Page 53 of The Queen

I wriggled against him in protest. “Why would the Stars have blessed me with so many perfect mates if I wasn’t allowed to keep them? I’m sure that’s just a superstitious myth that Titus heard somewhere. We’ll find proof, and that’ll be that.”

Grey arranged me more comfortably in his arms, keeping my searching fingers at bay. “It might only be a myth here, little one, but it’s a historical fact on Altaira. The story is of our last blooded queen. Generations ago, there was a queen gifted with a Star-blessed mate from each of the bloodlines in our system. The bond broke her, and then it broke all of them. She never birthed a child, so her family appointed an heir. The blood ties to the throne were thin, and the bloodline was severed. They’ve been trying to rebuild it ever since. I believe that’s why the Hive was originally created. It was so long in the past, I hadn’t considered it until Titus brought it up as a concern.”

“But… why would the Stars do something like that?” Sadness crept into my words before I buried my face in his neck, breathing in his light, citrusy scent.

Grey’s hand swept soothing circles over my back, comforting me. “I don’t know. Maybe she was punished for being greedy and bonding them all. Maybe she wasn’t worthy of the gift she was given.”

“But I will be worthy of you—all of you. I need you by my side to heal my planet and my people.” My attention shifted to each one of my mates’ beloved faces. I was serious about doing this, but I was just as serious about needing their help. “I can’t do that if any of you die.”

Grey smoothed my hair back from my face. “I’m feeling much better. You shouldn’t worry.” His wan complexion and the rasp in his voice belied his words.

I noted that he didn’t say he wasn’t going to die, just that I shouldn’t worry. The omission concerned me even more than if he hadn’t said anything at all. “I think you know how dangerous this situation is. You’re being brave for me, but you don’t have to. I’d rather hear the truth.”

Grey lips lifted at the corners in a weak smile. “You’re too smart for your own good. Yes, I’m aware of the danger now.” He groaned and sat up. “My hope was that an incomplete bond could sit idle for a while with only minor discomfort as a side effect. That’s clearly not the case. After a time, it appears to act like a bond that’s been broken or rejected. There’s many reasons bonding is strictly prohibited on the Hive. This is just one more for the list. The risk is too high, and one that I underestimated.”

“Good, so it’s agreed. You complete the bond. Then we hunt down the solution for everyone else.” My fingers shifted the hem of his shirt up over the fastenings at the front of his pants, eager to be closer to my beta mate.

Grey halted my hands’ exploration and held them still. “Really, I’ll be fine for a while longer. You have the coronation tomorrow and much to do. Now is not the time for rash decisions. We don’t know how this will affect the others.”

I looked to my alphas for help, but none were forthcoming. Lex leaned against the wall, stern and impassive, Shadow brooded from the seat he’d stolen, and Ghost watched on with a grim smile. This wasn’t their decision. They’d agreed to wait, but they wouldn’t force Grey to go through with it. Men were so frustrating. I slid away from Grey and flipped over, pressing my face into one of the perfectly placed pillows, and screamed until my lungs burned.

I freed myself of the thick softness that muffled my shout and went on in a calm tone, “I hate this.”

I couldn’t make Grey complete the bond against his will. That wasn’t what I wanted, anyway. My hope was that he’d want this as much as I did, but it seemed that was not the case.

He really didn’t want this. He didn’t want me. There was nothing else I could do.

I exhaled slowly, trying to hold back the sob stuck in my throat.

My mates said this was my choice, but that wasn’t true. It was their decision, too. I just never imagined any of them would decide to say no.

He said no. The tears were coming. My eyes were stinging. Oh no. I took a deep breath and sniffled back the burgeoning tantrum.

This was something I had to get through. “I have one condition.” I paused to gather myself. My eyes drifted to the alphas scattered around the room, then I turned my attention to Grey. “At the first sign of the symptoms worsening, you will finish the bond. I can’t bear the thought of you in danger when I could so easily fix it.” I infused my tone with as much steel as I could muster over the waver, but I wasn’t sure if it had the intended effect.

It was the best I could do.

“Fine. I agree to your terms. Now come here.” He held out his arms for me, and I crawled back into his warmth.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Saphyra

My clothes fell to the floor with a thunk as I kicked them from my newly formed nest. The book I’d found in the closet, my mother’s book, adding weight to the fabric. The noise drew the attention of the others, but I was too busy peeling off Grey’s shirt now that he allowed my questing fingers free rein to notice.

He was clammy with sickness, but I pulled a blanket over us and held him close, naked, skin to skin, and soon he warmed. A purr rattled in my chest as I tangled my legs with his. It wouldn’t have the same effect on him as it did on the alphas, but my instincts demanded it to soothe my unbonded mate.

His lips lingered against my forehead, and the others milled around the room. Ghost working at his bank of computers, Shadow cleaning weapons on the small table in the corner, and Lex leafing through a journal.

My head spun in his direction, realizing the book he had was my mother’s. The one I’d kept in my pocket since I found it in the closet. It wasn’t a secret, not from my mates, but my stomach twisted watching someone else’s hands on it.

Feeling me tense and following the trajectory of my gaze, Grey’s attention turned to the blond alpha. “What are you reading, Lex? It’s certainly got our little mate nervous.”

I worried my lower lip between my teeth, not wanting to say anything. I trusted him with the precious treasure from my past, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned.

“I’m not sure. I saw it on the floor and the cover looked familiar.” He held up the leather-bound book. “This design on the front, I recognize it.”

I sat up, curiosity crackling across my flesh. “You do? Where do you know it from?”

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