Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1628 - 70 : A Beautiful Celebration

*Kryzen

I finally got my tie to lay flat against my chest, the knot snug but not constricting. It was a deep blue, echoing the serene hues that cloaked the people of Astral Haven. I exhaled slowly, letting the tension ease out of my shoulders. That’s when I turned my attention to her.

Briella was poised by the vanity, her fingers deftly twirling and pinning her dark hair into an elegant arrangement atop her head. She wore a dress that clung to her like a second skin, mermaid green with a shimmer that made me think of sunlight filtering through leaves. Gold glinted at her throat and wrists, delicate jewelry that seemed to accentuate rather than compete with her natural beauty.

"Wow," I murmured, unable to keep the awe from my voice as she adjusted a final pin. "You look incredible."

"Thanks," she replied, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror. The stray strands of hair softened the angles of her face, making her bright green eyes all the more striking.

I approached Briella quietly, my footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. Slipping my arms around her slender waist, I pulled her gently against me. The mirror reflected both our images, hers framed by uncertainty and mine by a resolve to lift her spirits.

"You’re going to do amazing," I whispered into her hair, scented with jasmine and the crisp freshness of the valley’s winds. Her eyes met mine in the glass, searching for the conviction behind my words.

"Kryzen..." she began, her voice a tremble that betrayed her inner turmoil. "I don’t know if I can go through with this, and–"

"Shh," I hushed her softly, tightening my embrace. "Tonight is about celebration, not anxiety."

She exhaled slowly, leaning back into me as if trying to borrow some strength. "I just wish it were over. This whole performance feels like I’m parading around in borrowed robes. It’s like I’m a fake." Her confession hung between us, stark and vulnerable.

"None of that now," I said firmly, running my finger across her jaw and down to her shoulder. "You’re part of this, Briella. More than you know."

Her gaze flickered down, then back up, clinging to the assurance in my gray eyes. I knew she was strong, unyielding even, but everyone had moments of doubt. It didn’t make her any less capable or deserving to stand on that stage.

I studied her reflection, the way her bright green eyes darted around with a flicker of uncertainty. She was like a rare gem in that mermaid green dress. I stepped closer, my hands finding her slender shoulders.

"Have you seen the way those girls look at you?" I asked, watching our reflections as I spoke. "They’ve accepted you, Briella. They admire you."

She met my gaze in the mirror, searching for the truth in my eyes. Her own shone with a mixture of hope and skepticism, a silent question lingering in their depths.

"I’m so proud of you," I continued, my voice earnest. "You have this incredible talent to pick up anything you want and just excel at it. It’s amazing."

A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her lips, softening the lines of worry that had etched themselves there. She turned in my arms, her face inches from mine, her breath mingling with my own.

"Really?" Her voice was a whisper, feather-light and laced with vulnerability.

"Really," I assured her, my thumbs gently stroking her cheeks. "You can fit in anywhere, love. Not just because you’re beautiful, which you are breathtakingly so, but because you’re kind and passionate. Those qualities shine through everything you do."

The tension in her eased away like shadows at dawn. She rose on her tiptoes, her lips finding mine in a tender kiss filled with gratitude. I held her close, feeling her heartbeat against my chest, a rhythm that matched my own.

"Thank you, Kryzen," she breathed out, her voice now steady with renewed confidence.

"Anytime," I replied with a smile.

"Let’s go enjoy the feast," I suggested, offering her a smile I hoped would spark her own. "The night is young, and so are we. Whatever comes, we’ll handle it together."

"Okay," she agreed, her voice steadier as she placed her hand in mine, trusting me to lead the way.

"Are you ready to go?" I asked, knowing how much that night meant to her and how nervous it was making her. The feast before the concert was a tradition tied tightly to the fabric of Astral Haven’s community.

"Yeah, just about. How do I look?" she asked, standing and turning to face me fully, her arms open as if presenting herself for inspection.

"Like you were born to wear that dress," I answered honestly, stepping closer and running a finger down the smooth fabric of her sleeve. "Like every song of Astral Haven was composed with you in mind."

She laughed, a sound as clear and melodious as any music played by our people. "You always know what to say, Kryzen."

"Only because it’s true," I said, holding her gaze, hoping she could see the sincerity in my own. "Ready to charm the entire community?"

"Let’s do it," she said, her smile a beacon of light that promised we’d face whatever the night held together.

Hand in hand, we left the sanctuary of the room. As Briella and I neared the living room of the home we’d been staying in, a soft murmur of voices preceded our entrance. Our steps were silent upon the plush carpet as we approached the two familiar figures in the midst of quiet conversation.

I halted, my gaze narrowing slightly at the sight before me. Roy, his blue eyes shining with mirth I hadn’t seen in a while, stood rather close to Alyna, their arms linked in a comfortable embrace. It was an intimacy between them that seemed to have bloomed without my noticing, a secret garden grown in silence.

"Roy," I called out, a teasing lilt in my voice, unable to resist the opportunity to rib him just a little. My eyebrow arched of its own accord, silently questioning this new development.

He turned at the sound of his name, and the sheepish smile that spread across his face confirmed all my unspoken thoughts. It was a look I had seen many times over—Roy caught in the act of something he wasn’t sure he should be proud or wary of. Yet there was no mistaking the light in his eyes, which spoke of a newfound happiness.

"Kryzen," he greeted, the word almost lost amidst the stillness of the room. He glanced at Alyna, and his smile broadened, blossoming into a beam that rivaled the brightness of the room’s golden illumination.

Alyna, regal even in her surprise, wore a dress the color of a ripe summer berry, a striking contrast to her pale skin. She looked up at Roy and then back at me, her expression a mixture of delight and defiance. The red fabric hugged her form, accentuating her natural grace, and the gold accents at her throat glinted like captured stars.

"Brother," she said, her tone laced with a hint of challenge, daring me to comment further.

"Looking lovely as ever, Alyna," I remarked, choosing instead to give her a compliment that was both true and safe. I met her eyes with a warmth reserved for family and turned my attention back to Roy. "And you are quite dashing. Seems the evening is already off to an interesting start."

Their linked arms did not separate but rather seemed to tighten in solidarity. It was a silent statement that whatever was unfolding between them was firm and resolute. And nothing I could do or say would change it.

I supposed Alyna could do worse than a prince.

Briella squeezed my hand, drawing my attention back to her, and I felt a whisper of laughter bubble up from within.

"Shall we?" I offered, gesturing toward the door that would lead us to the feast. It was an open invitation for them to join us, a subtle acceptance of their union, whatever it may be.

"Let’s," Roy replied, his words punctuated by the shared smiles between him and Alyna, a private joy that they were now ready to share with the rest of us.

Stepping through the grand archway, the feast before us was bustling. Our little group merged into the throng of Astral Haven’s finest, their vibrant attire a swirl of color against the warm glow of lanterns strung from strings stretched across the clearing.

"Look at this," Briella whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. Her hand found mine, her grip both excited and grounding. The mermaid green of her dress made her seem as though she had stepped out of an emerald sea, enchanting and otherworldly. I couldn’t help but agree. The sight was something to behold.

"Amazing, isn’t it?" Roy chimed in, his gaze never leaving Alyna, who blushed prettily under his attention. The red of her dress complimented the warmth of the gathering, making her look like a bloom amongst the greenery.

"Let’s not stand here like statues," I said, tugging gently at Briella’s hand. "The night is ours to enjoy."

And enjoy it we did. We sampled dishes that were a symphony of flavors, each more delightful than the last. Briella laughed at something Alyna said, her joy infectious, and I felt my heart swell in response.

"Try this," I urged, offering her a morsel from my plate. She bit into it, her eyes lighting up as she savored the taste. "Good, isn’t it?"

"Delicious," she agreed, leaning into me. Her closeness was a balm to my soul, her presence an anchor amidst the revelry.

As the music swelled, we joined the dance, moving together in time with the rhythm. The beat seemed to pulse through the soles of our feet, guiding our steps. We danced round after round until the night air felt thick with the heat of bodies and the sweet scent of exertion.

"Can we just stay like this forever?" Briella asked between dances, her smile playful yet wistful.

"Forever sounds perfect," I replied, unable to resist the pull toward her neck, where I pressed a kiss to her skin. She shivered slightly, her laughter mingling with the music.

"Kryzen," she murmured, turning within the circle of my arms to face me. "Thank you for being here and being you."

"Where else would I be?" I said, brushing my lips against her temple. "With you, Briella, I am precisely where I want to be."

We danced on, lost in the moment, the energy of the feast a lively backdrop to our private world. Every touch and glance between us spoke volumes, our connection growing stronger with each shared breath.

"I never knew you could dance," I teased, twirling her effortlessly.

"Neither did I," she confessed, laughing as she spun back into my embrace. "But with you as my partner, I think I could master any dance."

I reveled in the joy that was Briella—my warrior, my light, my love. The melody of laughter and the rhythm of dancing feet were all around us, a symphony of joy that I wished could last forever. Every so often, Briella’s eyes would meet mine, and something in their bright green depths made my heart beat faster.

"Thank you for this," she said as we moved with the music, her voice barely audible over the festivities. "For letting me enjoy this and making me feel like I belong."

"You do belong," I assured her, tightening my grip on her waist. "You belong with me."

And then, without warning, it happened. A high-pitched scream tore through the revelry, slicing the air and silencing the music. Another joined it, and then another—a chorus of terror that turned the blood in my veins to ice.

"What was that?" Briella’s eyes were wide, reflecting the sudden fear that had descended upon the feast.

I released her and scanned the crowd, my senses on high alert. The jovial atmosphere vanished instantly, replaced by panic as people surged away from the source of the screams.

"Stay close," I instructed, reaching for the dagger I always carried at my side. My instincts as a son of a head general kicked in, searching for threats and assessing the situation.