Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 1167 - 78 : Breathe Through It

Chapter 1167: Chapter 78 : Breathe Through It

*Eva*

“Concentrate, Eva.”

“I am!”

“No, you aren’t. You’re probably thinking about something mundane, like when you’ll get that anklet off.”

I groaned and threw my arms up in the air, the dark energy cutting off instantly. I glared at Joline. She was so abrasive in our training sessions. Unfortunately, she was the only one who would work with me.

A lot of the other women in her little group were too afraid.

“Eva, why did you stop the flow of power?”

“Because you distracted me.”

Joline smirked. “I thought you said you were concentrating.” She walked up to me with a calculating look on her face.

I glared and stood my ground.

“If you were really concentrating, my distractions wouldn’t have broken through.” Joline walked behind me and squared my shoulders. She forced my legs wider apart. “You have to be unbreakable when using your power, just like a balanced stance.”

She shoved me in the back. I caught myself and held my ground, firmly rooted to the spot from the way she positioned my body.

Behind me, she chuckled and walked in front of me again, an appreciative smile on her face.

“See, unbreakable. Now, just bring that into your magic.”

“How do I do that?”

Joline nodded to a nearby picnic table with bottled water. We sat down and she tossed me one of the bottles. We met regularly to train in one of the back gardens where I couldn’t accidently hurt anyone, except some unsuspecting flowers.

“When I first learned about my powers, I thought they were a curse. It was so easy for me to make people see and feel things, manipulate their senses with vivid hallucinations. It was awful having that much power over someone else.”

“It was?” I sipped my water slowly.

“Do you think it wouldn’t be?”

Quickly, I shook my head. I was supposed to be convincing everyone that I didn’t have destructive, dark tendencies.

“I guess. I’ve never experienced that kind of power or control, so I don’t know what it would be like.”

Joline shrugged. “It took me a long time to come to terms with my power being part of me, even after I enrolled in the school for the gifted. I felt like my power could be so much more destructive than a lot of the other girls.”

“But you learned to control it. You learned to shut out all distractions and not let it control you.”

“I did.”

“How?” I finished off my water and waited for Joline to answer. She was very wise and knowledgeable about magic and how to use it and control it.

No matter how crass she was, I trusted her insights. It didn’t take me long to learn that I could. Joline and I were similar. If she hadn’t had the opportunity to join the school for the gifted, she could have gone down a dark path like me.

I was grateful that she was always honest with me about those things.

“It starts with the breath,” Joline said.

I gave her an incredulous look. “The breath?”

“Yes. You need to learn to breathe through everything. No matter what it is, breathe through it. If I’m yelling in your face, just take a deep breath and keep going. If the world is exploding around you, just breathe through it and keep going.”

“That’s insane.”

Joline smiled and laughed. “It helps keep the body and mind calm. When you achieve that, your magic will flow more smoothly. You’ll have better control.”

“How’s that?” I crossed my legs and took a quick look around the gardens.

A few gardeners were at work, but they made sure to steer clear of this corner. The sun was shining, and that made sitting outside talking to Joline much more appealing.

“Your magic is like a water tap, Eva,” Joline explained.

I creased my brow. “Huh?”

“If you open the faucet all the way, water comes rushing out and splatters everywhere. The sink overflows in seconds and you quickly lose control.”

I sighed and nodded. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

“So, you think the solution is to choke up. Instead of turning on the faucet all the way, you only turn it on a little. The water dribbles out in tiny drops. It takes forever to fill a drinking glass or cooking pot and it gets frustrating.”

“I see your point.”

“You just need to close your eyes and breathe. It helps you stay calm and find that balance between loss of control and frustration. Ready to try again?”

“Yeah.”

Joline stood up from the picnic table. "Okay Eva, I want to try something new for your training today."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by what she had in mind. "What is it?"

"I’m going to use my power to project an immersive scene around you, a peaceful, beautiful location where you can relax and freely access your magic without fear of damage."

Joline closed her eyes in concentration. The garden around us shimmered and transformed into a lush, tranquil meadow. Towering snow-capped mountains rose in the distance and a crystal clear stream burbled nearby. The sweet scent of wildflowers perfumed the air.

I gasped in delight, turning in a slow circle to take it all in. It was so realistic I could almost believe we had been transported.

Joline opened her eyes, smiling at my reaction. "What do you think?"

"It’s absolutely incredible, Joline. I can’t believe you created all this just using your power over illusions."

She nodded. "I want you to be able to tap into your magic here in this safe, serene place. Let the beauty surround and fill you. Try shaping the dark energy here."

Closing my eyes, I focused on pulling the dark power up from within me. I felt it flow through my veins, shadowy tendrils extending from my fingertips.

I moved through elegant forms, the inky blackness trailing gracefully behind my hands like silken ribbons. For the first time, I felt fully in control.

Opening my eyes, I saw I had woven an intricate web of dark energy between the trees. It was beautiful in its own sinister way.

Joline clapped excitedly. "Wonderful, Eva! How did that feel?"

"Amazing," I breathed. "It was so effortless here. I think this scenery helped me stay grounded."

Joline nodded knowingly. "I thought it might. Sometimes illusion is the perfect catalyst for truth."

I gazed around the idyllic scene with new appreciation. For a short while, I could forget I was a prisoner in the palace, bound by the anklet suppressing my magic.

Here in this tranquil meadow of Joline’s creation, I felt only peace, possibility, and promise.

After training, we headed back to the palace and I saw Rion come up the path toward us.

“Hello, ladies. How goes the training?”

“We’re getting there,” Joline said.

Rion nodded. “Joline, can I have a minute alone with my sister?”

She nodded and backed off. I looked at Rion. What couldn’t he say in front of her, I wondered.

“Okay, what’s wrong?”

Rion sighed and took my hands. “Seriously, Eva, how is the training going?”

“Well, I’m learning a lot. Joline is really wise and has great advice.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He ran his thumbs over my knuckles. “Eva... Daphne and I are taking a little trip in the next couple of days.”

“A trip? That sounds nice for the two of you. I don’t think you’ve had much time to relax together.” I smiled and squeezed Rion’s hands. I really wanted my brother to be happy.

“Yeah... see, we are going to the Light Realm to meet the Thorn Forest pack.”

“That’s the pack you’re considering becoming Alpha for, right? What’s going on?" I asked.

Rion took my hands in his, running his thumbs over my knuckles. "If all goes well, we plan to stay and lead the pack there."

My heart sank instantly, feeling utterly abandoned. "So after everything I risked to get pardoned, you’re just leaving me behind?" I snapped, unable to contain my hurt.

Rion squeezed my hands. "That’s not at all what’s happening. I spoke to the king and convinced him to allow you to come with us to Thorn Forest."

I slowly shook my head, conflicted emotions welling up in me. "But Rion, I want to stay here. Joline is teaching me so much about controlling my magic. I’m finally making real progress."

Rion’s brow furrowed, radiating deep concern. "Eva, I won’t just abandon you here unprotected. Thorn Forest would be a fresh start for all of us."

"But don’t you see? This is my fresh start," I implored him to understand. "Learning from Joline, proving I can use my powers responsibly. I need to see this through."

Rion sighed heavily, clearly troubled by my refusal to join them. "Are you absolutely certain? Daphne and I want you there with us. It won’t be the same without you."

I gave his hands a fierce, reassuring squeeze. "I know. And I promise I’ll come visit just as soon as I’m able. But right now, my place is here. Joline is giving me something I desperately need–guidance and purpose. I have to finish what I’ve started."

Rion searched my face for a long moment, conflicting emotions playing across his handsome features. Finally, he nodded slowly. "If you truly believe staying is best for you right now, I’ll respect that. But I’ll worry until that anklet is off."

Impulsively, I threw my arms around Rion in a tight embrace. "Thank you for being so understanding."

Rion hugged me back just as fiercely. "I’m so proud of the progress you’ve made, Eva. You’ve come such a long way from the reckless girl you once were." He pulled back to look me in the eyes. "Stay focused and we’ll all be together again before you know it."

I smiled and nodded, confidence welling up within me. I knew I was making the right decision, even if it meant some difficult temporary separation from my brother.

Rion studied me for a moment longer, then asked gently, "This is truly what you want? I just want to be certain."

"It is," I assured him without hesitation. "I know you want me with you in Thorn Forest. But the palace is my home for now. With Joline’s mentorship, I’ll learn to properly harness my magic. I’ll earn my freedom and no longer be haunted by the demons of my past."

I met Rion’s gaze directly, willing him to understand. "I need to heal this broken part of myself. Joline is giving me that chance when no one else could."

Rion pulled me in for another tight embrace. "You’ve got this, Eva. I know you’ll make us all proud." When he pulled back this time, his eyes were suspiciously shiny. "One more thing," Rion added, his expression growing serious. "I wouldn’t feel right leaving you alone here. I will ask Jasper to stay until you’re ready to join us. Just promise me you’ll let him help you if you need anything."

My heart performed a funny flutter at the mention of Jasper remaining behind with me. I managed to keep my voice steady as I said, "Of course, though you know I can handle myself." We shared a sad, knowing smile. "But I’m grateful to have a loyal friend here."

Rion pulled me in for one more crushing hug. "Stay focused, and we’ll all be together again soon."

I clung to him tightly, memorizing his familiar comforting scent. "Safe travels, big brother."

As we reluctantly parted, I felt confident in my decision, though my heart was heavy. I would channel that sadness into my training, using it to fuel my dedication and focus.

With Joline’s wisdom guiding me, I would earn my freedom and no longer be shackled–physically or emotionally–by the sins of my past. A bright future lay ahead once I conquered the darkness still lurking within.