Chapter 41

Sasha
The bed dipped under someone’s weight and she snuggled closer to Kalani. Gregory rubbed her back.
“Aja, would you like me to bring you some food?”
“No,” she said weakly. “Please, bring me the king’s food before he eats tho. I do want to check it.”
“I’m sure the king will be fine. It is you that needs to eat. You haven’t done so in two days. You are in no shape to do anything, but take care of yourself and get better.”
“Greg, please. Just because I am mad at him, doesn’t mean that I won’t try to make sure he is safe.”
“Sasha, I’m serious, you need to take care of yourself so that you can take care of what you think you have to be responsible for.”
“Bring me his food.”
“No!”
Sasha sighed before standing up.
“Aja-”
He had to catch her when her legs buckled. She looked up at him helplessly.
“Please, Greg.”
His arm moved over her stomach, before growling.
“Fine! But then I am taking you straight to the doctor. You have something hard in your stomach.”
“No, doctors,” she whispered.
“Aja, maybe you should go. What if you have a tumor? You could be dying. Something is really wrong. Two days ago, you were fine.”
“Two days ago, I was an emotional mess. This is probably just because I was so upset.”
He felt her stomach again and she groaned in pain. “That does not feel like an emotional problem, sister.”
She tried to shove his hands off of her. “Take me to the dining hall.”
He sighed. “Just so you know, I am totally against this.”
He scooped her up and took her to the dining hall. Aiden narrowed his eyes on his best friend when he entered, carrying her. Sasha gestured for him to put her down and he complied, keeping a hold on her while Kalani trailed behind them. Sasha took a step and would have hit the ground if it wasn’t for Gregory’s arm around her waist. Everybody watched her struggle to walk down the aisle between the tables. Aiden rushed her to her side and took her from Gregory.
“Sasha, what’s wrong with you?”
“I just wanted to check your food…”
He tucked her face into his neck. “Have you eaten?”
“Yes.”
Gregory frowned at her. “No, she hasn’t.”
Aiden walked back to his chair with her in his arms. He lifted a piece of toast to her mouth. Bile rose in her throat and she gagged. He pulled it away, frowning at her.
“Baby, you need to go to the doctor.”
“No doctors!”
She lifted his plate to her nose and inhaled deeply. She swallowed back vomit, sniffing his food again, before putting it down. She struggled to stand up. Aiden stood with her and guided her towards the door.
“Baby, we have to do the rechoosing ceremony early today. I have been called away by King Lukas. He is very interested in our new breeder program.”
She bent down gagging and vomited all over the floor. “Go. Leave me alone. I’m just a cheater, remember?” She looked up at Gregory. “Can you take me back to bed? I’m so tired.”
He picked her up.
“Sorry, Sire.”
Sasha looked at Aiden. “I will see you at the ceremony.”
“Sasha-”
She wrapped an arm around Gregory’s neck, nuzzling into his chest. “Please, leave me alone, Your Majesty. Greg, please.”
“Sire-”
“Go. Make sure you get the doctor to see her today.”
“No doctors,” she murmured, falling asleep in his arms.

“Aja, sweetheart, it’s time to wake up.”
She moaned and slowly turned over to look at Kalani. She continued to gently stroke Sasha’s hair.
“It’s time for the rechoosing ceremony.”
She closed her eyes. “I don’t know if I can go. My body is so tired.”
“Please, let us have the doctor check you out.”
“No! No doctors.”
“Aja, please.”
“I said no!”
Gregory sat on the bed and rubbed her back. “Annie is right, Sasha. You can’t keep going like this. You will die and it’ll be way faster than you need to.”
She shook her head trying to clear the feeling of another presence. She closed her eyes and whimpered when her mind expanded. She grasped her head and began to rock. Tears poured from her eyes and she tried to massage her temples in an attempt to ease the jack hammering. Her mind snapped back into shape and she opened her eyes.
“She said no, doctors.”
Gregory’s eyes searched her face, lingering on her black eyes. “Who are you?”
Sasha smiled widely and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She stood up and stretched. She glanced over her shoulder at Kalani’s shocked face. She raised an eyebrow.
“I believe we have a ceremony to get to.”
Sasha tied her hair back and walked confidently out of the room. She strolled into the ceremony hall and Aiden’s attention immediately riveted to her. She smiled at him as she walked over. She moved around him in a circle, taking in every ounce of his body. She stopped in front of him, smirking with her head tilted.
“So, you are our mate. I do have to say you are very attractive.”
Aiden eyed her curiously. “Sasha?”
His eyes flickered between silver and black, before sliding fully into black. “Irina, we finally meet.”
“You know me?”
“Not yet, but Sasha mentions you in her sleep, sometimes.”
She laughed. “I don’t know how. I haven’t officially even met her.”
Mikhail pulled her against him and breathed in her scent. “My human is right. You smell different. Is that because of you?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“I am not entirely sure, but I can guarantee you it’s not because my human is cheating.”
He nuzzled into her throat and purred slightly. “My human is more upset about it. He doesn’t stop to get a good smell of it. It’s relaxing and makes me want to be closer to you, but he is foolish.”
She pulled back to look up at him.
“Your human has upset mine very much,” she accused.
He rubbed against her. “I know. I am sorry. He is foolish. He loves her very much and can’t stand the thought of another touching her.”
Someone cleared their throat behind them. “Your Majesty, we need to get on with the ceremony and you need to take to the skies, if you are to be on time,” Jackson reminded him.
Mikhail growled and Jackson cowered. He looked down at Sasha’s body currently in the control of her animal.
“What are you?”
She blinked up at him in confusion. “I am not sure.”
He pulled her close again. “Can you shift?”
“I am not strong enough yet,” she admitted sadly.
Mikhail kissed her forehead. “My human is trying to figure it out for you.”
“We know.”
He walked her to the center of the room with his arm still around Sasha. Jackson handed him a bag. He shook it as he addressed the small group of people.
“Malcolm is still in a coma. Whoever doesn’t get chosen will be his partner for the week. Gregory.”
He held the bag out and his best friend pulled a paper out. He took a deep breath before unfolding it. He looked down at it and his body relaxed.
“Kalani.”
She squealed as he held up the paper. Her name was clearly written on it. She squealed again and ran over to him. She jumped into his arms and he spun her around in a circle. His hand went under her hair to grip her neck, before he kissed her deeply.
“It’s about time!,” he shouted triumphantly.
He carried her back to the line. Mikhail shook the bag up again.
“Shaun.”
He hurried to the king and drew a name. “Sherri.”
He wrapped his arm around her. All eyes went back to Mikhail who stuck his hand in and moved it around. He pulled a paper out and held it enclosed in his tight fist. He turned to Irina.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” he whispered.
She cupped his hand and lifted it to press a kiss to it. She began to unfurl his fingers and took the paper. She unfolded it, smoothing the crease. She looked down before smiling up at him. She held up the paper for everyone to see. *Sasha*. He picked her up, grinning.
“When I get back from this meeting, I will come to you and we will knock my stupid human in the head.”
She giggled and pecked his lips. “Hurry back to me, my king.”
He kissed her deeply. “Keep your human safe until I do. She hasn’t been feeling good the past few days.”
She tilted her head. “I know. She is asleep right now.”
“Do you know what is wrong with her?”
She nodded and patted his cheek. “You will see when you get back. It’s going to happen soon. Make sure to keep your human in line. I will not hesitate to kill him for hurting mine.”
Mikhail frowned. “He doesn’t mean to.”
“But yet he does it. Now, I need to rest to be ready for what’s coming.” She looked at Gregory. “I will be in the king’s bed. You are to take the adjoining room,” she said as she headed to the door. She glanced over her shoulder at Makhail. “Hurry home, okay? I have a bad feeling and I want you here when Malcolm wakes up.”