Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 78 : As Soon As Possible

*Eliza*

The elder women led me away from the village into the woods a little way. I glanced back, but Jared was already out of my eyesight.

They brought me to a sacred temple. There were statues of the Moon Goddess in the doorway.

Mesmerized by the temple and the carvings, I totally forgot about Jared being far away.

“What is this place?" I gasped, placing my hand on one of the carvings.

“A holy, sacred place of the Moon Goddess," one of the elders said.

I sighed and shook my head. Well, that was obvious. I was kind of hoping for a little more than that.

Inside the temple, at the center, was a large opening in the floor. Water bubbled up from a natural spring underneath.

“You can bathe here. We have fresh clothes when you're ready."

I nodded but walked around the pool to the shrine at the head of the temple. There was a statue in the shrine that looked like it was meant to be the Moon Goddess. She had features that seemed familiar but that weren't usually associated with the Moon Goddess.

Where had I seen this woman before? It felt like a distant memory or a dream, something I should remember but couldn't quite grasp…

There was a stone placard in front of the statue. It read, “Luna of Blackfire."

“Miss Eliza," an elder called to me.

“I'm coming."

I stripped down and got into the pool. The women came in with me. They washed me and tamed my hair. Once I was dried off, they handed me a gorgeous dress, nicer than anything I'd seen or worn in a long time.

It was satin, dark emerald, and perfect for this kind of tropical night warmth.

“These tattoos," one of the elders said, running her fingers up my arm with the curse marks. Her eyes were distant and glazed over as she studied them.

“What about them?" I asked, creasing my brow.

The elder frowned and ran her thumb over my arm. “Is this a place in the Light Realm, a map?"

“A map?" I gasped.

The elder nodded. “It is familiar to me, like the lines of a map, something from the Light Realm."

All I could do was shrug.

started brushing my hair, I turned my arm toward the light and

could, without getting my hair pulled out, and saw the lines

was right… it looked like a map of an area in the Light

could be the key

raced and my stomach fluttered excitedly. I wanted to get back to Jared and

looking at it upside down all this time. If I'd seen the marks in a mirror, then

to get back to Jared," I said,

ready, though. I had to wait for them to change into dresses that matched

There was a bonfire crackling away and

My stomach growled.

just been eating quick snacks here and there while we

and got me a plate full of delicious feast food. I tucked right into the lamb shish kabob. The meat was so tender and juicy,

met up

mouth was full, so I shoved the shish kabob at him. He grinned and took a big

the best food I've had

sucked some stray juice off his

the other side of the bonfire. They played slow, soft music at first and the village leader told a story

were embellished or exaggerated,

was talking about witches and how Saboreef had been a place witches were hunted and somehow one of the witches survived and became

an interesting

Jared and saw

talking, the musicians began

arm around my shoulders. There was a new look of fierce determination in his

“What's going on?"

didn't answer with words. Jared pulled me against him and kissed me hard on the

gotten into you?" I

just enjoying this festival."

to his enjoyment and determination, but we

more food and I clapped along with the music while the villagers danced around the

with me," I pleaded

the twirling figures as they moved around the fire in a rhythmic

other and got caught up

and hopped, feeling like I was floating

to the dance. I felt like I could just run and spin around with

felt like I could just run and spin around with the rest of

Jared's. Now and then, I looked at him and saw that he

until I thought

to drink," I

and we headed to a table