CHAPTER 5
ALRIK
"Alpha Alrik, you are to report to the conference room for the meeting," the minister said.
He finally needed to schedule the meeting. The Minister didn't realise that some of us needed to get to work.
The butler bowed his head, brought me to the meeting room, and held open the door for me. I curtly nodded at him and stepped inside, raising an eyebrow at the two persons seated in front of me.
The Minister and Jaslynn appeared to have concluded their serious discussion. She was nervously biting her lip, and the Minister appeared to be deeply contemplative with his hands clasped together and placed against his lips.
I greeted him with "Minister," jolting him out of his reverie.
"Alpha Alrik," he said, "please take a seat next to Jaslynn. The others ought to show up soon.
The tiny witch hadn't spotted me until I sat right next to her, so I walked over to her. Although she didn't appear really thrilled, she nodded professionally and said, "Alpha Alrik."
She greeted me, but I didn't return the favour and instead said, "You are my mate."
"What?"
My companion is you. I used to call you my bitch since I didn't know the more appropriate language.
Her eyes must have lit up with realisation because something must have snapped in her mind.
What, I didn't know.
How could you have missed that earlier? She cocked her head inquisitively and said, "I'm sure others have talked about their mates in your pack.
I clenched my lips and said, "I never liked talk about partners."
Before turning to gaze at the Minister, who was now introducing another leader, she gave me a small nod and made the letter "O" with her lips.
She seemed unconcerned with the two of us based on the way she was expressing herself with her face. She knew who I was and presumably what kind of person I was before I even said a word to her, so I wasn't expecting her to be thrilled.
She was probably anxious about the future.
She was, after all, required to go back to my pack with me because she was my chosen companion. After this meeting, I'd have to tell her the news.
Although I was unsure of our ages, she appeared to be at least ten years younger than me, which was typical in the world of the paranormal. My parents were fifteen years apart in age.
However, if she was as young as I believed, she was still naive, and I would be accountable for shattering the happy environment she was likely accustomed to.
Allow me to present you to Regan, the head of the largest vampire organisation in the world, Alpha Alrik.
I got out of my chair, gave the woman's face a quick glance, and shook her hand. Introductions were unnecessary because none of these people really interested me.
She tried to talk, but I ignored her and sat back down.
I didn't want to participate in discussion if it had nothing to do with my pack or me.
***
The Minister finally got up to start the wretched meeting after wasting about twenty minutes of my time.
"Now that everyone has arrived, let me start by expressing my gratitude for travelling so far on such short notice. If I didn't think this was crucial, I wouldn't have phoned you. I had received a letter from a friend earlier this week that had some unsettling news.
I hope you all remember that when I was an apprentice, I had a colleague by the name of Malcolm, he looked at Jaslynn, who turned to face the group, and said, "I hope all of you remember that."
"Yes, we do recall. Wilbur, whose species I couldn't recall, said, "He was an asshole.
He definitely has more than a few screws out of place in his enormous brain, Jaslynn said without cracking a smile. I believed I had him under control, but it appears he's again on the loose.
And that's relevant to us because? I frowned.
She looked directly into my eyes and said, "Because what he is looking for can destroy all of you."
What is he seeking, exactly? Leaning forwards with attention, Regan questioned.
The Demonic Magic Book. It-"
"Stop, stop, stop. He wants to find a book, right? Why not just take him to the library? A different man intervened. Although I was unaware of his name, he was a dragon. even a foolish one.
The other leaders laughed a few times as they looked around the table.
Like me, Jaslynn still had a blank expression. "Daxton, it hasn't been here for years. You can make as much fun of it as you want, but that doesn't lessen the necessity of our locating it before he does.
Just give the man what he wants. What could possibly go wrong?
How were even the meeting leaders chosen? Daxton was a total moron. Nothing was taken seriously by him.
I hope you understand what you're saying, Jaslynn said with narrowed eyes. If Malcolm finds the book, he will be able to destroy the wall separating the Middle World and the Underworld and raise any demon or other evil creature of his choosing. He'll even have the capacity to produce an entirely new diabolical species.
The smile on Daxton's face vanished. It was past time for him to face reality.
He aspires to build a brand-new universe that is filled with chaos, death, and madness. In such a world, he might even be worshipped as God.
"When was this book last seen by someone?" Wilbur questioned while raising an eyebrow.
Jaslynn pursed her lips and said, "Probably centuries. It was kept a secret for a reason.
At that point, vampire Regan made the decision to chime in, "So what is your plan?"
"Find the book, then burn it. Given that it could be anywhere, I need all of your assistance in the search. If we all worked together, we could move more swiftly.
Wilbur said, "I'm sorry, Jas, but I'm not putting my money and energy into a book that might never be found.
JASLYNN
None of them realised how severe the circumstance was. Malcolm wasn't a moron. If he had not been confident that he would find the book, he would not have revealed his identity to the public. He was aware of certain details.
I didn't enjoy the fact that we were in the dark about it.
The witches weren't the only ones who suffered if he discovered the book before I did.
The universe was.
"Malcolm is aware of something we are not. We have to look for it. I continued, pleading with the leaders to understand that if we can't find it, the most we can hope for is to prevent him from finding it.
Right now, the majority of them appeared to find it amusing that a book could cause such a commotion.
The Minister added, trying to nudge them in the right direction, "We won't force you to join the search, but it is highly suggested that you participate.
The space was quiet. The only one who was still looking at me was Alpha Alrik, who pressed his pointer finger against his lips. The other leaders were unwilling to look me in the eye.
My fre was propelled by that.
I finally lost control and yelled, "I don't believe this. Other than Alpha Alrik, all of you owe me favours. Every single one of you has had access to my assistance when you have needed it. And now none of you want to step forwards when I need aid with something that doesn't simply affect witches. How foolish is that? This search is being conducted for the welfare of all species, not for personal gain.
We are aware that we owe you, Jaslynn. But you must comprehend where we stand. In an effort to evade me, Wilbur remarked, "I don't want to go on a goose chase.
I shook my head in frustration.
I should have anticipated this, but I refused to let it stop me. Although assistance would be helpful, even if it took longer, I could still carry out the search on my own.
And hoped before it was too late, they would wake up.
"I suppose we ought to conduct a poll now. Say "Aye" if you're willing to assist Jaslynn in her mission. 'Nay' if you disagree. We shall begin with you, Mr. Wilbur.
"Nay," Wilbur said with a faint, contrite smile.
, "Mr. Daxton."
Jaslynn, I'm sorry, but no.
The name "Ms. Regan."
Jaslynn, I'm very sorry. No.
, "Alpha Alrik."
Silence.
My attention was drawn away from the table as I noticed his grey eyes closely examining me.
I assumed he didn't care about mates based on our thirty-second talk prior to the meeting, but perhaps I was mistaken. I didn't want to have high expectations.
All I knew was that I finally realised why his presence was so pleasurable to my body. He was not only beautiful to look at, but fate had also bound us together.
Technically, he might be all mine if he quit irritating me.
Does Alpha Alrik have a response?
The intensity of his eyes on mine caused my lungs to empty of air. In the depths of the room, I could make out every single speck and the way his pupils dilated.
"Nay."
I observed that many of you believed he had previously been spanked. Guys, not quite. The Moon Goddess wants to get rid of him for a reason. He's still that cruel, egotistical guy. One contact with his mate won't result in a significant change.