Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 1380 - 135 : Dancing Gold Spirals

*Noah*

Embervale was a strange realm. We must have traveled hundreds of miles, crossing the treacherous landscape to get to Celestial Valley. With each sure step forward, I half-expected a twisted, otherworldly creature to jump out of the ground and attempt to tear the skin from my throat.

We did encounter many unusual creatures of various sizes and colors. Most of them paid us no mind as if we were a burden of some kind. I suspected that the group of us traveling in a large army probably had something to do with their hesitancy. Even if they disliked us, they were wise enough not to take on dozens of armed soldiers.

“That’s a ziriot,” Niva said, coming up to walk beside me. She caught me eyeing a strange pointy-eared animal. “It could bite, but they usually don’t bother people.”

I raised an eyebrow at the cat-like creature staring at me with its ears flattening onto its round head. It was kind of cute, but there was still something alien about it. We had plenty of animals like it on Drogomor, but this one looked like a twisted version as if it had been stretched.

It became clear when we were close. The air became noticeably clearer, the sky a brighter blue than the dark blue, almost black hues we had grown accustomed to since arriving in this unfamiliar realm.

Everything was just much more friendly. The plants were rounder and more pleasing to the eye. Streams and colorful flowers gave the land a lush and healthy look.

Eventually, we came across a gorgeous clearing between two mountains. I paused, feeling a soft, glowing energy permeate the space.

“Is this it?” I asked Niva, who was looking around with wide, excited eyes.

“I believe it is,” the matchmaker answered. She was beaming, her warm brown eyes lighting up. She looked like a child who had just received a priceless gift.

Caleb’s thick eyebrows furrowed, and he looked around. “Right here?” he asked, gesturing at the grass beneath our boots. “But there’s nothing here. Isn’t this supposed to be a civilization of some kind?”

I was thankful that Caleb voiced my thoughts. I felt some kind of magic in the area, but visually, there was nothing but plant life and streams. Perhaps we were getting close, but this wasn’t the exact location of Celestial Valley.

“Yes, we are standing in the center of Celestial Valley,” Niva announced more loudly so that our entire army could hear her.

Everyone started to look around with puzzled looks on their faces.

“Greetings, friends.”

We all turned toward the voice to see a man with snowy white hair coming toward us. He had a beard that was just as white. His cream-colored robes skimmed the grass as he walked.

“Greetings,” Niva echoed, bowing her head respectfully. “We come from Moonthorne and are preparing for a gruesome battle against an evil force.”

The man’s face was grim as he stood before us. He nodded once. “Yes, we received a message from Luna Kiela. You are hoping to defeat Sorcerer Malphas.”

“He has abducted my mate and my daughter, sir,” I explained. “We fear he is going to exploit them to make himself even more powerful.”

“His mate is the daughter of Priestess Amara, sir,” Niva added. I didn’t miss the way she said Amara’s name as if she were talking about a deity.

“You may call me Mathias,” the man said, bowing to us. He turned to give me a warm smile that caused me to blink. It was like looking into the sun. “So you have been given the joy of being the mate of Priestess Amara’s precious daughter.”

“That’s right,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

“Welcome,” Priest Mathias said kindly, his voice echoing through the valley. He then turned to Niva. “And anyone brave enough to rescue a child of the valley is welcome here. Consider this your home, child.”

Niva’s face turned red again, but she was clearly honored. She bowed low. “Yes, Priest Mathias. Thank you so much.”

“Where is this valley?” asked one of the men, looking around wildly. “All I see is grass.”

Mathias chuckled. “Things are not always as they appear,” he said mysteriously.

Before anyone could ask, the old man raised his arms, palms up, and started to glow. His skin looked like it was covered in a sheen of gold.

I blinked, and the grass and flowers disappeared. They were replaced with a bustling city made out of marble and gold. Men and women dressed in robes similar to Mathias’ walked the shiny white paths. Several waved at us as we stared in shock.

Mathias led us to a tall, glittering temple. He ushered us inside. We were met by half a dozen priestesses. We stood before a grand altar made of gold and silver. The priestesses hovered their hands over us.

“This ritual will raise your strength to prepare you for the battle to come,” one of them murmured to me.

They began to chant, a mystical breeze forming around them, causing their robes to flutter like butterfly wings.

I could hear my men gasping around me as they felt what I did. There was a surge of power flowing through me. I suddenly felt like I could tame seas and move mountains. It was much like the energy I felt when shifting into my wolf form but much more potent and warm as if I was made out of flames.

I knew then that we were ready. It was time to face the demon sorcerer and rescue my mate.

We waited for night to fall on the day we made our way to the obsidian castle. We were all primed and ready, celestial power flowing through our veins. Every step forward felt effortless. I felt as though I could sprint the entire way but knew I should conserve my true strength for the enemy.

I felt my determination rise as the foreboding palace came into view. I felt the energy around me increase as well as my warriors mentally prepared themselves. I felt the power within me from the hours with the priestesses surge through me, propelling me forward.

As we drew near, battle cries filled the air as Malphas’ defensive forces burst from the gates, preparing to defend their wicked master.

“Go, Noah!”

I didn’t even glance over at the sound of Caleb’s voice as it rose over the battlefield. A miniscule part of me felt guilty for preparing to leave him and my men to fight against the vicious guards while I slipped into the castle, but my determination to get to Zara was far stronger.

With each step I took toward the fortress, I felt something warm inside me that could only be my mystical soul bond with Zara. It was different than the powerful energy I felt when I received the mystical enhancement from the priestesses. It was a fiery passion that seemed to light up my veins. It was addictive, and I craved to nourish it.

I craved Zara’s warmth and was currently counting down the minutes until we could be together again. She was close. I could feel it.

I slipped through a door on the side of the castle, kicking the door down. I found myself in what appeared to be a storage basement. It took me half a second to realize it was far from that. This dark room had a strange blue light throughout the space. In the center was an altar of some kind. It looked sinister. I somehow knew that it was intended for my mate. It reminded me of the brief images I had seen of Zara’s mother.

I found a stairway that led to another door. I slipped through it, gripping the hilt of my blade, prepared to strike at any force that dared to face me.

They didn’t keep me waiting. A couple of guards were in the dim hallway. I roared before swinging my sword and taking them out easily. They cried out, alerting several more that suddenly appeared around the corner. I felt a primal anger flow through me as I fought my way through guard after guard, narrowly dodging their attacks.

I sprinted as I felt the warm bond turn brighter, leading me through the maze-like hallways. I didn’t think. I just followed the fiery pull that tugged me along.

When I started to climb a tall spiral staircase, I knew I was close to her. The bond was so strong now that it was almost painful. My chest pounded wildly in my ribcage. It felt like it was trying to break its way out of me.

I froze when I saw her. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Zara was rushing down the steps toward me. Briella was cuddled against her chest, her dark waves spilling out of the blue blanket she was wrapped in.

Zara’s eyes were already wide but rounded even further when she met my gaze. For a moment, we just stared at one another as the hot spirals of our mate bond danced between us. I had felt the tug toward my mate in the past, but it was nothing like this. It was almost overwhelming. I wondered briefly if this was how Zara felt when she sensed mate bonds.

I would never get enough of it.

Zara was sobbing as I reached her and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her down the couple of steps that separated us. For a beautiful half-second, I inhaled every essence of her, from her sweet floral scent to her addicting warmth.

“Zara,” I breathed, feeling as if I could cry as well, but I swallowed hard and grabbed her free hand. “We gotta go. We don’t have much time before–”

I was cut off when a harsh screeching sound blared around us, nearly causing us to trip down the stairs. I squeezed Zara’s hand, cursing inwardly as the alarm continued to cry.

“Come on,” I urged Zara, pulling her along. We needed to get out immediately. That signal was alerting Malphas that I had infiltrated his palace. He somehow knew that I was with Zara.

I thought if we escaped through the strange basement, maybe we could get out undetected. I pulled Zara through the small door and down the steps.

“Leaving so soon, my bride?”

A growl burst from my chest as I shoved Zara and Briella behind me, shielding them from the demon sorcerer’s view. “She is not your bride,” I intoned, stalking toward my mate’s captor.

Malphas grinned cruelly. I thought his hands glowed black for a second.

“Noah,” Zara cautioned.

Before I could lunge, about half a dozen priestesses flew down the steps, surrounding Malphas in a mere second. They glowered at him, looking like heavenly lionesses as they hovered around the demon.

Malphas paused but then smirked. “How cowardly of you, Noah Black, to hide behind the mighty power of light priestesses.”

I snarled, stepping forward, but one of the celestial women glanced over at us. “Go,” she ordered. “We will hold him off while you escape. Save your family, daughter of Amara.”

Malphas cackled, amused by the announcement. He shot his hand out. A dark, sinister blast went right through the light woman’s chest. Zara cried out as the woman’s eyes rolled back into her head, and she disintegrated into a cloud of smoke.

The other priestesses wailed before unleashing a torrent of light at Malphas, who dodged the attacks cleanly.

“Go!” cried another priestess when she glanced at us briefly and saw us still standing there in horrified shock.

I snapped out of it, knowing I had to get Zara and our baby to safety. I pulled on my mate’s arm but she held fast.

“Zara, let’s go,” I pleaded.

Zara was staring at the battle between Malphas and the light priestesses. I knew what she was seeing, her mother’s people, essentially committing suicide for a mere chance at allowing us to escape.

I felt my heart stop as Zara turned and placed Briella in my arms.

“Keep her safe,” Zara begged.

She then turned to face Malphas, determination hardening her features.