Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174: 0174

Lorelei POV

"Open it."

I hesitated for a moment before taking it from her.

"This is a protective charm," she explained as I lifted the lid.

The inside was lined with dark velvet, and resting carefully in the center was a piece of jewelry unlike anything I had ever seen before.

A thin, obsidian-black chain was wrapped neatly around the velvet, attached to a smooth teardrop-shaped pendant made from deep violet crystal. The stone was almost black around the edges, but the closer I looked, the more I could see faint violet hues glowing beneath its surface.

Then I noticed something moving inside it.

A thin strand of silver light twisted through the center of the crystal, curling and uncurling slowly like smoke trapped beneath glass. Every time it caught the soft light from the room, it shimmered for the briefest second before disappearing back into the depths of the stone.

My fingers hovered over it, suddenly afraid to touch something that looked far too precious to belong to me.

"A protective charm?" I repeated, glancing up at her in confusion. "Why would I need a protective charm?"

"Why would you not need one?" Nala countered, slowly getting to her feet. "After all that has found you, I believe you require more protection than this alone could offer. But for now, it is the best I can place within your hands."

She walked toward me, her attention settling on the pendant as one perfectly manicured fingernail traced lightly over the smooth surface of the crystal.

"To eyes such as yours, it may appear to be nothing more than a pretty ornament," she continued, her playful tone fading completely. "But there is a powerful summoning spell sleeping within it. If ever you find yourself in danger you cannot escape, break the crystal."

My fingers tightened slightly around the pendant.

"It will summon me," she added, her voice dropping lower. "And wherever you may be, I shall find you."

I blinked at her.

"Wait..." My eyes widened. "You can teleport?"

A proud little smile spread across her face as she nodded. "It happens to be one of my gifts. Not every witch is blessed with it, you know. But do not mistake the gift for something without cost," she continued, holding up one finger. "Crossing such distances consumes a great deal of energy. That is why this charm shall answer only once."

I looked down at the pendant again, suddenly feeling the weight of it in a completely different way.

"Only once?" I muttered.

"Only once," she confirmed. "So if you ever break that crystal, make certain you truly require me. I would be displeased to cross half the world only to discover you wished for nothing more than a little company."

She carefully lifted the necklace from its velvet casing before handing the empty box to the guard waiting beside her. Then she stepped behind my chair and leaned down, bringing the black chain around my neck.

Her fingers worked quickly to fasten the clasp, and a second later, the cool crystal settled against my collarbone.

Nala rested both hands on my shoulders before leaning closer to inspect it.

"Well, look at that." Her lips curled into a satisfied smile. "It suits you. Even the crystal appears to have known where it belonged."

I reached up and brushed my fingertips over the pendant, feeling its smooth surface beneath my touch.

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