Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 812

Chapter 23 : A Dance With Jared

Jared extended his hand to me, beckoning me forward. I glanced over my shoulder at Aeris, who was looking smug and suspicious as he leaned against the railing of the terrace overlooking the city of Suncrest. Night was falling, and the city lights sent an amber haze rippling over the horizon.

It would have been beautiful had that orange-eyed creep not been standing right in front of my view.

“Eliza," Jared repeated more sternly.

I fixed Aeris with a steely glare and took Jared's hand. Aeris raised his brows at me but looked nothing but amused.

Jared placed my hand in the crook of his arm as we walked back into the ballroom, leaning down to hiss, “Don't egg him on."

“He knows," I said, looking up into his eyes.

Jared looked down at me, nostrils flaring. “What did you say?"

“I didn't say anything! He said it was–it was my hair. It was my hair that gave it away. Someone in his circle must have recognized me from the auction."

Jared cursed under his breath and broke from my gaze to look around the ballroom. Warriors were posted along the walls, watching the proceedings. Jared eyed them all, then found Archer and Brandt in the crowd.

“We're getting out of here tonight," he said, leading me through the crowd again.

“But he hasn't given you the scroll yet–"

“I don't care about the scroll."

“Of course you do! That's why you're here, and why you brought me here. You need it. I'll be fine–"

“He will stop at nothing to lay claim to what he believes is his," Jared seethed in my ear. I closed my eyes as a ripple of heat rushed through my body as his breath tickled my neck. “I won't let anyone else have you."

Anyone else?

Jared straightened up, catching Brandt's eye in the crowd. He nodded once, his pointer finger brushing against the tip of his nose. Brandt made another quick motion with his hand in response and disappeared into the crowd.

“What was that all about?" I asked, but Jared moved us deeper into the fray.

We arrived at the edge of the dancefloor where a dance was already in full swing. It was a group dance, the couples weaving in and out of each other and then twirling with their partners.

“We'll catch the next dance," Jared said absently, his eyes still scanning the room.

going to tell me what was going on. Was Aeris going to announce to the crowd that I was his breeder? Was Jared really planning on trying to escape the castle when it

seriously about to give up on the mysterious scroll

the ballroom. The young dancers beamed with pride as a few couples made their way back into the crowd of onlookers,

well-practiced. I'd watched some of the young women dancing with their partners when I'd first arrived at the ball. They danced with controlled grace, their faces screwed in concentration as they hit each and every step with

a circle, clutching each other's hands for dear life and trying not to mow down anyone dancing

on the violinist. Aeris had mentioned a few times that Jared was acquainted

after all–a game. I was just a piece of it, a cog

out onto

softly, trying to hide my

fine. Just pretend like you're enjoying yourself. That's what Aeris wants to see,"

sides of the room, both of them looking in the same direction. I knew they were watching Aeris without having to crane my neck to follow their gazes. Aeris was testing us. I had to prove with this dance that I wasn't some lowly breeder saved from the auction block. I had to prove I was some high-born lady like the women in

whispered as he raised our joined hands to shoulder level.

know

he breathed, then he swept me into

feet. He'd mentioned being a good dancer, but the word “good" wasn't an adequate description of how the man moved. He was confident in every step he took, sure-footed and strong. He was as agile

Me? Not so much.

me lead," he said

And I did.

Jared took my hand and spun me in a tight circle. Another twirl, then another, my feet barely touching the ground as we wove

as I breathlessly looked up at him, totally

you learn how to dance

a playful grin, then had me spinning on my toes

he said wryly. “That came

my hand, his other hand trailing over my back as he sent me

outstretched hand met the hand of another woman roughly my age, who took my hand and led me in a tight circle for a moment before I was sent spinning again, right back into

between the other dancers. I

my lower back, his palm spread wide. My chest

The music seemed to slow, our movements sure and deliberate as his body

if in slow motion. He was looking at me now in the same way he'd looked at me when he'd asked me my name that night at the

“Trust me," he'd said.

I had.

But why?

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