Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 119 : His Death is Mine

*Lena*

Oliver was driving, and I was gripping my seatbelt for dear life as he topped one hundred miles per hour in the

rickety truck that definitely was not made for this kind of speed. The barren landscape sped past in a blur, and my

stomach clenched as I forced my eyes to stay open and on the road.

Normally I would have asked him what the hell he was doing driving so fast, but I didn't care. We'd make it to

Crimson Creek within the hour at this rate.

Oliver had nearly killed me, Charlie, and Uncle Troy driving like this once. It had been his first time behind the wheel.

Troy was teaching Charlie and Oliver how to drive, and we'd taken the newly constructed bridges that interlocked

some of the large islands in the isles. They weren't open to the public yet, which was a good thing, because Oliver

had launched Troy's unassuming box of a car into hyperspeed before Troy had a chance to protest.

We had all screamed, but Oliver was screaming out of pure glee. He'd always been an adrenaline seeker.

For this drive, however, he was nothing but focused. The silence in the truck was overwhelming, and I was left to

the mercy of my own thoughts. We'd left Breles two hours ago and hadn't stopped. Beyond the blur of the rolling

hills, I caught glimpses of the burned villages and cities along the highway, and that was it. No one else was on the

road. No one was walking around the villages. It was empty, not a soul left to pick up the pieces.

“How are the northern packs faring?" I asked through gritted teeth as Oliver sped up to one hundred ten miles per

hour, his face expressionless.

“They're holding onto their territories but have experienced major casualties across the north. Dad talked to

Kacidra recently, and Red Lakes is the largest outpost for refugees coming from the smaller mountain villages in

the north, like Cedar Hollow. The vampires are using smaller portals to come through, and it's been impossible to

figure out where those portals are before they close up behind them."

I swallowed back whatever reply had been forming on my tongue. We'd lost the southern end of the continent, but

the north had a chance. At least, they would have a chance, if we were successful.

Success seemed like a pipedream. I had no real plan of action besides walking into the portal and shredding the

realm. Oliver was planning on finding Zeke at the very least, maybe even teaming up with the lower vampires to

start a war in their realm against King Nikolas so that the brunt of his forces were situated in their own realm,

instead of ours.

Oliver was fully aware that it was likely we would have to separate to accomplish our own goals.

I didn't realize I'd been closing my eyes and nodding off to sleep until I felt the truck beginning to slow. Oliver

murmured something under his breath as I opened my eyes. I started, my body going rigid as I looked out over the

outskirts of Crimson Creek.

Large tents had been erected all over the small town–black tents, so unlike the flimsy canvas tents I'd seen in

Breles. I looked over at Oliver for a moment, then behind me where John and Colton were now huddled shoulder to

shoulder and looked past us from the back seat.

Lower vampires were walking around in droves. The sun was coming up, and they were hurrying into tents, their

arms full of food and supplies.

Food and supplies… rations–rations with the royal seal of the united allied forces on them.

“Oh my Goddess," I managed to croak, my voice cracking as we drove by at a crawl.

“They look like us," Colton said quietly.

“They're more like us than we give them credit for," Oliver replied in a level tone, his eyes following a group of

young women carrying small children to a tent, all of their faces reddened with tears.

“They came through the portal," I breathed in disbelief. If they'd come here, the very land their own realm was

battling against, the situation in the Night Realm must be dire.

We passed down the narrow street of what was considered downtown Crimson Creek, past the bar and hotel where

I'd stayed with Xander. It felt like a lifetime ago now. All of those memories of our field study came flooding back to

me as the massive estate houses rose up in the distance, a pale, cloudy sunrise lighting them up like beacons.

Oliver didn't stop the truck until we'd reached the clearing that I knew so well. The portal rose up ahead of us, the

sunrise reflecting upside down and glistening with energy. Warriors surrounded the truck, but then walked away as

Oliver made our presence known. We were expected here, it seemed.

I got out of the truck and stalked over to a commander, who was wearing a blue and turquoise pin on his jacket–a

Poldesse commander.

He turned around, eyeing me skeptically as I approached but bowed to me nonetheless.

“I'm closing the portal," I said without breaking my stride.

“How are these things supposed to get back into their lands if you close it?" he asked, and I didn't like the

patronizing tone of his voice.

I narrowed my eyes at him, tilting my chin to meet his eyes. “There won't be much to return to. They will stay

here."

“Princess–"

“That's an order," I snapped, then turned to face Oliver, John, and Colton, who had come up behind me. “We have

twelve hours in the Night Realm to do what needs to be done. Let any lower vampire seeking refuge cross the

portal. Keep guards at the entrance on both sides. Everyone gets through, especially the women and children." I

fixed my gaze on Oliver as I took a shuddering breath. “I'll take you to Brune. It's not far from the portal's

entrance."

“Brune?" the commander cut in, stepping forward.

I turned to him as he tilted his head, looking skeptical. “Yes," I said sharply. “King Costas once offered us aide–"

“That's where these people are coming from. They said their king was selling them as slaves to the Vampire King–"

“We need to go, now," Oliver cut in, fixing the commander with a steel-eyed look. I looked behind us, where a

crowd of warriors was gathering, all of them wearing the patches of their homelands on their jackets and hats as

they readied their weapons–Drogomor, Winter Forest, Mirage, Poldesse, Breles… even Egoren. These warriors were

from all over the realm and beyond, and despite how battered and exhausted they were, they were willing to fight,

together.

We were going in. I would be the one to lead them.

The commander stepped out of my way as I walked forward toward the portal. I could feel its pull, and behind me

Oliver said, “I can find Brune. You don't need to come–"

“There's someone I need to see," I said in reply, reaching up to touch the sunstone that was tucked inside a locket

around my neck.

***

It wasn't hard to get into Brune. It was empty, for one. The crystals that once lit the cavern up like day were

darkened and cracked. Some of them had fallen from the ceiling of the impossibly large cavern and fallen to the

ground below, crushing houses and shops into splinters.

We hadn't stopped to rest at all since crossing through the portal. It was daytime in this realm, but I knew it would

be fleeting. Once night fell, I'd be hightailing it to King Nikolas's castle, to Xander.

The fifty or so warriors jogging behind Oliver and me, under our command, as well as John and Colton, were looking

around in awe. If only they could have seen this kingdom in all its splendor. It was devastating, honestly, but I didn't

have time to dwell.

I led them through the village and into the forest, all the way up to the bridge that connected Narcissa's lair to the

kingdom of Brune.

But there was no longer a bridge to the other side.

I came to a stop before the drop-off. We were blanketed in darkness save for the pale light of the lanterns some of

the warriors were carrying.

“Narcissa!" I cried into the darkness.

There was no response. I felt a chill run up my spine as I turned to Oliver, my shoulders slumping in defeat.

I needed her. I needed her to explain how I was supposed to use the sunstone.

But I turned my head around toward the sound of footsteps on the ledge across the dropoff–hurried steps, like

someone running.

“Lena? Is that you?"

“Kiern!" I breathed, grabbing the lantern John was holding and lifting it over my head to illuminate my face.

A thundering crack sounded in the cavern as another chunk of the crystal-lined ceiling broke away in the distance,

the impact with the city below sending a shockwave over us all. Some of the warriors yelped in surprise, a

concerned murmur cutting through the group.

“Where is Narcissa?" I cried, panic rising in my throat. “Kiern?"

“I'm here," she whimpered, and I could hear her panting with excretion. “The bridge–"

“How can I get across?"

“Just walk," came Narcissa's lifted, friendly voice in the darkness.

I licked dry lips, turning to Oliver, who was shaking his head. His face was pale, and I could see the gooseflesh

covering the exposed skin of his arms.

“Walk across what?" I retorted, turning back to the darkness.

“I won't let you fall," Narcissa said lightly.

“Narcissa, I need you to come with me. All of you. Kiern, Starla if she's still here–"

“To kill my brother–"

“And to reunite you with Andromeda," I interjected, Andromeda's name leaving my lips sending a hush over the

area.

“Andromeda?" Narcissa whispered, and for the first time, I heard a hint of pure sadness in her usually kind and level

voice.

“Please," I cried, letting my stone wall of reserve shatter. I didn't care if the warriors I was commanding saw me cry

now. I was desperate. “The king has my mate."

“I cannot help you–"

“I met your father. He gave me the book… the book that once belonged to Morrighan."

It was quiet again, but I could feel a creeping energy blanketing us.

“Where did you see my father?" Narcissa bit out, her voice booming through the entirety of Brune. She sounded

like the Goddess she was, and not just some friendly vampire who enjoyed baking cookies.

“The castle," I whispered beneath my breath.

I knew she could hear me. I knew that she understood the significance of his location, as well. “He lives in the

library, unbeknownst to your brother."

“He guards my fallen siblings," she said over me, and through the darkness I saw a glimmer of movement. Kiern

was speaking quickly, her words rushed and barely audible.

“Narcissa," I said as I fell to my knees. “Please, I beg you. I need you. Goddess, you must protect your people."

I felt someone touch me, running their thumb across my forehead. I looked up into Narcissa's eyes, which were

glowing with fury.

“I get to kill him," she whispered. “His death is mine."

“Yes," I said in a whimper, overwhelmed by her power, her stance. “I promise."

“Well, let's go," she said in a shockingly chipper and casual voice, walking past me and through the warriors, who

had parted to allow her to pass.

Everyone was pale and wide-eyed as the beautiful but terrifying woman walked away, turning her head to motion

us to follow.

Kiern knelt beside me, squeezing my hand.