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.

really great. If you could just do that for

worked on that foot for

could relax me as much as… that other thing

melting

another couple of minutes, he

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

up and held his hand out

stood up and held

he pulled me to my feet. Amazing, all the aching and swelling was gone.

feel a lot

because we aren't going to get into the capital on the main road. It is far

know a secret entrance?"

all the things I could tell you." He winked at

around to a side road that 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 weren't any

we get inside, I'm going to work on securing a vessel that will give us safe passage," Jared

do you want me to do?"

under the radar and don't be spotted." He glanced over his shoulder at

Where should we meet

where we could meet up once he had our

Don't be seen," I said, hugging Jared's neck quickly before we parted

around each other every second, minus the few brief moments we

there were people everywhere. The streets were filled with pedestrians and vehicles. Shops were packed

hung around

Alpha King got wind of Aeris' plans? Was he already putting his own defenses in

where I could send my cousin Lena a message. I wanted to warn her about what was going

to the coffee shop once the message

sunglasses on and a sun hat tipped over my face, I ordered myself a latte and sat out on

by the presence of the royal guards. They laughed happily and moved around

my hand on my stomach and tried to calm it. The shadow was getting

time of the curse was running out? Or was I just

latte landed on the table across from me. I started

sweater on with a hood. He had the hood

us passage out of the capital on a trading vessel. It should give us cover to travel without suspicion," Jared said. He sat down and cupped

it

comfortable ride, but

should be able to get in touch with my family from there."

but if not, at least we will be a lot

that she had the right to know what

“I'd

It had become such a totem to my everyday life. I

gasps and excited utterances

what the crowd