Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

*Sasha*

“... yeah… I don't know how much to say about it…" I winced. “I mean, not just for my safety, but for yours. You're right, there is a dark witch after me. And she brought reinforcements."

“She can't find you here," Rochel replied, rubbing herbs between her fingers as she deposited them in different jars. “Your secrets are safe here as well."

I pushed my hair behind my ear, going back and forth in my head about what to say.

“Are you trained?" Rochel asked after a while.

“Am I trained?" I repeated.

“As a dream dancer… have you had training?" Rochel went on.

“Oh. Yes, Rosalie, a very powerful dream dancer in the Winter Forest, trained me herself. I… just don't use my powers very often," I said.

“Hmm. It's probably for the best. People around these parts are still quite superstitious about magic," Rochel responded, bobbing her head. “I imagine your quest is something big, though, for a dream dancer of your strength to be called upon to fulfill it."

“Mom, I think you're making her uncomfortable," Jennie said, pouring me another cup of tea.

“Quests are uncomfortable subjects," Rochel replied.

I took a bracing swig of tea, then set my cup down. If I wanted answers, I couldn't keep dancing around the subject. “There… well… you know they had decided to rebuild the northern library, right?"

Rochel stiffened. “They… had decided? They're not anymore?"

“Well… it turns out there was a temple underneath it. The Lycoans came to see it, but it's actually dedicated to the Goddess. There were… so many bodies down there and… um...." I began.

“Goddess no, you found it," Rochel gasped. She swayed on her feet, and Jennie and I both sprang up to guide her to a chair.

“Technically my boy–my friend Lucas found it, but yes," I said in a small voice as Rochel fanned herself and Jennie poured her a cup of tea.

Rochel nodded faintly. “Your Lucas found something that never should have been found."

“He says the same thing," I sighed, putting a comforting hand over Rochel's. “But the Goddess has decided I'm supposed to use it to… do… something. I don't know what yet."

With a shake of her head, Rochel's green eyes turned hard. “No. It is best if it is destroyed or hidden once more. Though the Goddess may have called you, child, the Slipstone is not something anyone should be messing around with. So many people will want it… so many bad people… and they can use it to do… unthinkable things."

“Where does it come from?" I asked.

“The Morrighans," Rochel said softly. “A group of people who lived at the same time of the Lycoans, but were driven underground. I suppose you could say literally underground. The Lycoans, of course, did not like the Morrighans' Goddess worship. They tried to destroy them but… the Morrighans used the Slipstone. But then there was a Lycennian… and the girl was killed...." Rochel's lips clamped closed. “No. It matters little. You must destroy the thing."

“Oka-ay," I responded. “How do I do that?"

Rochel wet her lips, but nothing came out of her mouth. She looked pale and faint.

“I think you should go for now," Jennie murmured. “But come back soon. Maybe she'll be better, and will be able to help you more."

“Okay." I squeezed Rochel's hand. “Thank you for what you've been able to tell me. I'll be back later–"

“It may be difficult for you to find the cottage," Rochel said flatly.

Jennie's eyes widened. “Mom!"

“Go. Go destroy it. Then we will talk," Rochel whispered.

I rose. “Thank you for the tea and the conversation," I said sincerely.

Jennie came around the table and gave me a hug. “Good luck," she murmured.

“Thanks. I think I'm going to need it," I replied.

When I stepped out of the cottage, I did indeed get a wash of confusion, and suddenly couldn't see it anymore. In fact, I got turned around in the whole neighborhood.

“Damn," I grumbled, finally managing to make my way to the old wall and follow it back to more modern parts of the capital.

With Ian gone, and Amanda and Chelsea also no longer with me, I knew my next step was going to have to be to find a phone and call Lucas.

I thought of the library, but I really didn't want to give poor Gregory an aneurism. I also thought of Nostalgia or any one of the coffee shops I would pass on my way back to the boutique. To protect me, and them, Amanda, Chelsea, and I hadn't agreed on a meeting place. I was just supposed to call Amanda at the dorm later to let her know I was safe.

Now that I was outside of Rochel's cottage, I felt as though evil was lurking around every corner–people who wanted the orb, people who wanted me.

I nearly shrieked when I bumped into a random stranger, who stared at me as though I had two heads.

“Are you alright?" he asked.

“Sure, yes, fine. Sorry," I said and hustled away.

It was like that for blocks. I jumped at every flake of snow, every leftover dead leaf, every person or pet who was just minding their own business.

The only way I knew I'd feel safe now was to find Lucas.

I started toward Nostalgia, hugging my arms as the cold winter wind found clever ways to tickle my skin through my heavy sweater.

When I turned the corner to walk down the street where Nostalgia and several other clubs were located, I caught sight of shifters I recognized… the old priestess's shifters.

I was getting confused about what she wanted. She wanted me to fulfill this prophecy I still knew nothing about, that much I was sure of, but I wasn't sure if she was trying to kidnap me, protect me, or intimidate me. In any case, I was intimidated and had no desire to find out what exactly it was she wanted, so I quickly ducked down a narrow alley and made my way to another street.

Of course, I hadn't been stealthy enough, or perhaps the old witch was powerful enough, but I was found the second I left the shelter of the alley.

“Hello, Sasha Wentley," the old priestess said with a smile, now leaning on a cane. “Did the white witch tell you about your purpose?"

I was getting really tired of everyone around me knowing everything about me and my 'purpose,' but not telling me. “No," I seethed, looking up and down the street to see if there were others around who could help me if I screamed.

The old priestess chuckled when I saw only her goons. “You are adorable, thinking you can escape me."

“What do you want?" I asked, exasperated.

The old priestess raised an eyebrow. “The orb would be nice, but it's worth little without a competent dream dancer, such as yourself, to wield it. Right now, you seem to be on the right path, so I have decided not to interfere. But I would caution you not to step off that path." She poked me in the chest with a bony finger. “Then, I would have to intervene."

“Gee, as much fun as that sounds.... I muttered.

“No. No, it would not be fun," the old priestess said flatly. “Not at all."

“Are you threatening me? I don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing yet!" I shouted. “How can you people keep telling me about how important this quest is and not tell me anything about it?!"