16. Welcome Home?
Chapter 16
Welcome Home?
Isabella
I sa was grateful to be back as the produce carrier landed at the base of the mountainside planting fields. They’d flown all night and most of the day again, and were finally back. Actually, they still had a hike up the mountain to the hive, but they were home. The farmers from her hive who were tending the alien cauliflower stopped what they were doing and came running to help and welcome them back.
“Thank you.” She nodded to Rego as he picked her up and handed her to Invicta outside the basket. She smiled appreciatively at the legionnaire beta as he set her on the ground.
“It is such a relief to see you have returned safely, my queen,” one of the omega farmers said to her, as they surrounded the landing party.
“It really is a relief to be home.” She took the omega’s hand and pulled him in for a hug.
It truly felt like she’d come home as she watched her hive embrace. She’d only been on this planet and with her hive for four days, so it seemed too soon to be so attached to them, but she was. She felt welcomed, loved, appreciated, and a horde of other sentiments that made her question how she ever managed back home. It was like her heart was blooming, opening up to all the affection. This was her home.
Isa found her six heroes in the crowd. Another litany of thank yous trailed through her mind. She was so grateful they all survived this harrowing journey. She critically eyed them for the millionth time since they emerged from the volcano, assessing how they were doing. Everyone had cleaned off the ash during one of their bathroom breaks. Operar had checked the men, and she helped gently clean their burns. Operar assured her everyone would be fine, including poor Galis. Even with his assurance she still feared some of the chemicals escaped from the weapon along with the volcanic burst. Thankfully, the six heroes appeared to be healing, they weren’t coughing today, and after some rest, their jovial moods were returning. No other surprising symptoms had popped up, either. They were far from perfect, though. Isa cringed as she took in their burns. The dark purple damaged skin had sloughed off, leaving bright purple patches behind. She was assured that was normal, and the men weren’t complaining, but it had to hurt and feel absolutely raw.
“Are you all okay to walk?” Isa fretted as Phara joined her.
“We are.” Phara wrapped his arms around her and plucked her off the ground.
“I am so glad to be back. So glad all of us are.” She leaned her head against Phara’s strong chest as he cradled her close.
“Me, too, my queen. Me, too.” Phara kissed her head and joined the others on the path that led up the mountain.
Bellator
“How are you?” Invicta asked as they led their hive up the path.
“Absurdly happy we were successful, tired, worried there are more weapons, sore, angry and confused by our queen's former hive,” Bellator rattled off the list, keeping his tone low so Queen Isa didn’t hear. She was already devastated enough by all that happened.
Unfortunately, the entire incident couldn’t be swept aside. Protecting his hive and territory was a task by itself. The responsibility grew when his queen arrived, although that was more of a joy. He didn’t have nearly enough time to appreciate that wondrous burden before it ballooned again. Now the duty of protecting his whole planet weighed heavy on his shoulders.
“I understand. Although, I didn’t do as much as you or the other alphas.” Invicta nodded, commiserating with him.
“You protected our queen. You took double shifts flying back so we could rest. And I know you would protect the hive if I didn’t return.” Bellator clapped a hand on Invicta’s shoulder. Among his four legionnaire betas, there was no guarantee Invicta would ascend into the alpha if he died, but there were signs.
“Thank you.” Invicta bowed his head. “I am relieved our queen was able to prolong the weapon’s activation,” the beta whispered with a widening of his eyes.
“I don’t wish to think about it.” Bellator grimaced.
When they sent runners to warn other hives about the Blight weapon, they made sure to warn them not to touch the control panel. They were beyond lucky their queen had emergency access to the weapon’s controls, but she couldn’t be everywhere.
Bellator glanced back at their queen curled up in Phara’s arms. It was a good thing they were almost to the hive, because she had to be exhausted. She stayed awake on the way to the ignivo , resetting the weapon every span, and instead of sleeping on the return ride, she’d worried about them. She was truly a wondrous creature.
“It is stunning how the best and worst thing to happen in my life has happened in the last few rotations,” Bellator ruminated. He’d bonded with his queen, but also learned her hive wanted to kill the Vorto and nearly succeeded.
Invicta’s tongue shot out and tasted the air as his gaze swung toward the trees lining the path. Instinctually Bellator did the same, except the volcanic ash and smoke had dulled his senses. Something was there, that was for certain.
With loud crashing branches and angry whoops, a score of simio came barreling out of the woods, blocking the path in front of them. The hairy bipeds blended into the foliage with their red and yellow fur, so he didn’t see the troop until they were practically on top of them. Recent events had his hive distracted, but Bellator and his legionnaires swiftly recovered. They morphed into their fero anima and surrounded their queen. Phara ducked inside the huddle, protecting Isa with his body.
It’s the Nemus Hive, Bellator quickly realized. These weren’t actual simio . The Nemus Hive dares to invade our territory!
Anger coursed through Bellator. The neighboring hive broke protocol by sending an entire troop of legionnaires into his territory. What’s more, they crept in in their anima form. Bellator snarled as he squared up with the Nemus Hive legionnaire alpha, his counterpart in the neighboring hive.
“So, it’s true. The Tumulus Hive did steal a queen from our territory,” Soleno boomed, his gaze focused on the huddle protecting Queen Isa.
Bellator clenched his jaw. He couldn’t deny the accusation, but the situation wasn’t exactly what Soleno claimed, either.
“The queen’s egg originally landed in our territory,” Bellator pointed out.
“The queen’s egg may have landed in your territory, but it skidded and came to a halt in our territory as the great Inana saw fit,” Soleno countered, having obviously examined the crash site.
“Did you also see that the queen was gravely injured and bleeding? Your hive was not there. Should I have left her to perish?!” Bellator snarled, in no mood to fool with the disgruntled hive. Not today.
“You should have brought her to our hive for healing!” Soleno roared. The other Nemus legionnaires agreed, snarling and bristling.
Unfortunately, Soleno wasn’t wrong. That would have been the proper response. That’s not what happened, though. After one whiff of the sweet perfume their queen exuded, not even the most prudent of males would have been able to think straight. Now, wrong or not, there was no way he’d give up Queen Isa.
I’d die first.
Artifex
“What’s happening? Why are we being attacked by gorillas?” Isa’s frightened voice was muffled with Phara protectively wrapped around her.
After everything they’d been through, their queen didn’t deserve any more stress.
“There has been a misunderstanding. It will be all right,” Phara reassured her then looked worriedly at him.
Artifex surveyed his hive and the Nemus troop. The way everyone was bristling, a fight could break out at any moment. Isa would surely be injured if that happened.
“Stand down!” Artifex bellowed. “You don’t understand how delicate our queen is. She cannot flux.”
“I know how delicate the queens are. We found one of their damaged eggs. The precious queen was—was all broken up inside,” Soleno countered with a tremor, his face twisted with anger and sadness.
The rest of the Nemus legionnaires looked equally traumatized. Sorrow filled Artifex at the news, and he shuddered, recalling Isa unconscious and bloody. This was a terrible tragedy, but at least the Nemus understood the queens were delicate.
“So, you know why we had to urgently help our queen,” Bellator replied.
“We demand you return our queen or we fight,” Soleno growled.
“Oh god!” Isa cried in dismay.
The scent of her fear suddenly filled the air, threatening to make him insane. Artifex’s patience was wearing very thin.
“We have already bonded with our queen,” Phara snapped, not appreciating the Nemus’ threat of violence or the way they were frightening Isa.
“Then it is the Conlatus to prove which is the better hive,” Soleno insisted.
“What is that?” Isa worriedly asked.
Phara and Bellator questioningly looked at him. Artifex scoured his mind. He’d read the term somewhere in the archives. It was something from the old days, before the Blight, but he couldn’t recall what.
“It is a series of competitions to solve disagreements,” Operar told the queen.
That’s it. It was a good thing his beta was able to recall the things he couldn’t.
“Okay,” Isa hesitantly replied.
“Then it is agreed!” Soleno shouted. “We meet at dawn at the neutral zone.”
The Nemus abruptly turned to leave.
“Wait,” Bellator called to them. “Did you receive the message about the Blight weapons? You need to search your territory for them.”
Bellator was right. Instead of this competition they should be making sure no other deadly weapons were in either of their territories.
Soleno paused, glancing back at them. “And spread ourselves thin so you can attack our hive?! No. Show yourselves at dawn or we will war.” The male spun and disappeared into the forest.
Artifex snarled in anger and disgust.
“Do not insult our honor. The warning about the weapons comes from our queen. Don’t impugn her, and do not risk another Blight!” Phara bellowed, but the Nemus had already fled.
They could only pray the Nemus took this threat seriously, despite the conflict between their hives.
Phara
Phara shifted their quiet queen in his arms as they approached the hive.
“What else do you know about the Conlatus ? What kind of competitions?” Artifex asked Operar as the pair walked up ahead.
“I remember that it’s several rounds, but I don’t know what contests or the rules. You might recall, we’ve not had a reason to hold the Conlatus in our lifetime,” Operar huffed in frustration.
“Calm.” Artifex gripped Operar’s shoulder. He cast a nervous glance back at Isa, obviously worried about upsetting their queen again. “We’ll scour the archives,” Artifex assured his beta.
“We’ll all help,” Rego added in a subdued tone.
“I’ll start a list of our best competitors in a variety of contests,” Bellator spoke up.
There was a lot to do to prepare for tomorrow. The future of their hive depended on it. Except, all Phara could focus on was the way Isa still quaked in his arms. Or maybe he was the one shaking with all the adrenaline running through him. This ambush was unprecedented.
“You are safe now. The Nemus Hive is angry with us, not you.” He gave Isa a gentle squeeze. “They were never intent on harming you. They are not a violent people usually. Most of the time we are at peace with them. They are the hive of our queen mother.”
“Okay,” she said acceptingly as she nodded and gave him a wavering smile.
Though she conveyed reassurance, Isa still trembled. After everything they’d been through the last few days, and the way her hive violently cast her out, the Nemus ambush had to be doubly terrifying. Phara hated that their precious queen was being bombarded with one traumatizing thing after another. He had no clue what to do. So he did the only thing he could do, he snuggled her close as they descended into the safety of their hive.
“You should get some rest. We’re going to be busy all evening,” Phara said when they finally reached her chamber.
Isa refused to let him go when he attempted to deposit her in the bed. She cast him a forlorn look as she shook her head.
“I understand. I don’t want to let go of you, either.” He took her to the large table and sat with her on his lap.
“I will bring the pertinent archives here.” Operar rushed off.
The other alphas and betas joined him at the table, concern etched on their faces. Isa wasn’t the only one overwhelmed with fear. If they didn’t succeed tomorrow, they could lose their precious queen. Phara’s chest tightened, the knot in his stomach twisting painfully. In a very short time Isa had become his whole world. Her smiles, her delicate exotic beauty, her conversation, affection, and tender touch. All these things changed his life in a few insignificant rotations of the sun.
I can’t lose her. Phara’s brow furrowed and he clutched Isa tighter. We will not lose tomorrow!
Isabella
As Isa sat in Bellator’s lap, her gaze shifted from Phara, to Rego, Gregis, and Galis, to Operar, Invicta, and back around to Artifex on her left. This should have been a happy homecoming. Instead, everyone was somber as they sat at the table in her giant bedroom studying their archives. They weren’t reading books or computerized tablets, but unusual bundles of knotted cords. The best she could guess is that the different combinations of knots on the strings equated to words. Any other day and she’d be asking a million questions about the fascinating record keeping method, but not today. She couldn’t even focus on what her men were talking about. She almost lost her men to a missile and then a volcano, and now she could lose them to some sort of war game. Were they in any shape to even compete? They hadn’t recovered yet. It was all too much to handle.
Bellator huffed, his finger pausing on the cord he was reading. He stood and carried her to the round bed they all share, then sat on the mattress with her on his lap. She got settled, wrapping her legs around his thick waist.
“Can I get you anything?” he asked, his voice soft and tentative in her mind.
Someone had brought dinner to the room, but she wasn’t the least bit hungry.
Isa shook her head no and simply stared into Bellator’s eyes as he gently cupped and caressed her cheeks with his trembling hands. The look of devastation on her big teddy bear’s face had her eyes burning.
“I’m sorry I failed you,” he rasped. The pain Bellator was feeling seemed to imbed itself in her mind, the way she was able to hear his voice telepathically.
She shook her head in denial. He didn’t fail her.
“I broke the rules when I entered Nemus territory.” Bellator’s brow furrowed.
“But I was hurt,” she countered.
“And I should’ve flown you to their hive, not ours.” His shoulders slumped.
It killed her seeing her big strong man so utterly devastated.
“I should’ve noticed the Nemus were stalking us.” He angrily shook his head.
“Be fair to yourself.” Isa lifted Bellator’s chin, forcing him to look her in the eyes. “We just returned from getting rid of a weapon that carried the Blight. I’m the one who should be sorry and I am sorry, more than you know,” her voice broke as she attempted to reason with him.
Her people were toxic wherever they went. Not only had her people poisoned the Vorto with their chemical weapons, but she probably just started a war between her guys and the neighboring hive. She was just as bad as the rest of her people. She said sorry, but the words sounded hollow. How did someone apologize for the magnitude of this disaster?
“No, my beautiful queen, you bear none of this burden.” Bellator ran his hand through her hair and down her back. “It is my duty to protect. I should have known the Nemus wouldn’t react well. I let myself get distracted.” His other hand trailed down her chest, circling her breast. “Even now, when I should be helping the others, I am distracted.”
Isa’s breath sped up along with her heartbeat. Was her big teddy bear apologizing or saying goodbye? The idea that she might actually have to go live with a strange hive after tomorrow’s competition hit her hard. She’d fallen in love with her big teddy bear, with her whole hive. She’d allowed them into her heart, when she’d always done such a good job holding everyone at bay. Being guarded had been so easy back home with the rampant misogyny. Her hive showed her love wasn’t some fairy tale. But then just as she started to believe, the rug was being yanked out from under her. There was no way she could go live with another hive. After everything she’d been through it would break her.
Except, she wasn’t about to violate their laws and actually start a war. Her people had done enough damage to the Vorto.
Oh god!
Isa had no clue how to process any of this, so she tugged Bellator’s head down and planted her lips on his. She’d wanted to do this since they survived the volcano. As she frantically kissed him, she soaked up the warmth, vanilla scent, and sheer strength of her big sweet teddy bear. He pushed up her wrap skirt and prodded at the entrance to her vagina. Isa didn’t care that she wasn’t exactly ready for the big guy. She needed him while she still had the chance. With a deep moan she sank down on Bellator’s thick cock, arching her hips so her clit grazed against his muscular abdomen.
“Isa,” he groaned into her mouth.
His strong hands clutched her ass, slowing her descent, so she only took him one throbbing inch at a time. She never imagined being stretched this way, feeling so full she might break. But that’s what her beautiful hive did, they filled her in more ways than one.
“I need you, Bellator,” she insisted, desperation threading her voice, needing all of him right now.
With a rumble, Bellator tugged her off his cock. She was disappointed until he flipped her onto her stomach and came down on her back.
“And I need you, my beautiful precious distraction.”
He clapped his hand over her mouth so her cries didn’t distract the others, then slammed his cock into her needy pussy, burying it to the hilt. She strained against him, loving the sweet agony of his possession as he pistoned in and out of her body. Isa orgasmed the instant Bellator slammed home, but the knots on his cock rubbing rapidly over her G-spot had her swiftly peaking again. Isa keened into Bellator’s palm as she detonated, but he didn’t tire, simply kept thrusting, driving her deeper into euphoria. She needed this—this feeling of oneness, since tomorrow it might all change.