Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1614 - 56 : Land of Icy Wonder

*Briella*

I could hear the sound of early morning birds starting their songs. I turned over, lifting my head and wondering briefly why I was so sore. I hummed with contentment when I realized I was in a tent, tucked against Kryzen’s chest.

I shivered, momentarily confused as to why I would be cold even though I was against Kryzen’s warm body. I quickly realized my foot had been poking out.

I giggled lightly. We hadn’t been overly concerned with putting socks on after our lovemaking. We were still naked beneath the blanket of our sleeping bags. The little mischievous imp inside of me had an idea.

Maybe it was the daze from our lovemaking the night before that I was feeling playful. I adjusted so I was on my siding facing my mate, slipping my cold digits against his leg.

He woke immediately, gasping and looking around confused before grimacing at me. His stormy gray eyes narrowed when he saw the mischievous look on my face. I just grinned at him cheekily.

“Good morning,” he rumbled in a low growl that had me squirming nervously.

“Morning,” I said back sweetly.

Kryzen smirked and rolled so that he was on top of me pinning me down. “How dare you put your cold little toes on me to wake me up,” he whispered against my ear.

I could feel my heart thumping wildly. I felt small between Kryzen’s strong arms. I started to squirm. “It’s morning,” I said lamely, sensing an onslaught. This wasn’t good. He caught me off guard, and now I was trapped beneath his thick form. “Just thought you’d like to wake up.”

Kryzen shook his head at me. “I should show you how I could wake you up in the future,” he said ominously.

I shrieked when his fingers attacked my sides, tickling me mercilessly. I gasped and tried to push him away, but the brute was too big and putting essentially all of his muscly weight on me, making it impossible to move.

Luckily for me, he was somehow feeling merciful and only tickled me for a few more seconds before rolling back over onto his back. “Brat,” he muttered, but there was a trace of fondness in his tone that was impossible to miss.

I was still gasping for breath when he grabbed me and pulled me onto his chest so I was lying on top of him. I relaxed immediately against his warmth, my eyes starting to fall shut again as I listened to the even beating of his heart.

For several minutes, we were quiet, just holding one another and listening to the birds singing outside our tent. Finally, Kryzen let out a long breath and patted the side of my bare hip. “I suppose we should get up,” he said regretfully.

I groaned but nodded, moving so that I could kneel. After stretching my sore limbs, I rose to put some clothes on but not before allowing myself to rake my eyes over Kryzen’s nude form as he too rose to get dressed.

It didn’t take us long to pack up our camp. Kryzen took my hand as we continued up the steep mountain.

“What do you know of these people?” Kryzen asked me after a brief, companionable silence.

I pressed my lips together. “Nothing,” I told him honestly. “I guess I’ve been so focused on learning magic in the valley that I never really thought to leave. I knew of the mountain but not that there was a community up there.”

“They are your closest neighbors,” Kryzen pointed out, the confusion palpable in his voice. “You had to have heard of them at some point. You probably needed to trade goods with them at some point.”

I felt my cheeks color. “That’s not really my area,” I reminded him tersely. “Mathias usually just dealt with those matters among the elders. He had no reason to discuss such things with me.”

Kryzen just shrugged, sensing that he had embarrassed me. “Sorry, it’s just a bit strange to me that you’ve never even heard of this pack. They aren’t that far away from the valley.”

I could see his point. It was just another way that Embervale differed from the other realms. At least from my time in the valley, it seemed like people mostly kept to themselves and their own communities. The valley was self-sufficient and didn’t really need to contact their neighbors.

It did make me wonder what Lumina Mountain Pack would be like.

I didn’t have to wonder for much longer. After just a bit more hiking, a large, snowy white gate that looked to be made of ice was in front of us.

The white wall parted, revealing a young man and woman in long white coats and furry hats.

“You are Kryzen Stormfall and Briella Black, correct?” asked the female, her wide brown eyes bright and warm.

“Yes,” I said. “It’s nice to meet you both.” 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The young man gestured first to himself and then to his companion. “I’m Tye, and this is my sister, Teela. We were sent to meet you, so we can take you to the Alpha and Luna. Welcome to Lumina Mountain.”

Kryzen and I thanked them, our eyes wide as we stepped through the tall thick walls surrounding the community.

I looked around in wonder at the snowy wonderland community. The buildings were sleek and white. Crystal-clear rivers wove through the city with smooth intricate bridges undulating over the rivers at various points.

The whole city seemed to shimmer, the snow and ice giving it a pure look. I shivered as I got a good look at the members of Lumina Mountain. They were dressed in thick coats and pants. I glanced down at the coat and pants I was wearing and realized quickly that they just weren’t adequate for this weather.

Kryzen noticed me shiver and frowned down at me before wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me against him.

“We’ll be sure to get you some suitable clothes for the conditions here,” Teela said with sympathy in her voice.

“That would be very much appreciated,” Kryzen said, hugging me more tightly to him as we walked.

The Alpha’s mansion was grand and entirely made of ice. It looked like there was some glass as well mixed into the architecture. The windows looked like stained glass with swirling images of mountains and the sky. The mansion looked more like an ice palace.

We were brought into a glittering throne room where the Alpha and Luna stood, their faces warm and delighted as they stared down at us.

“Alpha Nova and Luna Lyra of Lumina Mountain,” Tye said, sweeping his hand toward the two.

“Welcome,” Alpha Nova said, his voice deep but somehow still light. “We understand you’ve traveled a long way, all the way from Celestial Valley. I do hope my dear friend Mathias is in good health.”

“Yes, he is well,” I answered. I ducked my head in a bow. “Thank you for receiving us.”

“We hardly ever get guests,” Luna Lyra said, smiling kindly, her pale blue eyes lighting up. “Let us know if you require anything to make your stay here more enjoyable. Perhaps you would fancy a gondola ride. It is truly the best way to tour our beautiful city.”

Kryzen glanced at me briefly before chuckling lightly. “Maybe at some point,” he said politely, but then his tone grew serious. “We are actually here due to more pressing matters. I’m sure Mathias informed you of the reason for our visit?”

“He did,” Alpha Nova confirmed and furrowed his thick brown eyebrows. “But surely that can wait until you’ve had time to settle in and enjoy what our city has to offer.”

I felt Kryzen stiffen. “I’m afraid it can’t actually,” he said. “We need to find the land shrouded in shadows. If you happen to have any information regarding it, we would be forever grateful.”

I could sense the Alpha and Luna’s growing confusion. It was clear they didn’t understand the severity of our visit.

“Kryzen and I have been on quite the journey,” I started to explain. “A twisted man named Tian has the ability to control dangerous and deadly shadow creatures. We believe finding the land of shadows is the key to stopping him.”

“I have never heard of such a thing before,” Luna Lyra said doubtfully, one petite hand over her chest as she stared at us with wide eyes.

“Tian is a ruthless monster that needs to be detained,” Kryzen said darkly. “We witnessed his wickedness. We watched him literally suck the life out of a helpless woman, leaving her cold and dead. If we wait, he could bring that darkness to all of our lands.”

“Kryzen,” I hissed.

He was coming on too strongly. It was clear by the shocked looks on the Alpha’s and Luna’s faces.

I stepped close to him, murmuring quietly, “You can’t say that to these people. They have lived in peace for centuries. Of course, they would have a hard time swallowing this kind of information.”

Kryzen gritted his teeth together, clearly not a believer in delivering sensitive information gently.

Alpha Nova frowned. “The message from Mathias said only that the two of you were hoping to gather insight on the land shrouded in shadows. Unfortunately, we possess none of that.”

“That is quite alright,” I said quickly. I lowered my head in another bow, elbowing Kryzen to do the same. “We are grateful for your hospitality and would love a tour of your gorgeous city.”

“Excellent,” Luna Lyra said gleefully, clasping her hands together. “Of course, we have a room ready for you here in our home. You will be our honored guests.”

“Thank you,” Kryzen managed to say. “We are humbled by your hospitality.”

This was the right decision. Alpha Nova and Luna Lyra visibly relaxed.

“Mathias is a dear friend to me,” Alpha Nova said. “We would like to hold a grand feast for you both tonight to properly welcome our brother and sister from the valley to Lumina Mountain.”

“That sounds lovely, thank you,” I said at once, relieved that they seemed more at ease.

The Alpha and Luna beamed at us and started to talk excitedly about the plans for that night.

“I think you will enjoy our unique cuisine here in the mountain,” Luna Lyra practically gushed. “I hear it is quite different from what you are used to in the valley, but expanding the pallet is one of life’s great delights.”

“We look forward to it,” Kryzen said graciously, but I could feel the tension coming off him in waves.

As the excited chatter continued, I couldn’t help the dread that threatened to overcome me. It seemed we might not get the answers we were looking for on the mountain.

I sighed. We just had to hope that we could afford to be patient.