Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 3 : A Royal Pain

*Lucas*

The guards stopped me at King Xander's gate.

“Lucas Black," I said. “I'm here for an audience with the Alpha King." I raised my very businesslike briefcase for emphasis.

The guards looked at each other and nodded, one waving to a third inside the guard station behind the gate.

The third guard cued the gate to open, and I swept past the guards without a word.

Tall wooden double doors that could be barricaded from the inside led into a wide, granite foyer, still festooned with pillars. It still gave me both a tickle and a twinge of sadness that the columns were mostly repurposed from ancient architecture, sort of a finger at the old ways. Back in the day, when the palace was constructed, the Lycaon Church had loudly protested the practice of tearing down the old to make something new.

I was now doing the same with the Great Northern Library, which, in fairness, had become a moldering old pile of bricks by the time we got there to restore it. Nothing about it had been worth saving, except the books and artifacts.

King Xander's large audience room was down a very long hallway, which could feel even longer if you knew you came bearing bad news. Today, the hall felt particularly long. Rogues and Sasha… Rogues and Sasha… neither were going to be pleasant topics.

Another two guards stood outside of the chamber, eyeing me from head to toe, to briefcase.

“Lucas Black?" one grunted.

“Yes," I responded.

He poked his head in the heavy wooden doors. “Lucas Black, Your Majesty."

“Send him in," was the king's loud reply. “And tell Marcus we could use some coffee."

“Of course, Your Majesty," the guard said, and he gestured for me to enter.

The room where King Xander granted audience was long, pillar-strewn, and decorated on one wall with stained glass windows, depicting some of the most important events in our history. Though there was a dais and a modest throne at the end of the long walk to the head of the room, King Xander was perched behind his desk today, which was mostly hidden by two columns, but enjoyed colorful lighting from the stained glass windows behind it.

“Lucas," King Xander said, looking up and smiling at me. “It's great to see you, even on such short notice."

His smile was infectious, and I felt a little more relaxed. “It's good to see you as well, Your Majesty."

“Have the rogues been bothering you at the library site?" King Xander asked, getting right down to it. “Is that why we needed to move our meeting up from next week?"

I cleared my throat. “No, no trouble with the rogues at the site, even though we are getting awfully close to their territory, nothing like what's happening in other areas."

“Growing pains," King Xander sighed. He sat back, gesturing for me to sit in the chair across from him.

I sat down and set my briefcase to my side. Inside were Sasha's resume and portfolio, though honestly, I hadn't looked at either. There didn't seem to be much point.

I was a bit interested in the portfolio, but the audience had been granted so quickly, I decided I didn't have enough time to properly review it.

Though, I thought with a slight smile, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the studious Sasha Wentley had surpassed even me in honing her abilities. I'd been a good student, passionate, but Sasha had always been more hardworking than anyone I knew. It was a shame she was so hot-tempered.

“What's so funny?" King Xander asked with a frown.

quickly. “Not the rogues or anything like that. Just…

King Xander

with the library." I pulled my briefcase up from the floor and snapped

Xander sighed. “I could really use some right now,

out some plans I'd drawn up. “Since the rogues are determined to think we're not respecting their borders, I thought a wall between their territory and the library might be in order–not a terribly high one, mostly just symbolic. That way, we can show them

lips. “You don't think they'll perceive

I thought at least this way, unsuspecting citizens wouldn't just go

how close to the rogue territory the library is. At least you didn't think of putting up some ghastly

shook my head. “That would completely ruin

agreed. He steepled his fingers under his chin. “And the

Wentley. There has to be a more suitable candidate for

comes highly recommended by the White Queen herself. Can I ask why you think

Lena herself had Sasha's back. I hoped I hadn't put my foot in it, but if I had,

I said

such a

history," I tried to explain

with, we would be left with a very small pool to choose from. The top ten in that

heated.

you. She'll have received her acceptance letter by now. As far as I know, she hasn't approached the queen

stern expression should have been reserved for a young pup about the age of ten. Maybe I wasn't

the project to go smoothly," I finally said lamely. I had put my foot in it, and

Damn it all.

perfectly charming man, Lucas.

“Of course."

Xander inclined his head. “Is

yes, Your

going by the end of the month. For now, I think you have your hands full with… other things." King Xander speared me with another look.

my teeth. I hadn't even slept with her once. Though,

I settled on before my brain could take the

with me. It looks good," the

nodded, stood, and bowed. I wasn't sure if he meant get to work on Sasha, the

first, I needed to work

and I had to figure out how to work together. I couldn't let our personal history get in the way of a successful project. I would have to push my own feelings aside and focus

through the pages of her portfolio, I couldn't help but be impressed with Sasha's work. The designs were clean and modern, but also practical and functional. It was clear she had a keen

across a design that caught my eye. It was a large, open space with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked a

chest. I felt very proud of her. She was a far cry from the rough-and-tumble girl never backing down from a fight. She was a gorgeous woman, with her

was the manager and

***

*Sasha*

important opportunity of your whole life,"

with Lucas Black's name on it flipped over so I could at least pretend it wasn't there, that he