Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 1135 - 46 : Another Chance

Chapter 1135: Chapter 46 : Another Chance

*Rion*

I gritted my teeth as the metal cuffs dug into my wrists. My shoulders were sore from my arms being pulled above my head. I was standing against the cold stone wall.

I’d been here for hours, but I couldn’t even worry about my fate, despite the fact that I had no idea what they planned to do with me. Obviously, abducting a member of the royal family was grounds enough to be put to death. I supposed I deserved no less after what I had put Daphne through.

My head snapped up when I heard a couple of sets of heavy footsteps approach my cell. The two guards who had thrown me in here entered my prison, their eyes dark and focused.

The larger one was tall and bearded. I watched the muscles in his forearms flex as he stepped up to me. I had a bad feeling when I saw his hand curl into a fist.

“It appears that luck is on your side, boy,” he spat, but the grim look on his face made me highly doubt that.

I didn’t speak, certain that silence was the best course of action at this point, to speak only when asked a direct question and not give more information than was asked of me.

The slightly shorter but still just as muscular guard gave me a serious look. “Your life has been spared, at least for the time being.”

I tried not to show the ounce of hopefulness that had sparked within me at the words.

“Of course, not without a catch,” said the taller guard. “We can’t very well dispose of you without attempting to extract some information.”

They revealed their thick fists to me and the shorter guard held a wooden club, so I could only guess how they intended to “extract” information from me.

“I will answer to the best of my ability,” I said as clearly as I could, despite the fact that my throat felt like sandpaper.

And I meant it as well. I wanted to protect Daphne and if what I had to offer would do that, I was more than willing to tell these men what I knew.

Unfortunately, the answers they were trying to get from me were ones that I could not give.

I was gasping harshly for breath after the thick wooden club attacked my sides a few times.

“When will the Dark Witch spawn strike again?” the taller asked, raising his fist threateningly when I didn’t answer.

“I truthfully do not know,” I said for what felt like the hundredth time.

His fist collided with the side of my face, but I refused to cry out as I took the blow, despite the fact that it felt like my brain was close to exploding from the pain. I resisted the urge to curse loudly in anger and frustration. Of course, they would assume that I was lying. They likely were certain that I was protecting Eva.

“How large are her numbers?”

I honestly didn’t know the answer to that one either, so of course I had to admit that. “I do not know.”

I was struck with the club again, right against my ribs. My whole body seemed to rattle from the impact. Thankfully, the pain subsided relatively quickly as my body healed itself. I could feel the bruise on the side of my face slowly fading away.

“His bruise is disappearing,” one gasped in astonishment.

“Could it be dark magic?” the other wondered, his deep voice shocked as well.

“We must alert King Xander. Perhaps this boy is more dangerous than we gave him credit for.”

They hurried out of my cell, keeping me chained up against the wall. I winced as my body continued to heal itself.

I chuckled darkly despite my predicament. Of course, they would react that way to my rapid healing.

I lowered my head as defeat seeped through me. I couldn’t help but feel as if I had failed everyone. I couldn’t save Eva, and although I was able to bring Daphne back home, who knew what dangers awaited her and their whole kingdom if Eva managed to succeed in her treacherous plan?

I gritted my teeth together as I thought about Eva, remembering the way she insisted that the little girl that I knew ten years earlier was gone. I still disagreed fiercely. My sister was in there. I just needed to help her see that. I couldn’t give up on her.

But as I looked around the damp and dim cell I had been thrown into, my resolve began to crumble. I would likely be considered an even more dangerous threat once King Xander was informed of my uncanny healing ability. Would he have me put to death immediately?

If so, I would likely not get another chance to save Eva.

I jolted out of those dark thoughts when footsteps sounded just outside my prison cell. I braced for yet another beating, clenching my jaw tightly, resigned to the immense pain that was about to descend on me. Instead of the Royal Guard members, however, King Xander stepped into my cell, his stern face grim and stern as he looked at my chained-up form.

The Alpha King looked sorely out of place as his expensive robes skimmed the dirty floors of my cell. He crossed the small space with purposeful strides. I wondered idly if he was going to take over the torture session. The angular lines on his face sure made it look like he wanted to do just that.

He stopped in front of me and I flinched very slightly, not wanting to appear weak in front of the powerful king. I was surprised to see that King Xander’s face was calculating, his eyes moving over me. He seemed to take note of my bruise-free face before he opened his mouth to speak.

“Tell me,” he said with an eerie calm as if we were having a cup of tea together. “How were you able to make it past all of my highly-trained guards and infiltrate my palace so easily?”

I hesitated briefly, choosing my next words carefully. “I must advise you to be wary, Your Majesty. I’m sorry to admit that there are those, even within the palace walls, who hold no affection for the royal family.”

King Xander nodded grimly at my words, and I was under the strong impression that he already had this suspicion. I decided that it would be best for me to mention something a bit more telling. “My main accomplice was Geoffrey, the youngest son of the Pomeni Pack Alpha.”

I immediately wondered if I had made the right decision as I watched rage flash across the king’s face. He spoke calmly, but It was all too easy to hear the obvious threat in the words. “You’d best tell me the names of every so-called acquaintance of the royal family who assisted you.”

I would need to act quickly and carefully if I was to survive this confrontation. I wouldn’t put it past the king to throw a powerful fist into my face. After listing a few more names, I saw another opportunity arise and rushed to seize it. “If I may, Your Majesty,” I started, lowering my voice to a much graver one. “Could it be possible that one of these traitorous helpers was involved with the prince’s mysterious coma?”

Prince Xander stiffened at the mention of his ailing son but then narrowed his eyes with heavy suspicion. It was obvious that he saw the angle I was working toward, but the troubled look in his eyes also suggested that he realized the truth behind my words.

I was aware of the turmoil that the young prince’s coma had brought down on the royal family. I watched as the king seemed to withdraw in on himself, and it was easy to tell that his mind was on the boy. I knew I had struck a nerve, but I had a feeling that I was right, and I didn’t have much to work with in terms of saving myself, considering that I was shackled to a cold stone wall.

After a long, tense pause, King Xander finally turned slowly to regard me with a hard look. “I imagine you aren’t the most comfortable in this cell.”

I tried not to let on how hopeful I was feeling at that moment. I controlled my expression and shrugged as best as I could despite my position. “I’m used to slightly more comfortable accommodations,” I said mildly.

I wasn’t surprised when the king didn’t react to the joke. He straightened so that he could glower down at me. “I’m willing to give you a chance to prove your worth, boy.”

I straightened against the wall and lifted my chin, waiting.

King Xander’s whole countenance darkened. “You’ve no doubt earned the death sentence for kidnapping my daughter, but I’ll be willing to overlook the heinous crime if you succeed in rooting out the rot within my palace.”

“I will, sir,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

I had expected this condition, and would of course readily accept if it meant being set free. My resolve to stop Eva hardened further now that I saw that I would be given a chance.

King Xander nodded, his eyes narrowing. “Be warned that you will be watched closely,” he said in a flat voice. “Mark my words that if you take even a single step backward, you will be begging for that death sentence before I hand it over. Are we understood?”

I winced inwardly as I looked into the king’s murderous expression. I had no doubt that he would make good on that promise. I nodded, my determination only growing despite my healthy fear of the hardened man in front of me.

I would uncover the truth, save my sister, and protect Daphne, no matter what the cost.

My eyes swept over King Xander’s face, and I realized that Daphne took more from her mother than her father in terms of looks. Although, there was something in the shape of the man’s face that reminded me of his daughter. Perhaps it was the chin?

The musings made me wonder how Daphne was doing now that she was home. No doubt she was being pampered once again as princesses were, but was she happy? Was she worried about me?

“One more thing,” King Xander snapped, breaking me out of my thoughts. “It should go without saying that you’ll be swiftly handed that death sentence if you go anywhere near my daughter again.”

I was only barely able to shove my shock back down before it spread out across my face. It was as if the king had read my thoughts.

Once I assured him that I would heed his warning, King Xander straightened and turned to go. I hesitated briefly but then called out when the king reached for the bars containing me in the dark cell. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

King Xander didn’t answer, but I thought I noticed just a barely perceptible nod from the grave man before he left me alone.