Page 74 of Queen Isabella

“Me, too.” Isa emphatically nodded. “Ohh.” She grimaced, despite all the joy she professed to be feeling. “I may have eaten too many bonbons.” Isa rubbed her belly as she shifted uncomfortably on the chaise.

Phara straightened abruptly, his eyes widening. “I smell blood!”

“Blood?!” Artifex said in alarm.

“It’s Queen Isa’s blood.” Bellator instantly recognized the scent, horror transforming his face.

“Where are you bleeding?” Phara started to panic, testing the air around her to pinpoint where she was hurt, since he couldn’t see any injuries to her delicate skin.

“Oh!” Isa’s eyes widened as she looked down at her tummy. “Stomach cramps and blood. Well, it was bound to happen eventually after my body reset from being in stasis for so long.” She nodded.

Their queen didn’t look the least bit concerned that she was bleeding for some reason, which added to Phara’s distress. That was a symptom of someone who was truly unwell.

“What was bound to happen?” Artifex demanded, worry twisting his expression.

“It’s just my period. Galis, cut it out!” She swatted the beta’s tongue away as Galis tasted the air near her stomach. “I need to go to the cascade. I’ll need some disposable rags and probably a new skirt.”

“You’re bleeding beneath your skirt?!” Phara gaped in horror at his queen.

“You two did this to her.” Artifex pointed accusingly at Phara and Bellator. “You both had to cram your shafts into her tiny body!”

Dismay overwhelmed Phara at the suggestion. Was this his fault?

“No!” Isa shook her head. “It’s part of being a woman, at least a human woman. I’ll get my period and bleed every month and it’s perfectly normal,” she assured them as she got off the chaise. “Ooh.” Isa paused and cringed, gripping her stomach again. “That’s new.” She instantly sat back down. “I was lucky. My periods were never too bad, but it feels like they’re making up for lost time.” Her brow furrowed as she rubbed her belly.

“I cannot comprehend how bleeding from your channel is normal.” Bellator shook his head in disagreement.

“Women; we’re a steep learning curve,” Isa snorted then her eyes widened. “I shouldn’t have laughed.”

“Why?” Phara asked, his eyes growing even wider.

“There was just a rush. I’m leaking. I never have a heavy let down like this.” She frowned.

“Oh. There’s blood on the chaise.” Gregis pointed to the wet smear beside her thigh.

“I’m so sorry.” Isa’s cheeks reddened in embarrassment at making a mess, but that was farthest from anyone’s mind. They were all worried about her.

“Isa, let me see.” Artifex nudged her knee.

“This is beyond mortifying.” Isa lay back on the chaise and let Artifex lift her skirt.

Phara took one of her knees while Bellator took the other and spread her legs. His mouth dropped open in shock as he stared at their queen’s sex. He wasn’t the only one. Artifex and Bellator were also struck dumb.

“Okay, great, I finally managed to break you.” Isa grimaced. “I promise periods are normal.”

Isa’s channel spasmed again and what looked like an amnio sac slid the rest of the way out of her body. At least it looked like an amnio sac, though it was different from any of the ones hanging in the chrysalis chamber.

“Oh, wait a minute. That is not normal,” Queen Isa amended as she spotted the amnio sac. “Why is there a writhing ball of goo between my legs?” Panic laced her voice.

They all froze and stared in awe as the ball uncurled and stretched. A tiny hand pushed its way out of the amniotic sac followed by a foot. As unbelievable as it was to process, Queen Isa just bore a hatchling.

I must be dreaming. I have a hatchling!Phara’s world expanded, the impossible becoming possible for a second time.

Isabella

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Isa cried as she realized what she was looking at.

Her alphas were utterly stunned, and she was the first to react, swiftly scooping up her infant. There was no umbilical cord, just the amniotic sac. It was strange, but so was gestating a baby in a month. Isa cleared the membrane from her baby’s precious little mouth. Thin purple lips parted and her baby pulled in its first breath of air. She stuck her pinky into the little toothless mouth just to make sure there was no lingering mucus. Instantly her baby latched on to her finger and started sucking, followed by the most adorable purr. Even though her infant’seyes were closed, it was obvious they were a mix of human and Vorto. Isa caressed her precious, violet-colored baby’s arm, reveling in the faint pattern of stripes. She then unfurled the tiny fist and counted five pointy fingers, before moving on to inspect the pleasantly plump belly absent of a belly button. So far, all of the tiny parts were a perfect mix of human and Vorto. Isa then paused as she removed more of the membrane from a pair of cute chunky legs.

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