Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 1439 - 38 : Doubtful Eyes

*Saoirse*

“Rhys.”

I eventually found him in the training room, likely working off some stress. I was mesmerized by his quick, sure movements as he struck the training dummy. He lowered his arms when he saw me. I frowned when his hard expression didn’t lighten up at all.

My throat felt like it was going to close up as I remembered how, not so long ago, he would beam at me when we saw each other.

I wondered what had gone wrong.

Ever since Axureon told me about the origins of the staff I now wielded, I had been determined to make time for Rhys and an effort to bridge this gap that had come between us.

It didn’t look like Rhys wanted the same.

He wasn’t looking at me as I approached, his eyes still trained on the dummy he had been punching. “Is there something that you need?” he asked in his princely voice.

His tone made my chest constrict. This wasn’t my Rhys. This was Prince Rhys of Egoren speaking.

I took a steadying breath. “You moved out of our room,” I said, lowering my head slightly to catch a glimpse of his expression.

His face remained unreadable. “It felt a little crowded,” he said finally.

“Crowded?” I repeated in a flat voice. I squinted at him. “What happened, Rhys? Was it something I did? Something I said?”

He didn’t answer. He just stared wordlessly at me. I searched his face, trying to look through the facade he was very clearly putting on. Maybe it truly wasn’t about me. If that was the case, I didn’t want to let our responsibilities soil our relationship either.

I hesitantly reached out and took his hand. He stiffened but thankfully didn’t pull away like I thought he might. “Please, Rhys,” I begged, biting my lower lip and looking down. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong.”

I saw something change in his expression, the slightest lightening of his eyes, but it was gone before I could fully process what it was. “There’s nothing to say,” he said finally. He stepped away from me. I almost cried out at the sudden loss of contact, but I swallowed it back.

I could do nothing but watch as Rhys strode out of the room, causing my heart to splinter.

The dreams only grew more intense now that I was sleeping alone at night. I started to get glimpses of the relationship Axureon had with Shylah when his mate was still alive. It was painful to watch, especially the dreams I had of him that occurred right after his tragic loss.

Axureon fought even harder after losing his mate, which I admired but also found extremely devastating. He fought like a tyrant, taking out his heartbreak on his enemies. Many of them faced gruesome deaths.

I gasped during a particularly bloody dream, sitting up quickly, my breathing ragged. I swallowed hard, trying to control my heart rate. I glanced at the staff by my bed, sitting innocently in its holder.

I shut my eyes and leaned back against the headboard, wondering if I truly wanted to wield the unpredictable power of Shylah’s staff.

“Sir, there’s been some urgent news from Hunters Glen.”

I felt my eyes widen as the guard stepped forward with an envelope and stepped up to Axureon’s throne to hand it to him. He took it in his large hand and quickly opened it, his golden eyes scanning the page quickly.

“Keelana’s health has taken a turn for the worst,” he announced in a low voice. “They fear that she doesn’t have much longer.”

I felt panic go through me. “Then we should leave at once,” I said. “The mages have completed the necessary steps to ready the amulet. We should get it to Keelana as soon as we can.”

Axureon looked at me for a moment before nodding seriously. “Yes, you are right, Saoirse,” he said. He looked to the guard. “Have preparations done for our immediate departure.”

The guard bowed. “Yes, sir.”

“We will take a couple of others with us,” Axureon said decisively, standing from his throne and turning to see to preparations.

I watched him go before turning to do the same, leaving the room.

I debated leaving without saying anything to Rhys. I finally decided that even though things were awkward between us, maybe he would want to know I was heading back to Hunters Glen. I doubted he would be able to come along. He still had negotiations to work out between the Dragon Valley and Egoren.

Still, it was worth a try. It hurt me deeply to think about being separated when things were rocky between us.

I took a breath before rapping my knuckles against the door I knew to be his temporary office while he was in the Dragon Valley. I waited and then straightened when the door opened.

Rhys’ eyebrows rose in surprise when he saw it was me. He immediately controlled his expression, letting it fall into a practiced mask I was beginning to really hate.

I bit my lower lip for a moment, feeling that awkwardness returning. “Hi,” I said finally.

“Hi,” he said. He looked behind him. “I’m sorry, but I’ve really got a lot of work to do so...”

“I’m going back to Hunters Glen,” I said in a rush before he could dismiss me. “Keelana’s health is worsening, so we’re leaving as soon as we can to get the amulet to her.”

Rhys didn’t answer, but I noticed the gears were turning in his mind as he processed what I was saying. “I appreciate you informing me,” he said. “I wish you a safe journey back.”

I sucked in a breath. That confirmed he wasn’t leaving the Dragon Valley, just as I had expected. I swallowed back my tears. “Why are you being so cold to me?” I asked. “Please, Rhys. If I did something to offend you, I would like to know. I want to make it right. I can’t stand this distance between us.”

I saw anger flash in Rhys’ eyes, and his jaw clenched. “Your call out to Axureon in your dreams.”

I reeled as if he had struck me. Because I was so shocked, I laughed in disbelief. “Is that what this has all been about?” I asked.

It was the wrong reaction. Rhys’ eyes narrowed.

I shook my head, somewhat relieved that this had all been a misunderstanding. I reached for him. “Rhys, it isn’t what it seems,” I said consolingly. “It’s all the staff’s doing. It belonged to Axureon’s mate, who was tragically killed during a battle. I promise nothing is going on between him and me.”

Rhys didn’t look at all comforted by my explanation. His face actually hardened further. “What goes on between you and the dragon shifter is none of my business,” he said coldly. He took a step back, retreating further into the office. “Now, I should be getting back to my work. Please do have a safe journey back to Hunters Glen.”

Before I could say anything else, he shut the door with a firm clack.

I tried to hold back tears as I packed my stuff up for the flight back to Hunters Glen. I wondered if Rhys and I would ever reconcile. I decided I shouldn’t ponder that at the moment. There were more important matters to attend to.

I was relieved when Axureon and I went outside and were met by Saphira and a couple of other young shifters.

“Is everything alright?” she asked me.

I smiled at my new friend and nodded. “Sorry, I’m just distracted. Thank you for agreeing to come along.”

Saphira nodded. “I enjoyed flying with you and am excited we get to do it again.”

I was grateful to be traveling back with my new friend, but it just wasn’t as enjoyable. Even as we rode through the night sky, the dark blue clouds swiftly passing by us, I still found my mind wandering back to Rhys and our last conversation.

Rhys thought I had feelings for Axureon, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Still, it had been obvious that Rhys wasn’t interested in listening to what I had to say. I just had to hope I would get another chance to explain myself.

As my little pack village came into view, I couldn’t help the sense of nostalgia and longing that crashed into me. My home looked even smaller than it had the day I left, no doubt because I had done some changing since then.

I directed the dragons to the pack house, nearly toppling off of Saphira as we landed in front of my parents’ home. Saphira graciously lowered her head so that I could slide down her neck. After the dragons shifted back to human form, we walked up to the front door.

The door burst open before we even got to it, revealing my parents standing in the doorway.

“Saoirse,” my mother cried tearfully, dashing forward and taking me in her arms. She held me away from her after a moment so she could look me up and down. “Are you alright? You’re not hurt, are you?”

I blushed. “I’m fine, Mother,” I said and hugged her tightly. “It’s good to see you.”

I stepped away from her and glanced hesitantly at my father, who looked at me sternly but then took me in his arms as well. “I’m glad you’re safe,” he said gruffly.

I cleared my throat and stepped out of his hold to gesture toward the shifters behind me. “Axureon, king of Dragon Valley,” I said, stepping aside so they could undergo introductions.

It was just as awkward as I feared. My parents were visibly leary at having more dragons in their home, but they also looked resigned like they knew it couldn’t be helped.

“Your daughter has been doing us a great service,” Axureon said, bowing respectfully to my parents. “And now we hope to return the favor by helping Keelana.”

My dad narrowed his eyes at Axureon but nodded. “You may see her,” he said.

The message about Keelana’s health worsening hadn’t been exaggerated. The dragon mother was pale, and her chest was rising and falling rapidly as she slept. I looked meaningfully at Axureon, who nodded encouragingly at me. I stepped forward, gripping the amulet in my hand as I approached Keelana.

“You’re going to be alright,” I murmured to her unconscious form. I placed the amulet over her neck, letting the stone rest right against her heart.

The small stone began to glow immediately, warmth emanating from it. I kept my eyes on Keelana’s calm face until her eyes slowly fluttered open. She looked up at the ceiling for a moment before she turned to look over at me.

“Thank you,” she murmured before her eyes shut again.

I let out a relieved breath when the color began to return to Keelana’s face. Even as she slept, she looked so much better. Her breathing was far less labored as well.

We left her to the plethora of healers that had been watching over her.

A few hours later, I stood in the middle of my old bedroom and let out a long sigh. It too seemed small after everything that had happened. I picked up an old ragdoll that sat on the bed, tracing my fingers over the details of the dress.

“Saoirse.”

I turned as my mom entered the room. Her eyes darted around before she shut the door behind her.

“Mom?” I questioned in concern at her strange behavior. “Is everything alright?”

Mom’s lips tightened as she came to stand in front of me. “Saoirse, I have reason to question the motives of that dragon shifter.”

I blinked at her. “Axureon?”

Mom nodded firmly. “He claims that he is grooming you for some prophetic destiny,” she said tightly. “But I have doubts about that.”