The Alpha’s Mate And The Vampire King (The Alpha Series Book 3)

Reaper caws and taps his beak on the window. ‘Next time, you need to take me with you, Luna. You can’t just leave your familiar behind. It’s dangerous,’ Reaper mind-links.

‘The other witches didn’t take their familiars with them. So, I don’t see what the big deal is?’

‘It’s a big deal, now let me inside… please,’

I open the window, and he flies toward me. He calms the moment he lands on my shoulder. His beak is pressed against my nose as I turn my face, and his eyes stare into mine.

‘Reaper, what the heck?’ I say.

‘There is something different about you. Did something happen at Pandora’s Box?’

‘No Reaper, nothing happened,’ I frown.

‘I thought I sensed something odd whilst you were in Pandora’s Box. I was worried something had happened to you?’

‘Reaper, nothing happened. Let’s take a walk outside.’ Ela’s toad leaps down the front steps as I open the front door, ‘I need some fresh air.’ The witches are conversing beneath Reaper’s moon tree. Ria’s snake is dangling from a branch above them.

I take a deep breath and take in the tranquil surroundings. My wrist tingles, but I ignore it on purpose.

‘I’m heading to the lake for a swim. Would you all like to come along with me?’ I ask.

‘Next time, Luna,’ Ria says with a smile.

‘All right,’ I remark as I walk towards the lake.

I remove my clothes and dive into the lake. Reaper perches on a nearby tree. Closing my eyes, I float on my back. Flashbacks of King Alec grabbing hold of my wrist, the subtle burn on my wrist imprinted into an ankh. His crimson eyes changed into a light brown. His gaze, the way he looked at me.

I should have been afraid to be in his presence, but I wasn’t. If anything, I don’t think I wanted to leave, but why do I feel comfortable around him?

I finished my swim, dried off and returned to the packhouse. Reaper flew high in the air and followed me.

The witches are no longer under the moon tree, but the packhouse emits various scents. Fern’s cat purrs as he brushes against my leg. I walk into the home and head downstairs to the basement, following the different aromas.

Herbs are hung on the walls, and jars are stacked on the shelves. I’m not sure what’s in them, but I have a feeling I don’t want to find out. Ria, Fern, Lilac, May, and Ela add ingredients to a massive bubbling cauldron.

May waggles her finger at me, then mutters, ‘I wish I could have gone to Pandora’s Box as well,’

‘Next time,’ I say with a smile to May.

‘Can you make a promise?’ she asks.

Ela assures her, ‘We all promise,’

‘How did you get all of this?’ I ask them.

Fern grins, ‘Oh, we just used the materialise spell,’

‘Can you explain how that spell works? Isn’t that the magic Yiselda used to summon a book?’

‘That’s right, and it’s that simple. All you have to do is imagine the item you want. I’ll demonstrate. Let’s pretend I’m hungry for a cherry pie. So I wave my wand and say, ‘materialise,’ picturing a cherry pie.’

Suddenly In her palm, the pie appears. She holds a pie that smells like cooked cherries. ‘Ouch,’ she exclaims as she tosses it on the table.

She laughs, ‘I probably should have thought of a cold cherry pie,’ We’re all laughing. ‘Now you try,’ she says.

‘Alright,’ I think of a rose so perfect. It has no blemishes or broken petals. ‘Materialise,’ I say and open my eyes to see I’m holding the rose I envisioned.

‘Ooh, pretty,’ Lilac says.

‘So, what exactly are you guys doing here?’

‘We’re conjuring up potions!’ Ria beams.

‘Can I help?’ I ask excitedly. Reaper caws, ‘I think Reaper wants to help too?’

‘Sure!’ Ela says.

‘What potion are you currently making?’

Ela walks me over to a table and points to an open book.

‘Hey, that’s my book. Magnus, let me keep it from the library,’ I frown.

‘Oh, sorry, we saw it on the shelf in the living room and thought no one would mind if we borrowed it?’

‘I suppose it’s okay, Ela. Just be gentle with it.’

‘Yay!’ she squeals and hugs me.

I look to the open page and read it out.

‘Elixir of healing:

Over bubbling water, add

Five drops of mermaid tears

Unicorn hair

The bark of the Willow

Thyme

Incantation:

With these wounds that thee feel,

remove the pain and make thee heal

If unwell, don’t let it dwell,

use this spell to make thee well.’

‘We just need to add the Thyme, Luna. Could you please bring a sprig to the cauldron?’ Ela asks.

‘Sure,’ I say as I walk over to the wall where the various herbal sprigs are tied up in bundles. The smells are pleasant, and I can’t help but smile. Then, taking a sprig of thyme, I pass it to Reaper, who flies over the cauldron and drops it into the bubbling water.

Fern starts stirring it with a wooden ladle.

Let’s recite the chant together, says Ferns.

‘With these wounds that thee feel,

remove the pain and make thee heal

If unwell, don’t let it dwell,

use this spell to make thee well.’ We all say.

The cauldron releases a plume of green smoke.

Fern grins as she says, ‘It’s done, now to bottle it.’ May and I assist in filling the vials with the healing potion and cork-sealing the vials. Ela then prepares the labels, Ria writes on them, and Lilac and I stick them on the vials and carefully position them on a shelf.

‘Perhaps we might concoct an elixir of love, fertility, or strength tomorrow?’ Ela says.

‘I was thinking the elixir of resistance?’ Fern replies.

‘With your snoring, Fern, I thought maybe the elixir of sleep?’ Lilac says.

We all laugh as poor Fern frowns.