Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 981: Chapter 38 : Revolving Door

*Sasha*

“Come on, now. You must know I don't usually come and recruit young interns personally," Stone Hamline said, leaning in the doorframe of Lucas's house.

I was glad Lucas was gone, for Stone's sake. “I really would like to work for you," I replied honestly. It would be a wonderful opportunity, after all. “But I have to go visit my mother in the Winter Forest."

“The Light Realm?" Stone's eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. “That's quite a journey. Is she sick?"

“Well...." I pushed my hair behind my ear. “No...."

Stone clucked his tongue. “Such a shame. I hope you're not leaving us because that Lucas Black has you all twisted up. Honestly, not every Royal Engineer is like him."

I frowned at Stone. “No, I would never leave because of Lucas."

“Again with the Lucas." Stone grinned at me.

I shifted from foot to foot, flustered by his attention. “Sorry. Mr. Black."

“Don't worry about it. I'm just teasing. Childhood friends should be able to call each other by their first names," Stone said.

“Well, I suppose… anyway, it's not because of Luca–Mr. Black that I'm visiting his mother–" I stuttered.

“Ooo, visiting HIS mother now, too. Is there a happy announcement in your future?" Stone teased.

I must have gone redder than an apple because Stone's smile faded. “Oh dear, Miss Wentley, I would caution you against someone like that. He will absolutely ruin your career."

“It's… not...." I pushed my hair behind my ear again.

“This is about that temple at the northern library, the one the Lycaons wanted you to bury–and lo and behold you did," Stone cut in.

I took a step back into the house. “I just remembered I have an appointment. I have to say goodbye, Mr. Hamline. And thank you for your generous offer. I hope we'll both be in a position for me to take you up on it when I return."

“What was it?" he asked eagerly, putting his foot in the door when I tried to close it. “What did you find? It was an ancient temple of the White Queens–say those who were there–with hundreds of bodies. But there was something else, something that's made all of you cagey and erratic. Something… valuable?"

“Mr. Hamline, I'm afraid I can't discuss–" I said sharply.

Someone came up behind me and kicked Stone's foot out of the door. “Miss Wentley told you to get lost. Now get lost before I track down Lucas Black and tell him you were harassing his guest at his house."

Stone had the sense of self-preservation to pale at that. He turned to me and bowed. “I am sorry for disturbing you, Miss Wentley. It is my hope that you will be able to work with me when you return as well."

He turned and walked back to his expensive car, the kind men got when they were lacking in… other areas.

Lucas was never going to need that kind of car.

“You just seem to have a gift for attracting the bottom-feeders." Brady sighed as I turned around.

“He's not a bottom feeder. He's a well-respected Royal Engineer," I said. “Though, thanks for the help. I didn't know what to say to him."

“Anytime." Brady stepped back so I could get back into the house. “Hate for Lucas to go to prison over a creep like that, anyway, especially when things in his life are just getting interesting."

“Interesting?" I echoed.

“You. The orb. You," Brady said with a shrug.

I followed him into the kitchen, still marveling that we lived in a world where vampires could now survive on snack cakes. “What about me?"

“Please," Brady replied, puncturing a snack cake bag with his fangs. “It's obvious. He wants you, two-and-a-half wolf pups, and a white picket fence around this place for all of you."

“Oh, that's not–" I flushed bright red.

“It's very true," Brady said before I could even finish my sentence. “He's had a thing for you since we were all running around the Winter Forest together."

I snorted. “Alright, that one you're never going to make me believe. He was a bully and a complete asshole to me."

Brady was looking at my sternum, where I was playing with Lucas's gift. It had become even more precious to me than the bracelet he'd broken. “Well, he's neither of those things now, is he?"

“No," I mumbled.

“Besides, he was only a bully because he wanted to toughen you up. Lucas knew you were different, and he was always worried something was going to happen to you," Brady went on.

I looked at Brady askance. “Really. Something worse than him?"

“MUCH worse," Brady said. “You had no idea how tough the world could be, all sheltered by your mother and bookish and–"

“The worst thing that happened to me growing up was him," I grunted, taking the plastic bag from Brady so he'd stop playing with it and throwing it in the trash.

“Yeah. Lucky you," Brady said.

I turned and frowned at Brady. “Are you going to tell me Lucas had some kind of terrible thing happen to him while he was growing up that I didn't know about, and he wanted to toughen me up so it didn't happen to me?"

“Not exactly." Brady licked frosting off his lips. “He got his act together later. Though he still had terrible taste in women until… well… you."

“That's… good? Flattering?"

“Besides, you're not going to try to tell me nothing bad happened to you growing up. I can smell tragedy on you a mile away," Brady informed me. “It's a wonder Lucas doesn't try to pry it out of you."

I twirled the emerald between my fingers. “He's… feeling a bit guilty."

“About the bracelet," Brady guessed.

“Ugh. Why do I even bother having an independent thought? EVERYONE can read my mind!" I complained.

Brady grinned. “You're very expressive when you're angry."

I stabbed a finger in his direction. “I swear if that leads into some smartass remark about make-up s*x, I am going to stake you."

“Why would I have to say anything? You're the one putting it out in the open," Brady laughed.

“Shut up. Hand me a snack," I grumbled, and Brady tossed me a pack of cookies.

“Seriously, though, Lucas said that bracelet was supposed to protect you from your father's pack…?" Brady said.

I pushed my hair behind my ear. “My… sperm donor… was Lycennian… and, well, if I had any power to speak of, my mother was afraid they'd come for me. She's very superstitious, and had this idea that the bracelet would protect me from that happening. But then Lucas crushed it, and Mom went all haywire...."

Brady's gaze sharpened. “What happened?"

I ran my tongue over my teeth. “Nothing. It's not important."

“I think it is." But Brady shrugged. “I think it's important you tell Lucas about it."

“He knows the highlights," I said.

“Doubt it. But, anyway, Lucas really was trying to look out for you," Brady explained.

“Funny way of showing it." I relented. “He's not that way anymore, I know that. And we were kids."

Brady patted me on the shoulder. “I'm glad to hear you say that. I'd hate it if there was this childhood bitterness swirling between you along with everything else."

“Everything else?" I asked.

“The orb, the old black witch, danger and mayhem around every corner...." Brady began ticking things off on his fingers.

“The question of whether or not we're mates," a new voice chimed in.

I turned to see Lucas standing behind me and jumped. “When did you get here?!"

“Figured, as it's my house, I can come and go as I please," Lucas chuckled. He wrapped his arms around me from behind.

Even though we were still arguing with each other, I found myself leaning back into his embrace. “You want us to be."

“You don't?" Lucas asked, giving me a puppy-dog look.

“Well… that's not… here or there...." I said primly.

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