Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1572 - 14 : Enchanted Darts

*Briella*

Celestial City was everything I ever hoped it could be. When we got there, I had been so overcome by the beauty of it that I had nearly forgotten why I was there. It was almost an out-of-body experience to be there, staring up at the seemingly endless spires. I felt light and airy, as well as a strange sensation of belonging.

Maybe it was because I could feel the connection the city had with Celestial Valley. I felt the familiar warm energy that seemed to permeate everything.

“Are you alright, Miss Black?”

I glanced over at Prince Roy of Egoren. He was watching me curiously, his soft features illuminated by a nearby streetlight.

I felt my face grow warm. I hadn’t quite been myself since we arrived in the city. I was worried about Kai and everyone else back in the valley, but there was also something stirring within me. Part of it was just reacting to the energy that flowed through the community, but there was something else...

Something sinister.

“You can call me Briella,” I told Roy, smiling politely at him.

Roy nodded. “Briella, then,” he said. He held my gaze. “Are you alright? You seem a bit distracted.”

“I am,” I said after a moment of thought. “There has just been so much. I didn’t expect to feel this way upon arriving here.”

“What way is that?” Kryzen asked.

I turned to look at him and had to pause for a moment at the look on his face. There was no mocking or challenge in his gray eyes. There was quite a bit of curiosity swimming in his orbs but also something else. It took me a moment to pinpoint it as a touch of concern.

I tried not to let my surprise show. “Conflicted,” I finally said after having had a few minutes to process it during our walk. “I’ve always dreamed about visiting the city, but I wish it was under different circumstances.”

“I understand,” Roy said with a nod. “I haven’t been here since I was a child. It’s strange to be here considering our intentions. There was something about this city that always felt impenetrable.”

“It still is impenetrable,” Kryzen said firmly, his voice flat and business-like. He stepped forward and then gestured at the road ahead of us. “I think it would be best to go back to the festival–”

“Back to the festival?” I blurted. I hated the excitement that seeped through my voice.

“To interview some of the members of the community,” he continued, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. “This is the ideal opportunity to do so since there will be a multitude of people from all walks of life.”

I would have liked to just enjoy the festivities, but Kryzen had a good point. We would be able to get a better gauge of how the community was fairing as a whole after the sudden illness.

The festival was still going strong when we returned to it. It looked even more crowded than it had been even an hour after we had been there last.

Kryzen led the way, his gray eyes scanning the busy street. I wondered what was going through that tactical mind of his. How would he determine who to approach, and how would we do so without raising alarm and suspicion?

I looked around as well, trying to decide who would be a good person to ask about the most recent traumatic events. There were a lot of young families, children tugging on their parents’ arms, asking for treats, and begging to play a game at one of the colorful booths.

“What’s the plan?” I asked finally, unsure where to even start. There were a few guards that seemed like a reasonable choice since they were supposed to be observing to protect everyone at the festival. When I looked closer though, the tough-looking men looked unfriendly and unapproachable.

Kryzen followed my gaze to the guards, who were currently scolding a couple of young kids for running, even though children were running all over the place.

“Maybe we should split up so that we’re less threatening,” he suggested, probably worried about looking like the stern protectors.

Roy and I nodded.

“Let’s meet back here in an hour or so,” Roy suggested before we parted ways.

Kryzen and Roy both went marching off with determination. I looked around helplessly for a moment, trying to decide where to even start.

I headed toward a crowd forming around one of the game booths. I squeezed through the crowd, trying to see why people were gathered.

There was a guy about my age at the center of attention, his light brown eyes focused on the target he was aiming for. I thought he was holding a handful of marbles at first. I looked closer to find that the darts he was holding were glowing like enchanted gemstones.

The crowd fell silent as the man pulled his arm back in preparation to toss the glimmering dart. He let out a little grunt as we swung his arm forward and released it, sending it shooting at the target. When it struck the bullseye, it made a sharp popping sound and created a shower of tiny stars around the entire booth.

The little gathering cheered, but the man didn’t seem to notice as he bowed to the woman in charge of the booth. I watched, fascinated as he took the large stuffed animal and immediately turned to hand it to a random little girl who happened to be passing by.

I had no leads or ideas on how to start looking for someone to talk to, so the fact that this guy caught my attention was good enough for me. I waited for the crowd to dissipate some before following him.

I lifted my head to keep an eye on the guy as he weaved through the crowd. He kind of stood out from the rest of the crowd. He was dressed in dark travel clothes instead of the bright and colorful attire that the other members of Celestial City were wearing.

I furrowed my eyebrows when I watched him disappear between two buildings. I hesitated briefly before going into the dark alleyway. I yelped and jumped back when I saw the glint of a knife.

“Why are you following me?” barked a dark, low voice.

My hand twitched toward my dagger, but I lifted my hands up in a peaceful gesture, my eyes focusing on the dart thrower. “I mean no harm,” I said carefully. “Forgive me, I just happened upon the impressive show you put on back at the dart booth. I was hoping to ask you a couple of questions.”

The man’s dark eyebrows creased with suspicion, but he seemed to believe and lowered his knife, pocketing it. “Sorry about that,” he said chuckling a little. “I’m actually not from around here and got a little paranoid.”

I relaxed now that the man’s knife was put away. “Oh, when did you get to the city?”

“A couple of days ago,” he said. “I haven’t been here for about a decade, so it’s been nice being back.”

I felt both my eyebrows fly upward. “So you got here after the illness I presume?”

“Yes,” he said. “I don’t think they would be allowing people in if it was still an issue.”

I nodded. “True enough,” I said, looking down for a moment as I formulated my next question. “Have you noticed anything unusual since arriving here, any strange interactions you might have had, or anything else out of the ordinary?”

The man narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “And who are you to be asking such questions?”

I lifted my chin and held his gaze. “I was sent by King Rhys.”

The man looked skeptical but eyed me carefully for another long moment before answering. “That is a difficult question to answer since the city is a mystery to me in general. Although, I will say there does seem to be more of an air of unease since my last visit several years ago. I had one strange interaction with a shopkeeper, an older woman who kept repeating over and over that we should keep our guards up.”

I wasn’t at all surprised by this story. It was only natural that some people in the city weren’t completely at ease. That actually comforted me in a way.

I thanked the guy before parting ways with him, pondering his words. I interviewed a few others but didn’t uncover anything else of interest.

“Any luck?” Roy asked when I met up with them again about an hour later.

I felt my shoulders sag. “Not really,” I said. “There is definitely some unrest due to the plague, but it does sound like it is no longer affecting people physically. I guess it really is gone.” I glanced over at Kryzen, who had his arms crossed over his chest, a pensive look on his face. “Did you guys uncover anything?”

Kryzen shook his head. “Nothing,” he said tersely, looking just as frustrated as I felt. “It’s getting late. We should head to the guest house.”

Thankfully, we weren’t too far from the array of safe houses in the city. The street was filled with plain white houses that all looked identical, with sleek gray roofs and minimal landscaping. As we stepped through the front door, the fatigue and exhaustion hit me like a wave.

We wandered the small but cozy house, and I froze in the hallway.

“Is something wrong, Briella?” Roy asked, coming up behind me with Kryzen just a step behind.

“Um, no,” I said, my eyes widening slightly as I looked between the bedrooms. “There’s only two bedrooms in here though.”

I turned to face the two guys so we could work out what to do and just stared at the smirk on Roy’s face.

“It’s only appropriate that the two of you share a room,” he said, his light tone full of teasing.

My jaw dropped, and I was at a complete loss as to what to say. Roy was normally so mild-mannered and gentlemanly.

Kryzen glowered at him, one dark eyebrow raised. “And how do you figure that?” he asked.

Roy shrugged innocently. “Well, you two have known each other since you were kids,” he said, grinning pleasantly at his friend. “And the way the two of you have been acting kind of indicates you wouldn’t mind sharing a room.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, my face burning at his words.

“Shut up, Roy,” Kryzen spat. I thought I noticed a hint of pink along his cheekbones as well. He scoffed. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

Roy chuckled. “I’m joking, obviously,” he said, putting his hands up in a placating way. “Although, we should decide on the sleeping arrangements. I’m ready to pass out where I stand.”

“I’m taking the living room,” Kryzen announced flatly, turning on his heel to do just that.

“Thank goodness,” I grumbled, nodding briefly to Roy and retreating into the bedroom closest to me.

Before I shut the door, I heard Roy chuckle. “If that’s really what the two of you want.”