Page 23 of Queen Isabella

Isabella stilled at his comment.

I’m such a moron. I’m their new baby maker.

She’d been trying so hard to understand Vorto society, the obvious went right over her head. Isa stiffened further as theweight of what she overlooked landed. Women on Earth were defined by sex and their ability to make babies, both praised and ridiculed for it in the same breath. After being slut shamed for kissing a boy, the incident with Caleb, and a barrage of other slights, she’d chosen a career over a family. It was a decision her parents hated because it meant they’d failed, though they sure enjoyed the extra income she brought home. By the skin of her teeth she’d avoided being pigeonholed back home. Then she was forced off her world, traveled to a whole new one, only to discover that yet again her value lay in making babies.

At least the sex was good. Really good.She couldn’t believe the naughty little voice that popped up unbidden.

Suddenly, Isa was painfully aware that she was sitting on Phara’s lap. His cock was trapped between her lower back and his abs. It wasn’t erect, but it was stiff. Isa bit her lip as a frisson of electricity shot through her, making her nipples pucker.

Would it be so awful to be Phara’s queen?

The Vorto had been very good to her. She would’ve had a family back home if she’d been treated decently. Here, the Vorto made her feel truly desired in less than a day, when she felt like nothing but a burden back home. And how often was someone given the chance to save a race of people?

Just as Isa was getting comfortable with the situation she found herself in, reality intruded. A cruel little voice in the back of her mind screamed they might not be compatible.

And then what good would I be?She frowned.

“My queen, you were telling us why you were sent here.” Bellator rubbed her knee.

“Yes. Sorry.” Isa shook off the thoughts. “My people said I broke the law by having the ancient weapon, even though it would never work again. I was sentenced to join the one-way mission here, along with other women like me. They decided we were disposable, while secretly believing we might succeedin building a colony if we actually made it here.” Her stomach twisted with anger at the betrayal.

“Isabella,” Phara said softly and slowly, using her name rather than the daunting title. “You are not disposable.” He angled her face and placed a kiss on her cheek. The sincerity and sorrow in his voice made a lump form in her throat. She didn’t understand how someone could be so sweet, yet he was.

“I do not like the alphas of your hive,” Bellator angrily hissed. “Do you think they perished in the crash? If not, I would very much like to hunt them down.”

The sneer on Bellator’s face with his big dark eyes, sharp teeth, and camouflaging stripes was scary as hell, and yet she smiled. He wanted to seek vengeance for her. She’d never had anyone want to do that. It made her feel better.

“No. The alphas stayed on my home planet. They were pretty sure we were going to die.” She reached over and rubbed his knee. “Thank you, though. That’s really sweet.”

“It is my honor to guard and protect you. If they come, I will teach them how to respect my queen,” he assured her.

“We are your hive.” Phara growled possessively and squeezed her tight.

Isa’s eyes widened, suddenly feeling a different kind of pressure. “Um, I need to empty my bladder.” She prayed the Vorto went to the bathroom, otherwise this was going to be an awkward discussion.

“Phara, release the queen so I can show her the cascade,” Artifex insisted as he stood, reaching down to help her up.

“Of course.” Phara gripped her hips and helped her up as he stood. “My apologies, we didn’t think to ask earlier.”

To her surprise, all the men stood. She smiled at them. They were such gentlemen, in the truest old-fashioned sense of the word. As Artifex took her hand and led her out of the chamber,she couldn’t help but look fondly back at them. The Vorto were growing on her.

They’re not so scary.

Maybe being cast out was the best thing that could’ve happened to her.

Chapter 8

What’s Cooking

Artifex

“It’s a little dim,” Queen Isabella commented as they exited her chamber.

Artifex glanced down the passage lined with the consorts’ chambers. He could plainly see, but their queen had different physiology. He’d swiftly grown comfortable with their new queen, and it was easy to forget she was from far away and unfamiliar with everything in their hive. He double-checked nothing was on the floor as he carefully led her into the queen’s private cascade.

“Let me show you how to illuminate the columns.” He placed her hand on the rolling sphere embedded in the wall just inside the entrance.

“Oh, it’s nothing like a light switch. Geez I’m short,” Isa commented, though her mouth didn’t move. “Thank you,” she added in her lyrical voice.

---