in the cold. "Wh-what?"

you wouldn't be sitting here in the cold, sneezing. You'd probably say goodbye to Perceval quickly and rush back inside to

he understood that I

here to

on his face. "Yes, but when I walked past his bedroom on the way out here, his lights were out. So I figured he was either out here with you or fast asleep, and

of me overwhelming. I didn't know if I should laugh at myself or cry aloud. That was how much he cared about me, then? He couldn't even bring himself to walk out