Chapter 16
“Gross,” Alex muttered as she narrowed her eyes on the exceptionally large insect that pushed its way through one of the long vents cut into the wall to provide extra air circulation.
This one was more hideous than the last. She doubted that it could be any kind of pet this time.
But why was the nest such a popular insect hangout?
While expected to endure some truly nasty sexual displays happening in the same room, she hadn’t been prepared for the mutant alien bug from Planet X.
“You just had to pick tonight, didn’t you? ”
Somehow it had managed to outdo all the other insects that had found their way into the nest, as well as the dolvu.
It was not only considerably large—so much so that it had barely squeezed through the vent—but also appeared to be covered with a greenish clump of hairs that made it looks like it was wearing the rotting fur of some sort of long-dead animal except that the hairs were stiff, not unlike the stinging hairs a tarantula once nailed her with in her youth.
In fact, the more she looked at it—the more it resembled some sort of gnarly tarantula in shape except that it had twice as many legs sprouting from its round abdomen.
It also had an aggressively horned head that reminded her of horned beetles from Earth except that there were multiple protruding horns of varying size and unusual shapes.
She squinted at it, noting that it also possessed multiple eyes on either side of its horn, and then recoiled when it darted across the wall in her direction.
“Great. This one is fugly and aggressive,” she muttered. She reached for her blowgun, drawing it out from its hiding place, as it charged toward her with its forelimbs raised in obvious threat. “What the fuck is it about this nest that is attracting you and your cryptid cousins?”
There seemed to be no escaping the damned things.
She wrinkled her nose at it as it crept toward the impressive spread of food that had once again been left by the palace servants just moments earlier.
While food sitting out certainly didn’t help matters, she still found the sheer volume of insects that were drawn to the nest strange.
Food was seldom left out long enough to make an impact, and servants always cleared everything away shortly after Therxian finished eating, so she doubted that was the cause.
And yet they always seemed to find their way through the large vents that regulated the humidity and kept it from gathering in the chamber.
As it was likely that this was a common construction feature within Seshanamitesh dwellings to keep them comfortable, in addition to the open balcony that she forbidden to go anywhere near, she doubted that the presence of the vents alone was the problem.
Otherwise, every nest would be infested, and she highly doubted any human woman would have agreed to stay any length of time within the caverns if there were things like that invading Seshanamitesh nests regularly.
And even the supervisor’s comment about Therxian’s nest being infested made it sound as if it were an unusual problem.
So, what exactly was attracting them to Therxian’s nest in particular?
Alex shrugged and brought the blowgun to her lips.
She would simply ask Therxion about it. He was the native—not her.
Perhaps it was completely normal and therefore not something typically commented on.
It’s not like she ever broached the topic with him.
She had only intended to dispose of the remains now that she had the means to kill them.
Blowing into the tube, she smiled against the mouthpiece as the needle pierced the creature, making it instantly drop from the wall, its numerous legs curling under its abdomen.
Score! Fifteen points for her, zero for the insect nasties.
Of course, Therxian wasn’t likely to see it the same way when he returned and encountered a skewered bug lying on the floor.
Alex grinned gleefully to herself. Would the female be squeamish?
Would she truly climb Therxian like a tree, rubbing herself all over him?
Alex’s smile disappeared as she frowned at the mental image and rose from her crouched position.
What did it matter if she did? So long as she didn’t start making a fuss and bringing everyone in the palace down on their heads.
Never mind. It was better to just move it and avoid all potential hysterics. He could find the present later and dispose of it after he helped her escape the palace.
Kicking the bug in the direction of her private little corner, Alex slipped back into her hiding spot, simultaneously stashing her blowgun back under the rocky ledge where she had been keeping it.
Her little corner, as she called it, wasn’t very comfortable.
She often felt cramped and somewhat claustrophobic crouched there...
but it was effective. She knew from experience that the corner of the bed was virtually out of sight from the rest of the room, and even from most spots on the bed.
All Therxian had to do was keep his “guest” confined to the parts of the bed where she wouldn’t be seen, and everything would be fine.
All in all, it was a simple plan—and one that wouldn’t take much difficulty to execute. What could go wrong?
Alex allowed herself a small, relieved smile, but it disappeared entirely when a loud, oddly metallic rasp echoed up the corridor of the nest’s entrance.
She frowned a little, her head tipping as she examined the sound.
It almost sounded as if some large, heavy object was being dragged across the floor... and yet not.
“Weird,” her lips moved silently. What was it?
“Just a little further, I imagine,” a feminine voice echoed as it hummed in a dulcet tone. “I am actually quite excited to see how the nest has been prepared for us.”
Alex’s gaze slipped over her surroundings. It wasn’t bad. Some fresh furs that were far more luxurious than anything Therxian bothered with had been changed from the bed earlier, and a large feast was spread on the table in the exact same manner as the night before, though the type of food varied.
Probably to indulge the female’s preferences.
She rolled her eyes. It was quite clear that none of the effort was expended for what Therxian might enjoy. Did the females provide a list or something?
Most likely. They were the selected daughters of noble families.
They were probably given everything they wanted from the moment they were born...
or hatched... whatever. Alex had to admit that she was a bit envious of that and didn’t begrudge them for wanting things how they wanted them.
Especially if they had to get into the mood and convince themselves that what they were having was potentially a very special mating night.
The fact that any mating was dependent on producing a female heir was a bit cold-blooded, but life was often a matter of survival. She could respect that.
Now if they could only hurry things along a bit.
Alex shifted uncomfortably in place, sweat gathering and cooling on the nape of her neck.
What was taking them so long to enter the nest?
She could hear the female’s teasing words echoing up the corridor.
Frowning, she peeked around the corner of her little alcove and squinted toward the entrance.
Metal rattled and scraped loudly and was immediately followed by a very familiar, annoyed hiss.
“Is this truly necessary, Gareiia? This is not dignified, and it is difficult to move this way.”
Alex’s brows beetled. What way? She shifted her weight forward, her muscles tensing to withdraw quickly back into hiding. It was none of her business—she chanted that to herself several times, but that didn’t seem to stop her any. Whether it was her business or not, she was now curious.
Shadows condensed briefly just before fading out again from the natural bioluminescence of the Seshanamitesh.
Therxian never lit up the nest quite like that in showy colors, so she was guessing it was the female.
It was just as well as far as she was concerned.
It just made her dark little corner all the darker.
Still, the vivid display when compared to the muted luminescence of the guards and males—including Therxian—bore a marked distinction.
The bioluminescence, from what she recalled, was largely used to confuse hunted prey when flying overhead.
To have it “fired up” indoors was something that the Seshanamitesh never did, and she got the impression it was socially considered rude since even their luminous gavo was never erected for long before being quickly lowered—except in the case of a dominance challenge, but those appeared to be rare.
So, it came down to the question of whether this female was just gaudy as fuck, or was she making a clear statement regarding her place of dominance between them? She was placing her bets on the latter as soft laughter rose from a much closer distance.
“You do complain overly much, Therxian. I did not expect that,” the female observed in a sharp voice, its note of merriment strained with impatience. “You know why this is necessary. It is for my safety.”
Her safety? What?
Alex’s mouth dropped open as the couple suddenly emerged from the corridor, the female’s illumination casting rainbows everywhere. And Therxian.... Therxian was bound in chains!
She could forgive the thick chain wrapped around his torso, caging his arms securely to his side—that was just practical if dealing with someone who was unwilling and might potentially decide to disregard the agreed-upon rules.
But the chain clipped to the large metal collar around his neck was just taking it way too far. That was just straight derogation.