Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 1153 - 64 : We’re Family

Chapter 1153: Chapter 64 : We’re Family

*Eva*

Daphne painted a pretty picture of forgiveness and being accepted back into the good graces of the palace. I listened to her offers but it all sounded too good to be true. I knew better than to take an offer like that.

If King Xander and Queen Lena truly cared about what happened to me and Rion, they would have checked in on us a long time ago. They wouldn’t have shipped us off for someone else to deal with.

I highly doubted that the king and queen would let bygones be bygones, and not just because what I’d done was unforgivable. They showed me from an early age they didn’t care what happened to me.

No one had cared, not even the woman who claimed to be my mother.

I sniffed and slowly turned to Daphne. “I appreciate the offer. As someone who’s been on the outside for a long time, I doubt you see your parents the same way I do.”

“Well... that’s probably true.” She bit her lower lip.

“I’m safer assuming that they won’t show me leniency than striving for an elusive fantasy.”

Daphne’s face fell. I could tell I’d disappointed her. That wasn’t my intention, but she was a princess. She had no idea what it was like out in the real world. Even when Rion kidnapped her, she always had her princess status to fall back on.

There was no way she could ever understand what it was like for the rest of us.

“My whole life, Rion has been the one person I could count on and trust. I have no evidence to think I can trust anyone else.”

“Have you ever tried? I mean, you might be surprised.”

“You don’t know what my life has been like. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make judgments.”

I turned away from her and crossed my arms. Silently, I hoped Rion got back soon. I only sat with her because Rion asked me to keep her company. I couldn’t figure out what he saw in her, but he was my brother. It was a favor for him, not for her.

“Actually....”

I snapped my eyes toward her. “I’m sure Rion has divulged some of my secrets to you. That still doesn’t mean you can comprehend it. You’re a princess. Nothing has ever gone wrong in your life.”

Her lower lip quivered and she averted her eyes. “That’s not entirely true. My brother is in a persistent coma and no one has been able to wake him.”

“He still has a better chance than most with the resources and finances behind the palace.”

“Eva, you might not think I understand, but I’ve seen your memories. It isn’t just what Rion told me. I actually experienced what you experienced with your enslavement and your sons–”

“Stop!” I threw my demand at her and it echoed around the cave.

The men Rion left to watch us stopped what they were doing. Their eyes burrowed into me like little worms.

I forced a smile at Daphne and held it until they got back to whatever it was they were doing to keep busy.

“Listen to me, Princess.” I strongly emphasized her title. “We have nothing in common. Got it. Your brother’s coma isn’t anything compared to what I’ve lost. Getting kidnapped is nothing compared to what I endured as a child. Do not compare yourself to me or think you could understand.”

“I’m sorry, Eva. I didn’t mean to overstep. I wish we could find some common ground, for Rion. He’s the most important person in your life and he’s important to me too.”

I scoffed. “The only thing we have in common is the desire to get you back home.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Once you’re out of the way, Rion and I can get on with our lives, without you! He’s insistent that we get you home safely. I’m only helping because I know it is the only way to get my brother back.”

Daphne rolled her lips in on themselves. It was like she was stopping herself from blurting something out.

Good. I didn’t want to hear what she had to say anyway. Even if she did have some freaky power to see and experience my memories, that didn’t mean she could understand what I felt.

“I get it, Eva. Rion is your family. But you know, we might have more in common than you think. I consider Rion family too.”

“Why?” I scrunched up my nose.

“He and I have gotten very close.” A light blush colored her cheeks.

I chuckled. “Right. You think that his little fling with you will be enough to take him away from me? His sister?”

“I don’t want to take him away from you. That’s what I’m trying to say. Do you want to take him away from me?”

Her eyes widened and I saw genuine fear in those large, glowing orbs.

My heart twinged. I knew how important Daphne was to Rion. Was I being selfish by trying to get rid of her so I could have Rion all to myself? Did he want to stay with Daphne?

I had my suspicions but he hadn’t said anything outright. Was it another delusional dream of mine that Rion would simply walk away once Daphne was safe?

Should he have to?

“I wouldn’t say I want to take him away from you, but there is no in between. You belong at the palace and have to return. If Rion and I go with you, we’ll be imprisoned and thus separated. If we don’t, the two of you will still be separated.”

Daphne swallowed audibly and touched her stomach. “Things are different now. My parents will have to acknowledge that.”

I pursed my lips and studied the way she tenderly rubbed her stomach, a slight upturn to her lips.

“Because you’re pregnant?” I asked.

“Yes. Rion is my baby’s father.”

“Yes, I know. Ryan told me already. It does... complicate things, doesn’t it?”

“It doesn’t have to. I want Rion to be a part of his child’s life and I know he does too.”

“Well, that’s the complication, isn’t it? I doubt the royal family will welcome him back to the palace as the father of your child.”

“I hope they do.” Daphne chewed her lower lip.

Her reaction told me she already asked her parents and they weren’t supportive of the idea. Come to think of it, that was probably why they wanted to marry her off, even if the engagement to Alpha Gareth was fake.

“Does my brother even want to go to the palace with you?”

Daphne shrugged. “Maybe. We haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet. He was poisoned the last time I saw him and... well, look where we are.” She held her arms out to the cave around us.

“Rion isn’t the type to be satisfied with a stuffy, palace-bound life, especially if he’s unwanted by everyone else.”

“It doesn’t matter to me. Even if Rion doesn’t want to live in the palace, I don’t plan on spending my life raising this child without him. I can’t imagine bringing up this child away from its father.”

She smiled and put her hand on her stomach again. There was so much love and tenderness in her look, all for the child that grew inside her.

My brother’s child–making it my niece or nephew.

The realization struck me like a hammer to the chest. I leaned away from her slightly trying to catch my breath.

Since losing my own sons, I never imagined more children in my life. Daphne was adamant about having Rion be a participating parent and if I wanted to stay close to my brother, then I’d be close to their child too.

A frown tugged at my lips as I thought of little fingers and toes, smiles of joy, and all the wonders babies brought to the lives of adults.

Another part of me was sickened. There was no way I could love another child, hold them, or be anything to them, not after what had happened to my sons.

I looked away from Daphne, my eyes drawn to the mouth of the cave. Alpha Gareth’s search parties had moved on long ago.

“I’ll leave the palace if I have to. That’s how much it means to me to have Rion be in our child’s life.”

Daphne’s words surprised me. I turned to face her again.

“Really? You would walk away from the life of a princess to be with Rion?”

“Of course! I want us to be a family more than anything. If my parents won’t accept him, then I’ll leave that life behind. If he doesn’t want that life... I’ll follow him wherever he wants to go.”

“And what if that means living with me as well? Whether your parents accept Rion or not, they may never accept me. He won’t settle for a life in the palace without me.”

“I thought of that already.” Daphne nodded. “As long as I have Rion and our child, I don’t care who else is involved.”

“You’d follow Rion, even if he didn’t want to come to the palace because of me?”

“Why do you keep asking things like that? Eva, you’re Rion’s sister. I know how desperate he was to find you. You’re his family. I would never want to take that away from him, or you.”

She leaned forward, smiling, like we were going to be friends. It was hard to trust what she said. She was a princess, after all. Daphne didn’t know what it meant to give everything up. If she came with Rion and me, she’d end up resenting me.

“Why do you care so much if Rion and I get to stay together? Don’t you think it will ruin your perfect little family?”

Daphne frowned. “With my brother in a coma, I know how important family and siblings are. You’re right. I’ll never understand what you went through. But I know how important Rion is to you. He’s our common ground.”

She had a point. Her brother’s accident and her love for her siblings was one thing we could share.

“Even so, it is a big sacrifice for me.”

“With the baby coming, it ties us together a lot more than you think. You’re not just going to be this baby’s aunt, especially if Rion and I really commit to being parents together.”

A secretive smile touched her lips and she giggled under her breath.

Daphne grabbed my hand. Instinctively, I tried to pull away but she held tightly.

“Eva, you and I are going to be sisters. That makes us family too.”

I stared at Daphne, stunned by her words. Sisters? Family? The concepts were so foreign to me after the life I’d led.

Could it really be possible to start over and have the loving family I always wished for but never thought I deserved? I pushed down the tiny ball of hope rising in my chest, even as I said, "If Rion wants us to be family, then I’m willing to try."