Page 21 of Queen Isabella

Her smile broadened when yet another face popped into view. It was one of the men who held the bowl of fruit and cheese. “I am Operar, Servitor Beta of the Tumulus Hive.”

Isa glanced around, but that was all who were in the room. “It’s very nice to meet you,” she finally managed to say. “Phara, Bellator, Artifex, Gregis, Rego, Galis, and Operar.”

She looked at each one, attempting to memorize the differences in their builds and the striped patterns on their faces. The symbol on their chests was the easiest for her to quickly use to differentiate between them, though. She wanted to ask about the marking, but she had so many questions all fighting for dominance.

“We are honored that you have accepted our hive.” Phara bowed and the others followed.

“Thank you for healing me.” She studied her wrist, which showed no signs that it had ever been injured, and a more pressing issue popped into her mind. “You said you found my egg. Were there others?” Her anxiety rose as she asked about her fellow colonists, her friends. She’d been hurt, and they probably were, too.

“Your egg was the only one nearby,” Bellator replied, and her stomach dropped. “There was a great deal of debris raining down in the sky, landing in the western territories. Are you saying there are more eggs?”

“Yes.” She nodded, her eyes burning as tears threatened.

Phara swiftly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her onto his lap. “Please, Queen Isa, we will do anything for you. Do not make the rain. Do not be sad.”

It was odd how she heard his voice in her mind, but also heard him purring to soothe her. Surprisingly, his vibrating purr was soothing.

She took a deep breath and blew it out. “I am worried my friends are hurt or dead and that I won’t see them again,” she explained.

Abruptly, Bellator lifted his chin and howled. The sound resonated through the stone chamber, making her jump in Phara’s lap.

“Crass!” Phara glared at him, covering her ears. “Sorry, my queen.”

She grinned at Phara’s reaction on her behalf. It was sweet. It was also cute the way Bellator grimaced in regret.

In ran another alien with a vee-shaped marking on his chest similar to Bellator’s mark.

“Invicta, send runners to the western territories. Let them know that the meteor shower contained mechanical eggs holding people who may be injured,” Bellator instructed, confirming he was in charge of the aliens with the markings like his.

“Have the runners take whatever you think is appropriate from the storeroom as gifts. You know the custom when crossing another hive’s territory,” Artifex interjected.

“Understood,” Invicta replied.

“Do not mention we found our queen in one of the eggs. I do not wish to be overrun,” Bellator added.

Isa’s brow furrowed at the odd comment. “All the eggs have women in them, females, queens I guess you call them.”

Everyone in the room turned to look at her, their mouths dropping open.

“What do you mean all the eggs contain queens?” Bellator asked, his head tilted in confusion. Again, it was strange to hear him speak, because his mouth was still agape.

“I don’t understand how to explain it any differently. The eggs, the pods, they all have women like me in them.” She shrugged, not sure how to simplify that.

“Invicta, go. Still, don’t mention we found our queen, and do a thorough search of our territory, too,” Bellator instructed, without taking his eyes off her, his hairless brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of what she said.

“Your hive had more than one queen emerge?” Artifex asked.

Isa blinked in confusion at the odd question. By emerge she assumed he meant born. She then recalled them saying something about their hive not having a queen for four generations. Several things fell into place and more questions arose.

“Wait.” Isa waved her hands dramatically. “Earlier you said your hive hasn’t had a queen for generations. That means no women, I mean females?”

“Yes. We are the fifth generation since the Blight that killed all the queens in all the Vorto hives,” Phara confirmed.

She made note of what they called themselves as she processed what he said.

“I’m so sorry.” She frowned as she hugged Phara. The death of all their women must’ve devastated their society. It was no wonder the Vorto were shocked that a bunch of women had crashed on their planet. It also explained why she’d been fucked so thoroughly. Except something didn’t add up right. “But how could you have so many generations without a female?”

“Ah. You are a smart queen.” Artifex pointed at her and smiled approvingly.

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