Page 121 of Alpha Queen
With infinite care, Ares laid her on the bed. Together, the twins tucked the plush comforter around her, creating a warm and secure nest.
"There." Apollo brushed a strand of silver hair from her face. "You can rest properly now."
The twins straightened, preparing to leave. Panic fluttered, unexpected and overwhelming. "Don't go," she pleaded, reaching for them.
"We need to clean up," Apollo explained. "We won't be long."
"Just a quick shower," Ares promised, leaning down to press his lips to hers.
Ares' eyes glinted mischievously as a smirk tugged at his lips. "Or you could join me," he suggested, his voice dropping to that husky register that made her heart race. "I could wash your back... among other things."
"For the love of-" Apollo rolled his eyes, grabbing his brother's shoulder and steering him toward the door. "This is absolutely not the time to be thinking with your downstairs brain."
Ares looked back at River with exaggerated innocence. "What? I'm just being helpful."
"You're being impossible," Apollo countered, continuing to push him into the hallway. "She needs rest, not your particular brand of 'help.'"
"When it comes to River, I can't help myself," Ares protested, allowing himself to be maneuvered through the doorway but throwing her a wink over his shoulder. "It's a medical condition."
"It's called being horny, and our health plan does not cover it," Apollo retorted, his stern expression betrayed by the amusement dancing in his eyes. "Now move. The faster we clean up, the faster we come back to her."
"Fine," Ares conceded as Apollo pushed him fully into the hall. "But for the record, my idea was much more fun."
"Your ideas of fun usually end with broken furniture," Apollo shot back, shaking his head as he closed the door behind them.
River laughed, soft and genuine, bubbled up from somewhere deep inside her, a sensation so foreign after weeks of fear that it felt almost strange. The sound of her mates' bickering faded down the hallway, leaving her wrapped in the cocoon of her massive bed, surrounded by their scents.
For the first time since her ordeal began, genuine happiness warmed her. She was home. She was safe. Her mates were with her, their playful banter a balm to her. They would return soon, and they would hold her through the night, their bodies creating a fortress of warmth and protection around her.
Her eyelids grew heavy again, but this time, sleep beckoned without the accompanying dread that had plagued her for so long. Her hand drifted to her belly, resting over the tiny lives growing within her.
"We're home," she whispered to her unborn children as her eyes drifted closed. "We're finally home."
Sleep claimed her quickly, her body surrendering to exhaustion without resistance. Her last conscious thought was of Apollo and Ares, and how, despite everything they had endured, certain things, like Ares’ incorrigible flirtation and Apollo’s exasperated affection, remained unchanged.
APOLLO
Apollo met Ares in the hallway outside River's room. Before Ares reached for the door handle, Apollo grabbed his arm.
Ares looked at him. "What? You know I was just kidding, right? I wasn't serious about showering with River. I know she's still healing."
"It's not that."
Ares studied him for a moment. "What's wrong?"
Thoughts and feelings rushed to the surface, and Apollo wasn't quite sure how to voice them. "I… I wanted to thank you for stopping me from…"
Ares patted his brother's hand. "You would have done the same."
Apollo shook his head. "If it had been you who had attacked Titan, I wouldn't have stopped you. I would have helped."
The brothers’ shared moment evaporated with River's blood-curdling scream.
The brothers shoved the doors open.
River sat rigid upright. Her silver hair clung to her sweat-drenched face as she thrashed against invisible restraints, eyes wide but unseeing.
"No! Please! Don't-" Her desperate pleas echoed through the darkened bedroom as she fought against shadows only she saw.
