The Demigod Breeder: Their Hated Obsession

5. The Reveal

Juno ~

“Is she in there?” “She saved the king!” “We want to see her!”

I heard the numerous voices from within the carriage as I was brought back to the palace.

On one hand, I was glad the plan was back in motion and my life didn’t end in a dragon’s belly.

On the other hand though… I was rather nervous.

Never in my life had I received this amount of attention, not even when I was the Princess of the Siren Isles.

Numerous people were waiting outside the carriage to see the sacrifice of the century turned King Saviour.

And not to mention the plethora of unanswered questions I had.

My thoughts were interrupted by the doors being opened roughly.

“Get down,” the now familiar guard from before ordered and I obeyed.

And this time he had enough respect for me not to mindlessly hurl me over his shoulder.

Curious gazes and hushed whispers were prevalent as I stepped through the massive doors and into the great hall of the palace.

“You know, I should have believed you when you said you would kill the dragon,” I heard Gertrude’s voice and I turned to see her rushing towards me.

She gave me a tight hug and when she pulled away, a brilliant smile graced her elderly human face, “I’m not sure I’m supposed to say this, but glad you survived.”

I returned her smile with a surprised smile of my own and her gaze darted behind me.

“You may leave, lord Colton,” Gertrude ordered the guard and he offered a bow and left.

“He’s not usually so compliant,” Gertrude muttered almost inaudibly.

“Now dear!” She started in a much louder voice and moved down the hall and gestured for me to follow her, “there will be feasts, and celebrations for the king's return and who knows, he might just offer you half of his kingdom as a thank you gift for such a feat,” Gertrude joked but I did not catch it.

There was far too much on my mind.

“Should you not be worried about how I was able to bring the king back?” I asked softly and Gertrude’s brows scrunched up as her feet paused their movement for a brief moment as though she had never thought of that before.

“You are the chosen one, and that is all that matters,” she resumed her walk, “Why you were chosen is no concern of mine, I’ll leave that to the gods to bother about.”

I hummed and nodded as I followed her down the brightly lit hall.

We got to a pair of huge double doors made of oakwood.

Gertrude pushed them open and I gasped at the beauty of the room before me.

The walls were a pristine shade of white with accents of mauve.

There was a lounge area with plush lilac and white sofas that looked as soft as clouds.

The floors were a glossy shite marble, polished to perfection.

Finally there was a king sized bed against a curved wall that was made entirely of glass. I could see the pink, purple and orange hues of the setting sun over the city that was preparing for the night.

It looked beautiful, to say the least.

“This will be your room for the time being,” Gertrude told me.

“Are all rooms in the palace this beautiful?” I asked and she offered a small smile.

“This is actually one of the… lesser rooms,” she told me.

I always knew Edoril was rich, but this? I could have never imagined.

However, when Gertrude closed the doors, something shifted in the atmosphere of the room and I turned to her.

Her demeanour had changed to something severely serious as she eyed me with suspicion.

“Is uh, is something the matter?” I asked.

“I may be human,” she said slowly, “but I can sense things… smell when something is off.” She took a step closer to me, “smell when people are hiding things… hiding their identities…” she narrowed her eyes, “And you, girl… you are no human, I smell Siren blood.”

My now wildly beating heart dropped to my stomach and my chest tightened.

That was when it dawned on me that my scent blockers had expired and if I stepped out of that door, every single Lycan or Dragon in the palace would be able to tell I was a Siren.

“I can explain—” I started but she shut me up with a single finger.

“There is no need,” she let out a heavy breath and I scrunched my brows in confusion.

Her eyes met mine again.

“The Dragon King is a hateful man, he has always been, but there is nothing he hates more than Sirens,” she said, “If he finds out what you are, it doesn't matter if you saved him… he will kill you.”

“And I can't let that happen,” she added and I got even more confused.

She wanted to help me, why?

“But you work for them, don't you hate Sirens too?” I asked and she let out yet another exhale.

“Maybe I do, but it is far too early for the king to remind his people of just how brutal he is,” Gertrude said, “As the head maid of the palace, I am given a steady supply of Violet root, so I lived long enough to experience the Dragon King’s rule.”

Violet root was a herb that extended the life spans of humans, it was one of the most expensive substances in the market.

“Bathe and wash away the dust of that cave. I will fetch scent blockers,” her gaze turned severe, “You will not breathe a word of this conversation to anyone, is that clear?”

I nodded as relief crashed through me so suddenly that my knees got weak.

“Thank you,” I said in a whisper.

Her only reply was a small nod before she left the room.

I let out a shaky exhale before taking off my dress and heading to the bath chamber.

The water was steaming and it was warm with lavender and something citrusy, it was a little bit soothing and it helped my frayed nerves.

And that was when I felt that familiar presence in my mind.

My stalker was here.

“You look divine wet, little angel,” his voice practically caressed my brain.

“You really have no concept of privacy, do you?” I said, I moved to cover my body but stopped when I remembered he can't see me.

His small chuckle was far too close to me, “I don't,” he responded and I rolled my eyes.

“I’m truly getting tired of your annoying teases,” I snapped, “who the f**k are you, and what do you want from me? Why do you torment me like a fly who has refused to leave?”

There was a long pause and for a moment I almost thought I had succeeded in chasing him away.

“I apologise for my lack of manners, Juno,” his voice sounded again and this time he seemed more serious.

I sat up straight.

“My name is Icarus,” he told me, “and my people are dying.”

I let out a harsh laugh, though my skin prickled.

“So let me get this straight, you came to me during a bath, to tell me about your people who are dying? Do you have no friends to talk to? Are you that lonely?” I was genuinely curious.

There was a brief pause, and when he spoke again, his voice was darker.

“You’re… in a bath?” He asked, his voice was carefully strained.

“Yes, now leave me alone with your sad stories,” I told him.

“It's not just a story, Juno, you are the last demigod breeder, the only one who can save my species from dying out,” he paused and I could almost hear him take a deep breath to calm himself.

Breeder?

“What?” I asked him with my lips parted in shock.

“My people have enemies, powerful enemies and they will come for you soon enough. I must bring you to my realm where you will be safe,” he said, there was a hint of urgency in his voice that was deeply unsettling.

“So… You're what? A demigod?” I asked mockingly.

“Precisely,” he responded.

“Liar,” I told him.

“You say that while I am in your head, what earthly creature can perform such tricks?”

“I don't know, but I know you're lying.”

He let out a soft chuckle, “I’ll be back soon, angel.”

And he was gone.

Dread filled my veins as I thought about the possibility that he may not be joking or messing around with me.

What if he was telling the truth? I had the feeling that my life was about to take a very huge, turn.

I bathed quickly and when I stepped out, I went through the wardrobe that had an array of beautiful dresses, most of which were my size.

I settled on a floral chiffon peach dress that had a square neckline that revealed enough skin to not be indecent. The sleeves were long, fitted at the shoulders and elbows but flared at the wrists.

The door opened again. Gertrude stepped inside.

She handed me a vial of dark blue liquid, “Drink it all.”

I obeyed and swallowed the bitter concoction and I hoped to the goddess it worked.

Hoped to the goddess that Gertrude did not have a last minute change of heart to help me.

“It’s time,” Gertrude said, “The king awaits the woman who freed him.”