Page 37 of The Queen

“I hadn’t planned to announce that without talking to you first, but we need to get you away from here. The incident in the military ward, the missing books, your scent, my rising aggression. Something is going on and it’s no longer safe.” His grip tightened as we rushed down the stairs.

“My hand. You’re holding me too tight.” I tugged to pull it free, but it was like a vise.

He dropped it like a hot pan. “I apologize, love. I’m not feeling like myself.” Through clenched teeth, he added for Shadow’s ears, “We need to hurry.”

By the time we reached the military wing, Lex’s scent was sharp and heavy in my lungs, overpowering everything else. After what happened here earlier, I was on edge. My mate’s presence helped, but they were both acting strange. I didn’t understand why we’d come back this way instead of going to my quarters, either.

The alphas quickened their pace, and Shadow wrapped his arm around my waist. “Don’t worry, little omega. We’ll keep you safe.”

We came to Ghost’s door first. Shadow and Lex’s cabin was just down the corridor, but we stopped. Lex was out of breath and his fists were clenched at his sides. “Open it.” His voice was a harsh, commanding rasp that I wanted to obey.

I no longer had a code that worked on this door. Not many did after the situation with Hazel and Aster, but Shadow did.

Ghost’s door swung open. I flinched. My previous experience with this room gnawed at the back of my mind, and the large bed stared back at me, bringing back that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

It looked different, though. The bedding was entirely changed. Nothing that had been there before remained. And it was entirely empty.

Shadow’s hand was on my lower back, urging me into the room, overriding my trepidations.

“Hey, what are…” Ghost’s question died on his lips as we all piled into his quarters, slamming the door behind us.

Lex rushed past me into the washroom, slamming that door behind him as well.

“We may have a situation.” Shadow answered the incomplete question that was now also on my mind.

“Okay, what sort of situation?” Despite his casual attire of relaxed sweatpants and no shirt, Ghost’s tone shifted, becoming instantly serious. The voice he only used when things were dire.

Returning from the bathroom, face damp and hair dripping, Lex answered, “I’m going into rut.”

Ghost’s already light skin paled a shade more. “What? Why?” He looked around as if the answer was hiding in some dark corner of his room.

Lex struggled to reply, each word an angry snarl. “Valyx was teasing Saphyra at dinner, but that shouldn’t have been enough to trigger this.” He paused, clenching his jaw. “It might be the mate bond pulling, or it could be drugs. It’s hard to know right now. I need you to watch the Queen.”

I only knew about ruts in theory, but he was my mate. He couldn’t be implying what I thought he was implying. “No. You will not leave me out of this. I refuse.”

“It could be dangerous for you.” He growled back at me.

I’d never seen the feral light that sparked in his mossy green eyes, but I liked it. He didn’t scare me. He was mine. There was nothing he could do that I couldn’t handle, except to leave me here with Ghost. Even if we couldn’t seal our bond right now, we were meant for one another.

“It won’t be. I know you. You would never hurt me.” I hoped that was true, because he was like a starving lion, looking at me like I was a bloody piece of meat.

A low growl stirred deep in his throat. Shadow moved to my side, primed to intervene. I held my hand up, warding Shadow off, but he stayed nearby.

My eyes were locked with Lex’s when he moved toward me. His chest heaving with restraint. I knew if I ran, he’d chase me. His volatile instincts riding him too hard to be entirely in control.

“I guess we’re doing this here then,” Ghost said, sprawling back into his chair.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Saphyra

Iwas transfixed by the darkness consuming Lex’s eyes. That ironclad control of his was cracking and falling away as I sank into the deep pools of his pupils. My dress was too hot and heavy, but I was helpless under his watchful gaze to do anything about it.

He took a step forward, shucking his jacket and shirt. I stepped back, but my heel came up against Ghost’s bed. I knew better than to run. Even if I’d wanted to, there was nowhere to go.

From the corner of my eye, I caught the glint of metal, and Shadow moving beside me. I was still trapped under Lex’s intense stare.

The cold shiver of a blade touched my back and the bindings of my dress parted as the slick chill of a knife passed down my spine. Blessed cool air touched my rapidly heating skin a moment before Lex pounced.

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