Page 52 of The Queen

I saw the pain flash across his face. This couldn’t be easy for him, but he never dreamed he’d have a mate of his own. He’d resigned himself to that possibility a long time ago.

“What? No!” Ax looked between us, shock plastered all over his alabaster face. “You two have each other. Saphyra will be with Grey. I’ll be the one that’s left alone. I don’t want to give up on this. We just started. How can you just walk away?” Having made his point, he took up pacing the same path Saphyra had.

I kissed the back of my omega’s knuckles before I stood and intercepted Axion. “Listen to me. We aren’t walking away. We are buying Grey time. He needs his strength. I will never give up on any of this. Never.”

Ax’s wide shoulders deflated. The only sound in the room for a long while was his breathing.

“Okay.”

The tension stealing my muscles leached away. “We will find a way. This isn’t over.” I wrapped him up in a quick bear hug that left him groaning.

“My ribs… fuck, man.” Axion’s complaint broke the seriousness of the moment.

A smile even tugged at Valyx’s lips. We were in this together for better or worse.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Saphyra

Aweight lifted from my chest when, one by one, they each agreed. This choice couldn’t have been easy for them, Lex especially, but I was grateful that we’d been able to work through it. I didn’t want to do this without their support, but I might have. If that’s what it took to save Grey. It had to be done. I couldn’t watch him waste away, weakened as he was. That was not an option I was willing to accept.

“Thank you. I know I’m asking a lot.”

Gruff grumbles and nods of assent followed my statement. We were in agreement about this, at least. Now we had to convince Grey, assuming the medicine Melody had given him started to work soon.

But… something was wrong with the bed.

I studied it for a moment. It didn’t feel right. That pillow was turned sideways, and the fluffy blanket wasn’t smooth enough. Could no one else tell? It needed to be perfect for Grey when he woke up.

Ghost stepped past Lex, who was watching me with a strange expression on his face, to see what I was doing. “Are you…? No, never mind, don’t answer that. Keep doing what you’re doing,” he chuckled, a look of fondness in his pale blue eyes. “Is there anything you want? Anything missing?”

I only half heard him as I arranged more blankets around the edge of the mattress, but now that he mentioned it, yes, there was something else that I needed.

“Can you get the pillows from Shadow’s room? I need them.” It felt good to ask for what I wanted. I couldn’t have done that on the Hive. They’d have punished me for even questioning it. We were allocated specific things for our well-being, but nothing so frivolous as cushions, even if they smelled divine.

“I’ll go,” Shadow volunteered.

My eyes snapped up to his. Memories of the hall filled with raging alphas overwhelmed me with concern. “I don’t think it’s safe to wander alone right now. Take Lex with you.”

“That’s a good idea. We’ll be back soon,” Lex said with a subtle smirk, and headed for the exit.

I fussed with the blankets but kept watch from the corner of my eye while Ghost tracked my other mates on the cameras as they walked down the passageway. The extra guards stayed by our door, watching over me. I was safe, but they were vulnerable to whatever threat was working against us.

All was quiet in the halls, and I soon lost track of time, reveling in the softness and scents of bundled fabric and fluffy cushions, until it felt right. The requested pillows were delivered while I was engrossed in my task and immediately tucked in with the others. When I looked up, it was to find the fond, silver gaze of Grey following my every movement.

Heat rose to my cheeks, but I didn’t have time to be embarrassed because those beloved eyes were open and resting on me. I flung myself across the bed and into his arms.

He grunted as my weight settled against him, but he recovered quickly with a rueful smile. “You’re nesting.”

“I am?” It seemed like I was. “Yes, I am. But you’re awake. How do you feel? Are you okay?” I snuggled up against him, pressing kisses to his neck above the bandage. Even if I could stop my overt display, I didn’t want to. Any distance between us was too far right now. It was too far for any of my mates who had returned from their errand and were lounging in various positions around the room. I had to keep them closer, but right now, I needed to take care of Grey.

A hollow cough punctuated his rolling chuckle, vibrating against my chest where it was pressed against his. “I’ve been better. Can someone tell me what happened?”

Seeing that I was busy peppering fervent kisses to Grey’s face, Lex quickly summarized the events that took place following the meeting. When he got to the part where we agreed to complete the bond, Grey cut into the conversation.

“Stop. I didn’t agree to this, and I won’t be the reason that Saphyra doesn’t have a bonded alpha mate. I’m only a beta. It’s completely inappropriate. She’s the queen.”

I tugged at the hem of his shirt, anticipating contact with his naked skin, but he placed his hands over mine, halting my progress.

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