Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 29 : Oh Brother

*Lucas*

I made sure Sasha was all tucked in, then went back to my office, a slight smile on my face. We'd see who could hold out the longest. I had a sneaking suspicion Sasha was going to relent sooner rather than later.

A few papers were out of place on my desk, so I organized them, dragging my feet on what I had to do next. It wasn't as though I had any problem with Oliver, my brother, but I did worry about bringing someone–anyone–new into our little circle of orb hell.

Finally, after an hour had passed of me fiddling with things that didn't need fiddling with, I picked up the phone receiver and dialed Oliver's number.

“What's wrong?" Oliver answered without preamble. It didn't surprise me a bit that my brother was in his office at this hour. He was a very dedicated Alpha of Pack Drogomor.

“Does your poor mate ever see you?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yes. What's wrong?" Oliver repeated.

I sighed. There was nothing to do but tell him everything.

“How do you always know when something's wrong?" I grumbled, glancing balefully at the wood panel that hid my safe.

“You don't call unless something is wrong," Oliver reminded me.

I winced. I really needed to be a better brother. “I'll work on that."

“Ahuh. So, don't keep beating around the bush, tell me what's up," Oliver said.

I swallowed. “I… well, it's a very long story...."

“Highlights."

That was Oliver. Down to business. “I'm in trouble. Me and Sasha Wentley. And… well… the people who are close to us… perhaps the world at large...."

“More details than that," Oliver demanded. “Though how you ended up with Sasha Wentley after the tormenting you gave her growing up is another tale I'd love to hear."

“Yeah, and I'll fill you in on it when we get to Drogomor," I said.

There was a short silence. “You're coming back to the Light Realm? With Sasha Wentley?"

“And maybe a few other friends," I said. “Look, we're being hunted down by a priestess from Leviss and some shifters she has under her control, not to mention...."

“You'd better start mentioning," Oliver growled.

“I found something at my job site, something I can't even bring to Alpha King Xander or Queen Lena. It's just too big a risk," I sighed.

“You found something you can't even bring to your own cousin?" Oliver protested. “Lucas, those are some dangerous words. How can you not bring something to the attention of the king?"

“Not everyone in the Alpha King's court can be trusted and… I'm… afraid of what will happen," I replied. “This thing… it's connected to Sasha somehow, and I don't know what will happen to her once experts start poking and prodding it. I think it's an artifact from the ancient Church of the White Queens. But it… it makes people disappear. Or, rather, it makes Sasha disappear."

I heard some rustling on the other end of the phone. “Hang on. I have a feeling this is going to require a brandy," Oliver grunted.

and I waited as Oliver took a

something about

disappearing. Disappearing as though she never existed in the first place. No one remembers her. I'm the only person

“And we aren't just throwing whatever it is into

artifact. And from what she described to me, that's entirely possible. But we're also being chased by an old priestess who possesses at least a little magic, so I'm wondering

priestess from Leviss,"

the old woman and my blood

quiet again. “You're particularly possessive and growly. Is

my insides warm,

She hasn't

to be,"

replied, “It wouldn't be the worst thing

with her?" Oliver

face heated up. “That's not really the

Oliver said. I

She's a bit miffed over me keeping her and the artifact separated, so she's gone and decided I don't get to

I recall, you're even rather

“There

Another long swig. “You've got it bad,

wondering when the exact moment had been that I'd forsaken all others for Sasha. I couldn't pinpoint a time,

So we'll have plenty of time to

inwardly. “Yes, plenty of

couldn't through the phone.

don't know yet if it's just going to be Sasha and me

is Brady? And

“Which is another reason why this situation sucks. Brady

There was a clink as I imagined Oliver set his glass aside. “Getting caught up in save-the-world type s**t. You just have all

when I bring the artifact your way, you'll be caught up in it, too," I informed

can deal with them." He paused. “But Lucas Black, I swear to you, if something happens to my mate as a result of having that

something like that happened, I'd break my own

Mother to take a

I was going to have Eliza look at it, but then it disappeared with Sasha for a day, and all Eliza could think of was that the orb has something to do with time, which makes sense because when Sasha disappears, I go back to the day before and have to live a whole day in a universe where she doesn't exist." I noted that my

until you get here and Mother can look at it," Oliver said soothingly. “Now, you go pack… or convince your probably-mate to sleep with you, or both. You sound like you

it means I have to be celibate for the rest of my life,

you when you get here. Take precautions. I don't want to

said. “I'll try to

chair. “You've given me a lot to think about, little brother. We'll discuss it more

I responded, relieved he

The line

was tempting for me to get my own glass of something strong, but I wanted to stay sharp,

another hour, I left my office and returned to

ran

at me with sleepy eyes. “You're