Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1512 - 111 : Counsel Council

*Rhys*

"Silence," I said, trying to bring the council back under control.

Nobody even pretended to listen. They were yelling questions at each other, me, and Axureon. There were so many voices that it was practically impossible to understand what was being said.

I sat for another moment, trying to wait for them to calm down on their own. When it was clear they wouldn’t, I stood up.

"Silence!" I demanded, instantly quietening the room.

Those who had gotten to their feet slowly stumbled back to their seats. Their mouths were all in thin lines as if forcing themselves to bite their tongues.

With a calming breath, I sat back down and looked back at Axureon.

"Please specify why you believe that we are in danger from Pyroth," I said in the calmest voice I could muster.

Along with the people around me, Axureon’s words had sent a tingle of panic through my body. However, I was the king, which meant I was responsible for keeping my cool and everyone else under control and calm.

Axureon’s eyes focused back on me. He began to talk again, focusing solely on me.

"Pyroth is a formidable and unpredictable foe," he said after what seemed like a never-ending silence. "He is driven by a deep-seated desire for power and control, and he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

"If you get in the way of his goals, he will strike you down without hesitation. But if you give him what he wants, he will also strike you down once you have ceased to be useful to him. There is no winning with Pyroth unless you bow to him for all eternity, and he has no leniency on that matter."

Axureon paused in the eerie silence. He looked contemplative like he was measuring each of his words and being careful in how they were delivered.

"We must be cautious in our dealings with him, and we must be prepared that this is all just a ploy of his before attacking us and inciting war." Axureon’s eyes flashed with a memory. and I again wondered what exactly had happened between the two men. "Pyroth is known for befriending those he wishes to harm to get closer to them and ensure their destruction."

I leaned forward, drawn in by his words.

"That’s why I have called for your counsel, Axureon," I said, my voice serious. "Your history with Pyroth allows us insight into him that we would not have otherwise. I will take every advantage available to me if it is to become a war between wolves and dragons."

I didn’t even want to think of what a war like that would truly entail. One thing was certain in that future: death and lots of it.

Axureon opened his mouth to speak, but I continued.

"With your history and knowledge of Pyroth, I was hoping for even more than your counsel," I admitted slowly. "I ask that you meet with him, as a neutral party, to gauge his true intentions and seek a peaceful resolution to this conflict."

I didn’t even mention my thoughts on my conversation with Pyroth. I didn’t want it to bias his perception if he agreed to this mission I had set for him.

Axureon leaned back in his chair, not taking his eyes off me as he regarded me with a thoughtful expression. His ancient eyes seemed to see beyond me and the surface of things. Like many times before, I wondered if he had even more knowledge than he was letting on.

"I will do as you ask, King Rhys," Axureon said at last, his voice quiet but filled with determination. "I must reiterate and warn you of what I already know. Pyroth is not to be trusted. He may speak of peace, but his actions will always be guided by his self-interest and lust for power. I don’t even need to talk to him to know that."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at his repetitiveness. The situation was too serious for that anyway. He might have been repeating himself, but I knew it was because he wanted us to take his words to heart and be just as serious as him.

I couldn’t blame him for that.

"I know the risks, Axureon," I said, my expression grim to represent the somberness of the situation. "But I also know that we cannot afford to let this opportunity for diplomacy pass us by. If there is even a chance of avoiding war and bloodshed, we must take it."

There was a murmur of agreement from all the mouths around me. Axureon nodded his understanding as well. Even if this wasn’t what he wanted, he would understand the reasoning behind my actions, as would the council around me.

"Is there truly nothing you could think of that we could use to gain Pyroth’s favor or something that we could hold over him to enforce some sort of control on the situation?" Daxton asked.

There were more murmurs of agreement from all the men around me who had stayed silent for the rest of my conversation. That was more than I could have expected or hoped for, so I’d take it.

"Why do you think we have his children in the first place?" Axureon asked, his mouth twitching as he clenched his jaw. "Of course, we were trying to aid Keelana in her escape from an abusive relationship and protect her from his smite, but I couldn’t deny the power that having his children in our possession would grant us."

"Do you truly think that once he gets his children, he won’t just return to his own realm? Your realm?" One of the men on the other side of the row asked.

"His realm," Axureon corrected out of habit. "This is my realm now, my home..."

He paused, contemplating the rest of the question.

"I was close to Pyroth before when we were much younger. It was always clear that he desired to be bigger and better than any ruler ever before. If history has taught him anything, it’s that the conquerors get to write the stories."

"But war with a random people that have not wronged him at all?" the same man continued. "Would the loss of life really be worth it if he has no intention of staying around?"

"I can’t speak for his motives now," Axureon said with a shrug. "It has been many years since I have seen or talked to him. I just know who he is at his core, and it makes me worry for us all. Not to mention that he was the one investigating this realm in the first place when we escaped here.

You don’t research and plan for all these years just to make a sightseeing tour."

Silence loomed again. Axureon’s words made complete sense.

When I had met with him, Pyroth had almost seemed too calm for the situation at hand. I thought it was because he was trying to hide his emotions, but now I wondered if he was really that calm because this was all a part of his plan.

I folded my hands under my chin as I tried to process my thoughts without displaying them to the people around me.

Axureon stood in front of me, his posture straight and proud. "I will do what I can to broker peace, regardless of my beliefs. Mere words and promises might not do much to contain Pyroth’s ambitions, but I agree that it is a chance we have to take. You never know. Perhaps he has matured in the years we have been apart." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He didn’t sound like he believed that, but I appreciated him saying it. Axureon was calming the men around me without even a second thought. As a leader, he was aware of what fear could do to a people, and he was naturally protecting the people from that.

I rose to my feet and strode the few steps forward to reach out and clasp Axureon’s hand again. Despite our up-and-down relationship from the day I met him, I couldn’t help but feel gratitude and respect for the man who was attempting to aid me now.

"Thank you, Axureon," I said, my gratitude bleeding into my tone. "Your wisdom and courage are a gift to us all. May the Goddess watch over you and guide your path."

Axureon placed his hand on my shoulder in another masculine show of mutual respect.

"I appreciate all you have done for me and my people. Consider this payback for the aid we have received from you in the past," Axureon said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "If this does result in war, we will be united entirely again, for we will need each other in the coming months."

I knew he was right, but I tried to push back the possibility of that future. If there was nothing I could do to prevent it, there was no reason to dwell on the matter and drive myself crazy.

"Let me walk you to the door, friend," I said. For the first time, I meant it.

Chatter broke out in the room again as Axureon and I exited the doors. Daxton followed close after us, trailing just slightly behind. He was already a great beta, but with an unknown threat like Pyroth around, I knew there was no way he was going to be giving me space anytime soon.

It was silent for a little while, but then Axureon spoke. "It might be better to visit Saoirse and your new babies another time. I am afraid I am not in a social mood at the moment."

"Understandable," I said with a nod.

I was surprised by how indifferent I felt at his words. I glanced at the ancient dragon walking smoothly beside me and remembered how his relationship and connection with Saoirse used to make me feel insecure and uncomfortable.

If I was honest with myself, I knew that was the main reason I had been opposed to Saoirse bonding with the dragon staff again. It would just bond the two of them closer again.

Looking at him now, I realized I had been being ridiculous. I wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because of the solidity of our relationship or our creation of life that bonded us together, but the bond between the dragon and my mate no longer intimidated me.

In fact, I was glad that she had someone so strong and wise in her corner. If this all went the worst possible way, it would mean that we would be thrown into war, and anything was possible in war.

The idea of dying didn’t scare me as much as the idea of leaving behind my family. With Axureon before me, I felt more relaxed in that sense as well.

"Thank you for caring for my wife," I said, unable to keep the gratitude inside. "We are lucky to have you in our lives."

Axureon’s eyebrows raised in surprise at my words, and I couldn’t blame him. After a couple of seconds, a large smile spread across his face, and his eyes softened.

"Thank you, Rhys, I appreciate that," Axureon said. "You are my family too now, and I would do anything to protect you. All of you."

After walking the dragon to the door and saying goodbye, I turned and instantly started walking back to my family. My mind whirled as I thought about my new revelation and the love blooming in my chest.

I had been away from my family for too long.