Page 28 of The Queen

“But you were hurt. There was a big gash.”

Grey continued cleaning the blood away, revealing more smooth, perfect skin. “Alphas heal fast, Saphyra. I know you don’t have much experience with that, but it’s one of the reasons they are ideal for military use.”

“You shouldn’t talk about them like they’re objects, Grey,” I admonished.

“That’s very true. I’m sorry, Valyx.” He apologized to Shadow. “The Imperatrix views alphas as mindless weapons. That’s the culture I was raised in, but it’s not accurate. They are very dangerous, yes. But alphas feel things just like everyone else, maybe even more so. It only makes what Altaira is doing that much worse and what we are doing that much more important.” He paused to examine Shadow again. “You look fine. How do you feel? Any soreness?”

“Do I have to keep saying I’m fine? Or…” He trailed off.

“This is my fault. I didn’t know just how fast you’d recover. I’m sorry for making a fuss,” I said.

I was surprised when Shadow tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s possible that I don’t mind you fussing over me from time to time, little omega.”

My little omega heart warmed hearing big bad Shadow being a bit of a softy. I leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lower lip where the split had been not so very long ago. “I’m glad. I don’t know if I can stop.”

Grey came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and dropping a kiss below my ear. “I also don’t mind you making a fuss if it means I get to see you.” His lips lingered near my neck, and I could feel his warm breath fanning over my skin. Then he was gone so fast I wondered if I’d imagined it.

“You should go, though. I have work to do.” Grey was holding open the office door.

My brows pulled together in confusion, but Shadow’s arm slipped around my waist and guided me out the door. It clanged shut behind us without a word of parting.

What in the Stars was that about?

Chapter Eighteen

Greylan

Isank to my knees, head in my hands on the cold floor, thankful that Valyx understood my difficulty and took her away. I wanted to bite her, to bond her. The instinct I denied having was riding me hard. The desperate longing to complete our connection. It was a physical thing, thrashing inside me, struggling to get out. I didn’t know how much more of this gnawing hunger I could take.

Nausea rolled in my gut, and I launched myself at the trash receptacle, breakfast spewing forth like I wish this feeling would. Panting, I leaned over the metal can, head hanging, cold sweat dripping into my eyes as I sucked in a breath. Her honeyed perfume was still saturating the normally sterile air, more potent than the foul odor of bile and half-digested food. Betas weren’t usually so sensitive to smells, but maybe I was, because it was her.

The serum I’d been working on nagged at me from the top of the stainless-steel counter. It wasn’t ready for testing, let alone use. It might never be ready, but I was at a loss for other options. The idea behind the injection was a spin on the hormone inhibitors used in heat suppressants. The hope was that it would repress my body’s bonding instinct. Something had to.

Space was the only thing that reduced the pull, but that also made me sicker. Did I continue to keep my distance and waste away, or did I stay close and endure the painful clawing I felt when she was near? The irrational need was rapidly turning into a physical ailment.

The half-formed bond ate at me, and every possibility turned into a dead end. I continued to wonder if bond sickness could kill a person. I didn’t want to find out.

The others were looking for solutions, but not making any forward progress. The small cache of books Lex recalled mentioning bonds were missing, and I knew the risks of bonding multiple mates. It wasn’t something I could allow Saphyra to do without more information. It could kill her, and that was unacceptable. Something had to give, or I didn’t know what would happen to me. The one thing I was sure of was that I would die before I let my issues endanger Saphyra.

My legs shook as I maneuvered alongside the crisp, white exam table, using it to steady myself. With some effort, I made it to the comms unit and connected to Axion. “Come to my office as soon as you’re free. There’s been a development.” I worked hard to cover the quaver in my voice, but I must not have done a very good job of it.

“Are you okay, Grey? You don’t sound okay. Should I call—“

“No.“ I cut him off. “No, I’m all right. Just, whenever you have time, I’d like to talk.”

“I’m on my way. You in your clinic? Yeah, never mind, I see you. Two minutes.”

That meant he was taking the lift and wasting costly energy. I told him it wasn’t an emergency, but he seemed disinclined to believe me. I hated myself for my weakness. If I was stronger—if I were an alpha—I’d be able to endure this burden.

Knowing he’d be here soon, I cleaned up my appearance the best I could. But there was no helping my sallow skin and sunken eyes. My failing health was becoming harder to hide.

He knocked, but didn’t wait for an answer before letting himself in.

His eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flared. “Was Saphyra here?”

Strange he would comment on that first, of all things, but maybe her perfume lingered.

“She left with Valyx, just before I commed you.”

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