Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 1377 - 132 : Fading Ember Reignited

*Zara*

I giggled as Briella babbled at me while I tried to brush her hair. Her wavy locks had grown to her ears and would quickly become unruly if I didn’t tame them daily and secure some of the longer wisps with butterfly-shaped hairpins.

“You have your daddy’s hair,” I told Briella wistfully.

My daughter just smiled and reached her chubby hands up toward my face, demanding that I pick her up.

“Alright,” I said softly, indulging the little girl and taking her in my arms. “You are getting spoiled, you know that?”

I told her so fondly, but I wasn’t joking completely. Despite the fact that the two of us were being held captive, Briella had a plethora of toys and children’s books that Malphas provided her with. I was suspicious of these gifts at first, convinced they were riddled with some dark magic but before too long, Briella started to become curious and get into things.

I eventually gave in and allowed her to play with the toys, watching her closely for signs of danger. I found none and was just grateful that Briella was enjoying herself, even though we were prisoners here in Malphas’ castle.

I loved watching Briella grow. Her limbs were longer now, her face much more expressive than when I was first reunited with her. She was just starting to babble as well, forming near-words in her sweet voice.

I so badly wished that Noah could see her now. He would be filled with awe and pride by how much Briella was growing and developing.

I sighed as I bounced my daughter up and down in my arms. I walked over to the window and peered out, shifting Briella so that she could see out as well.

I couldn’t believe how much time had passed since I was brought here and reunited with Briella. Months had gone by. It was showing in how much Briella had grown. Looking outside, it was hard to tell. There didn’t seem to be seasons in this strange realm. The sky was still dark in an endless night, and the plants were unchanged with their black and purple flowers and strange leaves.

I sat on a plush sofa with violet-colored cushions that were just below the window. I settled Briella in my lap, handing her a puzzle toy to keep her occupied while I meditated. I took a deep breath in as I felt my magic surge inside of me.

I was close to getting all of my power back. I was careful to mask it around Malphas, fearing he would find a harsher means of dampening my abilities.

My eyes snapped open when the door opened and Malphas entered, his dark clothes a stark contrast to his red skin. His eyes met mine from across the room, and he grinned, flashing his sharp white teeth.

“How are my girls?” he asked, sauntering over to us.

“Fine,” I said stiffly. “We were just enjoying the view from the window.”

I shrank away when Malphas reached his hand out to Briella. I stiffened but didn’t pull her away. I didn’t want to anger him, especially with my daughter there. He never harmed her, seeming to actually care about her well-being at times.

I knew the truth, I mused as Malphas gently but firmly grasped Briella’s chin and tilted it up so he could look into her eyes. He shut his own dark orbs and glowed briefly as he tried to sense the magic within my daughter.

My heart lurched nervously when Malphas opened his eyes. His expression became frustrated. “I have given this child everything, special educational playthings to stimulate the potential powers within her. She is well past the age where she should be showing signs of supernatural promise.”

His voice was hard. This time, I did shift Briella away so he was no longer touching her.

A knock sounded on the door, and Malphas barked for the visitor to enter.

Malphas’ stern-faced advisor entered. He had pale skin and thin, dark eyes that made him appear angry all the time. “You summoned me, my lord?”

“Yes,” Malphas said. He gestured toward Briella and me. “The child still hasn’t shown any signs of holding magical abilities. I was rather hoping you would have further suggestions.”

The advisor’s dark eyes darted over to Briella and me. He crossed the room to stand before us. “It is possible for the child to show signs in the next few months,” he said in an even voice. “Children this young could have dormant abilities for far longer.”

Malphas scowled. “I’ve waited for long enough.”

I flinched, tightening my hold on Briella.

“Perhaps your lady’s next child could hold more promise,” the advisor suggested. “With a powerful father such as yourself, I’m more than certain that the infant will gain abilities as soon as it is born.”

I sucked in a sharp breath when Malphas leered openly at me, pulling his lips back over his teeth. He seemed to like that idea. I wrapped my arms more securely around both Briella and me, suppressing a shudder.

I didn’t want that creep touching me. I grew ill at the very thought of it, at the thought of anyone aside from Noah being with me in that way.

“Not only that,” the advisor continued, “but forcing the young lady to bear another child could very well awaken dormant gifts of an untouched female in your lineage.”

I recoiled as if I had been slapped by the vile proposal. Along with the thought of lying with Malphas being repulsive, I was already struggling to protect Briella from the monster. I couldn’t imagine having more children to shield from the evil sorcerer’s ways.

Malphas bent low and got right in my face, tracing my cheek with his sharp, pointed fingernail. “My advisor makes an excellent point, my pet,” he said, his hot breath wafting over the skin of my face. He grabbed my chin, his nails digging into my flesh. “Perhaps it would bring us closer together as well if we were to have a child together.”

That was the furthest thing I wanted, but I forced myself to smile, even though my insides were quaking with fear.

The fake smile obviously fooled him because he beamed at me, his soulless eyes flickering for a moment as he straightened. “She is an eager little flower,” he said to his advisor, smirking. “See to preparations for a fertility ritual. I would like to see her with child as soon as possible.”

The advisor sent a sinister smirk my way before leaving the room to obey. As soon as he was gone, Malphas ordered me to place Briella back in her crib before he grabbed me and dragged me down the steps to my room.

His eyes were dark. I attempted to pull away slightly when I saw the longing in them. He dragged me over to the bed and started to run his hands down my body. He was a giant. There was no way I was going to be able to fight him off. I just held my breath and prayed that it would be over soon and that he would leave my clothing in place.

“You’d best be ready for me when I return,” he panted in my ear. “I expect nothing less from my little bride. I have been waiting to take you since you came back to me but knew internally that the right time had not yet arrived.”

I cried out when his hard fingers dug into my hip, very likely leaving a bruise. I shut my eyes trying not to let on how repulsed I was.

By some miracle, Malphas straightened, leaving me alone and very relieved on the bed. “I’d best oversee preparations if we are going to be consummating our reunion by tonight,” he announced. His tone was that of a miffed child who didn’t get to finish playing with a new toy.

I could feel my muscles start to sag with relief until Malphas grasped my chin again and gave me a hard look. “Be ready for me, my dear,” he ordered. “I will need you ripe for our fertility ritual.” After leering at my body one more time, he left me alone.

As soon as Malphas was gone, I practically sprinted into my attached bathroom to take a hot shower, needing to get his vile filth off of me. He hadn’t even touched a lot of my bare skin, just my face and arms, but I still felt as if he had been all over me. I scrubbed my skin furiously until it was raw and tingling.

I was actually relieved when it was Triva who came into my room a couple of hours later. I had feared that it would be Malphas announcing that it was time for the fertility ritual. I was even more shocked when Triva led me to Briella’s room and locked me inside it, once again warning me in a hard voice that I only had an hour.

Briella was fussy when I picked her up and cradled her to my chest. She cried and looked up at me with distressed eyes as if she somehow knew that something bad was going to happen. I tried to think of anything else, knowing that my daughter was very likely sensing my horrid mood and fear.

I closed my eyes and imagined Noah’s face. I clung desperately to the fading ember inside of me that told me that Noah would somehow be able to reach me still despite no word in long empty moons. I held tight to Briella, just focusing on nourishing the tiny flicker of innocence that Malphas was unable to corrupt.

I was unable to sleep that night, anticipating Malphas coming for me. I had regained much of my magic, but it wasn’t enough to get me and Briella to safety.

I squeezed my eyes shut when I heard my bedroom door open. It could only be Malphas. His presence was impossible to mistake. The way his heavy footsteps pounded against the floor always had my body trembling with dread.

“I know you’re awake, my dear,” Malphas’ hard voice said, breaking through the darkness. “It is time to truly give yourself to your lord.”

No.

I cried in my mind for Noah and for the Moon Goddess to stop the sorcerer’s evil plot.

Malphas growled low in his throat when I didn’t move and suddenly grabbed my arm and yanked me up from the bed, causing me to cry out.

“Do not resist me,” he hissed harshly, raising his hand as if getting ready to strike me.

I flinched and shut my eyes when suddenly, I felt it, a sudden mystical shift.

It was obvious that Malphas did too since he froze and lowered his hand slowly, his eyes shooting toward the window of my bedroom.

A guard burst into the room. “My lord! We are under attack!”

Malphas cursed in an alien language before letting go of me and barking orders to his guard before they both fled from the room.

I was grateful that Malphas hadn’t seen the shock and elation on my face as the realization sank in.

At long last, Noah had somehow crossed into the realm and was here to rescue me.