Page 44 of The Hive

“Is this for us?” I asked, hope saturating my voice.

“It’s all for you, Saphyra. Eat whatever you want. There’s plenty more.”

It didn’t take much encouragement before I was diving in. The plethora of fresh food, not processed bars, was a glorious feast. I completely disregarded my manners, using my hands to feed myself.

Grey chuckled at my enthusiasm as he popped a berry into his mouth. My eyes went to his lips and a flood of warmth rushed over me again. It must be the lingering effects of my heat, but something about him seemed infinitely appealing. Almost enough to pull my attention from the food.

While I stuffed myself full of the sumptuous spread, Grey retrieved a pitcher of cold water and glasses. I noticed he’d also rinsed the blood from his shoulder but left the shallow crescent-shaped wound I had given him uncovered.

The cool water was a welcome relief and I think I may have polished off most of the jug by myself while Grey lounged in the nest. His presence felt so good. I had always had a crush on him, but every moment we shared bound us closer to one another. His company was like a warm ember settling comfortably behind my ribs. Together, our companionable silence felt like all was right in the galaxy.

The door swished open and a shirtless Ghost ambled in wearing a pair of low-slung gray sweatpants. His ocean breeze scent washed over me, making my mouth water for more than the berry I was chewing.

His pale blue eyes lit up as they raked over my naked skin and he grinned. “You’re up,” he said, stating the obvious. “Lex wants to go over the plan, if you’re feeling up to it.”

As if he was noticing Grey for the first time, his attention wandered to the doctor, who was barely covered with just a scrap of silk across his lap as he picked at the food. I doubted it was to do with modesty and more to do with a futile attempt at keeping the nest clean. That made me grin. It was already filthy.

The thunderous expression emerging on Ghost’s face wiped my smile away. “What’s wrong?” I scramble across the nest toward him, where he’d gone completely still.

“What the fuck happened to your neck?” he asked. The strain in his growl was palpable along my skin.

His neck? Oh, his neck. “It was an accide–’’ I started to explain.

“She claimed me as her mate.” There was steel in Grey’s words, unlike anything I had ever heard from him.

“I fucking see that.” His fingers plunged into his snowy white hair. “What the fuck? I thought we agreed to wait and give her time?”

“I’m right here. I didn’t need more time. Why are you deciding things for me?” His tone made me angry, and it was all I could do to keep from shouting. “I didn’t mean to bite him. It just happened. It felt right. It still feels right.”

Grey stood from the nest, a length of bed linen wrapped around his hips. “She’s a grown omega. She can make her own decisions. I expected Lex to be mad, but I’m a little surprised at this from you. You’ve never seemed to mind sharing before.”

“I don’t mind sharing, but she mate marked you. That’s for life,” Ghost said, visibly upset.

A weight settled in my stomach. For life? I hadn’t considered that. My knowledge of mates was limited, but there had to be more to it than a simple bite mark.

“It is for life, or will be when we complete the bond. We agreed to give her time, and I will. When she’s ready, we’ll finalize it. It’ll always be her choice.” Grey stood before the alpha, smaller but no less imposing in his conviction.

Feeling vulnerable in my unclothed state laying in the nest, I wrapped a blanket around me and crawled out. “How do we complete the bond?”

Ghost’s irritated growl echoed in the small chamber, but Grey turned to look at me. “When you’re ready, I will mark you in return. The bond will form and we’ll nurture it until it grows. I can already feel it tugging at my heart, but I can wait. There’s no reason to rush any of this.”

“But, you’re a beta. Can that even work?” I asked, only just beginning to understand what I had done.

“Seems so. Can’t you feel it?” His hopeful gray eyes clung to mine.

I could feel it, like a tiny seed starting to unfurl, like a warm pulse emanating from his direction. “Yeah, I think so.”

“This complicates everything.” Ghost strode to the door, shaking his head. “Get dressed. We need to go over the plan.”

The airlock shut behind him. I hated seeing my cheerful Ghost upset, but it was too late to change it now. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. This felt right, like it had been waiting to happen for an eternity. If anything, I wanted him to complete the bond so I could feel the full effect of our connection.

Grey seemed to know what I was thinking and shook his head. “They’ll get used to it, but best not push them too far. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Chapter Forty-Three

Saphyra

Grey guided me out of the nesting chamber through a door I hadn’t noticed when we arrived, and into a cozy lounge room with a private bathroom adjoining. This entire suite of rooms was arranged perfectly to sustain an omega through her heat. It made me wonder why the Imperatrix would have something like this on her personal ship.

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