Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 43 : Uses and Useless

*Sasha*

I could feel Lucas lose it even before he started to swear.

“We need both?" I repeated hesitantly, hoping perhaps her answer might change or there might be a 'but' in there somewhere.

No such luck. “Yes, you will need both now. The Slipstone has been awakened by a dream dancer, which means the other stone will be awake as well," Priestess Canela said. She frowned at Lucas. “Language, young man."

Lucas ended his tirade with a cough and a low, “Sorry, High Priestess."

“I was shown a vision of people who were going to use the stone to return to the land of the Goddess or something like that," I said. “And then the Goddess said I was supposed to 'save them,' only I'm not entirely sure who 'them' are, if it's the people I saw in one vision or another vision...."

“Can you go fetch it?" Priestess Canela asked. “I might be able to divine something from it. I'm not a dream dancer of any great power. But I do know more about the orbs than you do."

I looked at Lucas and he took a silk-wrapped package out from a bag at his side. I could sense the power of the orb even with the silk around it. But then, I could always sense the orb. Its eyes were always on me.

Lucas unwrapped the Slipstone, which was still a sort of pink from my working with it on the ship, and handed it to the High Priestess.

The orb glowed dimly when Priestess Canela took it in her hands. “Yes, this is quite a bit more powerful than was even rumored," she said. “Quite a bit."

Then, to my surprise, Priestess Canela took my hand and held it as she held the orb. Her eyes closed and her mouth moved in silent murmuring.

When she opened her eyes, Priestess Canela's eyes were glowing a dull blue. “Hmm… I cannot answer all of your questions. But I can tell you what I know." She looked at me and it was as though she could see straight into my soul. “You are the most powerful dream dancer I have ever heard of since Tasia. Do not follow her dark path."

“O-okay," I replied.

Priestess Canela closed her eyes again. “Old Dianny was created when Lycoan kidnapped and brought a group of women through the portal to be his brides. I don't know if you knew that. The people you see–they are descendants of these women, and so is the girl you saw in the hall, Anna. That much I know. But I know nothing more."

“Nothing more?" Lucas protested, but I put my free hand on his chest.

The priestess looked at me again, the glow in her eyes beginning to fade. “You will come into your wolf soon."

“Yes, my birthday is within a week," I replied.

“Perhaps then we will know more," the priestess mumbled. Then she took her hand off the orb and handed it back to Lucas. “There is much we will know...." She looked between Lucas and me.

I understood her meaning, and wanted to know the same. Was Lucas my mate? Deep down, I really hoped so. It wasn't even that deep down.

Lucas quickly wrapped the orb again and stowed it in his bag.

“Am I meant to save that little girl, Anna, from the darkness?" I asked Priestess Canela.

The high priestess shrugged helplessly. “I don't know. I would hope the Goddess would wish a young life such as hers to be spared, but when you say she said save 'them,' it must mean more than one person. I agree, it is very confusing."

“Do you at least know how to use the stone?" Lucas butted in, exasperated.

Priestess Canela blinked. “Oh. I thought you'd surely figured that out by now."

“Not so much, no," Lucas said. “Basically, until recently, it's been one, Sasha touches the stone, two, Sasha disappears completely from the world itself like she was never born and it's the day before, then three, Sasha reappears after the day ends. On the ship, she was able to use her powers to work with it through visions and not disappear on me, but...."

“Oh dear… you poor dears. No wonder everything has felt so jumbled lately," Priestess Canela clucked. “Sasha, being a powerful dream dancer, should be able to use the stone to change the past. So far, you've just been watching it?"

“Yes. I haven't done anything to change it," I replied.

Priestess Canela nodded. “That is probably for the best for now. Watch, learn, find out what the Goddess wants of you. It is a dangerous thing, to change the past."

“That's what I was thinking," Lucas grunted.

The priestess c****d her head to the side, regarding Lucas. “A mate might help. Powerful objects like this one often lead to evil and corruption. You will require help to remain centered and focused. You are powerful, indeed, but harnessing that power to use the Slipstone–and in future the Lightstone–is dangerous, dangerous work. But, apparently necessary now."

“I was wondering that, too. Why now of all times? Is it just because we happened to find it and I accidentally paired it with Sasha that the Goddess is like, hey, yeah, let's have a past party?" Lucas asked.

“It could be that simple, yes," Priestess Canela said. “In any case, you must guard the Slipstone. Guard it with everything you've got. Because there are many, even those you've already met, who would use it for great evil and personal gain."

Lucas blew out a frustrated breath. “And that's all you can tell us."

“Unfortunately," the high priestess replied regretfully.

“Thank you for trying," I added. “We've gained a little wisdom, at least."

Priestess Canela nodded. “I am glad the Slipstone fell into good hands. It could have been picked up by anyone. But you two will keep it safe. I have a good feeling." The high priestess rose and smoothed out her robes. “I will return to the temple now. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful."

“You helped clear up a thing or two for me, High Priestess Canela. I really am grateful," I said while Lucas stared balefully at the bag containing the orb.

“Good luck," Priestess Canela replied before sashaying out of the room.

Lucas threw himself back, groaning almost as loudly as the loveseat as he stared up at the ceiling. “Damn this stupid orb anyway."

“I know. It just keeps getting more complicated, doesn't it?" I asked softly. I couldn't stop myself from curling into him, leaning my head against his shoulder, drawing strength from his strength.

Lucas dropped his arm around me and stroked my hair. “A second f*****g orb… a second one. FUCK."

My eyes stung with tears. “I don't know if this is ever going to end, Lucas," I whispered, despair heavy in my heart. A second orb? Would it mean a second mission? More answers? Fewer?

Lucas's lips brushed my temple and I looked up. Then he kissed away my tears and pressed a salty kiss to my lips. “Hey," he said huskily, stroking my hair behind my ear. “We've still got a next step. We'll go to Winter Forest with Oliver and Mother will help us."

My stomach tightened, and I looked away as I said, “I suppose we'll be seeing my mother, too."

“Is that a problem?" Lucas asked.

I shrugged. “We haven't really communicated much since I moved to the Dark Realm."

“Oh. Well… she'll be happy to see you. Will you be happy to see her?" Lucas hazarded.

I pressed my forehead into Lucas's shoulder. “I don't know. I have… questions. But she's never answered them before and I don't know if she will now. Now, though… now I think it might be more important than ever."

“What questions, Sasha baby?" Lucas asked, combing his fingers through the length of my hair.

I shook my head. “I'll tell you later, if I can get her to answer them. If I can't, it won't matter anyway."