Chapter 7
Andrew realized how his original sense of wonder for the city had been overshadowed.
Where before everything had been overwhelming and too much to process, now there was another thing that had taken his focus.
Expectation.
Ayla walked beside him, quiet as before, while two higher sisters he hadn’t seen before led the way.
Andrew kept his eyes forward, anxious about what was next now that he was deemed clean enough.
They reached the palace quickly. The same towering structure, spanning multiple trees, loomed ahead. The entrance stood open, and the women stationed there stepped aside the moment the higher sisters approached.
The sounds of the city faded behind them as they were led deeper inside, through the same vast hall Andrew had been before. The carved beams, the filtered light, the open space: it all felt even more imposing now.
They entered the chamber, and the Queen was already there. Seated once more on her throne, she radiated a strong energy, and Andrew felt too overwhelmed to look her in the eyes. There was something about her presence that made it impossible to relax, even when she wasn’t doing anything at all.
The group stopped before her, and the Queen rose. Her gaze moved first to the higher sisters, then to Ayla. “Leave us,” she said.
Ayla hesitated for just a fraction of a second. Then she lowered her head. “Yes, my Queen.”
The higher sisters followed without question.
Within moments, the room was empty. Except for Andrew and the Queen.
The silence deepened as she stared at him. She then stepped down from her platform, her movements slow. She approached him while her gaze remained fixed on him the entire time. “You have been examined,” she said.
Andrew’s lips had turned dry, his heart beating in his chest as she approached. “That’s one way to put it.”
Her expression didn’t change. “Your seed has been deemed of exceptional quality,” she continued. “We are honored to proceed.”
Andrew’s jaw tightened slightly. “Okay,” he said.
She stopped a few steps in front of him. “Do you understand what is required of you?” she asked.
Andrew let out a short breath. “No,” he said plainly. “Not really. I’ve been… informed, I guess. But no one’s actually explained anything.” He hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. “I’m assuming,” he continued, “that if you need my… seed, for, uhm, reproduction.”
The word felt strange coming out here. He watched her closely as he said it.
She nodded once. “It is.”
Andrew swallowed and felt light-headed for a second as her words settled within him. His mind flickered briefly to the painful memory of the doctor’s office and the words he hadn’t wanted to hear.
‘Low odds. Maybe impossible.’
He pushed the memory down immediately. Now was not the time. He wasn’t about to say anything that could complicate this further. “Okay,” he said slowly. “So… you need me to… make children?”
The Queen held his gaze. “Yes. I need you to impregnate our women.”
Andrew exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Alright,” he muttered.
Fuck.
Of all the men they could’ve picked up. They had stumbled on one that couldn’t have children.
He looked at her again, curiosity pushing past the tension for a split second. “For how long?” he asked. “I mean—how long has it been since you last had a birth?”
The Queen’s expression shifted slightly. “Oh, we are not without children,” she said. “A chosen woman is blessed every ten cycles.”
Andrew frowned. “Ten cycles?”
“Ten months,” she clarified.
That made his brow furrow deeper. “And how exactly does that work without men?”
The Queen’s smile returned, faint but unmistakable. “By the will of the gods,” she said.
Andrew stared at her.
She stepped a little closer. “The births we receive now are gifts,” she continued. “They come when the gods choose. Not when we require them.”
Andrew listened, his confusion growing, but he stayed quiet.
“There is no control,” she went on. “No certainty. Only patience until another ten months passes.” She paused, then said: “With you… that changes.”
The words settled into him.
“With a man,” she said, her voice lowering just enough to carry more weight, “we are no longer bound to waiting. We choose when to grow. How often. How many.”
Andrew let out a slow breath.
She smiled. “We will rely on you.”
Andrew released a nervous chuckle. “That’s a lot to take in,” he said quietly.
The Queen didn’t disagree. “It is,” she said. “But do you enjoy women?”
Andrew was silent for a moment, trying to keep his hands still from plucking at his shirt at the bottom. “What do you mean?”
The Queen scoffed. “Their bodies. Their scent. Taste. Do you enjoy using your cock with women?”
Andrew felt his ears warm as she spoke. “Uhm, yes,” he said honestly, his voice slightly cracking, making him feel stupid.
The Queen shrugged. “Then it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll make sure a large variety of our finest and most beautiful women will be granted the task of receiving your seed.”
His head was as red as a lobster now. While the thought of it was arousing and exciting, the truth was nagging at him.
Should I tell her I am basically infertile?
What if he did tell her that? He was scared of the consequences. He had no idea how primitive these women were. Then again, if he didn’t tell her, they would find out eventually…
“Okay,” were the words that eventually escaped his lips.
The Queen smiled. “Great,” she said, stepping in closer. “We will hold the initiation at the temple tonight. The first girl has already been selected.”
Andrew felt sweat form in his palms. This was moving way too fast. “Initiation?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
The Queen nodded. “Yes. Then tomorrow, after tonight, we will bring you to the chambers for daily duty.”
Chambers? Daily duty?
The Queen seemed to detect the worry on his face. “You seem in good enough shape,” she said. “I have no doubts you will perform well.” Her eyes lit up. “You have been sent by the gods, after all.”
Andrew remained silent, letting it all wash over him.
The Queen smiled, reaching out to his face and resting her hand on his cheek. It was warm and soft, almost loving. “You are what we have been waiting for,” she said. “Don’t worry. We will treat you well and make sure your seed will be extracted as well as it can.”
Andrew felt a spike of excitement in his stomach. His body reacted instinctively.
The Queen sucked her lower lip as she narrowed her eyes, a sudden, sensual look on her face. “Once you get into the chambers, you will never want to leave.”
Andrew leaned forward slightly, her soft hand still on his cheek, making his skin tingle.
The Queen let out a small laugh. “I have no doubt you love women.” She playfully sucked her teeth. “But you are about to love them a whole lot more.”