Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 506

Chapter 8 : Blood Root

*Lena*

I spent a good part of the day working in silence next to Henry as we crouched in the rows of medicinal herbs. He would hand me things on occasion, wordlessly, for me to inspect. By midday, I had a basket full of oddly shaped valerian roots and several bushes of hummingbird sage that were withered and drooping, obviously diseased.

But none of it made sense. Their soil was rich, and the positioning of the garden and the amount of sun the area received were perfect growing conditions for the herbs. I wondered at first whether the chill of the night was causing the damage, but Henry waved this away, shaking his head as he rose and peered into the distance, over the crumbling, ancient stone wall that wrapped around the entire estate.

"Are those lightning strikes?” I asked, standing next to him as I pointed.

He grunted in response. He was a man of few words, a lot like my own grandfather. "No.’

"Then... what is it? Those black spots all over-"

"It’s plants.'

"Plants? What-"

"You'll find them everywhere now. They started in the southern tip of Finaldi and migrated north over the years. About three years ago, we started seeing them in Crimson Creek. We call it blood root."

"Blood root?"

He nodded but then turned away from me, continuing to forage. I balanced my basket on my hip as I watched him. He was ignoring me. He likely knew I wanted to know more about the mystery beyond the wall.

"I don’t need your assistance any longer today,” he said, keeping his back to me. I narrowed my eyes at him, then turned back to the path leading back to the barn and bunkhouse.

I stopped at the little shed in the corner of the herb garden and stored the tote of supplies Xander had brought down for me earlier in the day. It had been a kind gesture on his part, but it had been marred by his behavior toward Maxwell Radcliffe.

I sighed, glancing at Henry over my shoulder before stepping through the herb garden's gate. Bethany said Henry had been working for the Radcliffe family for at least three decades. He knew everything about this place.

And I was willing to bet he wasn't telling me about the strange black plants called blood root on purpose.

**★

The rain started as I walked back toward the bunkhouse. I wasn't dressed for the rain, but to be honest, the weather here was very strange given the time of year. It was late autumn, and the air was warm during the day, but the nights were frigid and uncomfortable. Morhan was north of Crimson Creek... and it wasn't nearly as cold there.

I was heading to the warehouse with my samples to give to Xander so he could run his tests. I shielded my face with my hand as I walked past the barn, where the sound of giggling cut through the rain.

I paused, turning my head toward the barn where the giggling continued, interrupted by a man’s voice... Xander's voice.

I shifted the weight of my basket and crept toward the bam, peering inside the door, which was slightly ajar. I could just see the outline of someone leaning against one of the horse stalls.

The rain was beginning to pelt the top of my head, cold and slightly painful. I stepped inside the barn, blinking as my eyes adjusted to the dim light.

Xander was whispering into the ear of the brown-haired woman who had been collecting dishes at breakfast, giving her a seductive smile as she giggled like a schoolgirl.

But then they saw me. and Xander immediately leaned away from her. straightening to his full height as he pushed off the stall.

"What are you doing here9’ he asked harshly.

The woman blushed, glancing at me before turning on her heel and walking past me out of the barn.

"I could ask you the same thing,” I said, tilting my head in the direction the woman had retreated. “You're supposed to be working.”

"I was." He grabbed a shovel that was leaning next to him and turned, taking a step into the stall.

"What are you doing?"

"Working-"

"Mucking the stall? That’s not what you're supposed to-'

"You spent hours in the herb garden collecting samples, Lena. I didn't have anything to run my tests on, yet,” he said from the stall. I couldn't see him, but I could hear the annoyance in his voice.

"Are you doing that woman's job?" I asked, taking a step forward.

He didn't answer for a moment, then I heard him let out his breath. He turned to me, his eyes seeming to glow in the darkness of the stall. "Her name is Jen, and yeah, I am."

"It seemed like you two were doing a lot more than chores-"

Xander came out of the stall, his eyes blazing with annoyance. He set the shovel down as he took several steps in my direction, narrowing his eyes at me.

"What’s it to you?” he asked, leaning down so close to my face our noses were nearly touching, ”Are you jealous?"

"I’m not jealous,' I sneered, attempting to push him away.

He stood his ground, however, his eyes flashing with a silent challenge.