Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1528 - 127 : Come Back to Me

*Rhys*

Blood dripped from my brow, mixing with the dirt and ash beneath me as I hauled myself up from where I’d been thrown—where Saoirse had thrown me.

My muscles screamed in protest, but the pain was nothing compared to the wrenching of my heart at the sight before me. Saoirse, her fiery spirit now a literal blaze of dark magic, stood surrounded by the terrifying splendor of the dragon staff’s power.

"Please," I whispered through gritted teeth, my voice lost in the roar of energy surrounding her.

I knew then with a clarity that outshone the chaos that I would do anything to save her—to save us. With a cry torn from the depths of my soul, I lunged forward, arms reaching for the love that had become my everything.

"Saoirse!" The name that meant freedom became a desperate incantation as I charged, willing it to bridge the chasm of the darkness.

Her eyes met mine, a storm of shadows swirling within their depths, and she raised the staff. Power crackled from its ancient runes, weaving a destructive attack around her.

"Stand back, Rhys," she snarled, her voice not her own.

But I could not and would not yield. As fire and lightning spiraled from her, encircling her like the serpents of old, I charged through the chaos, fighting against the staff’s intentions with every step and every breath.

The air burned my lungs. It was acrid and heavy with power. The ground shook, fissures ripping through the earth. Her magic, once a beacon of light, now threatened to consume us both.

But I wasn’t leaving without her.

"Fight it, Saoirse! I know you’re still in there!" I shouted.

Would she hear me? Could she fight the pull of the cursed artifact that threatened to extinguish the fierce woman I adored?

"Rhys, please..." Her voice cracked through, and it was her voice, not the strange multilayered voice she had spoken with before. I saw a sliver of the Saoirse I knew.

"Remember us," I called out, staggering as the ground bucked underfoot, my gaze locked onto hers, searching, always searching for the spark that was uniquely hers.

"Remember who you are!"

I moved with a purpose born of desperation, the chaos of Saoirse’s unleashed fury swirling around me. Her face, twisted by the dragon staff’s dark enchantment, was still the most beautiful sight to me, even as it threatened everything.

"Remember, my love!" I cried, ducking a lance of fire that seared the air where I had stood moments before. "Remember the sunsets over the Emerald Plains, how we’d watch the sky bleed into night?"

Her eyes, once a clear reflection of the love we shared, now glimmered with hatred. Yet I held her gaze, seeking the warmth that had guided me through countless perils.

"Think of our people and this kingdom we’ve helped to continue and prosper," I continued. Every word was a battle against the deafening roar of her power.

A bolt of lightning split the ground near my feet. I leaped aside, feeling the heat graze my skin. Still, I pressed on, inching ever closer to her, my voice hoarse but unwavering.

"Your laughter, Saoirse, it fills the walls of our palace. It sings in the wind. Don’t let this darkness silence it."

The tempest of spells raged fiercer as if to drown out my pleas, but there was no turning back.

"Saoirse, you are the heart of our land, the soul of our people!" I shouted, willing my words to reach her. "You are stronger than this curse!"

I dove forward, rolling as I landed, to avoid another magical attack. The snarly expression the beautiful face made my chest ache, but I would not give up. I would not leave there without my wife.

“Think about our children! Our children, Saoirse! They need their mother! They need you! I need you!” my voice cracked with emotion.

And then, there was a pause, a moment stretched out like the calm at the eye of the storm. Her expression wavered, confusion and pain warring with the corruption of the staff.

"Rhys..." It was a whisper, barely audible, but it carried the weight of the world. A flicker of recognition danced across her tormented features, a spark that defied the engulfing shadow.

"Come back to me, Saoirse. Come back to us. Our story isn’t over. It can’t be." My voice broke, the edges of my resolve fraying yet bolstered by the sight of her inner struggle.

"Us..." Her lips formed the word like a lifeline thrown across turbulent seas.

"Remember who you are, my fierce and outspoken queen. Remember the life we vowed to forge together, side by side. Remember our love, our children, our people. Please, Saoirse."

Her eyes met mine, truly met them. In their depths, I saw her, the real Saoirse, fighting to emerge from the darkness that sought to claim her.

The world seemed to hold its breath as Saoirse’s scream tore through the chamber, a sound that was both harrowing and triumphant.

Her grip on the dragon staff slackened. With a burst of clarity fueled by desperation, she threw it from herself. The staff spiraled through the air, landing with a metallic clatter that echoed the shattering of its dark enchantment. Power bled from it like mist, leaving the once-feared artifact nothing more than a twisted piece of wood.

I lunged forward, my arms ready and waiting, and caught Saoirse as she crumpled. Her body trembled in my arms, wracked with sobs that were half relief and half utter exhaustion. I held her tightly, feeling her every ragged breath as if it were mine.

"Rhys," she gasped between sobs, "I... I’m so sorry."

"Shh," I whispered, stroking her hair, damp with sweat and magic. "There’s nothing to be sorry for. You fought it, Saoirse. You won."

Her tears soaked into my tunic, mingling with the grime of battle and the salt from my own unshed tears. We remained there amidst the ruins of what had almost been our end, finding solace in each other’s embrace.

"Rhys," she murmured, lifting her head to look at me, her eyes brimming with tears yet shining with something fierce and alive. "Can we go home? Can we just... go home?"

"Home," I repeated, the word a promise, a vow. "Yes, we will go home together."

I turned my attention to Axureon, who lay several feet away. His chest rose and fell with shallow, labored breaths, his once-brilliant golden eyes now dimmed by pain. His human form was battered, the cost of leadership, defying Pyroth, and standing with us. Blood seeped through his torn clothing, a stark contrast to his pale skin.

"Rhys," Saoirse’s voice quivered, barely above a whisper. "We need to help him."

"Stay here," I instructed gently, easing her down onto the scorched earth. She nodded, her strength waning, yet her spirit remained unbroken. I moved toward Axureon. Kneeling beside our wounded ally, I could see the extent of his injuries. It would take time for even a dragon’s robust healing to mend such wounds.

"Old friend," I murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hold on. We will get you back to Egoren."

Axureon’s eyes flickered to mine, conveying gratitude and a fierceness that defied his condition. A weak smile graced his lips, but no words came. He was conserving his energy, preparing for the arduous journey ahead.

"Rhys," he managed to rasp out at last, "Pyroth... will not forgive this defeat."

"I know," I replied, my jaw set with resolve. Pyroth’s wrath would be a tempest upon us all. But at that moment, it was Axureon who needed me most. His life hung precariously between realms, and I vowed silently to do all in my power to pull him back from the brink.

Saoirse staggered to her feet, swaying slightly as she made her way to my side. Her hands, though trembling, were steady as she touched Axureon’s brow, offering what little comfort she could.

"Thank you," she whispered to him, her voice laden with emotion, "for everything."

Axureon’s gaze found hers, and the connection between them—a bond forged through battle and sacrifice—spoke volumes more than words ever could.

"Let’s move him carefully," I said, glancing at Saoirse. Despite her exhaustion, her determination shone clear. Together, we lifted Axureon, supporting him between us as we began the slow trek back to the safety of our stronghold. With each step, I felt Saoirse’s resolve faltering, her body crying out for rest, but still, she pushed on.

"Rhys," she breathed, her voice shaky, "the pain... it’s too much."

"Almost there," I assured her, even though I knew the journey was far from over. Our victory that day had come at a great cost.

We trudged through the ashen remnants of the battlefield, the weight of Axureon heavy between us. Saoirse’s grip on our companion was firm, but her steps were faltering.

"Careful," I murmured as she stumbled over a charred piece of wood. Her only response was a nod. Her focus was solely on placing one foot in front of the other. Silence engulfed us, filled with unspoken dread for what lay ahead.

"Can you manage?" I asked after a while, glancing at her pale face. Her eyes, usually vibrant with fierce determination, now held a haunted look, shadows of the recent horrors we had endured.

"Have to," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "For Egoren... for all of us."

I nodded, understanding the weight of responsibility pressing down on us both. The burden of leadership was something I’d been born into, but for Saoirse, it was a mantle taken up out of necessity and love for her people, her home, and me.

Pyroth’s wrath remained, a storm brewing on the horizon. He would not stop. He would not forgive this loss.

"Rhys," she said suddenly, breaking the silence. "He won’t stop, will he? Pyroth?"

"No," I admitted. "But we’ll be ready. We’ll fight."

"Until our last breath," she added, a flicker of her old fire returning. "Together."

"Always together," I echoed, feeling the truth of those words down to my bones. We reached the gates, the familiar sentries rushing to aid us, their expressions tight with concern.

"Get Axureon to the healers," I instructed, handing over our friend with care. As they carried him off, I turned to Saoirse, who swayed on the spot, exhaustion claiming her.

"Let’s get you seen to as well," I said gently, supporting her as she leaned into me.

"We did it, Rhys," she murmured, her head resting against my shoulder. "We saved him."

"For now," I replied, my voice tinged with a sorrow I couldn’t hide. "But the cost..."

"Was worth it," she finished for me, her conviction unwavering even now. As we stepped through the threshold of safety, I allowed myself to believe that somehow, despite everything, we would find a way to endure.