Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 81 : Don’t Be Seen

*Eliza*

Traveling from Saboreef to the capital of Erogen took a week.

That was a week of roughing it on lumpy, rocky ground. No matter where we put the tent, I always ended up with a root or something sharp poking into me.

Jared was there, serving as a comfy pillow that helped with the worst of the discomfort.

Even though we'd had a nice break from crummy camping food while we stayed in Saboreef, I was definitely ready to eat some real, well-cooked meals after that long, long week on the road. If I could get meals cooked by someone else, professionally, that would be even better.

Fortunately, the weather was nice.

I wasn't completely expecting that, given the massive storm that had nearly flattened the village we were in.

For our entire trip to the capital, the skies were clear.

One morning, while Jared cleaned up the campsite and I made sure the fire was out, I kept glancing at the clouds in the sky.

“Eliza, what are you looking for?" Jared asked.

Sighing, I rubbed my hands on my thighs and kicked around in the ashes. The fire was definitely out.

“The entire time we were preparing for that sea storm, I kept having this feeling that it was just the beginning, that the storm would bring darkness. But...."

I threw my arms out to the sides and tipped my head back. Smiling, I spun around in the bright sunlight.

Jared chuckled and looped his arms around me, spinning me in a circle.

“Isn't it a good thing that the storm didn't bring some dark omen?" he asked.

I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder. The warm sun felt good on my skin, but it was nothing compared to the warmth from Jared's body as it permeated my tight-fitting hiking clothes.

“I guess. I still feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop...."

“Come on, Eliza. Maybe the storm did bring darkness, but it wasn't until after the storm that we got our first real lead for breaking the curse. Maybe all the light we have now is the hope we were missing before."

I bit my lip and nodded. “You know, you might be onto something."

We finished cleaning up the camp and set out on the road again. I felt like we'd been walking for weeks.

At least, when we'd been out in the wilderness, there'd been differing terrain–mountains, hills, rocks, rivers. But the trek back to the capital was flat and tough. By the time we made it to the main road into the capital, my feet felt swollen.

“Can we rest for a minute?" I asked, plopping down on a rock on the side of the road.

“We're almost there. We only have another thirty minutes of walking." Jared sat down beside me.

Without me even asking, he lifted my leg into his lap and pulled my shoe off. His hands started to work into the tender, aching muscles of my foot.

great. If you could just do

and dug his knuckles into the ball of my foot. He worked on that foot

there was nothing that could relax

sighed, melting into Jared's

of minutes, he put my

Getting to the capital is just half the battle. We still need to secure passage to

held his hand

stood up and held

aching and swelling was gone.

feel a lot better," I

into the capital on the main road. It is far too

know a secret entrance?"

tell you." He winked at me and led

wasn't even paved. It barely looked used. No one was on it and when we got to the edge of the capital, I noticed there

securing a vessel that will give

what do you want me to do?" I asked,

be spotted." He glanced over his shoulder at

Where should

we could

I said, hugging Jared's neck quickly

remember the last time we hadn't been around each other every second,

were filled with

a heavy military presence too. The royal army hung around on the streets. They were clearly there for protection

wind of Aeris' plans? Was

a message. I wanted to warn her about what was going on and what I was doing. It wasn't the best way to go

the coffee shop

tipped over my face, I ordered myself a latte and sat out on the patio, sipping my drink and

of them seemed bothered by the presence of the royal guards. They laughed happily and moved around with each other like it was

stirred and my stomach growled. I put my hand on my stomach and tried

was running out? Or

across

hood. He had the hood over his head, keeping his

us cover to travel without suspicion," Jared

will it take

be the most comfortable ride, but it will get us there. There's a lot more security on

in touch with my family from there." Nodding, I took

if not, at least we

word to my cousin while we were here. I just thought that she had the right to know what was going

and nodded. “I'd expect nothing different

played with the locket around my neck. It had become such a totem to my everyday life. I thought if I ever had to

and excited utterances caught my

what the crowd was getting