Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1680 - 122 : Pure Exhaustion

*Briella*

My eyelids were heavy, and weariness had settled into my bones, but I couldn’t sleep another wink. A storm of fear raged beneath the surface, keeping me from the respite I so desperately needed. My limbs ached for rest and my mind for peace, but the terror of what might come when the world faded to black held me captive in relentless wakefulness.

"Please, Briella," Kryzen’s voice was a gentle plea in the dimly lit room, his gray eyes pools of concern. "You need to sleep. It’s been days."

I shifted on the edge of the bed, my fingers knotting the sheets into tight spirals. "I can’t," I murmured, the words barely a whisper. "What if it happens again?"

"We’ll make sure it won’t," he assured me, coming to sit beside me. The weight of his presence was both comforting and oppressive. "I’ll stay awake. All night if I must."

His dedication was touching, but the thought of him sacrificing his own rest for my sake only twisted the knot of guilt tighter within my chest. I could feel his worry, a tangible thing in the air between us. It made my resolve waver. Maybe if I just closed my eyes for a moment...

"Kryzen, I..." But the protest died on my lips as I saw the lines of exhaustion etching themselves deeper into his face. Even warriors forged in steel had their limits.

"Shh," he soothed, placing a firm, warm hand over mine. "Let me do this for you, for us." His voice was low, laced with a protective fervor that somehow eased the trembling in my bones.

When I thinned my lips, ready to keep fighting, he continued. “Let me do it for our child. The baby’s mother needs rest.”

And how was I to argue with such selfless vigilance?

"Okay," I relented, feeling the fight seep out of me. "But only for a little while."

"Good." Kryzen’s expression softened into a smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "And tomorrow, the maid will take over while I get some rest. She’ll watch you and make sure everything is alright."

"Thank you," I said, meaning it more than the simple words could convey. I knew all too well the depth of his love, fierce and unyielding. It was a balm to the raw edges of my frayed nerves.

"Anything for you," he replied, brushing a stray lock of my dark hair behind my ear. His touch lingered, a promise in his fingertips.

With a sigh, I finally allowed my eyes to close, the darkness behind them less menacing now, knowing Kryzen was nearby watching. I drifted, not quite asleep, but no longer fully awake. The soft sound of my husband’s breathing seemed to tether me to reality at the very least.

I must have drifted for at least a little while.

I blinked open my eyes to the muted light seeping through the curtains, my heart pounding as if I’d been running. My breath came in short gasps. For a moment, I didn’t know where I was. The softness beneath me felt unfamiliar until I heard the gentle voice of the maid.

"Your Majesty, you’re safe," she whispered soothingly, her hand resting lightly on my arm.

I looked around, disoriented, realizing I was halfway across the room from the bed. "Did I..."

"Yes, but it’s alright. You were sleepwalking again," she said with a kindness that made my chest tighten. "Let’s get you back to bed."

"Sorry," I muttered, feeling a flush of embarrassment color my cheeks. "I don’t mean to be such a hassle."

"Please, don’t apologize." Her smile was warm as she guided me back under the covers. "It’s no trouble at all."

She tucked the blankets around me, her movements gentle and maternal, and turned to leave the room. But the sudden fear of being alone clutched at me, whispering dark thoughts into my ear.

"Wait!" I called out, my voice cracking slightly. "Could you... could you stay? Just until I fall asleep again?"

"Of course, Your Majesty," she replied without hesitation, pulling a chair close to the bedside.

"Thank you," I breathed, feeling foolish for my neediness but unable to quell the anxiety gnawing at my insides.

The maid reached out, brushing a stray wave of my hair away from my face. "Would you like a hot drink? It might help you relax."

"Wouldn’t that be too much trouble?" I asked, even though the idea sounded heavenly. “You’re already sitting here just to watch me sleep. What more could I possibly ask of you?”

"It would be my pleasure," she assured me, already moving toward the door. "I’ll be right back with something nice and warm for you."

True to her word, she returned quickly with a steaming cup in her hands. The aroma of herbs and honey filled the room, promising comfort and rest.

"Here you are," she said, handing me the cup. "Drink up. It’ll help soothe your spirit."

I took a tentative sip, the liquid warmth spreading through me, loosening the tight knots of fear. "It’s delicious," I told her. This time, my thanks were tinged with a genuine smile.

The soothing warmth of the drink seeped into my bones. As I watched the maid move around the room, tending to small tasks with quiet efficiency, a familiar comfort wrapped around my heart. I blinked slowly, the edges of my consciousness blurring. In her gentle demeanor, I saw echoes of Lillian from Celestial Valley—the way she would speak, soft and thoughtful, always with a kind word poised on her lips. It was almost as if Lillian herself had stepped through time to sit with me now.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the crackling of the fire in the hearth. "You remind me of an old friend."

The maid turned, her smile soft as the light in her eyes. "Someone special?" she inquired.

"Very," I replied, feeling the pull of sleep tugs stronger at my senses. "She had your kindness."

"Then I’m honored," she said, returning to her seat. "Rest now, Your Majesty."

“I think I will.”

"Good," she beamed, settling down in the chair again. "Now try to get some more sleep. I’ll be here if you need anything."

"Okay," I murmured, feeling my eyelids grow heavy as the drink did its work. I clung to the sense of safety her presence provided, letting the soft sound of her breathing blend with the fading tension in my body.

"Sleep well, my Luna," she said softly, almost a whisper.

With those comforting words, I drifted back into slumber, the nightmares held at bay for now.

When I awoke next, it was to the sound of the door creaking open and the sight of Kryzen standing there, his gray eyes searching the room before settling on me. He approached the bed. Concern was etched in the lines of his face.

"How did you fare today?" he asked, taking a seat beside me.

"Better," I lied, forcing a tired smile. "I’ve been sleeping more."

"Any dreams?" His voice was gentle, probing.

"Nothing too vivid," I said, avoiding his gaze. The truth was, the fragments of nightmares still danced at the edges of my memory, but I didn’t want to worry him more than I already had.

Kryzen studied me for a moment longer as if trying to peer into my very soul. I held his gaze, willing him to believe the half-truths I offered.

"Good," he finally said, though I could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced. "Rest is what you need most."

"I know," I agreed, hoping my words sounded more confident than I felt. "And I’ll keep resting, for both our sakes."

His hand found mine, squeezing gently. "Just promise me you’ll speak up if anything changes."

"Of course," I promised, knowing full well that my definition of "change" might differ from his.

Kryzen nodded, standing to leave. "Try to get some more sleep. I’ll check on you again later."

"Thank you, Kryzen," I said as he left, the weight of his worry lingering in the air long after the door had closed behind him.

The fire in the hearth crackled, casting a warm glow across the room. I was curled up in an armchair with a heavy blanket draped over my legs when Kryzen entered with a determined stride.

His gray eyes scanned me with such intensity that I felt as if he could see the fatigue etched deep within my bones. I knew what he saw: the bags beneath my eyes, the exhaustion clinging to my skin, and the fear.

"Briella, we need to talk," he said, his voice low but insistent as he crouched down before me and took my hand in his.

I straightened, trying to muster some semblance of strength. "I’m fine, really. Just tired."

He shook his head, his black hair falling into his eyes. "You’re not just tired. This is more than exhaustion. You need to see a healer."

"No." The word came out sharper than I intended. Healers had ways of uncovering truths I wasn’t ready to face. "I don’t need someone poking and prodding at me, Kryzen. I’ll get better on my own."

Kryzen ran a hand through his hair, frustration and concern warring on his face. "Briella, please. It’s been days, and you’re not improving. What if it’s something serious?"

"Then we’ll deal with it," I countered weakly, though my resolve was crumbling.

"Dealing with it means acknowledging it might be there in the first place." He leaned forward, his hands clasping mine. "I can’t lose you. I won’t sit by and watch you suffer. What if something happens to the baby?"

His plea struck a chord, and the walls I had built around my fears began to crumble. "I’m scared," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I know," he said softly. "But I’ll be with you every step of the way."

It was the sincerity in his gaze, the unwavering support in his presence, that finally broke me. "Okay," I relented, feeling the tension ease from his grip. "I’ll see the healer."

"Thank you," Kryzen breathed out, relief washing over his features. He stood and bent down to press a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I love you, Briella. More than you can possibly imagine. I just want you to be healthy and happy."

The warmth of his lips lingered on my skin, mingling with the fear that twisted in my gut. I was touched by his words, his devotion so clear and unwavering, but the thought of what the healers might discover sent a shiver through me.

Would they find a simple ailment easily cured, or would they unearth something darker, something that couldn’t be healed?

"Love you too," I murmured, nestling further into the blanket, seeking comfort in its familiar softness. Kryzen squeezed my hand one last time before moving me to the bed, laying beside me, and pulling me close.