Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 988

Chapter 39 : Maturity

*Sasha*

I sat alone in the dark for what felt like hours, though it was probably less than fifteen minutes. Then the light came on in the bedroom and Phoebe popped her head in, wearing lingerie probably meant for Brady's eyes only.

But then I was sitting under the covers completely naked, so I wasn't one to say anything. “Is everything okay?" I asked softly.

Phoebe shook her head and motioned for me to follow her.

My blood ran cold. Had something happened to Lucas? I rolled out of bed and pulled on Lucas's shirt, then quickly followed Phoebe.

We tiptoed down the stairs, where Lucas, in wolf form, was pacing and growling on the front landing.

Brady had a splash of blood on his chin, his fangs still elongated. He was sporting a pair of boxers, thankfully.

“They got away," Brady said as Phoebe went to stand next to him.

“But they're gone?" Phoebe asked in a small voice.

“Yes." Brady put an arm around her and kissed her temple. “They're gone."

“Who? Who's gone?" I asked. “Did they take the orb?"

“They didn't get that far," Brady said. “By the look of things, they didn't even know exactly what they were looking for."

There were popping sounds, and then Lucas was standing there, naked, once more. He grabbed an overturned throw pillow for modesty, holding it in front of him.

“It couldn't have been the priestess if they didn't know what they were looking for," I mused. “And she already told me she was quite happy with what I was doing, so there would have been no reason–"

“f**k that orb. I swear to the Goddess...." Lucas snarled. “What is this, a youth hostel? We've got people coming and going at all hours."

“We're heading to the docks in a couple of hours," Brady reminded him. “We're leaving Egoren. When we get to New Dianny, we'll be a lot safer."

Phoebe looked at the door, then looked again. “What is this…?"

A scrap of paper was caught in the hinge of the door.

Lucas walked over and snatched it. “Fuck."

I went over to him, touching his arm. “Lucas?"

With an angry huff, he showed us the paper.

'Tell the dream dancer she has something that doesn't belong to her, and we are going to get it back.'

***

*Lucas*

The wind whipped through Brady's hair, blowing the longish locks into his face and mouth. He grimaced, pulling hair out of his mouth for the hundredth time since we'd boarded the ship.

“You could just cut it shorter," I said, gesturing to my own hair, cut short at the sides and longer on top, but still not nearly long enough for the waves to get in my mouth.

“Phoebe likes it," Brady grumbled, but he smiled slightly when he said her name.

The man was completely lost… or found, depending on how you looked at the situation.

“Sasha still have you locked out of the state room?" Brady asked as we leaned on the railing, watching the water rise and fall against the wood of the ship.

I grunted. “I merely SUGGESTED we toss the orb in the sea. SUGGESTED."

“Well, between that, outside threats, emotional confusion, and the fact you're treating her like a two-year-old with a dangerous toy… I think I'd probably need my space, too," Brady said.

“I'm not treating her like a two-year-old," I protested.

“You're treating her like a two-year-old," Brady repeated. “You know you're treating her like a two-year-old. That's why you're standing here with me and not banging down the stateroom door to have rocking make-up sex."

I groaned. “I just want her to be safe. That orb is not safe."

“And it's her choice whether she wants to work with it or not," Brady said. “You know that."

“I don't know that. I don't think she's being smart," I replied.

“You can tell her that, but you have to stop acting like her father and forbidding her to do things," Brady told me.

I frowned at the sea. “I don't know what else to do."

“You love her. I understand," Brady said. “I'd be the same way about Phoebe. Probably. But I also don't want to have to sleep with one eye open, and I don't want her tossing me overboard, either."

“Phoebe would never toss you overboard," I scoffed.

“I'm surprised Sasha hasn't tossed you," Brady chuckled.

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Fine. Fair. True."

“And I notice you didn't say anything about me saying you love her, so I'm assuming you've stopped fighting that, too," Brady said.

“What's there to fight? She's either my mate or she's not," I murmured.

“And?" Brady prodded.

“And what?" I asked.

“Why are you so glum about it? She's your mate for sure," Brady said. “A blind man could see that."

I picked at a splinter on the ship's railing. “I don't know that she loves me back. She was… well… a virgin. She might just be enjoying the new experiences."

That turd Brady punched me so hard in the arm I stumbled sideways. “Goddess, you're an i***t," he snorted.