Page 115 of The Queen

Her calm demeanor settled me some, but not as much as my mates. They gathered around Grey and me on the floor, cocooning us in their warmth. We stayed out of Melody’s way as she cleaned, stitched, and wrapped the wound.

When she was satisfied with the work, she gave me a stern look. “You all look like shit. You need to rest. Albion and Maddox are taking care of the prisoners. Go get some sleep. You can deal with everything else in the morning.”

Night had fallen over the course of the battle, and a pale moon rose beyond the window. It was late, and our trusted soldiers were supervising the transport of the prisoners to the holding cells. Edeth was long gone, but being watched closely by Elinor and Dani, who were assigned to supervise the prison level. Titus was back, along with the Duke, speaking to the nobles and calming their hysterics. It was a big job figuring out who had ties to Altaira and whose loyalties were questionable, but no one was going anywhere with Jared making sure the city was locked down tonight.

We’d need to keep an eye on Titus. He’d gone through a lot, but he seemed shocked when the truth was presented to him, wanting to only think the best of his wife. But when the reality was laid out, he started connecting the dots and realized what she’d done. I hoped he wanted what was best for the planet and had been led astray. He’d have to be questioned too, but for now, he wasn’t going anywhere.

I was surprised at how efficiently the details were being handled once duties had been delegated and there was nothing left for me to do. My alphas could have stayed to help with the enemy soldiers, but Maddox’s troops had that well underway under the supervision of Albion’s team. So, when Shadow scooped me up off the floor and Lex helped Grey up, I didn’t argue.

We headed to the exit, but before we left, I saw Maddox picking Violet up and carrying her through an open servants’ door. Just as they disappeared, she met my eyes, smiled shyly, and waved, her cheeks pink with some fond emotion. Maybe Lady Baxter would get her way after all.

The corridors were empty—everyone was busy cleaning up or confined to the brig—as we made our way to Ghost’s room. The quiet enveloped me in velvet softness as the door sealed behind us.

Ghost hopped on his workstation and punched in some code I couldn’t follow. “There. No one will bother us until tomorrow.”

Lex helped Grey to the nest, and I rushed over. “Wait.” My cheeks warmed under the coating of blood and dried tears. “I just… one second.” I pushed some pillows around until it felt perfect. “Okay. It’s fixed.”

Shadow leaned his shoulder against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, pretending to look annoyed. But I knew him better than that. There was a slight twist to his lips that I recognized as amusement, even if it was barely noticeable. Ghost was much less subtle with a bloody smile on his face. Smug that I’d adopted his bed to make a nest in, no doubt.

Lex was busy watching over Grey, not turning his attention away until the beta lowered himself gingerly onto the mattress and propped his ankle up on a well-placed pillow. Grey was only a little dusty, having managed to stay out of most of the fighting, only taking a glancing blow from a stray ricochet, according to Melody. But the rest of us were filthy. We all needed a shower.

Ghost had already disappeared into the adjoining bathing room by the time Grey had settled into bed. I grabbed Lex’s soot-stained hand and dragged him over to Shadow, who I steered into the bathroom. “Strip.”

The small space was filled to capacity with the chuckling alphas, but they did as I demanded. There was no way to all fit in the shower, it wasn’t built for that sort of luxury, so after peeling the bloody clothes off myself, I pulled Ghost into the warm running water as the other two waited their turns.

His calloused soapy hands felt like the softest silk as he washed me and our slick skin gilded against one another, but too quickly he was clean and he stepped out, grabbing a towel.

When I started to get out, Shadow moved in front of me, blocking my way. “You aren’t even close to done, little omega.”

The cisterns were full since my return, and the hot water was like heaven on my bare flesh, so I had no intention of arguing with him. His hand fisted around my throat and his lips dropped to mine, licking the warm droplets from my skin. I leaned into his hold. There was something comforting about his strong grip. Being held and controlled, able to let go of responsibility and have someone else take over, if only for a moment.

Lex was done waiting and wedged himself into the tight space behind me. I couldn’t fathom how we all fit, but it was very snug. The heat from their bodies was like a physical thing, rubbing against me, soft as kitten fur. A tiny purr rumbled to life in my chest as they rubbed soap all over me and each other. Slippery hands were everywhere and my heavy lids drifted shut with contentment. I traced dips and valleys blindly, immersing myself in the contrast of hard muscle over the softness of their skin.

Shadow scooped me up and stepped out of the stall, followed by Lex. I blinked my eyes open to find them both descending on me with fluffy towels. Quiet giggles spilled past my lips as I wiggled under their efficient hands. I was dry before I knew it and was being ushered into the bedroom. Grey was laying off to one side of the nest. He was cleaned up and in a pair of soft shorts. Ghost was naked like the animal he was, and nudged his chin, motioning for me to get in.

A weight lifted from my shoulders, seeing them there, content and relaxed. The walls of man meat behind me moved closer, urging me forward, so I slipped into the carefully arranged blankets beside Grey. Shadow and Lex crowded in on my other side. This bed wasn’t made for five, not even close, but I wanted them near me, and the tight fit didn’t bother me at all.

I slung my leg over Grey’s hip and curled up to his side. Shadow wrapped himself around my back, his pulsing length nestled between my thighs, nudging against my slick entrance. Lex was purring somewhere behind Shadow as his arms snaked across the other alpha’s waist to run his hands over my skin. Ghost knelt at the end of the bed and pressed his lips to the curve of my ankle, slowly working his way up. His tongue laved along the inside of my knee and up my thigh, over my hip bone and to my belly.

My breath puffed out in realization. “I’m pregnant.”

That was not how I’d intended to announce it, but it was out now. Were they going to be upset? Did they even want children? I felt the dread of panic seep into my blood as everyone but Shadow froze. All the air in the room evaporated, and every eye fixed on me.

Lex was propped up on an arm, looking down on me from over Shadow’s shoulder. “Say that again.” His voice rumbled with the beginnings of a growl.

I squirmed, afraid of the possible rejection and ignoring the tingles through the bond. “Er… I said that I’m pregnant.”

Lex’s face shifted from his normal serious demeanor to a blinding smile. With no regard for Shadow crammed between us, he leaned over and kissed me, and then he kissed me again, and again. His whole chest vibrated with a deep, resounding purr.

“That’s amazing!” Ghost nipped at my hip bone and peppered kisses all over my belly. “We’re gonna be dads,” he crowed against my skin.

Shadow nibbled the curve of my neck as Lex’s weight pinned him to me. I could hear the huff of his laughter against my ear.

When Lex finally relented, allowing Shadow to breathe, Grey’s soft eyes were trained on my face. “Are you sure?”

I nodded slowly. “I watched them do the test. Do you think we should do it again?”

Shadow placed a kiss over the shimmering red and pewter mark that his bite had left on my neck. “We don’t need to. I can feel the truth of it in the bond.”

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