Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 876

Chapter 82 : Cursed Because of Me

*Jared*

Life aboard the trading vessel was… confined.

The ship was taking us up a river that went directly into the Light Realm. Eliza and I had been given a room that was normally reserved for the crew. Since they were short-staffed, we'd managed to get passage on the trading ship as crew members.

The manifest has us listed like that, so if anyone boarded or inspected the ship, we'd look like we were supposed to be there.

I stood on the deck of the ship, looking out over the river as we slowly moved against the current.

“First time?" a gruff, masculine voice asked, coming up beside me.

I glanced over at the crew member. I'd seen him around, but he hadn't spoken to me before.

He was wearing a crew uniform, but he was practically bursting out of the sleeves with his thick arm muscles. His hair was shaggy and he had a scruffy beard.

“Excuse me?" I arched an eyebrow.

“To the Light Realm," he clarified. He smirked, a twinkle in his eye. “I can always tell someone that is on their first crossing."

“Well, yeah, it is. I'm sorry, it must be strange for you to have passengers aboard on a regular trade run."

“Ehh… not really. My name is Rex, by the way." He pulled an apple out of his pocket and bit into it. “You and that girl of yours haven't made much of a fuss."

“We like our privacy."

Rex chuckled and nodded. “I'm sorry to intrude, then."

“Oh, no, that's not what I meant." I pressed my palm to my forehead. “I'm Jared. My girlfriend is Eliza."

“Hmm. I haven't seen much of her since the two of you boarded the ship," he said. He finished the apple and tossed the core overboard.

It made a large plop in the still water and the ship slid on, forgetting all about it.

“Can you tell me more about the Realm of Light?" I asked.

Rex rubbed his beard and shrugged. “All realms have some similarities. Though, the Light Realm does seem to have a certain beauty and elegance that other realms lack. Did you know it was created for one of the Moon Goddess's twin children?"

I nodded. “I've heard that story before."

“Well, I can say that the White Queens are… truly magnificent, should you have the chance to see them with your own eyes."

Rex smirked and clapped me on the shoulder.

He was strong and I stumbled to the side, not expecting the force of his gesture.

“Is there anything a newbie like me should expect or be prepared for entering another realm?"

Rex mimicked my position, putting his elbows on the rail of the ship like me.

I stared out at the water and the setting sun. It reflected perfectly off the glassy surface. The only imperfection was small ripples from the ship as it sliced through the water.

“From the realm, nah. You'll be fine. There's nothing too surprising there. It has been a peaceful realm for a long time. But that family, they've got some drama."

“Drama?" I arched an eyebrow. I knew Rex was talking about Eliza's family.

He seemed like a “no bullshit" kind of guy that would tell it to me straight. I was curious to know what someone who didn't know who I was, or who Eliza was, would have to say about her family.

“Nothing major, it's just some rumors here and there like how when Queen Rosalie had Ethan and his brother Soren trying to court her at the same time." He chuckled and shook his head. “As I said, rumors, but they make for good stories."

I nodded and listened to what else he had to say.

I nodded and listened to what else he had to say.

It sounded like prestigious families had a lot of their own problems, though I prefered family drama to family curses and blood debts.

I hadn't met Eliza's family yet. Knowing more about them and her extended family made me feel better. The truth was, Eliza was going back to them newly cursed, and she'd been cursed because of me.

Would they hold it against me? Would they find a reason for us not to be together?

I'd have to explain to her family, and her people, why she was cursed and what my hand was in all that.

I knew Eliza could handle herself and she'd make her own decisions. I didn't have parents or a family that would ever need to approve of Eliza as the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

But she did have a family.

When Rex finished his stories, he headed back to work. I returned to the cabin Eliza and I were sharing.

In the past few days, she'd only emerged for meals. There was one time she came to the deck to catch some sunlight, but she'd been preoccupied.

I didn't blame her. Traveling back to the Light Realm was nothing new for her. This was my first time there, not hers.

As I suspected, Eliza was still in our cabin. She had all the texts and scrolls we'd been given by the elder of Saboreef, and she had been combing through them since we arrived on board.