Sold to the Alpha With Silver Eyes - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

*Eden*
It isn’t easy being brave when you’ve been trained to be anything but brave in front of anyone with rank. For nineteen years, I was loved, protected and often treated like I was someone special and had a bright future ahead of me. But in two years’ time, all of that was stripped away with strike after strike, each one tearing down those pillars of who I was.
And yet, as I look into the eyes of the king with Dev at my back, I feel…different. Like I can trust the man who promises me the protection I know can be so feeble. So instead of cowering at his questions or his unwavering stare, I swallow my fear and clear my throat.
“Well?” King Cedric asks, impatient as he watches me, no doubt trying to gauge my heart beat as if he had a built in lie detector. “What does the bond feel like? You claim that you have felt it first hand, not by what others have accounted, so tell me.“
“It burned where they pricked my thumb, more like a searing, as if I were being branded. Then it felt like my chest was being squeezed. When I was released from both feelings, there was a soft breeze that touched only my purchaser and me…” I sway, rubbing my wrist, remembering the moment the strange bond took hold.
It could be similar to the mate bond, I wouldn’t know, but all I know is it is locked in and my wolf is responding to it, as is my body.
“Hmmm,” the king hums, sitting back in his chair as he rubs his chin in thought. “And the man who purchased you? Where is he now?”
A pang of guilt tickles at the back of my mind and I fight the urge to look over at Dev. I have never been a good liar, which is why I was beaten so much. It was impossible to give the Alpha the answer he wanted from me because he could tell I was lying.
“He was killed trying to fight the warriors you sent to free me and the other woman.” I whisper, looking down at my hands. I can feel the weight of his eyes pressing on me, searching for any holes in my story.
“And this paperwork you claim sealed the bond. Do you have it with you?” He asks next and I breathe easier, entering the area where I do not have to lie.
My lips press together as I shake my head no. “I was sold essentially as a sex slave. Any paperwork goes with the purchaser. What happened to it after he was dead…I don’t know.” I shrug.
He pauses for a moment, standing and pacing before he turns and leans with his fists on his desk, face perplexed. Then he swings his gaze to Dev, who stands behind me.
“You didn’t recover any of these papers?” He asks him, clearly disappointed. Dev must shake his head or answer via the mind link as I hear no sound from him but see frustration pass over the king’s face.
“What happened after?” He groans, growing more irritated by the moment. My brows knit together as I look at him, unsure of what I am supposed to share.
“Uh, well…I hid until I thought it was safe. I was wrong and someone who attended the auction found me. They dragged me away and threw me over a cliff into water.” I swallow, looking away, my skin prickling with a chill as if I am in the water again, reliving that moment.
“And Dev here had to play hero and jumped in after you, I assume?” He sighs heavily, stroking his hand through his styled hair. “As he always does, risking himself when he is told specifically not to put himself in these situations.”
“I am sorry, King Cedric.” Dev offers from behind me. King Cedric waves him off before he turns, crossing his arms over his chest and stares out the window.
“You can take her. I see no reason not to believe what she says. There is nothing for her to gain from these lies. I do, however, want to speak with Leoni, get a full report from her now that she has had her time to mourn her mate.”
“If you do not mind, I have a few things I would like to speak with you about in private, regarding Hastings’ burial.” Dev says, stepping up next to me where I sit. The King looks at him thoughtfully.
“I will send for you tomorrow. Right now, I need to stay on task.” He then waves us away as Dev scowls and reaches down, grabbing my wrist as he drags me out of the office. Prince Nate gives me a little grin and flashing wave as we exit the room, the door hammering shut behind us.
He says nothing as we track through the massive house, down the stairs and straight through the doors that lead out to the very steps Dev had left me when I first arrived. When he finally touches the last one, he spins to face me. His lips pull together as he licks his teeth and his anger shows.
“Dev,” I ask, looking at his hold on my wrist as I gently remove it, pulling his attention to me fully.
“I’m sorry,” he exhales. “I am just frustrated with the King. He made me a promise and then he refuses to speak to me since he knows he broke it.”
“What good does discussing it with him do now?” I ask, frowning.
“Nothing.” He exhales. “Let’s just get you back home. I will stay with you for a little bit while Leoni comes and talks to them.”
It doesn’t take a clairvoyant person to see he is struggling internally with things. Not just the loss of his friend, but no doubt the person he would confide in when things like this arise. I get the feeling this is not the first time the king has frustrated him. It is interesting to see that there isn’t just a blind following to King Cedric just because of his title, but that he has people who question him.
“You don’t have to stay with me if you want time alone.” I offer, and he frowns.
“I don’t mind.” He finally says, giving me a sad attempt at a smile. “But you have to promise to talk. The last thing I want is silence.”
My eyes grow wide and I chew the inside of my cheek. What the hell do I have to say that is interesting? All I have are sob stories I wish never to relive.
“Uh, well,” I fumble for words, searching for a topic as I scan the area around us. “It’s nice weather now that the rain has stopped.”
“Yeah, I suppose it’s kind of nice now.” He mutters, looking up at the sky.
Awkward silence falls over us, only the sound of our feet crunching on the sidewalk as we make our way closer to where I am staying.
“Have you put any effort into figuring out the…issue between us?” I ask, finally realizing there is one topic we should be discussing regularly, things we should be doing to help resolve the issue between us.
“Your attraction to me?” he asks, arching a brow as he shoots me a smirk.
“My what?” I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to pretend he is making things up. Is Dev an exceptionally handsome man with his wild hair and chiseled face…well…chiseled everything. He makes me feel things I didn’t realize I could feel someone who isn’t my mate. Like safe and wanted.
“Are you saying I am not attractive?” He asks, feigning offense.
“Being attractive and having an attraction aren’t the same thing.” I tell him and he makes a surprised face.
“Huh, so I’m just attracted to you then?” He grins, this time trying to catch me in a full blush, and he succeeds. My cheeks burn and all I can do is blink at him as my mind blanks out. Did he just openly admit he is attracted to me? Even my mate didn’t want me, not that he saw me at my best, but still…
“You must be starved for choices of women in your line of work,” I chuckle, and he joins me.
“I know it’s just the bond, working for us to do what we agreed to do, but I do enjoy your company from time to time.” He admits. For some reason, his words both hurt and elate me. His attraction may be due to the bond, but he enjoys my company. For me, that is more than I have had in years. Someone who genuinely enjoys my presence.
“Have you learned anything more about it? The bond, I mean, and how to break it?” I ask him.
His face completely changes, the joy leaving him as he sticks his hands in his pockets and I watch his shoulders fall.
“No,” He seems defeated. “I have to admit I have not had a chance to look into it deeper. My brain has been elsewhere.”
I reach out, my hand gently gripping his elbow as I tilt my head and stop him.
“I’m sorry, I know losing Hastings isn’t easy and juggling what you do and dealing with the entire issue of being stuck with me…”
“I am not stuck with you,” he scoffs, and I smile softly.
“Technically, you kind of are if you want a mate.” I shrug and he exhales, and then he nods in understanding.
“Right, well. There is the scholars room. It’s like a library, but it’s next door. That’s where all the laws are kept and any loopholes we are going to be found in those books.”
“Do I have to be a warrior to go there?” I ask, intrigued by the idea of locking myself away with words and not people for a while.
As much as Leoni and Dev have been good company, I crave the silence required to listen to myself think. And I have to plan my future, one where I’m not living off others.
And one where I don’t have to be here when they learn what I really am. A traitor’s daughter, fallen from grace of the beta status and sent to a life of servitude. If they figured it out…would they re-sentence me?
“No,” Dev says, watching me closely. “You do not have to be a warrior. Anyone who is not a rogue can go and look at them. Only issue is you can’t check them out like books.”
“Leoni can take me after training.” I assure him. “If there is a way out of this bond in those laws, I will find it.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t meet his eyes as he drops his gaze to the ground and starts walking again.
“Good. I’d hate for you to feel stuck here, as much as it is kind of nice having you around. You probably have a life you want to get back to.” He offers.
The smile instantly falls away, my ability to fake happiness gone as I think about what my future holds.
“I have nowhere to go,” I admit. “No one is out there missing me.”
“I know you are an orphan, but…you have no one at all? What about in your old pack?” He asks and then I watch the gears turn, the questions I want to avoid popping into his head as he opens his mouth to say more, but he snaps his mouth closed instead and offers me a soft smile.
“Let’s get back to Leoni’s. I’d rather not talk about my past.” I mutter walking again, unable to cull the heaviness in my stomach.