Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 615

Chapter 115 : Ally in Crimson Creek

*Xander*

Fire. It was everywhere. And out of the fire currently ripping through one of the many small, abandoned villages we’d passed on our way to Crimson Creek, Oliver was sprinting toward us, his mouth opened wide as he sucked in his breath.

A wall of flames rushed toward us, barreling through the dry, dead winter grass like a book of matches on the outskirts of the village. Whatever vampires had been hiding from the sun within the half-dozen buildings would be no match for the absolute hell Oliver had just unleashed.

“You’re on fire,” John said, waving a casual hand at Oliver, who was indeed on fire.

Oliver dropped to the ground, rolling across the grass until the flames that had been licking up his pant legs sent a trail of acrid smoke toward the sky.

This wasn’t the first time Oliver had caught himself on fire today, and it likely wouldn’t be the last. We were only an hour outside of Crimson Creek at this point, and we had burned six villages and two larger towns down to the foundation since the sun came up this morning.

It was unfortunate. I hated it. But, it had to be done. If we killed every hive hiding out along the highway, well, our warriors back in Breles might stand a chance of holding onto the city for one more night, and that was all that mattered at the moment.

But daylight was fading into an overcast afternoon. In a few hours, it would be dark enough for a fresh round of vampire warriors to make their way through the portal and into this realm. They were fast, and a journey that had taken us nearly ten hours on foot would take them half the time.

Oliver jumped to his feet, turning around to survey the damage he’d inflicted on the village. Screeching cut through the air, then faded into the crackling flames and splintering buildings as the fire ate away at the village and everything that had been taking shelter within the walls.

Oliver clapped his hands together, a wild look in his eyes. I’d underestimated him. He was the scrappiest son of a b***h I’d ever met in my life.

He’d also been able to snap his fingers and create a flame, just like that.

“Nothing more than a party trick,” he’d shrugged the first time he’d done it.

We’d all been stunned, but hadn’t had an opportunity to say anything about it before Oliver was skipping toward the first village, burning it to the ground within minutes.

“Something is wrong with this family,” Colton breathed.

“Probably,” I said beneath my breath before turning to face our three comrades who were still in their wolf forms.

final two villages along the highway, letting Oliver do his worst. I’d grown accustomed to the painful screeching of the dying vampires over the course of the day, and by the time we reached the final stop along our journey, I barely heard

had no idea what we’d find there. I prayed to whatever gods were listening, or at least watching for the sake of

them. All

were going into the portal

***

of its awning. It had been the first time I’d seen blood root grow like vines instead of the dry, moss-like substance that was chalky and ashen. Purple flowers were budding along the

after all. He’d spent nearly a month in Crimson Creek while Lena and I were in the vampire realm. He’d come through the portal that glimmered on the horizon as we turned out of the village and walked along the dirt road leading

the house, closing it off from the outside world completely. I exhaled in annoyance as

back, guarding the front door as John, Colton, and I stepped inside. Oliver was flat on his back, his fist raised to protect

as he

bringing his arm up to shield his eyes from

hissed at John, who bristled but did as I commanded. Gideon immediately relaxed, then swayed, his body thudding to

into his chest as he spit blood onto the floorboards. I rushed toward Gideon but stopped short of him as the man, a descendent of those

dropping to my

warriors who were

you piece of s**t! You cracked my tooth!” Oliver spit more blood onto the ground before

the wall, huffing a choked laugh as he narrowed his

is your family?” I asked, and Gideon’s eyes darkened as he met

teeth. I swallowed back the unease prickling over my skin and glanced over

make sure

I be?” he replied

lower lip before squatting in front of him, leaning forward to look into his

“You look like hell–”

through hell. I’m living it. Every night more and more of them come through that portal. Do you know what they are? What they used to be? They used to be like me–lower vampires, the

ugly?” Oliver asked painfully, propping himself up

our kind calls them. And there’s an endless supply of them, trust me.

we have to do something, because we’re going to lose this entire continent to them unless we stop this now–right

When it stayed open, that is. War is brewing on the other side. The kings of the lower vampires had banded together. I don’t know if they ever

Brune,” I said, more to myself than to anyone in the room. Gideon’s eyes flicked to mine. “I met him and

Gideon asked, then smiled, shaking his