Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 1372 - 127 : Questionable Motives

*Noah*

I stared blankly down at my phone once I ended the call with Niva. Zara’s instructor was on her way over, but I couldn’t be as relieved as I wanted to be.

I was doing my best to absorb everything Niva had told me, but it was undoubtedly a lot to swallow. I had already been reeling when learning about Zara’s childhood, so being told that a realm riddled with more magic than the Light and Dark realms combined was overwhelming.

“Niva is on her way,” I told Eva, who was tending to Zara. “She’s going to help us enter into Embervale to save our daughter, but we’re going to need the purest moon stones to get there.”

Eva’s gray eyes widened. “That’s going to require a lot of moon stones,” she said gravely, but then hope flashed across her face. “As I understand it, the palace of Egoren has a large stash of moon stones. Perhaps if they learn of your dire situation, they would be willing to supply you with enough to get you to Embervale.”

I could feel my lips thinning as I considered Eva’s suggestion. Once we explained how much of a threat Malphas was, the palace might even be willing to provide us with warriors from the royal guard to help us fight him.

I gritted my teeth together, a fierce determination washing over me as I thought about Briella. We needed to bring her home, no matter the cost.

“I will see if I can get in contact with the king,” I announced, standing up to do just that.

Eva and I both turned to the bed. My eyes widened in disbelief and relief. Zara was beginning to stir. My breath caught when she opened her eyes and gazed above her with hazy green eyes.

“Zara,” I gasped, dropping to my knees beside her head and grabbing her hand where it lay limp on the bed covers. “How are you feeling, love?”

Zara blinked. I could tell that she was trying to recall what had happened. My heart wrenched in my chest when her bright eyes shimmered with tears. “Oh, Noah. I saw so much...”

“Shh,” I murmured, brushing her bangs back tenderly with my fingers. “I know, Zara. I saw some of your visions, and I spoke to Niva. She’s going to meet us back at Drogomor. She’s going to help us get Briella back.”

Zara blinked again. I kind of regretted springing all that on her when she just woke up from her vision-induced slumber. I couldn’t take my time and do this gently, not when our only child was in danger.

Zara, always the pinnacle of strength, sat up and looked seriously at me. Confusion still swam in her gorgeous orbs, but there was a determination there as well. “Niva...” Zara repeated slowly, then her eyes widened. I knew she was putting the pieces together. “How is Niva going to help? What are we going to do?”

My eyes raked over Zara’s face and body. She was still weak from what happened at the caves. I gently pushed her back down against the pillows, narrowing my eyes sternly at her when she tried to struggle. “I need to go make an important call, but you need to keep resting. We’ll be leaving soon. I imagine you will need all your strength.”

The stubborn look I loved so much flitted across my mate’s face. Her jaw clenched. “I need to know what’s going on,” she argued reasonably. “You can’t just leave me in the dark because I have to rest.”

She made a good point, but this call couldn’t wait. I continued to narrow my eyes down at her. “We’ll talk after I make this call,” I said. I turned to Eva. “Would you mind filling Zara in for me?”

Eva nodded in understanding. “Of course,” she said.

Zara looked like she wanted to protest, but I saw a flash of understanding in her eyes as well. She seemed to sense my urgency. Now that she was awake, it was even more important to get things underway if we were going to be swift about this.

I stepped outside to make the phone call, unsurprised when I got through to an advisor who informed me that the king was a very busy leader and would be unable to speak with me directly.

I tapped my foot impatiently as I waited for the advisor to return to the phone after placing me on hold. I was growing more nervous that nothing would come of this call when the man finally returned.

“Hello, Mr. Black,” he said in a deep, distinguished voice. “I’m pleased to inform you that an envoy has been approved to deliver the requested moon stones to you. May I have the address of your location?”

I gave the advisor the address, stunned that this was actually happening. Unfortunately, they were hesitant to send us warriors before hearing the whole story, so they informed me that they would send a representative to get answers before guards could be provided for our use.

That all seemed reasonable, so I thanked the royal advisor before hanging up. I quickly made my way back to the room to tell Eva and Zara.

Zara looked shocked when I came back to the room, so I knew that Eva had told her everything.

I put my hand out to Zara, who looked up at me with large green eyes. Her lips were pressed together nervously, but she took my hand. I helped her out of bed.

“Let’s pack up our things,” I murmured to her, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. “We’re going home.”

I gripped Zara’s hand throughout the flight back to Drogomor. She didn’t speak much, but it was obvious that she had a lot on her mind. I obviously couldn’t expect anything else.

My little mate was probably even more shaken up than I was. I had seen glimpses of her visions, but she had basically lived them. And then immediately upon waking up from the jarring dreams, she learned we were going to travel to that realm to save our daughter. Part of me was shocked that Zara didn’t immediately pass out again from the news.

I tugged Zara along as we exited the jet and were immediately greeted by some pack members. They had a car ready to take us to the mansion.

“A Ms. Niva is waiting for you both,” our driver announced as we were driving back to the mansion.

Zara’s eyes rounded. I was pleased to see a little excitement in her expressive orbs, despite the direness of the situation.

As promised, Niva was outside waiting for us when we arrived. Zara ran up to her. I watched as the two hugged fiercely.

“It’s so good to see you, Zara,” Niva said, pulling away so she could gaze at her former pupil with pride. “You are looking well. I’m so glad. I was worried when I heard about what had happened from your mate.”

Zara’s cheeks turned a light pink. “I’m alright,” she assured the older woman.

We had just enough time to have some tea and catch up a little bit with Niva before one of our guards came rushing up to us.

“Sir, Mr. Damascus is here with some royal guards.”

I stood up, squaring my shoulders. “Let them in.”

Zara stood at my side, and Niva was on her other side as a tall, dark-haired man entered, flanked on either side by half a dozen burly guards.

Damascus was a fierce-looking man with an angular face and a thick scar running from his eyebrows down to his chin. I tightened my fingers around Zara’s petite hand. I was surprised this was who the king and queen chose to speak with us.

“Welcome,” I said, despite the bad feeling that was settling in my gut. “We thank you for your hasty journey here. As I’m sure you were informed, we are in dire need of your assistance.”

Damascus stopped before us. His dark eyes swept over the three of us with grave scrutiny. I was suddenly very regretful that my father was away on some important business. He was much better at being diplomatic in these kinds of matters than I was.

“I’m afraid that we won’t be able to provide the assistance you are requesting,” he said in a low, serious voice.

I looked up in alarm, my eyes narrowing in suspicion. “And why is that, if I may ask?” My mind was reeling. We were already promised the moon stones by the royal advisor. Had we been lied to?

Damascus stepped forward. I noticed his men stiffen as if readying for an attack. “Detain the outsiders.”

I stepped in front of Zara but was roughly shoved aside by one of the guards. I attempted to fight him off, but he was much larger and faster than I was. He must have been trained in combat since birth.

Zara cried out when she was grabbed roughly by one of the guards, her tiny wrists bound behind her back. Niva screamed as well, demanding that she and Zara be released at once.

“What is the meaning of this?” I demanded, my voice booming through the room. “We were promised aid by the royal advisor!”

Damascus got right in my face, shoving me back. “You’d best cooperate if you don’t want them harmed,” he seethed. “I was given direct orders to proceed with caution and bring these women back with me for intensive questioning regarding your motives behind requesting our priceless moon stones.”

I didn’t back down, beyond furious that my mate and her former teacher were being manhandled like wanted criminals.

“We made that abundantly clear,” I snapped. “We mean no harm for requesting the stones. We aim to put a stop to the ruthless sorcerer Malphas. Have you not been informed of this?”

“I’ve heard enough to be suspicious of your motives,” Damascus spat. “We will reevaluate once these two have been questioned. We are well aware they are from the dangerous Embervale and possess strange mystical abilities. Before we can even think about supporting you, we must make certain doing so will not place Egoren at risk.”

The logic was there, but I still wasn’t going to sit quietly while they detained my mate. “Unhand her and let us discuss this,” I demanded, malice dripping from my voice.

Damascus ignored me and finally looked at Zara and Niva, who were staring at us with fear and confusion. “If this Malphas is as dangerous as you claim, why was this not reported sooner?”

No one had an answer to that. My little mate looked so lost, and Niva equally so.

“We weren’t aware of what Malphas was plotting until recently,” Niva said, her tone pleading for Damascus to listen. “Please. I am a graduate of one of the queen’s special schools. Surely we can come to some agreement.”

Damascus was clearly unsatisfied and glowered at them before barking at his guards. “Prepare to have the dangerous threats from the foreign realm transported for imprisonment in Egoren. They will be further interrogated upon our arrival.”

“No!” I roared, lunging to get to Zara.

“Noah, don’t!” Zara screamed.

I froze, realizing that the guards had released their swords from their sheaths and were daring me to make one false move. My shoulders sagged in defeat. There were too many of them. I only risked getting myself killed and Zara harmed further by attempting to fight them.

I watched helplessly, my entire body shaking with rage, as my mate was dragged away.