Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

I sat up and rubbed my sore arms. Hawke looked so pathetic, trying to fight off a gaggle of wild animals

with his near useless arms. His guys hardly seemed to know what to do, either.

The pack of wild animals pushed Hawke and his group further and further away from me.

That kind of organized attack had to have been summoned by someone. I glanced around the forest

and saw a glimpse of shadow in the trees.

Sure enough, Tallis was standing in the trees. He could also organize an animal attack like that?

No way! I didn't believe in such a coincidence!

At a minimum, there must be some sort of connection between Theo and Tallis.

Getting to my feet, I ignored Hawke's continued cries for help and I went after Tallis. As soon as I

started approaching the woods, he vanished between the trees. This time, I wasn't letting him get away.

Hurrying my pace, I caught up with him. He was acting like he was trying to evade me, which made me

think he didn't want me to see him and made it even more suspicious.

"Hey, wait a minute," I called, reaching out to grab his arm before he could slip away.

Tallis growled and pulled away from me.

"What are you doing? Why are you following me? I told you, I' m not who you think I am. How many

times do I have to ask you to leave me alone?" he snarled.

I needed to figure out some other way to approach him.

"No, I'm not after you for that. Can you just wait a minute, please?" I asked, my voice a little desperate.

Tallis stopped walking. He didn't turn to face me but at least, he wasn't running away.

I caught my breath and moved closer to him. "It is different this time because I need your help."

Now, he turned to me, one eyebrow arched. "Is that supposed to be funny?"

"No," I said, holding my hands up to show I wasn't joking. "Hawke has come after me three times now

and I don't think he will stop. I've been lucky, but if I stay in the pack, he will just continue."

"So?" Tallis asked sharply.

"You have a place to stay with the traveling carnival. Can I stay with you? I can't go back to the pack

right now."

Tallis pressed his lips thin and glared at me. He was so surly and grumpy all the time. I almost thought

he was more intolerable than the Dark Prince. Yet, here I was, doing everything I could to get closer to

him.

What was wrong with me?!

I couldn't answer myself, but at this moment, I could tell myself that I had a valid reason to stay with the

man in front of me. It was for my own safety after all.

"I don't have a safe place to stay. So, can I stay with you?" | asked again, pleading with him with my

eyes. "Please?"

Tallis sighed heavily and started walking through the woods again. He hadn't confirmed I could stay

with him but he hadn't flat out denied me, either. I decided to take that as a yes and I followed after him.

When we got to the carnival tent, it was quiet. It seemed like most of the performers had gone to bed

for the night. Nelson was still up and he waved casually at Tallis.

Of course, Tallis just waved in return.

I rolled my eyes at him. He couldn't even spare his friendly, charismatic brother a friendly greeting. Who

else did I know that was just like that...?

"Who is with you, Tallis?" Nelson asked. "Ah, young sir, hello again!"

"He's going to stay with me," Tallis grumbled in a slightly annoyed tone.

I shot him a look. "Would it kill you to try to sound happy?”

Nelson looked absolutely surprised at us, and then laughed heartily and wiped a tear from his eye.

"Yes, m'boy, it would probably kill Tallis to be happy."

Tallis scoffed and shook his head. I gave him a triumphant smile.

"Tell me, how did you two become... friends?" Nelson asked, motioning for us to follow him.

Tallis and I went into Nelson's curtain office. He had a hot plate going with a big pot of soup on it.

"Are you hungry? I just whipped this up," he said, dipping a ladle into the steaming broth and lifting it to

his nose to smell.

"It smells delicious," I admitted, my stomach growling slightly.

"Sit, sit, I'll get some bowls," Nelson said, bustling around the small place.

There was only one chair and Tallis nodded toward it. I sat down and he stood right behind me. I'd half

expected him to run off the moment someone else was there to watch me.

Nelson ladeled up three bowls of soup and handed one to me and Tallis. He perched on the edge of his

folding table desk to eat his own bowl.

I stirred the spoon around in my bowl, taking a look at what was in the soup. It was full of thickly sliced

vegetables, beans, and some kind of meat. Nelson seemed like a good cook.

"For someone whose stomach was growling, you're being very picky," Tallis muttered.

"I just like to know what I'm eating," I replied, popping the full spoon into my mouth.

The warm broth was tangy on my taste buds and I smiled when I realized just how delicious the soup

was. I took another bite, savoring the flavor and slowly rolling it around on my tongue.

"Ah-I see," Nelson said, sighing and fixing Tallis and me with a funny look.

"See what?" I asked, creasing my brow. I filled my mouth again.

"Keep eating, stop talking!" Tallis frowned.

Nelson's eyes were even wider. Then he chuckled, "It's no wonder Tallis never looked at any of the girls

that threw themselves at him, regardless how pretty they were."

I looked at Nelson confused. What was he trying to say?

"You know, you could have told me you were into guys." Nelson winked at Tallis.

Soup threatened to spew from my mouth. I covered my mouth with my hands and hoped it wouldn't

shoot out my nose instead. The shock of Nelson's words had me ready to spit it all out all over his

desk.

Behind me, Tallis was coughing and choking, pounding on his chest. Whatever he swallowed must

have gone down the wrong pipe.

Nelson just laughed heartily. "It isn't a big deal. If you're happy, I'm happy!"

I swallowed the soup, gaining control of myself, and wiped a little stray broth off my mouth.

"Into guys?" I asked, glaring at him.

"I don't think Tallis has ever brought anyone back to the tent or ever carried on a conversation with

anyone. But now here you are, invited by him to join us for a pleasant dinner, and he will share his

room-" Nelson said, chuckling and shaking his head.

Wait, invited by him? I invited myself, okay?

And what was with sharing a room?!

I looked up at Tallis and nudged him with my elbow. He just shook his head and stayed quiet. I wanted

him to explain our relationship. I didn't need anyone else thinking my male disguise liked men!

"Nelson, Phoebe got herself stuck in the bird cage again," someone called from outside his office.

"Oh, I better help the contortionist. A few glasses of wine, and she starts to think she can change her

size, too," Nelson said.

With one final chuckle, he set his bowl down and left the office.

I turned in my seat to face Tallis. "Why didn't you clarify our relationship, or lack thereof?"

Tallis shrugged. "Explaining things is too time consuming."

"I don't want people to have the wrong idea," I insisted, crossing my arms.

"They are going to think what they are going to think, regardless of what I say. If you have any issues,

you're welcome to leave," Tallis said dismissively.

I glowered at him. Oh, was he going to get on my nerves...