Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 464

Chapter 464

We returned to the chamber, but the cage was no longer there. The King led me to one of the many doors surrounding the chamber and opened it.

“One minute,” he said, gesturing for me to enter. “So you may say your goodbyes. Because I am nothing if not merciful.” His jagged teeth flashed nastily at me.

I hurried inside the chamber, and the King shut the door behind me. The room was small and bare, nothing but smooth stone walls lit by a single torch. Andrei was slumped against the far wall, head still lolling

“Andrei!” I rushed over to him and dropped to my knees, touching his face. He jerked his head up and blinked at me blearily, then shook his head and looked away.

“No. You’re a phantom, nothing more.”

“I’m not, Andrei.” I patted his cheek, willing him to snap out of it, and shoved my baby–our baby–into his arms. “I’m here, Andrei. We’re here.”

He just kept shaking his head and looking away, muttering nonsensical ramblings about ghosts and Hell and bones. He didn’t even seem to notice the baby I placed in his arms, even when she squirmed and grabbed his finger,

I bit my lip, studying him. He was utterly delirious; did it have something to do with the fumes in this chamber? It had to, right? Either that, or the King had tortured him into a stupor.

Either way, Andrei was in no fit state to fight. The King would run his sword through him in an instant.

Suddenly, I recalled the ruby ring I’d found. I pulled it out of my pocket and held it up, inspecting it. An idea struck me one that was dangerous and potentially impossible to pull off, but I had to do something. Anything.

“You can’t fight,” I whispered, slipping the ring onto my finger. “Maybe I can’t, either, but I have to try.”

Andrei didn’t answer–just kept muttering to himself.

I carefully stood then, concealing my hand, and took my baby back. The King opened the door; our time was up. He grinned as he guided me out and took me back into the main chamber, where he’d set up a single chair on the sidelines.

A place for his audience of one to watch the show.

I sat, keeping my finger hidden as the King returned to the cell and retrieved Andrei. All the while, I channeled my energy into the ring–every ounce I could muster. I felt a warmth spread through me, and I held onto it like hell, refusing to let go, even when my head began to spin.

By the time the King had prepared his show, I was ready.

He took Andrei to the center of the chamber, close to the edge of the pool. Handed him a dull, rusty sword that fell from Andrei’s limp fingers, then raised his own sword. I held my breath and looked down at my baby, who was finally sleeping for the first time in I didn’t even know how long.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Chapter 464

+25 Bonus

Then, I pinched her arm. Hard. Hard enough to immediately make her start wailing

The cries echoed through the chamber, making the King freeze and look at me. “What’s wrong with her?”

“I think it’s the fumes in here,” I said. “They’re making her sick.”

“Well, shut her up.”

“I can’t.” I bounced her in my arms and stood, turning to leave. “I should take her back to my room-”

“No.” The King lowered his sword, leaving Andrei swaying beside the pool, and walked over to me. “Just… Here.” He took her from my arms. Every instinct screamed to take her back, but I remained calm, and kept my hand hidden in the folds of my skirt. “I’ll place her in here. Just for the time being.”

I had no choice but to watch as the King took my child to the cell Andrei had just been in and placed her inside. While his back was turned, I made my move. I rushed over to Andrei and touched his arm. He jerked his head up again, green eyes widening in a sudden moment of clarity.

“Natalia…”

Placing my finger over my lips, I channeled all of the energy I had saved up into the point of contact between us. Heat enveloped me, streaming through my palm and into his arm. Andrei’s form began to shimmer, change, morph. One moment he was standing over me, tall and dark–haired and green–eyed, and the next, he was……

Me.

By the time the King returned, it was done.

The King snapped his fingers at Andrei. “There. Now return to your seat so we may begin.” He picked up the rusty sword and shoved it into my hand. “And you. Fight like a man.”