Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 27 : An Impossible Code to Crack

I tried not to think about Jared's words as I set to work on the scroll.

There was a small desk near the windows of my room, showered in crisp, early spring sunlight. I set up camp there, rummaging around in the drawers for paper and several quills, then set to work. Translating anything from Pritian was always a challenge, especially with no published texts to work from. Pritian was nothing but symbols that danced in an uneven rhythm. It could be read side to side, left to right, right to left, or even top to bottom, so on, and so forth, which is why, after nearly two hours of copying directly from the scroll and then doing my best to translate each individual symbol on a separate piece of paper, I found myself with a toe-curling headache that had me seeing stars every time I blinked.

I heard a knock on the door and mumbled a silent prayer that someone was bringing me a lunch tray with hot coffee, but found myself now sharing the space with Brandt, who seemed a little sheepish as he gave me a boyish grin as he closed the door behind him.

“I'm not bothering you, am 1?"

“No, of course not," I breathed, giving him a weak smile. “It would have been better if you'd brought me some coffee, or were fluent in written Pritian.”

I waved my hand over the mess of papers now littering the desk and the floor. Brandt shrugged and pulled the chain of fabric next to the door that would ring a little bell somewhere in the depths of Aeris's castle, alerting a maid that I needed attention.

“I can get you some coffee, but I'm no help with... Pritian, right?" He crossed the room with his hands tucked behind his back, peering over my shoulder at the work I'd accomplished. I'd translated nearly all of the symbols, but I wasn't ready to start deciphering what the scroll was trying to convey. I'd be at this all day at this rate.

"Yes, Pritian,” I mumbled, squinting at the bottom line of the scroll. It was a signature of some kind, the symbols totally new to me. “Damnit, I have no idea what this is supposed to be."

There was a soft knock at the door. I didn't turn my head to the soft footsteps that entered the room. It was her startled squeak that had me snapping my neck to face her, a mousy young woman with blonde hair and cornflower eyes. She looked... scandalized, but not because Brandt was in my room, no. She was looking at the papers strewn all around me, covered with ink and my untidy scrawl.

“Could you bring us some coffee, please? Maybe a few sandwiches," Brandt asked kindly, giving the young maid a beautiful smile.

She blinked up at him, then bobbed her head, trembling a bit as she turned back to the door. "Wait," I said hurriedly. “Do you by chance have any texts related to the early people from this realm? Early Lycaonic people, from when he-"

“Oh, I wouldn't-1 wouldn't know," the maid squeaked, her voice wrapped in sudden apprehension. “We aren't allowed to read."

"What?" I scoffed, glancing up at Brandt, whose brow was furrowed as he peered at the young woman. “Why not?"

She shrugged, her cheeks coloring. “Most of us can't read-"

I opened my mouth in shock, but Brandt took a step toward the maid and handed her a small cloth bag. It was a coin purse, and it was heavy.

“Can you find someone that would have access to Alpha Aeris's private library, or possibly the rectory of the Temple of Lycaon next door? It's imperative she has the resources she needs. And-" Brandt reached into his pocket, pulling out another small purse. He plucked a small gold ring from it, dropping it in the pocket of her apron. “If everyone keeps their mouths shut about it, there will be plenty more where that came from."

The maid backed out of the room, her eyes wide with shock and maybe even fear.

I tried not to think about Jared's words as I set to work on the scroll.

"What did she mean?" I asked, turning in my chair as Brandt walked back over to stand beside me. “None of them can read? Really? What the hell kind of place is this?"

“The kind of place that prefers women to warm their master's beds rather than debate them about politics and decorum,” Brandt said flatly, picking up one of the papers I'd been scribbling on. “What is this?"

“It's the center of Jared's artifact, the Cryptex. At least, that's what I think it'll look like when we combine all the pieces. I was wondering if the symbols on the Cryptex were Pritian too, but now I'm not so sure.” I tapped my finger on the scroll, frowning. I didn't have anything I needed to do this. I could provide a loose translation of the scroll to Jared, but then what?

"What made you interested in this kind of stuff?” Brandt sat down on the edge of my bed, then reached out to pick up a scratch paper I'd wadded up and tossed over my shoulder an hour ago. I shrugged, turning back to my work.

“I was studying to be a nurse, actually. But I needed a history credit. I took a class in ancient history and was hooked. I guess I just like to know-"

"Everything?" Brandt smirked.

I glared at him playfully over my shoulder.

Thus began Brandt's questions about the Realm of Light, which was probably the main reason he was in my room. I answered any questions he had, cleared up some rumors about the differences between the realms, and spent a great deal of time recounting the two years I'd spent at the University of Mirage. He loved my animated stories of the college parties I'd attended, and he sat enraptured as I continued to slowly piece together the scroll while mindlessly spilling my life story. I'd left out the important details about my family and my pack, however. I hadn't mentioned my ties to the royal families of my realm, or my tie to his Luna Queen. I couldn't bring myself to tell him, even though I did trust Brandt. I liked him, and I knew that he wouldn't run his mouth and cause chaos knowing I was the cousin of not only the Luna of Egoren, but the Moon Goddess herself.

It wasn't that I thought they were going to try to fetch a ransom for me, or use me in any way if they knew the truth.

It would just give Jared all the more reason to try to get rid of me, knowing I had family in this realm.

I wasn't ready to leave, not yet.

The maid returned with our coffee, but no books. She gave Brandt an apologetic shrug as she hurried back out of the room.

"Damn," I said beneath my breath.

I really needed to talk to Jared about this. After translating every symbol, there were at least twelve that I couldn't make sense of. They weren't written in Pritian, I was sure.

Brandt had little knowledge of the ancient people from his realm, so I was s**t out of luck.

I leaned back in my chair with my coffee clutched between my hands and breathed deeply, my head still throbbing.

"What do you think it says?" Brandt asked, leaning on one of the windowsills as he sipped his coffee. I blew out my breath, shaking my head.

“I have no f*****g clue," I grumbled, taking the biggest sip of coffee that I could without burning my mouth. “I think it's encrypted. I could probably read it with a cipher as a guide, as long as the cipher had the symbols I'm not familiar with on it... ugh!" I set my coffee down and rubbed my temples. I should have paid more attention in Cryptography. I felt like my head was going to explode.

looked sympathetic, but it was obvious he had no idea what I was complaining about.

I rose from the chair, several papers falling out of my lap. My hands were ink-stained and aching, my neck felt tight and strained. I walked to the edge of my bed and fell face first onto the mattress, my arms spread wide.

"How the hell did Jared think he was going to decipher this thing? Did he know it was going to be in code?" I muttered against the bedclothes.

Brandt walked across the room, turning out the light.

“He said something to me about enlisting the help of the witches a while ago,” he shrugged.

I turned my head to look at him, narrowing my eyes.

“Not the kind of witches we ran into in the forest," he assured me, chuckling to himself. “I'm sure he has a few books on this stuff too, Eliza. When we get home you can... do whatever you're trying to do then."

I propped myself up on my elbow, considering this. The conversation had also shifted to the topic of Jared, which I'd been waiting for.

"Why did Aeris call Jared the Lost Prince?" I asked.

Brandt's cheeks flushed as he blinked at me, then he looked down at his shoes and shifted his weight. I sat up a little straighter, noticing Brandt's sudden discomfort.

“It's not for me to say," he said weakly, giving me an apologetic look that made me even more suspicious.

“Is Aeris trying to make Jared his heir?" I pressed.

Brandt looked surprised, furrowing his brow. “No, of course not!"

“Then why would he call him that?"

Brandt gritted his teeth, obviously on the verge of telling me something he wasn't supposed to. Brandt was the kind and innocent-as far as innocent went with this group—personality among the three bandits. I could see the internal battle going on behind his blue eyes.

“I won't tell him you told me,” I smiled. “Please, tell me!"

"Eliza," he said. “I can't." His voice was edged with what sounded like pain.

I slumped against the bed, sighing in surrender.

“You could ask him yourself?"

“I tried," I sighed. “I don't... understand him. He's so hot and cold with me.”

“I know. He's like that with everyone.”

“But why? I actually enjoy his company when he's being just... Jared, and not the Ice Lord."

“Ice Lord?" Brandt laughed, then really laughed, his straight white teeth gleaming in the sunlight pouring through the windows.

“You know what I mean,” I murmured, adjusting the pillow under my head before lying back down. I sucked on my lower lip, wondering if Brandt really knew what I meant. He couldn't possibly know how that hot and cold behavior transferred to the bedroom. Jared had been an absolute savage last night, especially once I made it clear that's what I wanted to see. I'd loved every second of it. I'd wanted it that way. I wanted it like that again.

But then there was the overprotective and self-righteous Jared, who also laughed and teased and seemed to truly care for me, for all of us.

Then, he was cold and distant, secretive, that dark shadow weaving itself around him and closing him off from us, and especially from me, completely.

He was just like the scroll I was trying to decipher-impossible to crack.

“You should get some sleep,” Brandt shrugged, his hand resting on the doorknob. “I... don't think you got much of that last night.”

“Not you too," I groaned, rolling over to face the windows. “Leave the incessant teasing to Archer, please.”

“See you later,” he laughed, then left, and I found myself in blissful quiet.

I sandwiched my aching head between two pillows, closing my eyes against the sun. One of the pillows still smelled like Jared.

mouth twitched into a smile as I fell asleep.