Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 91 : Destiny of the Moon Goddess

*Lena*

Kiern came to me in the morning with four maids trailing behind her. Xander shot up in bed, watching with arched brows as I was whisked into the adjoining bathroom on the far side of the room. Kiern mentioned something about breakfast being served in the dining hall, motioning with her hand for Xander to leave.

I caught a glimpse of Xander's face before the bathroom door was closed, his eyes wide with surprise.

What a way to wake up.

I was given a fragrant bath rich with dried petals and oils that soaked into my skin while Kiern rattled on and on about what needed to happen today. She was taking me into the village of Brune to meet with a Wise Woman, and apparently, there was a very specific way I needed to dress for the occasion.

Xander wasn't in the room when I was ushered out of the bath and back into the bedroom. My hair was combed and dried, then pinned away from my face as I was dressed in a white gown that brushed against my ankles and sported puffy, cotton sleeves. It was an odd look, but I noticed Kiern was dressed the same, only in dark colors. She was missing the glimmering jewels she'd worn on her fingers and neck the night before, and her hair was twisted into a loose bun on the top of her head.

She looked normal, simple, and radiant.

But I felt like her doll as she fluffed the sleeves of my dress, fussing over me with a motherly touch. A cloak was placed over my shoulders and clasped across my chest with a broach made of pure gold, a giant opal in the center.

“Don't we need shoes?" I asked as I hustled behind her as we walked briskly down the corridor toward what must have been the main foyer of the palace. She looked at me over her shoulder, giving me a girlish grin.

“And not be able to feel the grass beneath our toes? I think not!"

Two guards opened the three-story high double doors leading out of the palace, and I was momentarily blinded by the light that spread over us. I blinked into the artificial sunlight and gasped.

It was paradise.

I wouldn't have known we were underground had I not been told as much. The sky, or the ceiling, was covered in what looked like crystals that reflected the rays that lit the entire kingdom up like the sun. Rolling hills of the softest grass I'd ever felt lay before me, lush and thick. Huge trees I couldn't name, their leaves a multitude of colors, fanned out in thickets, flanked by small houses carved out of pure marble and adorned in jewels.

Kiern was pleased by my shocked reaction. She grabbed my hand, squeezing as she led me forward into the grass. We followed no trail, and I didn't stop to look over my shoulder until we reached the crest of a hill.

Beyond lay the village I'd see from the window, but it was much larger than I'd expected. How they'd managed to create this massive space underground and house so many people, I didn't know. I couldn't even fathom it.

But what was behind me took my breath away.

“It's beautiful, isn't it?" Kiern smiled as we gazed upon the palace.

It was made of pure crystal, and shown like a rainbow in the lights that danced around it. Crystal stairs led up to the palace, which had been built into the side of what I realized was just a large cavern that must have extended for miles and miles.

“I hope you're hungry. Narcissa won't let us leave her home unless we eat something," she grinned as we turned our heads back to the village and began to walk down the hill into town.

The villagers stopped to bow to Kiern as we passed, casting suspicious eyes on me, but overall were friendly and welcoming. The village was busy and loud, with several markets going on within the great space at one time.

What surprised me the most were the children who ran through the street, their voices lifted in gaiety.

“There's not many of them," Kiern said with a hint of melancholy in her voice, tilting her head toward a great marble fountain in the center of the market square where four children were sitting and playing with toys. “Children are precious to us, a rare blessing."

I had the sudden urge to tell her the truth and reveal what I knew about King Nikolas–and what he wanted to do to me, but I bit my tongue and followed her through the market square, passing street after street until we reached the very edge of her kingdom.

Trees cut the village off from the far edge of the crystal cave. We walked into what looked like a small forest, and in a moment we were standing on the edge of a cliff. I looked up at the crystals that covered the ceiling, my gaze lowering to the spot where the crystal faded into black granite, and disappeared altogether into all-encompassing darkness.

There was a bridge before us, hanging over a drop-off. I could hear water roaring far, far below us, and could only imagine just how far down the water was. My skin prickled with unease as I followed Kiern onto the bridge, walking slowly and cautiously until we reached the other side with nothing but lanterns to light our way.

I'd been putting blind trust in Kiern since the moment I'd opened my eyes in this strange place. I prayed to whoever was listening that I was right about her and her people–and that I wasn't being led into a trap.

The cave came to an abrupt end, funneling to a stop as the ceiling above us became shallow. I could reach up and run my fingertips over the damp rock above our heads as we closed in on what looked like a house built into the rock, much like the palace had been built into the unending crystals.

Before we reached the front door, Kiern turned to me, her hands on my shoulders.

“I need you to know that you are safe. No one in this kingdom is going to harm you, Lena."

“Oh, I–okay–"

“And," she continued, her expression turning serious, “you cannot speak a word about what is said here, or what you've seen."

I swallowed back the anxiety tightening my throat as she turned me toward the door.

“I wasn't totally truthful when I said King Nikolas was the only High Vampire left," she said, lifting her hand to knock.

Every downy hair on my body stood on end as footsteps sounded behind the door. It swung open, showering us in faint amber light.

“Narcissa," Queen Kiern said as she curtsied.

I looked up into the eyes of the woman standing in the doorway, and found it impossible to move, or breathe.

***

“So, you've brought me the Moon Goddess," Narcissa said as she removed the kettle from its hook over the hearth.

She was the tallest woman I'd ever laid eyes on, her long silver hair brushing against her knees in soft waves as she moved around the spacious, one-room home tucked at the very edge of the underground Kingdom of Brune. I realized why she lived here instead of the village instantly as I gazed upon her nearly translucent skin. It sparkled in the firelight, a pale silver in color as she poured four cups of tea.

I wasn't sure who the fourth cup was for, but I didn't ask. Her presence alone was enough for me to want to cower and run. Even the power within me trembled with fear.

She was a High Vampire–ageless, but ancient. She'd lived during the time that Leto, Morrighan, and Lycaon ruled the pack lands.

And she had welcomed me into her home, pouring my tea and filling a plate with pastries and cookies for me to enjoy.

I took a ginger bite of one of the cookies, unable to stop my hand from shaking. Narcissa's eyes were a deep violet flaked with crimson red around the irises. She was watching me intently, her mouth curving into what I hoped was a friendly smile as I chewed and swallowed the bite.

There was a crash outside the door leading into the house, and someone cursed as they stepped inside the house. A young woman dressed in a black cloak gathered a basket into her arms and bent to pick up what looked like bundles of herbs that had spilled onto the floor when she'd entered the house.

She looked up at us, surprised, then narrowed her eyes at Narcissa.

“Oh, don't be so sour, Starla," Narcissa said with a wink before turning her gaze back to me.

Starla hurried into a small kitchen area tucked in the corner of the room and began to noisily empty the content of her basket on the counter.

“I poured you some tea, darling," Narcissa chirped.

“I'm not thirsty."

“Suit yourself. I will drink it," Narcissa rolled her eyes and folded her hands around her tea cup. “So, I see that you're terrified of me, young Goddess."

I blanched, tucking my hands in my lap as Narcissa studied my face. Kiern seemed unbothered as she casually sipped her tea.

“Most people are, but that is fine. I'm used to it. Kiern told me you're in need of assistance with some grand plan you have to kill my brother, is that true?"

Brother?

“Nikolas, of course," she winked, just as Starla placed a bowl of blood dusted with fresh herbs on the table in front of her.

I felt the sudden urge to vomit as I paled, clutching my stomach. How had she known? I'd never spoken that plan out loud to anyone, including myself. Narcissa was reading my mind, and it was likely Kiern had the ability to do that as well.

Narcissa shrugged, looking over at Kiern, who gave her a gentle smile.

“I told you, you are safe here, Lena," Kiern urged, nudging me with her elbow. “Now is the time to ask any questions you have about this realm. You need to know what you're up against."

My eyes traveled to Narcissa, who was waiting patiently for me to say something, anything. She was beautiful, but in a strange, deadly way that erased whatever kindness she laced her words with. This woman… this thing–she was death itself.

“Why can't you kill him?" I asked.