Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 993

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.

“You need to take it to the White Queen," Robbie boomed. It was nearly 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 mother has to say."

I nodded. “Yes, that's a good plan."

“Of course it is. I came up with it," Robbie said.

“Modesty, thy name is Alpha Robbie," George muttered.

“You know, just because you're married to my daughter doesn't mean I still can't exile you," Robbie grunted.

Brady and I looked at each other, but before we could try to smoothe over the situation, the other two men burst into hearty guffaws.

“You should have seen your faces," Robbie chuckled.

“Ghost pale," George agreed. “Ghost pale."

“Sorry. We didn't know it was a running joke," I mumbled.

Robbie clapped me on the shoulder, nearly bowling me right out of my chair. “That's what makes it so funny!"

“Anyway," I said, scooping the silk-covered orb back into my bag, “we probably don't need to keep staring at the thing. I'm glad we talked, though. You're right, Alpha, I should have taken it to the White Queen. And I will after talking with Mother."

“Good." Robbie rose. “I'm going to go check with Alison and 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 to be bigger than Joy's wedding!"

“I'm glad they're so excited," I replied, trying to feel swept up in the excitement myself. I was too worried about the mate question, however, and probably looked a bit green around the gills.

Robbie smacked me on the back, and I weaved. “Don't worry, son. She's your mate. A blind man could see that."

“We'll see," I said quietly. “Thank you. I'll see you later."

Brady and I scooted out before Robbie could give me any more reassurances.

“Let's go for a walk," Brady suggested, and I gave in with a shrug.

We ended up down by the beach, shoes off, letting the waves lick our ankles.

Brady stayed silent, though I sensed there was something he wanted to say. “Spill it," I said.

“Fine." Brady stopped and turned. “You're a wreck over this mate thing with Sasha, aren't you?"

“I don't know what you mean," I tried, but when Brady's expression told me that wouldn't fly, I sighed and plopped myself down right in the sand. “I'd like her to be my mate. If she isn't, then, well, that's that, I suppose."

“Uh-huh." Brady sat down next to me. “You love her to bits and pieces."

I looked down at the impression my hand was making in the sand. “I do."