Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 608

Chapter 108 : The Magic Book

*Lena*

Time passed in a blur of mingled stillness and impossible activity. I spent much of my days in Winter Forest sitting in the library at the castle, snuggled in a plush blanket and flannel pajamas while I stared blankly at the same page of the same book I'd been trying to read for nearly a week.

I knew I wouldn't hear from Xander for a while, likely a very long time if I was being honest with myself. Mom did her best to lift my spirits. On the third day after Xander and Oliver left, she started reading aloud to me in the confines of the library from books I'd loved from my childhood spent running wild in this territory.

Maeve joined in on the fourth day, sitting with her long legs draped over my mother's lap as she rested her head on the armrest and stared at the ceiling with the same blank expression I wore on my own face. All three of her sons, my cousins, were in Breles. Her husband, her mate, was there too. Her brother, my father, would be fighting beside them all.

We just didn't know when the first thundering of war would sound, and every minute waiting was a cruel game of what-ifs.

Grandma Rosalie was the one who kept us fed and warm while we holed up in the library. Snow fell heavily outside the frosted windows as cart after cart of tea was wheeled in, though often left untouched, untasted.

On the fifth day, Grandma joined us in the “depression nest," wrapping a thick blanket around her shoulders as she settled on the couch next to me, resting her hand against my knee.

But on the sixth day, my grandpa came to the library, and our self-pity party was forced to an abrupt end.

“This is getting ridiculous," he grumbled, easing himself into an armchair with a view of all four of us.

“Why? I thought you'd enjoy a break from all of us women," Maeve yawned, twirling a lock of her red hair around her finger.

“Every blanket in the castle is currently in the library," he continued, motioning toward the twin couches we had claimed, which faced each other with a coffee table in between, which was currently littered with books. The spell book sat on top of the strewn books, its leather cover shimmering in the reflection of the fire. We'd taken turns flipping through the pages, looking for something, anything, substantial, but had found nothing.

“Leave us be, Ethan," Grandma smiled softly.

Grandpa furrowed his brow, looking at us one by one. Maeve narrowed her eyes at him, sizing him up.

“Don't look at us like that, Dad."

“Why not? You're all acting like infants."

“You know for a fact that if I had a choice, I'd be in Breles with the rest of the armies, not wasting my years of warrior training trying to figure out what I'm meant to do with this!" she waves her hand toward the book for emphasis, then tucked her hand back under her blanket, scowling. “I hate that I'm not there."

“Me too," I agreed, and Grandpa settled his gaze on me. He'd been filled in on the situation when he returned to Winter Forest two days ago, after a long trip from Breles with a stop in Mirage. All of the Alphas were congregating in Breles, where news of new night attacks was starting to trickle in from the westernmost packs in Findali.

There were no armies of vampires yet, though. They hadn't found the portal, or they hadn't figured out how to cross in large numbers.

The elders of the pack lands, mostly retired Alphas who'd passed down their titles, or high ranking men and women tasked with forming the committees that kept peace in the pack lands, had taken over for the younger Alphas who were leading their warriors into battle.

My grandfather was an elder now, and a very opinionated one at that.

“Well, figure out the book and then you can go, Maeve," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “It's that simple."

“But it's not that simple," Mom cut in, casting Grandpa a long look. “We don't know what we're looking for."

“What about… contacting the High Priestess?" Grandma asked.

Maeve tilted her head, considering. “It's actually not a bad idea. Monica has been helpful in a lot of different ways. Maybe she can grant us access to the records they keep in the temple," Maeve said as she straightened up a bit.

“We should involve Mara as well," Mom added, and I immediately went rigid, remembering my meeting with Mara, one of the refugees from Dianny and the younger sister of none other than Tasia, when she had been overseeing the investigation of Morhan University and their damning misconduct involving the safety of students.

“We'd have to tell them the truth of the matter," Grandma said.

“There won't be much need to explain. Word is already spreading about what's being seen in the rural villages in Findali. Rumors are spreading. Oliver, Xander, and his Beta have been tasked with readying the forces of the Alphas for battle–"

“You've seen Xander?" I asked hurriedly. Grandpa nodded, settling back against his armchair.

“When I left for Mirage, he was preparing to head south for Egoren, with his Beta. He brought a family of.... vampires, to Breles. To help train–"

“Gideon and Alma?" I asked excitedly, damn near jumping to my feet. I got tangled in the blankets and nearly tripped over my grandma, who steadied me with her arm.

“Maybe. I didn't ask their names."

I felt a flood of relief wash over me. Xander was leaving Breles. He was going to Egoren. He'd be safe, at least for a little while longer. I wondered if Abigail had gone with him, and then prayed that she had. Maybe Adrian would force her to stay in Egoren, out of harm's way.

Grandma stood up and stretched her arms over her head, and I caught Grandpa's gaze as he watched her. Even after over forty years together, there was still a flicker of longing in his eyes. He hid it well, and it was gone in an instant as he braced himself and rose from his chair, his hand wrapping around the head of his cane.

“That little girl," he asked Grandma, “is she still coming to dinner tonight?"

“Sasha?" Grandma asked with a laugh. “Yes. Why do you ask?"

“I got out the old train set for her to play with, the one that the boys used to love. She looked rather bored when they came to dinner last week–" Grandpa's voice faded as he walked out of the library with Grandma.