Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1600 - 42 : Guard Her With Your Life

*Briella*

My hands trembled, the afterimage of Mathias’ possessed form seared into the backs of my eyelids. Fear coiled within me, thick and suffocating, as I watched his body shudder violently before slackening, the dark influence relinquishing its hold.

"Mathias!" I rushed to his side, my heart pounding out a frantic rhythm against my ribs. He was alive. Thank the Goddess, he was alive.

His eyes fluttered open, revealing their familiar warm hue, now clouded with confusion. "Briella? What–"

"Shh, you’re back with us now," I soothed, though my voice quivered with emotion.

The air crackled as the priests and priestesses sprang into action, their voices ringing high and urgent above the chaos that had erupted. They brandished sacred herbs that smoldered and spat against unseen forces, their incantations spiraling up to the vaulted ceilings like desperate pleas.

I wasn’t sure what good it would do, but I knew that logic wasn’t always at the forefront after a traumatic experience. They needed to cling to their faith, so they began the purification process.

"Darkness be gone," they chanted, hands sweeping through elaborate gestures meant to purify and protect. "Light return to this hallowed place."

The elders, robed in solemn grays and blues, formed a tight-knit circle, their heads bowed in intense discussion. Every furrowed brow and downturned mouth spelled out the severity of what we had just witnessed. Their eyes kept trailing back to me, and I worried what this would mean.

"Never in my years," muttered one, stroking his silver beard.

"An omen, perhaps," suggested another, her voice tinged with unease.

"A warning for certain," added a third, his sharp gaze cutting through the room and landing on me for a moment too long.

I wrapped my arms around myself, fighting to keep the fear at bay and the tears from spilling over. I had to be strong, for Mathias, for all of us. But in the shadow of such darkness, even my warrior spirit felt fragile, ready to fracture like glass.

My fingers curled into fists at my sides, the tension in the room seeping into my bones. Kryzen’s presence was constant at my back. His anger was so clear that he seemed to be daring anyone to speak against me. Drius, ever the calm in our storm, stood with his hands clasped behind him, his gaze flickering between the elders and me.

"Could they believe it?" I whispered, more to myself than to either of them. "Do they think I have something to do with that creature?"

Kryzen’s voice was a low growl beside me, "Over my dead body will they pin this on you."

Drius shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly. "They won’t," he said firmly. "We know you, Briella. They know you. This darkness is not of your doing."

Doubt still gnawed at my insides. The words spoken by that dark entity, the way it twisted Mathias’s features into a grotesque mask, all pointed to a connection with me. I could still feel the chill of its gaze, and the threat in its tone.

"Look at them," I murmured, nodding toward the circle of elders who continued their heated debate. "They’re scared. When people are scared, they look for someone to blame. That thing spoke to me. Me."

"Let them try," Kryzen spat, his gray eyes flashing dangerously. He stepped closer. I felt the heat of his fury, a stark contrast to the cold dread filling my chest.

"Enough," Drius interrupted, placing a hand on Kryzen’s shoulder. His touch was meant to soothe, but Kryzen only tensed further. "Accusations serve no purpose. We stand with Briella. That’s what matters."

I swallowed hard, trying to latch onto the thread of courage woven through Drius’ words.

"Thank you," I said, my voice small. I might have been a warrior, but even warriors feared the gallows.

"Always," they answered together, two voices blending into one solid vow.

The elders’ voices hushed and then rose again like the ebb and flow of a restless tide. My heart beat in a frantic rhythm, each thump echoing my dread. I wondered if I would be punished, banished, or blamed for the darkness sweeping through these lands and people.

"Peace," one elder finally commanded, his voice slicing through the cacophony of the chamber. "We must remember that Briella is one of our own."

I exhaled a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. Their words were a balm to my frayed nerves.

"However," he continued, his gaze clouded with concern, "we cannot dismiss the threats levied against her. She must be guarded with utmost care."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room. I watched as one of the temple guards stepped forward, his armor clinking softly. He was a formidable man, tall and stoic, but the thought of being shadowed by this stranger sent a shiver down my spine.

"Wait," Kryzen’s voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and certain. He moved to stand before me, an unspoken barrier between myself and any who would seek to control my fate.

"Kryzen?" I whispered, torn between gratitude and worry for the stance he took.

“She needs protecting, that is clear. We protect our own.”

“So do we.” Kryzen and Drius spoke together.

"Nobody knows Briella better than we do. Nobody can protect her like me," Kryzen said firmly, glancing back at me with those steely gray eyes that seemed to pierce through the shadows of doubt.

"Agreed," Drius chimed in, his voice harmonizing with Kryzen’s resolve. His hazel eyes met mine. They were filled with the silent promise of a friendship that had endured since childhood.

"Her safety is our priority," Drius added, stepping beside Kryzen, their united front clear and unwavering.

"Thank you," I managed to say, the simple phrase carrying the weight of all my fears and hopes.

"We only want you safe, Briella," the elder assured me. “If you believe they can best protect you, we will allow it.”

Kryzen’s jaw tightened, and his nostrils flared as he turned to face Drius. I could feel the tension radiating off both of them.

"Both of you," the elder’s voice cut through the thick atmosphere, "would do well to remember that protecting Briella is a duty that rises above personal conflicts."

They broke their gaze, each giving a curt nod, but I saw the reluctant agreement in their eyes. It was an odd comfort knowing they’d put aside their differences for me.

"Indeed, her safety benefits greatly with both of your strengths combined," the elder continued, a hint of wisdom coloring his words. "It is settled then. Kryzen, Drius, you shall be her guardians and guard her together."

"Thank you, Elder Marrow," I said, my voice still carrying the echoes of earlier fears.

"Let’s head back," Drius suggested, his tone softer now, perhaps sensing my lingering unease.

"Agreed," Kryzen grumbled, and we began our walk back to the house I’d been staying in with Kai. The path home was familiar but seemed different somehow. It was more dangerous with the shadow of recent events looming over us.

"Are you alright, Briella?" Kryzen asked after a few moments of silence, his concern breaking through his usual stoicism.

"Trying to be," I admitted, my hands unconsciously wringing the fabric of my tunic. "It’s just... everything feels so fragile now."

"We won’t let anything happen to you," Drius assured me, his hazel eyes seeking mine, offering silent strength.

"Promise?" The word escaped me before I could think better of it, a childlike plea for certainty in an uncertain world.

"Promise," they both said almost in unison. Despite everything, a small smile found its way to my lips. We reached the doorstep of the house I shared with Kai, the warmth within promising a brief respite from the chaos outside.

"Home sweet home," I murmured, stepping inside with Kryzen and Drius following close behind. The door closed behind us with a gentle click, and the familiar scent of sage and cedarwood filled my nostrils. My fingers traced the grain of the wooden table in our living area, anchoring myself to something tangible and real amidst the turmoil churning within me.

"Tea?" I offered, more out of habit than any true intention to serve.

"Sure," Kryzen replied, his voice steady as he sat down. Drius nodded in agreement, though his eyes remained on me, watchful and wary.

I busied myself with the kettle and cups, the clinking of pottery a welcome distraction. The silence that settled was heavy. Each of us was lost in our own thoughts. When the tea was ready, I brought the steaming cups over. We sipped in silence, the warmth of the liquid doing little to soothe the cold knot of fear in my stomach.

"I can’t just sit here." I finally broke the quiet, setting my cup down with a clatter. "Something dark is happening, and it knows who I am."

"Which means we need to be cautious," Kryzen said, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. His hands were clasped tightly together. His knuckles were white. "We should wait until we have more information."

"Wait? While what? More people get hurt? More possessions?" My voice rose in pitch, my frustration bubbling up. "No. We need to find out what this thing wants and stop it."

"Easy, Briella," Drius interjected. His calm demeanor was the opposite of my agitation. "We’re in this with you, but rushing into the unknown isn’t wise."

"Then what do you suggest?" I challenged, feeling trapped by indecision and the weight of their gazes.

"Research," Kryzen answered promptly. "We dig through every book and scroll until we understand what we’re dealing with."

"Research," I echoed flatly, the idea less than satisfying when my instincts screamed for immediate action.

"Knowledge is a weapon," Kryzen added, meeting my gaze with an intensity that held no room for argument.

"Fine..." I relented, the fight draining out of me as I acknowledged the truth in their words. "We start first thing tomorrow morning."

"Agreed," they said together, a resolute chorus that somehow made the next steps seem possible.

"Get some rest, Briella," Drius said softly as he stood, heading toward the small library adjoining the living area. "We’ll need clear heads."

"Rest," I repeated as if the word was foreign. But they were right. The next day would come with challenges, and I had to be ready.

"Goodnight," Kryzen murmured, standing and placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder before following Drius.

"Goodnight," I whispered to their retreating backs and then to the empty room around me. Alone with my thoughts, I wrapped my arms around myself, seeking comfort that didn’t come. Sleep would be elusive, but maybe the dawn would bring answers or at least hope for them.