Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 1438 - 37 : Love and War

*Saoirse*

Axureon’s face was triumphant but also a little devastated as he stood tall and mighty before the battlefield. I felt small as I gazed up at him, uncertain if I was looking at the dragon I had come to know. It appeared to be a younger Axureon. Instead of his royal robes, he was wearing battle armor.

I dared to glance around at the battle raging around me. We were clearly still in the dragon realm, with its darker sky and towering mountains in the background. I recognized the pointed mountain ranges.

Axureon was frightening but also impressive as he wielded his battle sword, swiping at enemies left and right. He fought with a startling precision, one that I could only hope to achieve one day. He was a magnificent warrior.

But there was something tragic in his expression that gave me pause. Despite all the mayhem going on around me, I found myself focused on his face. The lines on it were defined, emphasizing the fear in his golden eyes.

I felt confusion wash over me as I started to feel an overwhelming amount of sympathy for him. It wasn’t just sympathy though. I felt compassion for the dragon that was more comparable to the one you would feel toward a dear friend or a family member.

I felt as if I had known him for a long time.

I gasped as Axureon roared before unleashing his wrath on his enemies. Blood spewed through the air as he struck at a shifter who dared to try and take him on. I was afraid of the dragon king, but the sadness I felt for him far outweighed that fear.

I could see that he fought for justice and peace as he swung his weapon. Heraldic banners swayed slightly in the breeze following one particular heroic battle. It appeared that Axureon was always the victor during these wars. I wondered idly how many times he had battled, considering he was centuries old.

Cries of victory rang out over the bloody battlefield, Axureon in the center of it all. I knew deep down that I wasn’t truly witnessing all of this. Even so, I could feel the dragon’s phantom touches along my skin, even though he was across the field. He raised his eyes, and they met mine briefly. I saw the tiniest hint of a sad smile.

I gasped, shooting up in bed and looking around wildly. The sun hadn’t risen yet, but it wasn’t too far from doing so judging by the lighter blue hue the sky was taking on. I sucked in a sharp breath as I tried to steady my heart rate. I scrubbed my palms over my face, confused by the strange, vivid dreams.

I had been having these frighteningly detailed dreams about Axureon for days now. At first, I figured that it was just my mind making things up. I was curious about the dragon shifter. There was no doubt about that, but the dreams were becoming more vivid and detailed. I finally realized that there was no way my subconscious was conjuring these up.

I looked over at the space beside me on the bed, not at all surprised to see Rhys already gone. He must have risen quite a bit before sunrise to have already gotten up and ready. I debated going back to sleep, feeling tired from the strange dreams I’d been having.

I turned over on my side and shut my eyes, suddenly longing for Rhys’ warmth. It had been a while since he held me while we lay in bed together. He was busy. I needed to respect that, but I wished we could find some time for one another. I had no doubts that it would lessen both of our stresses.

I groaned when it became clear that I wasn’t going to be able to fall asleep. I rolled out of bed and started to get ready for the day. These dreams were beginning to plague me, and the strangeness of them was messing with my daily life.

I decided that it was time to ask Axureon about them. There had to be a reason I was dreaming about him. I wondered if the dragon shifter was purposefully giving me these dreams somehow. Maybe he wanted me to know more about their history to make me a better savior.

Either way, I was going to finally get to the bottom of it.

I attempted to meet with Axureon, but he had multiple meetings that day. I told the advisors it was urgent. They eventually let me know that Axureon would seek me out once his meetings were done.

I sighed but decided there was nothing to do but train. I wandered out to my secluded training spot, hidden among the trees and bushes. I shut my eyes, allowing the energy to flow through me, reminding myself that I was simply its humble guide.

I was so engrossed in my meditation that I failed to notice someone was approaching. I was too focused on the way my powers moved within me.

“Hello, Miss Saoirse.”

The energy that coursed through my veins snapped away as my concentration broke. I yelped and jumped up, turning to face the intruder. I immediately relaxed upon seeing Axureon. His golden eyes widened at my reaction.

“Forgive me,” he said, stepping out of the shadows and into the raised clearing I had come to call my own. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s fine,” I said, waving it off, though a sharp pain had settled in my head. “I should be the one apologizing to you for calling on you so suddenly. I’m sorry if you had to cut a meeting short or something.”

Axureon shook his head. “Not at all,” he said. “I am just glad I finally found a moment to step away. I must admit that I was intrigued when I got your summons. Is there something the matter?”

I bit my lip, suddenly unsure how to bring up the strange occurrence now that the dragon was in front of me. I wasn’t sure if he would take me seriously or if I would sound like a child having nightmares. “I’m not sure exactly,” I said finally. “I’ve been having some odd dreams lately.”

Axureon’s eyebrows rose. “Oh?” he inquired. “What have these dreams been about?”

“They’ve been about you,” I said finally, forcing the words out and hating how ridiculous they sounded. I was quick to elaborate before I could see the bewildered shock flit across the dragon’s face. “I know this might sound odd, but I’ve been seeing your battles and precious wars you’ve fought. I can feel the great sadness you’ve felt. I’ve been witnessing your emotions.”

I kept my head down, hating how ridiculous I felt. As the silence stretched on, I finally had the courage to look at him. I was shocked to see the understanding on his face. Even more surprising than that, Axureon was nodding as if he expected this.

“You’re not surprised,” I said through unmoving lips. “Please tell me why I’ve been having these dreams. I have been sleeping terribly. Have you been giving them to me?” I felt a spark of anger go through me at the thought that he might have known all along about my suffering.

Axureon chuckled lightly. To my shock, he shook his head and looked at a loss for words momentarily. Finally, he said, “You misunderstand, young Saoirse. It is not my emotions that you were witnessing in these dreams.”

I blinked at him, finding that hard to believe. I could clearly see the tragedy in his eyes, and I distinctly remembered the way that my chest seemed to constrict as I looked at him from across the battlefield. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

Axureon chuckled again. “Of course, you don’t,” he said, and it came out as a sigh. “How could you when I told you next to nothing of the staff that you now have in your possession?”

“The staff?” I echoed, my hands tightening around the magic tool in question. As if in answer, it glinted in the late afternoon light.

“Yes,” Axureon confirmed. “It once belonged to a beautiful dragon shifter named Shylah. She was my first love and only mate.”

My mind spun at the news. I looked down at the glittering staff that had once belonged to an undoubtedly powerful woman. The dreams were starting to make some sense now. Axureon was right. I wasn’t witnessing his emotions. I never had been.

“So those emotions I was feeling during the dreams...” I murmured, trailing off, unable to fully process it.

“Were those of my deceased love, Shylah,” Axureon finished for me since I was currently incapable of doing so. He smiled a small, sad smile reminiscent of the one in my most recent dream. “Yes.”

I didn’t want to ask but felt like I had to. “I’m so sorry for your loss,” I said. I swallowed. “May I ask what happened?”

Axureon didn’t seem at all offended by the question, but he did seem to be further saddened by it. “She was a brave woman. She perished in battle, fighting for me and our kingdom.”

Silence passed over us, grief setting like a heavy blanket of snow.

“You are no doubt experiencing memories and emotions that are being channeled through the staff,” Axureon said at last. “The staff was an extension of Shylah and still possesses much of her essence because of that.”

I felt tears threaten to prick my eyes as I listened to Axureon speak of his mate. It was obvious that he missed her dearly and losing her had been the most difficult thing he had ever endured

The heartbreak of the dragon shifter losing his first love caused me to think of Rhys. I didn’t want the same thing to happen between us. I didn’t want to lose him, physically or emotionally.

Later that night, I searched for Rhys, needing to tell him that I wanted us to always be together and that I couldn’t bear to drift apart the way we had been recently. It was still early in the night, so it was likely that he was still working.

Eventually, I made it back to our room. I froze in the doorway.

Over the past few weeks, our things lay beside one another. Rhys had some books and papers on the desk, and his clothes hung in the wardrobe by mine. He even had some weapons leaning against the wall next to the window.

All of that was gone.

Rhys had moved out of the room we had been sharing.