Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1491 - 90 : Reason to Worry

*Saoirse*

My eyes shot open.

I was lying in mine and Rhys’ bed. It was still pitch black outside in the room, but I suddenly felt wide awake. My eyes blinked as if they would adjust to the darkness but there was nothing to see.

A sudden jab in my stomach had my hand and my eyes flying to my belly. After a short second, I felt a resistance push against my hand. My eyes widened in surprise.

It was the babies. They were moving, and I could feel them.

The feeling was surreal. I mindlessly rubbed my hand over my belly, smiling when the little kicks or punches answered in return. Maybe that was what woke me up. If only Rhys was there.

My smile faltered. As much as I wished that was the case, it was not. It had been over a week since Rhys had left on his “royal business,” at least that’s what everyone told me it was. However, during that entire time, I had no contact with him at all.

It was starting to make me nervous.

Over the past week, the lack of contact and information preceded to make me grow increasingly troubled. Granted, the pregnancy hormones probably weren’t helping matters either. They seemed to amplify everything I felt—good or bad.

The hormones also seemed to help my imagination. I had begun to have my anxieties play out as scenarios in my mind. All of them were relatively the same—missions gone wrong in far-off lands that I knew nothing about with Rhys in danger.

The babies kicked again. I sat up, swinging my feet over the edge of the bed. I knew with my mind racing, I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I knew I would see things I didn’t want to see.

They were things I hoped weren’t real.

I spent the rest of the waning hours of the night trying to keep my mind off Rhys and the intrusive thoughts. This included taking a bath, reading a book, and attempting to knit a blanket for the babies.

As soon as the darkness started to fade and light crept up the walls, I hurried and dressed. It still wasn’t the most reasonable time for one to wake, but it wasn’t as bad as the middle of the night.

Once I was presentable, I headed down to the dining hall. My nausea was the worst in the morning. I found it helpful to put a small layer of carbs down in my stomach to aid with the feeling and make it easier if anything did come up.

I was surprised to see I wasn’t the only one at breakfast at such an odd hour though.

“Queen Lena,” I greeted in surprise. “What are you doing up so early?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” the queen answered with a smile turning to face me.

Even in the morning, she looked more regal and elegant than I could ever dream of looking. I didn’t think my wild, fiery hair would ever cooperate enough to make the elegant fashions the queen often wore look good.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I said, answering her non-question honestly. The queen had always been respectful toward me, and I felt no need to hide from her.

She surprised me by letting out a sigh of her own. “Nor me.”

“Are you worried about Rhys as well?” I asked at her implication.

“A mother always worries,” she said with a sad smile. Looking down at my belly, she added, “As you will soon learn, with twice the worries.”

I couldn’t tell if her words made me feel better or not. In some ways, I felt justified in my feelings. In another way, I wondered if there was something to be worried about.

“Have you heard anything?” I pressed before I could stop myself.

She shook her head. “No, nothing.”

“I just think if I knew more, I wouldn’t worry so much, you know?” If I did, at least I could stop imagining it. “Could you just tell me where they went?”

She shook her head again. “I know nothing specific about where Rhys and his hand-picked team of guards went. They organized and left before I even had a chance to question them or say goodbye.”

He didn’t say goodbye to his mother either. Instead of making me feel better, it made me feel worse. What mission could have been so important and bad that he had to go quickly without informing me or the queen about it?

“Did he not tell you anything?” I pushed to verify.

“No,” she said, and I believed her. “The king does not know the specific details either. I promise, Saoirse, if I knew anything at all, I would let you know. I know how it feels to wait behind and wait for news.”

I was nauseous again. This time, I didn’t think it was the pregnancy. The queen seemed to notice.

“Talk to Daxton,” the queen said quickly. “Those two tell each other everything. Rhys has always relied on him for discreet sensitive matters. Maybe he could help you find the information you are looking for.”

“Thank you,” I said.

She surprised me by giving me a small hug. I was still getting used to how affectionate people behaved. I left her there, and the food. I no longer had an appetite for anything and wanted to talk to Daxton immediately.

The uneasy feeling in my stomach seemed to grow instead of shrink. I needed to put a stop to it before it got any more out of hand.

I had to knock a few times before Daxton finally opened his door. A helpful maid had pointed out to me which door was his. I was just beginning to think I had misunderstood the girl when a disheveled, sleepy-eyed Daxton appeared before me.

“Saoirse?” he asked in surprise through a hoarse throat.

In my hurry, I had forgotten how early it was and that the majority of the castle wasn’t even awake yet, let alone up and about. Even if I had remembered, it wouldn’t have changed my course. I needed answers, and I needed them now.

“Where’s Rhys?” I asked without pretense. “Why isn’t he back yet?”

Daxton stared at me, comprehending my words. This took a little longer than normal, but I remained patient. After all, he had just woken up. His brows suddenly furrowed as if he understood.

“Why don’t you come inside?” he asked, looking around me at the empty halls and stepping back.

I didn’t even hesitate to follow him. I trusted Daxton nearly as much as I trusted Rhys.

Daxton shut the door softly behind me and took a couple of steps away. He began to rub the back of his neck, either as a nervous habit or an awkward act. I stayed quiet, hoping my patience would pay off and he would talk.

“Rhys is on a confidential mission outside the kingdom’s borders,” Daxton said, sounding like he was reading from a script. “The mission has no set timeline for return.”

I was half-right. He was talking, but he wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. He had already told me it all himself.

“Please, I am just worried,” I said. “I have a terrible feeling. Could you just tell me where he is? Have you heard from him at all?”

“No, I haven’t heard from him,” Daxton answered. Seeing my face, he continued, “That is not unusual while on someone’s trail. They will be off the grid, so to speak, so the criminal isn’t alerted to their presence.”

“I still don’t understand,” I told him. “Why did Rhys have to go on this mission?”

“As I told you before, we got a tip on a wanted fugitive. It was an important case, so Rhys had to go,” Daxton said.

His words still weren’t adding up.

“If it was so important, why did he leave you behind?” I asked. “You’re his Beta. You two do everything together.”

Daxton seemed to grow more uncomfortable. I knew I was getting through his professional exterior.

“I offered to go. I wanted to go, but Rhys believed that my skills would be better used here,” Daxton said, not looking at me.

I could hear the longing in his voice. It was clear that he didn’t like not being a part of the action either. Being away from Rhys had to be hard for him as well. As Rhys and I were mates by the Moon Goddess, Rhys and Daxton also shared one of her bonds, one of brotherhood.

“What would he need your skills here for?” I asked, still confused. “I mean, there are plenty of guards and...”

When Daxton’s gaze reached me, I understood.

“He wanted you to stay behind to look after and protect me,” I stated. It was more of a fact than a question.

“Yes,” Daxton answered, regardless.

Deep down, I had already inferred that information, but hearing Daxton confirm it didn’t make me feel any better.

“Why?” I asked. “Am I in danger? I’m surrounded by royal guards all the time and rarely leave the castle.”

Daxton paused. After a moment, he finally answered. “He wanted me to stay behind because I am the only other person he fully trusts with your safety. He doesn’t trust anyone else. Not to mention that if something were to happen to him–”

“Stop,” I interrupted. “Don’t say it.”

Daxton shut his mouth and obeyed my wish. The uneasy feeling in my stomach had only grown further during our conversation. I was sure that I no longer had a stomach but just one giant mass of stress and anxiety.

“Where did he go?” I asked again. “Please, I have to know. What was so important that he would leave me for it? Leave our babies for it?”

My pregnancy hormones reared their ugly head. I felt the tears sting in my eyes. I wasn’t expecting that response and neither was Daxton. He looked appalled. However, intentional or not, the tears aided me in the end.

“It was Alexa,” Daxton caved. “Rhys went after Alexa.”

The rest of our conversation was a blur. I wasn’t sure what I said in response or what he said back to me, but I knew I was not happy. Somehow, I managed to convince Daxton to take me in front of the king and queen. I vaguely remember demanding that they let me go after Rhys.

They refused, which only blinded me further. That meant I would have to find a way on my own. I was running on emotion at that point and thoughts were an afterthought. Desperation for Rhys was all I knew. I was in turmoil, unable to comprehend what was going on around me or where I was.

That was until I saw golden eyes staring into my own.

I gasped as if breaking my head free from a body of water I hadn’t known I was drowning in and stared at Axureon standing before me. Saphira was at his side.

“Axureon?” I asked. “But... how... I...”

“I am not sure,” the ancient dragon said. “I do not understand it either, but somehow I can still feel you and your emotions. What is wrong, young one?”

“Please,” I choked out. “You have to help me track down Rhys. He went to find–”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me,” Axureon said. “He is your mate. And after what my mate did to you, I owe you anything to help your own. If you say track him, that is what we shall do.”

“Thank you,” I said, breathing out a small sigh of relief.

I told him everything I knew about Rhys, what direction I had seen them depart in, and where I believed they were headed. Daxton had said something about other kingdoms, so I knew it had to be far away.

Axureon was ancient, which meant he had more skill than most. Having the advantage of viewing from the air was also a huge plus. Between him and Saphira, they made quick work of following Rhys’ trail, dragging me along.

When we reached a small tavern where Rhys’ scent was still lingering, I noticed a barkeep staring at us cautiously. I motioned for Axureon and Saphira to follow at a safe distance while I approached the man.

“The prince passed through here,” I stated matter-of-factly as I reached him. I didn’t bother with pleasantries. I didn’t have time. “When did he leave, and where was he headed?”

The older pot-bellied man looked at me suspiciously and then looked behind me, his eyes lingering on Axureon.

“Excuse me,” I said, grabbing his attention. “Prince. Information. Now.”

I pulled open my robe and flashed the royal seal that emblazoned it. The man seemed shocked and then looked at me more closely, scrunching his eyebrows together tightly.

“He’s my husband,” I said. “Now where did he go?”

“Oh, so-sorry ma’am, did’unt realize,” he said. He gave a small bow as an afterthought. “Ta prince ‘nd his men sat for not but a moment ‘r two. Askin’ for maps ‘n routes through Deadwood Forest they were.”

My heart sank to the ball of stress and anxiety that had consumed my stomach. I hadn’t needed to see the man shudder at the name of the forest to know it was ominous. Even all the way in Hunters Glen, we had heard tales of the woods that nobody ever left alive.

Deadwood Forest...

And apparently, my husband was on his way there. If he wasn’t there already.

Another kick inside my stomach let me know that the babies didn’t like the idea any more than I did.