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.

waited as Oliver took

were saying something about

first place. No one remembers her. I'm the only person who knows her. It's…

aren't just throwing whatever

afraid the orb will call Sasha after it. She's convinced the Goddess has given her a mission having to do with the artifact. And from what she described to me, that's entirely possible.

old priestess from

of the old woman and my blood burned. She would never touch

again. “You're particularly possessive

my insides

know. She hasn't

to

it, and replied,

sleeping with her?"

face heated up. “That's not really the

her," Oliver said. I could hear

she's gone and decided I don't get to have any if I don't let her do what she wants with the orb," I

other women. As I recall, you're even rather popular with them," Oliver

“There are no

suspected." Another long swig.

couldn't pinpoint

said. “You're coming here anyway, you said. So we'll have plenty of time to talk about other

groaned inwardly. “Yes, plenty of

I wanted to punch him, but of course I couldn't through the phone. Pity. “Oh, the things we're going to discuss,

there won't be any issue with my coming? I don't know yet if it's just going to be Sasha

And who's

nine over being engaged to her," I replied. “Which is another reason why this situation sucks. Brady should be basking in engaged bliss right now, but instead he's getting tangled up in

imagined Oliver set his glass aside. “Getting caught up in save-the-world

your way, you'll be caught up in it,

Lucas Black, I swear to you, if something happens to

like that happened, I'd break my own

ultimately want Mother to

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

away from that orb, at least until you get here and Mother can look at it," Oliver

between us. Even if it means I have to be celibate for the rest of

precautions. I don't want to hear you got snapped up by

I said. “I'll try to stop that

Oliver creaked back in his chair. “You've given me a lot to think about,

he was going to take

welcome." The

closed my eyes and leaned back in my own chair, thinking of the mess we were in. It was tempting for me to get my own glass of something

hour, I left my office and returned to my bedroom, where Sasha was sleeping

and ran my fingers through her

up at me with sleepy eyes. “You're