Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 1368 - 123 : Red and Black

*Zara*

I awoke to the gentle rustling of the wind through tall grass. I blinked up at the sky, which was a dark blue but starting to lighten up as we approached sunrise. I moved, feeling extremely warm despite the cool air, and realized that there was a pair of muscular arms cradling me securely.

Noah.

His arms flexed around me, so I knew he was awake. I wondered briefly how long he had been lying there, just silently holding me in our secret glen. Memories from the night before came rushing back. I rested my cheek against his bare chest for a moment, allowing myself another brief second to cherish the time we had together during a tragic era.

I took a deep breath in and then rolled over so I was completely draped over him, my chin on the ridge between his pecs. He was gazing at me, one arm behind his head, propping him up slightly. Our eyes met. There was still a heartbreaking amount of grief swimming in his dark blue orbs, but there was something else as well, something even more powerful.

The amount of love and devotion in his eyes was profound and overwhelming. It nearly brought me to tears. I could tell from the intense look on his face that my eyes were mirroring that passion. He stroked my hips and tenderly pressed a kiss to my mouth.

“I love you,” he murmured. The words mingled in the air between us, lightly caressing my face. I shut my eyes again, wanting to savor how I felt right now.

Our love for one another still shimmered brightly through our powerful soulmate bond. It was clear in the air and in the warmth that was still quite prevalent throughout every part of my body. Even the soreness from our rough lovemaking just ours before was a testament to our unyielding devotion toward one another.

It gave me a glimmer of much-needed hope amid inner storms.

“I love you too,” I nearly whispered, afraid to interrupt this peaceful moment we shared.

Noah smiled and dropped a kiss on my forehead. His hands ran up and down my sides, but the movements were quicker, more urgent. I knew that he had been snapped back to reality as well. He moved and grasped my arms, helping me to my feet.

“Ready to head back?” he asked expectantly.

I nodded, understanding the layers behind his words. If Eva failed to show up by the time we got back, we would be heading back to Drogomor. I hoped and prayed that the mysterious witch would be there.

Noah and I shifted and raced back to the resort. This time, I couldn’t enjoy the wind whipping through my fur as much. I was too worried about what we would, or rather, wouldn’t find when we returned.

Noah took my hand when we entered the suite, knowing I needed the support. I could feel the resolve going through him. He was certain that we were going to be packing up our stuff in a matter of minutes.

My eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I saw that we weren’t alone in our suite.

Eva stood before us in a dark blue cloak, her gray eyes studying us as we entered. She immediately ducked her head, her dark hair covering her eyes. “Zara, Noah, I must apologize for my tardiness. There were forces beyond my control that temporarily prevented me from joining you.”

I felt a rush of relief go through me. I knew there had to be an explanation like that for Eva not to show up when she said she would. “We forgive you,” I said quickly. “It really couldn’t be helped. I hope everything is alright on your end and that you completed whatever it was that you needed to.” I felt Noah stiffen next to me, indicating he still wasn’t over the stress Eva’s tardiness put us through.

“Yes, thank you, everything is fine now,” she assured us. “I had a feeling I would be held up, which is why I asked you to come directly to the island.”

“Yes, well, as you’re well aware, our daughter was kidnapped,” Noah cut in. “So we’d appreciate whatever insight you can provide us.”

I stared at him in shock. I could tell he was holding back, but there was still a hard edge to his voice that was uncalled for. I elbowed him sharply in the ribs, but he didn’t even flinch.

Thankfully, Eva didn’t seem to notice Noah’s harshness. She just nodded seriously and looked between us. “Follow me.”

We obeyed and followed the witch out the door and down to the beach. We walked quite a ways through some trees and down a narrow strip of beach that didn’t look open to the public. Before long, the mouth of a cave appeared.

“There’s a scrying pool within the mystic depths of this cave that may reveal insight into the enemy you wish to defeat,” Eva told us as we walked through the darkness. There was just enough light from the early morning that kept me from tripping over my feet.

Noah reached out and grasped my hand, pulling me protectively against his side. Even in the dim light of the cave, I could see his eyes were intense, and his jaw was tight. He was concerned for me and for what we might find out.

That made two of us.

I was practically shaking with nerves before Noah wrapped his strong fingers around mine. I had been resisting learning the truth about my past for so long, but now it seemed like it was the only chance we had to rescue our baby. I had to take it.

I wasn’t alone. Noah made that fact clear by sticking close to my side. He wasn’t going anywhere. He would keep me safe.

“Are you alright?” Noah murmured to me, just for my ears.

“Yes,” I squeaked out. I took a deep breath in and tried again, making my voice much more level. “Yes.”

He didn’t believe me, and I couldn’t blame him. I was shivering now, even though it wasn’t particularly cold. “You know that I’ll love you no matter what we find out,” he said, and it wasn’t a question. “No matter what it is, my feelings for you won’t change, and we’ll figure it out together.”

I managed a light laugh. “You’re not exactly making me feel better,” I said teasingly. “You’re making it sound like we could find out something heinous about me.”

Noah didn’t laugh like I hoped he would. His mouth tightened, and I got a sinking feeling. He kept a firm hold on my hand, trying to comfort me despite his foreboding assurances.

Eva continued to lead the way, not saying a word as we weaved through the plethora of tunnels in the cave. These pools were well hidden, which was probably a good thing since they seemed to hold immense power.

Finally, after what felt like ours of navigating the caves, we arrived at a large, open area with a wide basin filled with crystal blue water. The pool appeared to be glowing as we approached. A strange, supernatural warmth emanated from it.

Noah wrapped an arm around my waist as we neared the pool. He peered into the depths with just as much awe as was probably on my face, but there was some suspicion in his eyes as well.

Eva carefully set the lantern she had been using to guide us through the caves down on the ground. She gestured for Noah and me to approach the basin. We did so gingerly.

“I’m going to need a strand of your hair to do this,” Eva informed me. Before I could even nod my consent, she reached up and plucked a single hair from my head. Eva lifted it up to inspect it for a moment before turning to face the pool.

I watched my hair float down into the water. Eva raised her hands over it, hovering them over the depths. She murmured quietly to herself. The strange words were definitely from another language. Her voice was soft and melodious. It almost sounded like she was singing.

Noah sucked in a breath when the water glowed white for a brief second before turning a terrifying blood-red color. After a few more seconds, it darkened to a frightening black that caused me to feel an emptiness and foreboding in my gut.

I felt a shiver of both familiarity and fear run through me. Eva turned and held her hand out to me. I swallowed hard and glanced at Noah, who gave me a meaningful nod and reassuring smile before dropping his hands from around my waist and letting me go.

Eva took my hand in her slender one and tugged me up to stand directly in front of the large, raised pool. “Just remember that no matter what you see, you will not be harmed.”

I bit my lip but nodded, steeling myself to finally see what I had been avoiding for my entire life.

“You will not be harmed, but you must not allow yourself to get lost in the vision,” Eva warned me firmly.

That just caused my apprehension to double. I highly doubted that I would have much control over the matter, but I had to try. I dared not ask what would happen if I failed to separate the fact that what I was about to see was merely an illusion. Still, I nodded my understanding.

Eva looked at me, and I saw compassion in her gray eyes. She gestured toward the ominous black water. “Now, close your eyes and center your focus. Once you’ve done so, you’re going to immerse your hands into the dark water.”

I knew I would have to interact in some way with the evil-looking water. I gritted my teeth together and shut my eyes, somewhat grateful that I wouldn’t have to look at the ominous depths.

I drew in a shuddering breath and tried to center myself as Eva instructed. I searched inside of myself, allowing myself to feel the fear and the anxiety that had been my closest confidant the last few days.

Once I was ready, I dipped my hands into the cool water.

Almost immediately, I felt a disorienting shift in my consciousness. It felt as if the world had been turned over. My surroundings faded away and were replaced by stygian darkness.

Time meant nothing as I floated along a river in my subconscious. When I finally awoke, I looked down at myself and found that I was garbed unexpectedly in an exquisite blood-red gown. It was form-fitting across the bodice and had a full ballgown skirt that flowed like a bloody waterfall.

I reached up to touch my hair to find it covered by a black veil that almost looked like it was oozing.

“Are you ready, my dear?”

I jumped at the sinister voice, whirling around to find the fearsome horned Malphas standing beside me. He was donning a black suit. As I looked down at myself and then back up at him, I realized with horror what this was.

I tried to make the awful vision disappear. I blinked hard, trying to do away with the beautiful but terrifying gown and the equally horrific creature standing next to me in a tailored suit. He wouldn’t go away. Nothing went away.

We were about to get married. The horrific vision was of a wedding ceremony.

Dismay and confusion filled my gut as I gasped. I felt true fear for what this awful illusion was trying to show me.