Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 27 : I’ll Tell the bounty Hunters Where You Are

*Soren*

Mila hesitated. Her eyes darted away from me for a moment as if she was trying to think of something to say.

Most likely, she was trying to come up with something clever or evasive.

I figured that because she'd just opened up about her past, she was too emotionally conflicted to think fast. I honestly hadn't expected her to be so open with me. There was a moment when I thought she'd shut down and make an excuse about not talking to me. But she surprised me and let me in.

It was a rare moment and I was waiting for the fallout.

She sighed heavily and brought her eyes back to mine. There was something deep in her eyes, something vulnerable and trusting.

Was she finally starting to trust me?

“I don't know who Helen is. She was not one of the witches I met as a child," she said clearly and without any attempts to hide the truth.

“Then how do you know her?" I pressed.

“About three years ago she started appearing in my dreams. Always the same, but I didn't pay attention before. She kept urging me to come here, to Miltern," she said, holding her arms out.

“And you followed a dream vision?" I asked, creasing my brow.

Mila sniffed and crossed her arms. “Well, after I left Saboreef, I didn't have anywhere else to go. It seemed as good an idea as any."

“I suppose so," I agreed. “And so, you followed a dream vision, knowing it was somehow real, but didn't think you were a witch?"

Mila swallowed audibly and her tense, walled-off posture softened slightly.

“I blocked it out. Maybe I thought Helen was a witch, but I didn't think that had anything to do with me. Or… I didn't want to believe that," she admitted somberly.

“Hmm."

I paced back and forth in front of her, mulling over everything that had happened. Helen had lured Mila here in dreams, but she had thus far not shown her face or revealed her intentions.

It didn't sound like Mila had had any repeat dreams of Helen since arriving in Miltern. Had Helen communicated with her in some other way?

“Do you think it is possible that Helen is the woman who delivered those flowers to you?" I asked, motioning to where the vase stood, before Mila had blasted it apart.

Mila shook her head. “I'm not sure. I didn't even know…"

She narrowed her eyes on me. Standing up Mila puffed herself up like she was about to attack me.

“You saw the person who delivered those flowers?" she asked, pointing accusingly at me.

“Yes. But only through a keyhole. I didn't get a good look," I said, smirking.

I realized that she hadn't known I was watching her. With the cat out of the bag, there was no point in denying it. After our interaction at the temple, I had assumed she knew I'd been keeping a close watch on her.

“You've been spying on me and following me around!?" she cried, throwing her arms up in the air.

I found her attempt at intimidation adorable. Like a mouse squeaking at a cat.

“I assumed a smart girl like you would have figured that out by now," I challenged, giving her a wolfish grin.

Mila scoffed and rolled her eyes.

I thought she might start ranting and raving, given that she was still in an emotionally vulnerable state. Opening up to me hadn't been easy. She was just as likely to become defensive and angry in an attempt to push me away again.

Now that we'd come this far, I wasn't going to let her do that.

Sighing, Mila flopped back down on the couch. She pinched the bridge of her nose, apparently recovered from her emotional outburst.

I sat beside her again and put my arm around her shoulders, half expecting her to pull away or punch me again.

She didn't.

Mila rested her head on my shoulder and deflated slightly. She must have been exhausted after reliving all those memories.

But she wasn't emotionally out of control now. She was steady. Her breaths were even and she wasn't leaning on me or clinging to me for support and comfort this time.

“You didn't catch up with her, did you?" she asked in a soft whisper.

I had to strain to hear her words. They were filled with disappointment and sadness.

“Otherwise, you wouldn't be asking me if it was Helen that delivered the flowers," she clarified.

“No. Payne went after her but he lost her in the fog around the forest. Whoever she is, she knows this area well and can come and go almost invisibly," I explained.

Her ability to fill in the blanks was astounding. I knew it had to do with her upbringing. She'd been raised in a high-risk, dangerous environment. Growing up, she'd had to rely on her instincts and constantly be aware of everything around her.

I'd met others like her before and it was always the same.

With Mila, it had evolved into a keen intelligence and strong survival skills. I was impressed to see that in someone so young and with such limited experience in the world outside her dangerous upbringing.

“That's unfortunate. But you should really stop spying on me," she added a little snippily.

“I would if you stopped trying to run off," I countered.

Mila shook her head against me but didn't respond.

I couldn't deny feeling bad for her upbringing. She'd been raised in horrible circumstances. Adopted by a poor family that only intended to profit off of her and used to lure her own kind into a bounty hunter's trap before she was able to understand what she was doing.

I seriously doubted that any of the money her foster mother made from those bounties ever benefited Mila at all. She'd probably gone hungry while her foster mother ate like a queen.

That kind of manipulation on someone so young and no wonder she didn't trust anyone.

I thought about the fights she'd heard and how her foster mother blamed her for their 'guests' leaving without saying goodbye. She probably had nightmares every night about those bumps in the dark and about constantly being left alone.

Although, she'd managed to survive her adverse upbringing and I appreciated the skills and attributes she'd gained from it. If I was putting money on anything, it would be her survival and her determination to get her questions answered.

“Well, now that you've gained my compliance and my help, perhaps you'll actually come to me so I won't have to spy on you," I told her to lighten the mood.

“What's the fun in that?" Mila asked, giggling.

It was good to see her bouncing back.

“What do you want to do now? You're taking the lead here. Tell me what we do now," I urged.

“Why are you asking me that now?" Mila asked.

She lifted her head from my shoulder and creased her brow. I saw the confusion in her eyes.

“You can figure it out on your own," she huffed.

“I could… but it will be a lot easier if you just tell me. It will save us both trouble."

“I don't see how," she muttered.

“Well, if you tell me, then you won't have to deal with me tracking you down and getting in your way. And I won't have to deal with putting in the effort to track you down."

“I want to go back to the temple," Mila said, sighing heavily.