19. Life is Changing
Chapter 19
Life is Changing
Isabella
I sa contentedly watched Bellator as he slept peacefully in their bed.
Artifex climbed back into bed and waded past the triplets still fast asleep. “You’re going to wake him staring so intensely,” he whispered, while offering her a drink.
She shook her head no to the drink.
“And I’m starting to get a little jealous.” Phara kissed her shoulder and snuggled up against her back.
“Hush.” Isa chuckled at her alphas.
It had been a month since she learned what it meant to be a queen among the Vorto. Phara wasted no time bringing her home. Her hive flew her straight to the mountain and they arrived in time to see Bellator in the middle of treatment. The refectio was like some sort of miraculous laser, but it still took three days for her teddy bear to recover completely. Three stress filled days! It was a privilege to be there when he opened his eyes, and it was something she never wanted to miss. Bellator had survived. They all survived!
Isa shook her head at how oblivious she’d been. If she’d only asked more questions, stood up and voiced what she wanted, the whole Conlatus could have been averted. Back on Earth, she’d been one of the bold ones who questioned her ‘place,’ so her people tried even harder to shove her into the little niche ‘where she belonged.’ She was used to that treatment. What was even worse, she expected that treatment. She never imagined the Vorto would listen to her, or value what she wanted and said. Perhaps on the surface she understood, but not deep down. It was a staggering lesson to learn.
She was learning new things every day. To be fair, she’d only been on Tellus a month, so she still had a lifetime of learning laid out in front of her. Some days the lessons were small, like new yummy or gag-inducing foods. Other days there were major lessons, like learning you are married to a whole hive and have the power to halt a war. Thankfully, there hadn’t been any more of those particular lessons since the Conlatus .
“I am awake,” Bellator chuckled as his eyes slid open. “Artifex is right. I do know when you’re staring,” he teased her.
“Aw. I didn’t mean to wake you. Sorry.” Isa frowned.
“Don’t be.” Bellator grabbed her, pulled her close, and burrowed his face into her neck. “I love waking up to the whispers of how cute I am and how much you love me.”
“I didn’t realize I was projecting.” She grinned sheepishly, but wouldn’t deny the things that went through her mind as she watched him sleep.
“I love it and I love you.” Bellator kissed her neck.
“I love you, too,” Phara chimed in.
“Agreed. All the love!” Artifex added.
Isa giggled as the triplets also shouted out their love. Her men were both silly and serious as they declared their love. This profession of affection ad nauseum had become a habit ever since the day at the volcano. It was a good thing the rest of the hive wasn’t in her bedroom or this could go on for several minutes—and she wouldn’t have minded in the least.
Her heart swelled to bursting. That day she boarded the Manifest she thought her life was over. That wasn’t the case at all. Here she was truly living. She was showered with infinitely more love than she would have experienced on Earth. It was more than she could have ever imagined.
Isa leaned forward and kissed Bellator, pouring all of her affection into the kiss. She moaned, loving the vanilla taste as Bellator’s tongue explored her mouth. The moan turned into a gasp when Phara’s cock slowly slid into her pussy from behind as he kissed her shoulder. She reveled in being sandwiched between the two strong alphas.
“I do love waking up to this.” Artifex reached in and started toying with one of her nipples.
She grinned as she continued kissing Bellator. She, too, was enjoying their morning routine, which was often their afternoon and evening routine.
“Ah yes,” Phara groaned as he finished burying himself to the hilt.
Bellator grabbed her leg and positioned it over his hip. Her eyes widened when she felt his cock also shove at the mouth of her pussy.
“Oh god,” Isa panted as the opening of her vagina began to stretch.
In the last month, she’d been fucked in every position possible, including double penetration with one in her ass and one in her pussy. All of which would’ve landed her in jail on Earth. But never had her alphas attempted to cram two cocks in her vagina at once.
“You might be overly ambitious,” Rego said, sitting at their feet with a good view of her lady bits and both of the alphas attempting to impale her.
Phara groaned in agreement, also feeling the mounting pressure.
“I’ve got the oil.” Gregis appeared holding the bottle, which he proceeded to pour out.
“Oh,” Isa gasped when the cool oil spilled onto her pussy.
“Oh yes,” Bellator growled hungrily. Her sweet teddy bear then gave her an uncharacteristic rakish grin as he pressed forward.
She gasped as the head of his cock slid past the straining rim of her vagina.
“Flux, Bellator, you’re killing me,” Phara groaned.
“Killing you?!” Isa let out a plaintive moan.
The pressure continued mounting as Bellator slowly worked his way into her. It was sweet agony feeling his ridges slide against nerve endings on the top of her channel, while Phara pressed harder against the bottom half. The only consolation was knowing the two alphas were being equally tortured. Bellator’s jaw was clenched, clearly trying to maintain control.
“I think this will help.” Artifex wedged his hand between her and Bellator, and zeroed in on her clit.
Her narrow gaze shot to Artifex. He knew exactly how to tip her over the edge. He was rotten. He was clearly also corrupting Bellator. Artifex ignored her look and started rolling her slick swollen bead.
“Fuck,” she groaned, arching between Phara and Bellator as pleasure ricocheted through her.
Her quaking pussy spasmed hard, gushing more desire. Both alphas growled, their engorged cocks jerking inside her.
“I have to move,” Phara insisted.
Phara began to pull his cock out and Bellator pressed in. The knots and ridges on their cocks slid and shoved against every nerve ending in her channel, while stretching her open, since Phara didn’t pull completely out. Then Phara thrust and Bellator retreated.
Isa tossed her head back against Phara’s chest, a guttural groan bursting out as the orgasm ripped through her. Her pussy convulsed around both men who were panting and growling as they fucked her in tandem. The constant barrage on her G-spot, the spot on her cervix, and at the far recesses of her vagina sent her spiraling deeper. It was terrible and wonderous the way they filled her to the breaking point. Then Artifex pinched her clit and she shattered into a million pieces.
Artifex
“I hope you guys aren’t starving.” Their queen grimaced as they entered the dining commons.
“I hope you aren’t starving.” Artifex wrapped his arms around her breasts and her belly, giving her a squeeze before scooping her into his arms.
Their morning bonding sessions often meant they missed the first meal, and now it was midday. But he’d yet to truly miss the meal or regret the change in their schedule.
“I am hardly starving.” Isa grimaced as she poked her belly. “I’ve definitely been eating. I think I’m pudgier than before.”
“Gorgeous,” Phara corrected as he grabbed and kissed her finger.
“Aye,” Bellator agreed as he led the way down the steps of the commons.
“Thanks.” She smiled, then changed the subject by greeting the Vorto seated nearby who were also here for midday meal.
It pained Artifex that Isa still had doubts about how stunning she was. Her curves were feminine, the exact opposite of everyone he’d been around his whole life, and they were wonderful to squeeze and thrust against. Artifex gave Isa another squeeze as he reluctantly set her on the chaise at the bottom of the dining commons.
“I hope you are hungry,” he said, after Isa finished waving to the other members of their hive.
“I am.” She nodded.
“Good.” Artifex gestured to Operar.
Operar eagerly ran over with a platter.
“Oh no. I do not want any more fish balls.” Isa pointed at the brown spheres on the plate, thinking they were raphanus .
“No. That’s not what these are,” Operar chuckled. “We’ve been working on a new recipe.”
“Oh. Can I try?” Bellator reached for one of the morsels.
“Of course.” Operar extended the platter.
“Okay. I’m game.” Isa took one along with Bellator.
Artifex held his breath as their queen put the sphere in her mouth. He’d been working with Operar to create this treat ever since the raphanus debacle.
“Oh!” Queen Isa’s eyes widened as she chewed. “It’s like a salted caramel truffle,” she moaned.
Her moan was very close to the one she made when they had sex. That had to mean she approved. His shaft jerked in agreement.
“So, you like it?” Operar asked.
“She does,” Galis answered for her, also recognizing the moan. “A lot!”
Isa snorted, covering her mouth to keep the treat in.
Artifex grinned, loving her reaction. “We attempted to make the thing you call a bonbon. I wanted to commemorate the raphanus incident,” he couldn’t help but add.
“Oh my god,” Isa laughed harder behind her hand. She swallowed. “You’re rotten, but it is wonderful. Quick, give me healthy food before I eat the whole platter of sweets.” She grinned.
Operar grinned back, pleased beyond words.
“Wonderful!” Artifex beamed. The success with the bonbon was better than he expected.
Midday meal was served and they all proceeded to eat. Artifex laughed when he caught their queen sneaking one of the bonbons.
“Hush.” She nudged him with a happy laugh.
I am definitely going to make more sweets , he decided, adoring her delighted smile and the happy, sexy sounds she made as she ate them.
Bellator
While they were eating, Proel, one of the legionnaire gammas, raced into the dining commons, when he was supposed to be out on patrol.
“I just escorted one of the Nemus betas here,” Proel announced from the top of the steps.
That instantly had Bellator’s attention. “What do they want?!” He leapt to his feet.
Had the Nemus returned to try and take their queen again? The archives were very clear. Once a queen decided the outcome of the Conlatus , her decision was to be respected. He hadn’t been on the field when Queen Isa made her decision, but the Nemus must have felt the loss very deeply. Even though he respected the Nemus’ persistence, there was no way he would stand for this show of disrespect toward their queen. And next time he went up against Soleno, he’d be prepared to play dirty the way the other legionnaire alpha had.
“There is just one of them, Hasta, and he didn’t say. He just stated that he needed to speak to our queen,” Proel relayed.
Hearing there was just one of them made Bellator relax, though he was still suspicious. Before the Conlatus , such a visitor wouldn’t have been an issue. Life was changing, though. His gaze turned to their queen to ask her thoughts, but Isa’s thoughts were as plain as the anxious expression on her face.
“Is it acceptable to you to let Hasta in?” Bellator asked her.
“Yes.” She nodded. “We need to hear what he has to say.”
Proel took off, heading back toward the entrance of the hive to fetch the male.
Isa turned to him. “What do you think he wants?” She nibbled her lip.
“Whatever it is, you are safe.” Phara rubbed her back.
No one ate as they waited for Proel to return with Hasta. The moment the yellow and red male entered the commons, Isa smiled and stood. It was one of the smiles she made when she was being polite, and not entirely genuine.
“Welcome, Hasta. Can I offer you a drink or a bite to eat?” Queen Isa kindly beckoned the Nemus male to come down the steps.
“Thank you, Queen of the Tumulus Hive.” Hasta bowed before descending the steps.
The way Hasta referred to Isa appropriately, honoring her true hive, made Bellator relax a bit.
Operar gave the male a drink as he reached the dais where their queen sat. Hasta took the cup and nodded his thanks.
“I don’t mean to rush you, but you didn’t find another Blight weapon, did you?” Isa wrung her hands.
Bellator’s eyes widened. That hadn’t even occurred to him. His worry had been for Isa. No other Blight weapons had been found in their territory, and they’d sent runners to spread the information about the missiles. In the span of a lunar, he’d relaxed and let the problem drift to the back of his mind. Except that didn’t mean it was no longer a problem. Instantly the nasty dilemma came barreling to the forefront as he looked expectantly at the messenger.
Hasta sputtered and choked on his water. “No! Thank Inana!” He wiped his mouth.
“Oh good,” Artifex declared.
“Thank God!” Isa sank back in the chaise.
The relieved sigh from all the Vorto echoed in the cavernous commons.
“Our new queen wishes to meet you,” Hasta quickly relayed, before they could conjure any other terrible news.
“You have a queen?!” Queen Isa eagerly sat forward on the chaise. She wasn’t the only one pleased by the news. “Who?”
“Queen Elizabeth.” Hasta grinned.
Bellator recognized the enamored expression on the male’s face. He’d possessed that same expression on many occasions. The Nemus Hive truly had found their queen.
“Congratulations!” he declared and was echoed by the hive.
Now he could relax, or at least stop worrying about the Nemus stealing his queen.
“Shy Elizabeth. I would love to see her! Tell her yes. Ooh, Artifex, Operar, can we send her some of the bonbons you made?” Isa excitedly asked, happily clapping her hands.
“Anything you wish, my queen.” Artifex nodded.
Bellator grinned. Isa worried about what happened to the other queens, her friends. It was good to hear one of them survived. Hopefully they’d hear about the others soon, too. He’d worried about relations with the Nemus hive, but the friendship between the queens would mend any lingering enmity between their hives. Happiness swelled inside Bellator along with the love he felt for his queen. Life really was changing.
Phara
The jovial mood returned to the dining commons with the Nemus messenger’s great news. Phara’s cheeks hurt, he was smiling so hard as he watched Isa arrange the meeting with Elizabeth. Isa was vibrating with excitement. It was wonderful seeing how happy she was.
“This makes me glad.” Phara rubbed Isa’s back after Hasta left.
“Me, too.” Isa emphatically nodded. “Ohh.” She grimaced, despite all the joy she professed to be feeling. “I may have eaten too many bonbons.” Isa rubbed her belly as she shifted uncomfortably on the chaise.
Phara straightened abruptly, his eyes widening. “I smell blood!”
“Blood?!” Artifex said in alarm.
“It’s Queen Isa’s blood.” Bellator instantly recognized the scent, horror transforming his face.
“Where are you bleeding?” Phara started to panic, testing the air around her to pinpoint where she was hurt, since he couldn’t see any injuries to her delicate skin.
“Oh!” Isa’s eyes widened as she looked down at her tummy. “Stomach cramps and blood. Well, it was bound to happen eventually after my body reset from being in stasis for so long.” She nodded.
Their queen didn’t look the least bit concerned that she was bleeding for some reason, which added to Phara’s distress. That was a symptom of someone who was truly unwell.
“What was bound to happen?” Artifex demanded, worry twisting his expression.
“It’s just my period. Galis, cut it out!” She swatted the beta’s tongue away as Galis tasted the air near her stomach. “I need to go to the cascade. I’ll need some disposable rags and probably a new skirt.”
“You’re bleeding beneath your skirt?!” Phara gaped in horror at his queen.
“You two did this to her.” Artifex pointed accusingly at Phara and Bellator. “You both had to cram your shafts into her tiny body!”
Dismay overwhelmed Phara at the suggestion. Was this his fault?
“No!” Isa shook her head. “It’s part of being a woman, at least a human woman. I’ll get my period and bleed every month and it’s perfectly normal,” she assured them as she got off the chaise. “Ooh.” Isa paused and cringed, gripping her stomach again. “That’s new.” She instantly sat back down. “I was lucky. My periods were never too bad, but it feels like they’re making up for lost time.” Her brow furrowed as she rubbed her belly.
“I cannot comprehend how bleeding from your channel is normal.” Bellator shook his head in disagreement.
“Women; we’re a steep learning curve,” Isa snorted then her eyes widened. “I shouldn’t have laughed.”
“Why?” Phara asked, his eyes growing even wider.
“There was just a rush. I’m leaking. I never have a heavy let down like this.” She frowned.
“Oh. There’s blood on the chaise.” Gregis pointed to the wet smear beside her thigh.
“I’m so sorry.” Isa’s cheeks reddened in embarrassment at making a mess, but that was farthest from anyone’s mind. They were all worried about her.
“Isa, let me see.” Artifex nudged her knee.
“This is beyond mortifying.” Isa lay back on the chaise and let Artifex lift her skirt.
Phara took one of her knees while Bellator took the other and spread her legs. His mouth dropped open in shock as he stared at their queen’s sex. He wasn’t the only one. Artifex and Bellator were also struck dumb.
“Okay, great, I finally managed to break you.” Isa grimaced. “I promise periods are normal.”
Isa’s channel spasmed again and what looked like an amnio sac slid the rest of the way out of her body. At least it looked like an amnio sac, though it was different from any of the ones hanging in the chrysalis chamber.
“Oh, wait a minute. That is not normal,” Queen Isa amended as she spotted the amnio sac. “Why is there a writhing ball of goo between my legs?” Panic laced her voice.
They all froze and stared in awe as the ball uncurled and stretched. A tiny hand pushed its way out of the amniotic sac followed by a foot. As unbelievable as it was to process, Queen Isa just bore a hatchling.
I must be dreaming. I have a hatchling! Phara’s world expanded, the impossible becoming possible for a second time.
Isabella
“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Isa cried as she realized what she was looking at.
Her alphas were utterly stunned, and she was the first to react, swiftly scooping up her infant. There was no umbilical cord, just the amniotic sac. It was strange, but so was gestating a baby in a month. Isa cleared the membrane from her baby’s precious little mouth. Thin purple lips parted and her baby pulled in its first breath of air. She stuck her pinky into the little toothless mouth just to make sure there was no lingering mucus. Instantly her baby latched on to her finger and started sucking, followed by the most adorable purr. Even though her infant’s eyes were closed, it was obvious they were a mix of human and Vorto. Isa caressed her precious, violet-colored baby’s arm, reveling in the faint pattern of stripes. She then unfurled the tiny fist and counted five pointy fingers, before moving on to inspect the pleasantly plump belly absent of a belly button. So far, all of the tiny parts were a perfect mix of human and Vorto. Isa then paused as she removed more of the membrane from a pair of cute chunky legs.
“A little girl,” she whispered in awe, then focused on her quiet men. “Look what we made. We made a little girl.” Tears slid down her cheeks.
The Vorto didn’t cry, couldn’t cry, but they felt emotions just as deeply as she did. The raw emotion on Phara’s face was almost enough to break her. Abject wonder, sheer joy, worry and more warred for dominance, all showing on his face as his gaze darted from her to their baby. The Vorto never pressured her once by talking about babies, but she knew they hoped it would happen. She had, too.
“Our queen had a queen!” Galis’ jubilant and absurdly loud voice echoed in their minds as he leapt off the chaise and raced from the dining commons. They could hear him all the way down the hall.
Just like that, the spell was broken. The little girl in Isa’s arms was startled by the boisterous declaration and turned into a slippery ball of plasm.
“Oh. Oh.” Isa attempted to juggle her baby blob, but the slippery tyke plopped onto the chaise. “Oh my.” Isa grimaced as she tried scooping up the boneless little smidgen.
“Galis!” Phara huffed, while corralling their baby blob against her thigh with his big hands, before she wiggled and slid off the chaise.
“I’ll keep the horde from mobbing us.” Gregis rose and went to intercept the hive who were already closing in, a cacophony of excitement instantly filling the dining commons.
“I’ll assist.” Rego joined Gregis, after giving her another adoring grin.
“She’s fine. Remember we’re flexible, especially hatchlings.” Bellator tried consoling Isa, though she could feel the tension in the new daddy as he rubbed her back. Her sweet teddy bear was just as concerned.
Her baby fluxed back into humanoid form and opened her eyes. The comically big round eyes were more like hers, but with purple irises. Isa was instantly enthralled looking into them, until the tiny hairless brows furrowed, and a healthy wail came out of her mouth. Telepathically Isa didn’t hear words, but she got a pervading sense that her little girl was not pleased, and scooped her up.
“I think this one may be sired by Bellator,” Artifex teased as he grinned at the squalling infant.
“Aw, poor thing. Your daddies are gawking and teasing while you’re probably hungry.”
The expression on Artifex’s face instantly shifted to mortification. “What do we feed hybrid hatchlings?”
“I have an idea.” She smiled down at their disgruntled newborn. “You’re probably the reason my breasts have been a little sore and heavy lately, aren’t you?” she cooed.
Isa tugged one of her breasts out of the makeshift top and lifted the infant to her nipple. Instantly the baby quieted, both physically and mentally, as she latched on to her nipple.
“Amazing,” Bellator murmured.
“So, what are we naming this little wonder?” Isa beamed at her guys.
“Miracle,” Phara replied.
The name fit. The fact that something so wonderful could be created from people born on entirely different worlds, brought together by a series of unfortunate events, was nothing less than a miracle.