Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1475 - 74 : Dreams Come True

*Saoirse*

I couldn’t believe this was happening. When Shylah said she wanted to find a witch to exorcize me from my body, I didn’t think it would be so easy to find one. And the witch they found, Sasha, seemed more than capable and truly devoted. I let the stress of the past few days take its toll, and wet, hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

Shylah was turning in for the night, serene and pleased, while my stomach roiled nauseous and my blood pressure boiled.

I had no one, and I would die in less than a month.

Even if someone found me, I didn’t think there was anything they could do. Shylah was so powerful that even a renowned witch obeyed her, and Rhys most likely couldn’t do anything either.

I didn’t want to rely on him, but I needed someone.

I slumped down in the corner of my mind as Shylah turned out the magical lights to sleep.

I wondered where Rhys was. Was he at the palace resuming his normal life without sparing me a second thought?

That thought was too depressing to entertain. I had to keep hope that he was fighting to free me, even if it didn’t seem that way.

Although I had called for him countless times, each time went unanswered.

Questions abounded in my head. How had things come to this? Could I have prevented this from happening? What wrong step had I made to get my unborn child and myself into this mess? What could I possibly do to get the word out?

Why did I somehow always end up a captive when all I wanted was to do the right thing? My despair and tears simmered hot in indignation. I sat up and punched the down pillow I was lying on.

“I’m so sick of this happening!” I raged, punching the pillow again before I froze.

My heart jumped in my chest as I cautiously raised the hand beating the pillow.

“Oh my god!” I jumped to my feet. “I’m in control!”

Now, all I had to do was make a break for it.

“Don’t,” a velvety alto voice echoed in my mind. “Right now, your physical body is still asleep, it is as if you are sleepwalking. If you draw attention to yourself, her disciples will realize what has happened and confine you until Shylah awakens.”

“What the...” My mind reeled trying to place the voice. “Is that you, the Dream Dancer, Sasha?”

“Yes. I was waiting for Shylah to sleep so that I could communicate with you in private. I’m here to help you, Saoirse.” Sasha’s voice reverberated in my mind, and I reeled back skeptically.

“You’re here to exorcize me. I shouldn’t believe a word you say. I’m out of here.” I straightened and searched for my shoes.

“Saoirse, I’m working with Rhys. I got myself abducted on purpose to find a way to free you of her possession.” Her confession stopped me dead in my tracks.

“Rhys...” I murmured and put on Shylah’s golden house slippers instead. “If you’re really working with Rhys, I’m going to have to confirm it.”

I put on a robe and left my chambers, the night guards none the wiser. I approached the double doors and knew that if I opened both of them, the noise might draw too much attention. However, I knew there was a small opening in the door itself that I could open to see Sasha.

I opened the slat. Sasha was already there, dark eyes locked onto mine.

“Rhys says he loves you and that those slippers are not your style.” Sasha eyed the golden slippers, and my face twisted in confusion.

“How does he know what slippers I’m wearing?” I whispered, my eyebrows furrowing.

“You can see him and what shoes he’s wearing too if you want,” Sasha offered. My eyes widened.

“How?” I exclaimed.

“There is another version of me with Rhys right now, updating him on everything. If you take my hand, I can take you to him.” The woman reached her small hand through the opening. I couldn’t bring myself to hesitate.

Even if she was fooling me, my fate couldn’t be any worse than it was now. I reached out. As soon as I grabbed her hand, a magic wash of purple and violet energy vortexed around me. I didn’t dare let go as the magic dissipated, but I did close my eyes.

Anxiety swept over me as a nauseous, muscle-tensing vice. If this was a trap, if Sasha had tricked me, I didn’t think my psyche could handle another heart-breaking betrayal.

“Saoirse, are you... you? Are you okay?” A familiar baritone voice, which I would know blind, sounded from right in front of me.

I opened my eyes in a flash and saw Rhys standing before me, black hair wild, eyes ringed with dark circles, and a face wan in concern. Without a second thought, I rushed into his arms, nearly knocking him over with the force of my lunge.

I sobbed as I inhaled his familiar, signature scent, burying my face into the crook of his neck. My wet tears and nose dampened his skin and the collar of his shirt, but I didn’t care. I just wrapped my arms around his neck tighter as his arms lassoed me in flush to his chest.

For a countless moment, I stood there locked in his embrace as he murmured reassurances into my ear. As relieved as I was, I needed answers.

Leaning back, I looked Rhys deep into his eyes and opened my mouth to ask where he went, but he beat me to it.

“Saoirse, I need to explain to you what happened on our wedding day,” he began, his cheeks flushing. “Alexa faked an emergency and drugged Dax and me. I woke up hours later in her chambers, nude. She acted like I’d just... accept whatever she had done to me, but no. I wanted nothing to do with her. I raced to the flowering tree, only to see you had long since left, which I don’t blame you for in the least. I am so truly sorry, Saoirse.” Rhys’ voice cracked a bit as he finished.

My mouth went slack, stunned. The shame on Rhys’ face looked the same as other women I’d seen wear after they’d been betrothed to brutish Alphas like Conall.

“Rhys, that’s terrible.” I planted a kiss on his cheek, but he didn’t turn into it. “I’m sorry that happened to you. I didn’t think she’d be that manipulative either.”

“I should’ve seen it. I should’ve been smarter. I ruined everything.” Rhys clenched his jaw and looked down.

“This isn’t anything we can’t fix.” I lifted his jaw to look me in the eyes. “We can try our wedding again after we get all this straightened out. It’s okay, Rhys.”

“You think so? You forgive me?” He took his arms from my waist and held my hands.

“Yes, Rhys.” With that admission, the handsome Alpha hugged me again.

When we broke apart, I smiled and palmed my hand to his chiseled cheek,

“I love you, Saoirse. I love you with everything I am,” he affirmed, his eyes hard to display his seriousness.

I believed him. Maybe our first wedding had been ruined, but I knew we could salvage our relationship.

All was not lost. Tears flowed from my cheeks again. This time, they were tears of relief and joy.

“I love you too, Rhys, and I have something I need to tell you as well.” I sniffed, took his hand, and placed it palm down on my lower belly.

The color drained from Rhys’ face.

“I’m pregnant, Rhys, with your baby.” A crescent of a smile curled across my face as a dozen emotions ranging from shock to wonder to excitement to elation flashed across my love’s face.

“I vow from here on out that I’d rather die the slowest, most painful of deaths than ever abandon you and our child ever again,” Rhys adamantly swore, his tone serious as stone. “You have my word as an Alpha and a man that I will do everything in my power to have us properly reunited, married, and safe under one roof.”

“I know, and I trust you,” I replied.

He kissed me passionately, stealing more breath from my lungs. I broke it off reluctantly when I heard Sasha clear her throat behind me.

“Rhys, Saoirse, we need to return soon. The guards will soon make their rounds and notice I am not here. Shylah may also awaken soon.” Sasha’s smooth voice brought both of us back to reality. “If Shylah awakens here, there is no telling what she will do to us.”

I knew that we had to keep up the ruse with Shylah. If she awoke and saw that I could control my body when she went to sleep, it would ruin everything.

“Rhys, before I go...” I paused as he wiped tears from my eyes. “The magic enchantments sealing off the dragon sanctuary aren’t coming from the crystals. Shylah is powering them. The only way to weaken the enchantments is to weaken Shylah and dampen her immense magic.”

I squeezed his hands. He returned the gesture, not wanting me to go.

“I feared as such. It’d be too convenient if there was an external power source we could sabotage.” Rhys’ expression sobered up, but his gaze was still stuck on my lower belly.

“We may have allies,” I continued, smiling softly at his focus on our child. “Despite Shylah being a heroic warrior of the dragons, she’s fooling them.”

“Fooling them? How?”

“She told Axureon that she is only borrowing my body temporarily until Lord Pyroth is defeated. I think if he were to find out that she has no intention of giving my body back, he might be swayed,” I explained as I felt a slight pull backward and saw a faint purple vortex appear.

“Saoirse!” Rhys reached out. He quickly shook his head as if realizing he couldn’t and shouldn’t stop me from leaving despite everything in his being wanting me to stay “Okay, I’ll keep that in mind. Maybe Axureon will see reason. Who is the other ally?”

“My friend Sapphira. She’s a dragon in Hunters Glen. I think if she knows that Shylah is holding me captive, she’ll help too, even if in secret,” I continued, thinking of how we went flying together and how that felt like a lifetime ago.

“Okay, I understand, Saoirse. I’ll reach out to both of them to see how we can break the enchantments. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I will find a way for us to be together again and be the mate you need me and want me to be,” Rhys vowed, placing a chaste kiss on my lips.

“I’ll continue to resist Shylah and undermine her strength however I can. She can’t hold such a tight rein on me forever.” I nodded, strength returning to me.

Maybe all it took was reminding myself that I was not alone. I had Rhys and others who would help me. Hope was a powerful thing.

“Saoirse, we must return now,” Sasha beckoned. The magic purple vortex behind me had opened up fully.

“We will be together again, Saoirse. I promise it, and I love you.” Rhys reached out, but my hand slipped past him, already being pulled into the ethereal vortex.

“I know, and I love you too!” I shouted as I got pulled back into my prison sanctuary.

Standing in slippers just outside Sasha’s workshop, I remembered I had completely forgotten to poke fun at Rhys’ shoes. I would have to get my revenge when I saw him next.

Next...

I knew Shylah would soon awaken, and I’d most likely be powerless to prevent her from doing anything but hope had renewed me.

I wasn’t just fighting alone now. I had Rhys, Sasha, and, hopefully, Sapphira and Axureon too. I couldn’t give up and let her win. I wasn’t just fighting for myself or Rhys and our relationship. I was also fighting for our child.

I was down, but I wasn’t out.