Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 31: Death in the Attic

*Lena*

A day passed, then another. Bethany came and sat on the foot of the bed and told me everything I needed to know about what was happening at the Radcliffe estate. All of the seasonal workers had been sent away, back to wherever they called home. Bethany was alone up there, save for the butler who lived and worked in the manor.

Warriors had been creeping over the entirety of the estate for days now. Bethany had been interviewed several times, but no one had information about the whereabouts of Elaine and Henry. I felt nothing but dread as I listened to Bethany recount what had happened during my fevered stupor. I should have been there to help.

I also knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that my family now knew exactly what I'd been up to, and the fact that I'd lied about being in Red Lakes... which is where I'd told them I'd be doing my field study.

I didn't have time to sulk. The third day after I'd woken from my feverish dreams, I was sitting in the passenger seat of Bethany's truck while Xander said his goodbyes to the strange family who had cared for us and taken care of our “Jen" issue.

Xander had gotten some sleep and was back to his somewhat cold and distant attitude toward me, which was somewhat of a relief because I knew we were over the worst of what had happened to us in Crimson Creek.

He rode in the bed of the truck all the way back to the estate and didn't say a word to me until later in the evening when he came in from the bunkhouse to help me back up our things in the cottage.

"There's something we need to do before we leave tomorrow night," he said as he took off his boots and set them by the door.

"What?" I was folding my clothes and tucking them into my duffle bag as he rounded the corner and leaned against the doorway to the bedroom we'd been sharing. I felt a rush of heat as he waited for me to turn to look at him. I paused, looking down at the bed we'd shared. For a single second, I hoped whatever we needed to do involved the bed in some way.

"We need to go up to the estate and have a look around. The warriors from Breles combed it, but they don't know exactly what they're looking for, you know? You've been there before-"

"Bethany said the butler is still there. I doubt he'd let us in."

"I can handle a butler," he said with a smirk. He looked entirely boyish for a moment, and I was filled with regret as I straightened to my full height and looked into his face. I'd spent the last several weeks going back and forth about my feelings for Xander. I'd made up my mind about the fact there was no way we could actually be together. But that didn't mean it didn't thoroughly break my heart.

What was going to happen when we returned to campus? Would we go our separate ways? Or would the break from the constant chaos in Crimson Creek clear my head enough to realize I'd been wrong about him all along?

But that was only if he felt the same way. The way he was looking at me made me wonder if he did, especially the lingering hunger behind his eyes as he looked into mine. I hadn't told him about the dream. I didn't want to. But he'd been in there with me, at least for a second.

"What do you think we'll find there?" I asked.

Xander pursed his lips, tilting his head side to side as he organized his thoughts. I imagined he knew a lot more about the entire Crimson Creek situation than I did, given that he'd had an entire week with a local family to discuss the situation, but I hadn't asked about it. I was ready to wipe my hands of the entire situation and move on.

But I was curious about the manor.

said he had a sister," he said.

***

was cold inside, and dark, and the entire sprawling mansion was cast in blue light from the fading twilight sky outside. The front door was unlocked, much to Xander's disappointment. He seemed more than ready to kick the door down if

screaming come from?" Xander asked as he walked in front of me, holding his flashlight up to highlight the walls

found surprising. The manor seemed lost to time compared to when I was there last. It was almost like Maxwell's absence had caused the

as we ascended

above me," I said, unease rippling over my skin. "Why is there so

look like

amount of residue on the tip of my finger. Xander went rigid

lot of things.

"It does matter!"

walking and turned around, illuminating me with his

now, Lena. Finally, over.

footsteps. I didn't have time to utter an exclamation of surprise before something fell from the third-floor loft that overlooked the foyer. All of the blood in my body rushed to my head as

could down the stairs. I was sore, and my body was weak from my injury and illness, but I made it

here." Xander grunted as he wrestled the man to the ground, pinning him down. The flashlight had rolled across the foyer, and I grabbed it, shining it on

was snarling at Xander, his fingers digging into Xander's forearms as he tried to break

other, and Xander was starting to struggle. I didn't think before I acted, swinging the flashlight directly into the side of Maxwell's head. His eyes rolled back, and he went limp. "Goddess Lena, I was going to tell you to go

"You were struggling-"

struggling," he growled, throwing himself off of Maxwell and standing to his full height. He brushed off his pants, then ran his fingers through his hair, his breath coming quick from the

hastily, handing him back his flashlight,

up and go look upstairs. He jumped from

I asked, but Xander was already taking off the long-sleeve sweater he was

which I found somewhat impressive as I watched him bind Maxwell's hands behind his back. He

going to swing on someone like that, make sure it's a fatal blow next time, okay? I can't always be here

throat. I wanted to say "Can't or

only took a moment to find the ladder

He was

he steadied the ladder and

worst smell I'd ever witnessed in my life. I retched, almost falling backward through the hole, but Xander grabbed my arm and pulled me into

and mouth tucked in the crook of one arm, and the other

butler, or what was left of him. This