Page 35 of Queen Isabella

Isa sighed in relief when Phara finally understood what she was asking.

“Artifex said you were worried you may not be able to have hatchlings.” Phara caressed her back as she sat on his lap.

Her shoulders sank. That wasn’t what was troubling her at the moment at all, but it was now—again. Her anxiety shifted gears from the question of if she was committing the sin of adultery ‘alien style’ to the fertility fear. Anxiously, she gripped Phara’s arm wrapped around her waist.

“Even if I can have your babies, I’m not able to give birth to dozens of them,” she worriedly explained. From what she understood, the whole hive was a bunch of brothers. She’d met, or at least seen, forty different people so far, and she had a feeling there were more from the size of the feast being cooked. “I don’t know how your queen mother did it, but it’s just not possible with my kind!” Maybe the Vorto were more like insects than she realized.

Phara cupped her cheeks so she was focusing on him and him alone. “Isa, as the alpha consort my purpose is to create a newgeneration of Vorto above all others. Can you imagine what kind of burden that is when there is no queen?”

“Yes!” She nodded emphatically, feeling a similar dilemma.

“One rotation I found myself at the edge of a cliff, debating…” Phara smiled morosely.

Isa’s eyes widened as she realized what he was saying, then her breath sped up and her eyes began to sting.

“No!” Rego declared, pain evident in his voice.

The surprise and hurt on the triplets’ faces screamed they didn’t know about this.

“I didn’t do it.” Phara squeezed Rego’s shoulder. “Ascreotook flight from a nearby ledge and startled me. I lost my balance and fell backward on my rump.” Phara cringed in embarrassment.

Isa let out a relieved whoosh of air. Despite knowing Phara was safe now, she could easily put herself in his shoes. She understood the depression that led him to that ledge to begin with.

“In that moment, I realized I wanted to live, that I wasn’t done yet. Although, I had no clue why.” Phara caressed her back and shoulders. “Then I caught sight of the samescreogliding on the current. It wasn’t hunting or fleeing, just soaring, making idle circles in the sunshine. The answer I was looking for somehow lay in what I was seeing.”

It was a familiar profound feeling. Occasionally one witnessed the meaning of life distilled into some simple moment and it was always hard to describe to someone who wasn’t there in that moment. She’d felt something similar when she held an ancient piece of pottery, and gazed at the artist’s fingerprint captured in time. Isa rubbed Phara’s chest, feeling similarly connected to him in this moment. It had to be hard to open up like he did.

“What was the answer?” Galis interjected.

Isa’s eyes widened at the question. It was becoming apparent Galis was a bit of a himbo.

“I’m still figuring that out,” Phara replied honestly.

“Isn’t that the truth.” Isa smiled, loving the wisdom in the simple reply.

“I can say that my life offers more joy and purpose than just my biological imperative.” Phara stared into her eyes as he spoke, and the message was received loud and clear. “I don’t relish it, but I’ve accepted that perhaps the sun is setting on the Vorto. And if that is the case or not, it is out of my hands. What I can do is find things that make me feel fulfilled in the time I’m allotted. And if I’m lucky I can help my hive with the same.”

Isa stared in awe at Phara. Never had she heard any man speak so insightfully or eloquently, especially not with her.

“You have the soul of a poet.” She smiled wistfully as she continued caressing Phara’s firm chest.

Phara questioningly tilted his head, and she realized the word poet probably didn’t translate.

“You have a beautiful perspective,” she amended.

“Do you understand that you don’t need to worry about hatchlings? If it happens, it happens. You are my queen and this is your hive. Already you have brightened these caverns.” Phara ran his thumb across her bottom lip as he gently caressed her face.

Tears slipped from Isa’s eyes as she nodded and kissed Phara’s palm. He’d lifted an immense weight from her shoulders. Phara would understand if they weren’t compatible. Not only that, he wouldn’t make her feel like she was flawed or somehow at fault. He understood there was more to life. The Vorto were truly different from everything she was used to, and she was rapidly falling for these wonderful exotic men.

“Can we still practice making hatchlings if you are unable to have them?” Galis asked, his question effectively bursting the sentimental bubble.

“Galis!” Phara telepathically barked, while growling at the same time.

“Oh my god!” Isa couldn’t help but laugh as she rubbed her eyes, dispelling her tears.

“We will see what the future holds. We are new,” Phara informed Galis. The alpha’s serious expression then turned impish. “Although, I’m rather certain our queen will want to share sex with me again, where you may never get your chance,” he teased Galis.

Galis’ mouth dropped open, his eyes widening.

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