Page 107 of The Queen

“What? How?” I wheezed, squirming in Grey’s embrace.

He finally released me, worry etched on his face. “It’s a bit of a story, but Jared, Robin’s husband, helped build the city. So when I showed up on their doorstep and told them what happened, he knew exactly what to do.”

A dark-haired man at the front of the group bowed low from where he stood just outside the door frame.

Grey took a step back, his gaze raking over me. “Saphyra, have you seen yourself in a mirror recently?”

“No. Why would I have? Not that there’s been time for it.”

Grey glanced at Shadow, who shook his head.

“Are you injured?” He asked, his words slow and careful.

I held up my cut hand. “Just a scratch.”

Grey grabbed my wrist, holding it still so he could study the gash on my palm. “That’s hardly just a scratch. It needs stitches.”

I tugged my arm away. “There isn’t time. Edeth is locking down the city, and we have to find the others.”

“You’re injured and covered in blood. You are the priority. Someone get the queen a chair.”

A scrape of metal on metal chimed from beyond the door just before Jared hurried toward us with a metal stool from the guard station.

He set it down beside me and bowed again. “Your Majesty.”

“Thank you, Jared. I hope your family is well.” I turned my attention to the kind-eyed beta.

Grey guided me to the seat and tugged me down into it. “You’re bleeding all over the floor. You can chat after I’ve seen to your hand.”

I gave Jared an apologetic smile, and he went back to join the group of citizens in the outer room. “That was rude, Grey.”

“Your health comes first, whether you like it or not,” he said as he rummaged through the medical bag he had with him.

A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I knew he was right. The adrenaline crash, exertion, and blood loss had my head spinny. I needed to sit down, or I was going to fall over.

His gentle fingers coaxed my hand open to clean the gash. I caught a sidelong glance at the wound, and my stomach turned over. If I hadn’t already been sitting down, I might have crumpled. This was all a lot to take in, but I had to pull it together. There was a planet to save.

The alphas bowed and wished me well, but left the prison block to secure the level we were on. They took Jared with them to help lock down the entrances and exits. When Grey said that he’d helped build the city, it meant that he’d engineered the mechanical bits of the locking mechanisms in the whole place.

Grey worked efficiently, numbing my palm and using a device to fuse the wound closed. He reinforced the seal with a clear film that would keep the stitches from pulling. Once the blood was gone and the skin was lined back up, I was able to look at it again without feeling sick. It wasn’t pretty, but it was less ugly than before.

“That should be healed in a few days. I’ll watch over it until then,” Grey said as he packed up his medical kit.

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” He always looked out for my best interests, even when I refused to do it myself.

I could feel my mates through the bond in varying degrees of distress and excitement. Lex was exhilarated and far away, but moving steadily closer. Ghost was focused. Grey and Shadow were both worried, no doubt about my safety, but their comforting presence was close by.

Now that my hand was stitched up, Violet approached and bowed. “Your Majesty. I hope I didn’t overstep, but I thought you might need this.” From a fold in her skirt, she produced Verden’s crown. My crown. Aurinium oak leaves sparkled in the artificial light and fat green emeralds winked as if in greeting.

It was a good thing Violet thought ahead because I probably would need that soon. “You didn’t overstep at all. This is perfect.”

“I couldn’t bring a gown without it being noticed, but I’m sure after you’re cleaned up, I can find something appropriate.” She held the crown reverently, but shifted her weight with nervous energy.

“Violet, what’s wrong?” I asked, looking around for the source of her concern. Everyone had left the cell block, filtering out into the guard station and beyond.

She seemed reluctant to come out and say it, but after a moment’s pause, she spit it out. “When Lord Greylan said you were bloody, he didn’t mean just your hand.”

I looked down, noting the blood on my shirt and pants. “Right, I understand. There was an incident.”

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