Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 455

Chapter 455

Chapter 455

+25 Bonus

Natalia’s POV

By the time evening came, I could barely keep my head up. My body felt heavy, like someone had filled my veins with lead. Every movement took effort. Even holding my baby felt like lifting a boulder. I was starving and exhausted and utterly terrified.

The King summoned me for dinner again. I didn’t want to go, but I didn’t have a choice. I wrapped my daughter in her makeshift swaddle and limped to the dining hall.

The King was already seated with a glass of wine in his hand. He gestured to the chair across from him. “Sit,” he commanded.

I did, settling into the chair and adjusting my baby against my chest. She’d stopped crying as much–probably because she was as exhausted as I was.

“You look unwell,” the King observed.

“I’m fine,” I lied.

He took a sip of wine and set down his glass. “I’ve been thinking about our future, my love. Once we’re mated, I’ll teach you how to communicate with the demons. How to use the water to forge new rubies. It’s a delicate process, but I know you’ll master it quickly.”

I forced myself to nod, even though his words made my stomach turn. Demons. He actually believed there were demons living in that volcanic lake.

“The water holds great power,” he continued. “When you submerge the rubies in it and speak the right incantations, the demons bless them. Grant them their magic. I’ve spent decades perfecting the ritual.”

Decades. Decades of breathing in toxic fumes, thinking he was speaking to supernatural beings. No wonder his mind had rotted along with his body.

But then, an idea formed in my sluggish mind. If I wanted to get close to him–close enough to make him trust me enough so I could bargain, escape, or do whatever must be done to get the hell out of here–then I needed him to think that I had seen what he saw.

“Actually, I wanted to tell you something. I think…” I paused, forcing the words out. “I think I understand now.”

The King’s eyes narrowed. “Understand what?”

“Your vision. The water… when I was down there earlier, I felt something. Like it was calling to me.” I met his gaze, trying to look sincere. “I think I saw the light. I understand what you’re trying to build here.”

His expression shifted. The suspicion melted away, replaced by something that looked almost like joy. “You felt it? The power?”

“Yes.” I swallowed hard. “I didn’t want to believe it at first, but… you’re right. This place is sacred. And together, we could-”

“We could rule the world,” he finished. He stood and crossed over to me, taking my free hand in his cold, bony one. “I knew you would see it eventually. I knew you were meant for this.”

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25 Bonus

I forced myself not to pull away. “Show me. Teach me how to use the water.”

Soon, my love. Soon.” He pressed his thin, chapped lips to my hand, and I had to resist the urge to vomit. “But first, we must complete the bond. Tonight.

My blood ran cold, but I kept my expression neutral. “Tonight?”

“Yes.” He smiled. “I’ve waited long enough. And now that you’ve accepted your fate, there’s no reason to delay

He left after that, telling me to prepare myself. After choking down the rest of my food in a desperate attempt to regain a little of my strength, I returned to my room with my baby and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the vial of poisoned water I’d hidden in the drawer.

This was it. My only chance.

I heard his footsteps in the hallway a few hours later. The door opened, and the King entered. He’d changed into a velvet robe. The sight made me shudder.

“My Queen,” he said softly.

I stood, clutching my baby. “Wait.” I gestured to the small table near the fireplace, where two cups and a bottle of wine sat. I’d found them in the wardrobe earlier. “Can we… can we have some wine first? To celebrate our union?”

The King’s smile widened. “Of course.”

I laid my baby down in her makeshift bassinet, then crossed to the table and poured wine into both cups. My hands were shaking, but I managed to keep them steady enough. While the King’s back was turned, I uncorked the vial and poured the poisoned water into one of the cups.

“Here,” I said, handing him the poisoned cup.

But he didn’t take it. Instead, he reached past me and picked up the other cup–the clean one. Then he held out the poisoned one to me.