Chapter 44 : Love Me, Love Me Not
*Lucas*
“... and you brought it here," George said, staring at the pink orb nestled in red silk in the middle of the coffee table between the four of us.
“We brought it here," I replied with a wince.
“They brought it here!" Robbie boomed, sounding as excited as a kid in a toy store.
“We're sorry about that," Brady added.
“Don't be," George and Robbie said together, though probably for different reasons.
“And apparently there's another one somewhere that we're supposed to find," I sighed.
“Never a dull moment," Brady added.
“Maybe Alison won't miss me for a few weeks," Robbie said whimsically.
George shook his head sharply. “She'll miss you. And you have duties here."
“Aww, but this is life and death, world-saving stuff!" Robbie protested.
“No," George said firmly, then added with a respectful cough, “Alpha."
Robbie sulked, staring at the orb.
“Oliver is taking us to the Winter Forest. Hopefully, my mother will be able to shed more light on the situation," I said. “It'll be pretty boring, Alpha, I'm sure."
“Liar," Robbie grunted, but he gave up on his thirst for adventure.
I wrapped the orb up just the same so he didn't have to keep sulking at it. “In any case, we haven't quite decided what needs to be done with it. I mean, aside from some cryptic orders from the Goddess, we really don't know… what the best course of action is."
“You mean you don't know. Sasha's perfectly happy to keep working with the thing to see if she can't figure it out herself," Brady said.
I grimaced. “Yes, well, I'm still not sure it shouldn't be thrown in the sea."
“Sounds like that wouldn't help, from what the High Priestess said," George observed.
“Yeah. Kind of why I haven't chucked it out with the tide," I said.
“And, why didn't you take it to the White Queen again?" Robbie asked.
My shoulders slumped. “That was probably a bad move on my part. I was just afraid of someone in her court finding out and trying to steal the orb or use it. But since we know more about it now...."
“The fact that it was awakened by a dream dancer, for instance," Brady said.
“Yes. Maybe that means only a dream dancer can use it? I touched the thing while it was active and it blasted me into the wall. Literally," I recalled.
an Alpha's order. “But… given you are already in the Light Realm trying to find out more about the thing, you might as well wait to go back until you've heard what your
that's
it is. I came
name is Alpha Robbie," George
just because you're married to my daughter doesn't mean I still can't exile you," Robbie
at each other, but before we could try to smoothe over
have seen your
pale," George
it was a running joke,"
me on the shoulder, nearly bowling me right out of my chair. “That's what
into my bag, “we probably don't need to keep staring at the thing. I'm glad we talked, though. You're
see what we're having for dinner. Though she and Joy are getting all wrapped up in this birthday thing. I swear, it's going
trying to feel swept up in the excitement myself. I was too worried about the mate question, however,
the back, and I weaved. “Don't worry, son. She's your mate. A blind
I said quietly. “Thank you.
before Robbie could give me any more
a walk," Brady suggested, and I gave
beach, shoes
there was something he wanted to say.
turned. “You're a wreck over this mate thing with Sasha,
I sighed and plopped myself down right
sat down next to me. “You love her to
at the impression my hand was making in the
bits and pieces,"
so, yes,"
If she's going to let you do THAT, she has
head snapped up. “How did you know
advice before you
red. “I don't know if I should be more embarrassed that Phoebe knows
some of that, too. Nothing to be embarrassed about," Brady grinned. “Phoebe is a wildcat. And that's all I'll say about
“Enough said," I agreed.
away with his palm, only to do it again. “Sasha's
her," I replied
her wolf, and she realizes you are
on my elbows and stared up at the sky. “Then I'll have a new
you mark
her finishing school… I want her to have plenty of time–quiet time–to think it through. And I'd
“Wine. Roses," Brady said.
that, yeah," I
are a romantic, Lucas Black,"
raised an eyebrow at him. “I suppose you
to get awkward. “... no, not an
“Wine. Roses?" I teased.
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!