Chapter 272: Queen, Our King Said...
Thorne took a quick look before averting his gaze. He glanced at Julian. "So this is why you followed me?"
Julian didn’t answer, his gaze fixed grimly on the approaching members of the Corrosive Swarm.
Thorne was suddenly curious and sneered. "Tell me, when the Swarm form a Contract, does The Everwake go live in the Corrosive Hive, or does Hecate stay here in the Blade-Wing Insectoids’ Hive? I hear that the Beastmen of the Corrosive Hive are all born from their Queens over generations. If she enters into a Contract, won’t she be unable to fulfill her duty of propagating her own people?"
There was a strange note in Thorne’s voice as he spoke.
While it was true that most males on the Beastman Continent didn’t care how many partners a female had, honestly, a female like a Swarm Queen, who shouldered the reproductive duties for an entire race... most males truly couldn’t accept that. ’Heh.’
He had to admit, he was almost impressed with The Everwake. ’Truly one of the Swarm, to be able to stomach anything.’
Julian was at a loss for words, unsure how to answer the question.
The customs of the Swarm were indeed difficult for ordinary Beastman races to accept.
As they spoke, the procession from the Corrosive Swarm halted outside the Blade-Wing Insectoids’ Hive, and the throne was lowered to the ground.
Hecate rose to her feet, her long, well-proportioned legs instantly drawing the eye.
With one hand on her hip, she pointed a finger at the Blade-Wing Insectoid guard at the entrance to the Hive. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, displeased. "Why hasn’t The Everwake come out to receive me? Today is the day of our Contract. Is this how your Blade-Wing Insectoids show their sincerity?"
Hecate was the current Queen of the Corrosive Swarm. Constantly fawned over by her people, her temper was naturally short. She was also highly talented and had seized control of her entire race long ago. She had grown tired of the males in her own swarm, until one day, while leading her people on a hunt, she saw him—the King of the Blade-Wing Insectoids, a man who had undergone a stunning transformation and wielded his power with brutal efficiency!
’He and he alone,’ she had thought at the time, ’is worthy of being my Beast Husband!’
She had pushed aside all opposition and forged a powerful alliance with the Blade-Wing Insectoids to jointly control the Triangle Abyss and completely annihilate the Parasite Swarm. In doing so, a Contract naturally became the most solid way to seal their pact.
At the time, she had only one demand: the one she would form a Contract with must be The Everwake.
However, the Blade-Wing Insectoids had sent word that The Everwake already had a female; he had formed a Contract long ago.
When she first heard the news, she was naturally displeased. ’The Everwake is lowering himself, abandoning his own kind for a female of another race. How foolish. Doesn’t he know that only a female of the Swarm can bear him the most superior offspring?’
Of course, she eventually stopped caring, because she heard that The Everwake’s female had personally killed him once before.
’Heh. To have a female like that is a disgrace.’
’She didn’t care that her future partner had already formed a Contract. In any case, they could still produce offspring, couldn’t they?’
The Blade-Wing Insectoid guard glanced cautiously at Hecate’s face, a troubled look appearing on his own.
Hecate was no fool. It took her no time at all to realize what was happening. ’So, The Everwake is still unwilling to form a Contract with me. Heh.’
The internal politics of the Blade-Wing Insectoids were complex. The Everwake had returned suddenly, a prince with nothing to his name, and had murdered his way into power to become king. Though ruthless and decisive, his reputation within the swarm was poor, and his word was not the only law. The alliance and Contract with the Corrosive Swarm had been agreed to by others.
"Fine, I’m going in." Hecate couldn’t be bothered to argue. ’After today, The Everwake and I will be partners anyway.’
’She had plenty of ways to handle males. Even the most disobedient one would become docile with a single jab of her tail stinger.’
But the Blade-Wing Insectoid guard slowly raised a hand to block Hecate. As her expression turned cold and grim, he swallowed hard and said quietly, "Your Majesty, our King... he said that only you are permitted to enter."
"What?!" Hecate’s voice rose as she let out a string of cold laughs.
The expressions of the surrounding Corrosive Swarm Beastmen hardened, and they fixed the guards with cold, grim stares.
In the distance, although Thorne and Julian couldn’t make out what the Swarm Beastmen were saying, they could tell something was wrong.
Thorne frowned. His body, which had been stirring restlessly, went still. He narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "I’ll go in by myself in a bit. You stay out here as backup. If you hear any commotion, don’t worry about me. Just run."
Hearing this, Julian instinctively whispered back, "I’ll be here to back you up."
At his words, Thorne turned to look at him. His triangular head tilted up slightly, a flicker of emotion in the gesture, but he quickly turned back to stare into the distance. He was waiting for the right moment to charge in and crush them. ’In any case, as long as I can kill The Everwake, it’ll be worth it.’
After a long moment, he could only watch as Hecate entered the Hive alone, while the Beastmen of the Corrosive Swarm remained outside to wait.
"What’s going on?" Thorne asked, puzzled, his body writhing in agitation.
Julian stared for a moment. His eyesight was clearly much better than Thorne’s. In a grave tone, he said, "It seems the Blade-Wing Insectoids refused to let the Corrosive Swarm enter their Hive. Hecate agreed to the demand and went in alone."
A flash of mockery crossed Thorne’s dark green, slitted pupils. "I never would have guessed The Everwake had that kind of charm."
On the Beastman Continent, females held a much higher status than males. It was rare for a male to be so highly valued by a female.
Then again, on second thought, Thorne had to admit that The Everwake did have a beautiful, bewitching face and a seductive body. How else could he have seduced Thorne’s own female before the rainy season? It had nearly thrown Thorne’s entire rut into chaos!
The memory of that unpleasant incident brought a savage light back to Thorne’s eyes.
*
「Deep within the Blade-Wing Insectoids’ Hive.」
In a vast, underground cavern, the space was brilliantly lit by Beast Crystals. Dozens of rough-hewn wooden tables were arranged in a fan shape, and on the highest dais sat a magnificent throne inlaid with Bone Ornaments.
The tables were piled high with sweet fruits and fresh-killed prey, their tempting aromas filling the air.
However, the feast, which should have been bustling with celebration, was instead shrouded in an eerie silence.
The young Swarm leader on the throne wore a dark, grim expression. A violent energy churned in his rainbow-colored pupils. His long fingers tapped unconsciously on the armrest, and he looked as if he might erupt into a killing spree at any moment.
The Blade-Wing Insectoid warriors in attendance were all tense, even chewing their food with extreme caution.
Suddenly, a young voice rang out, tinged with mockery. "My King, Queen Hecate of the Corrosive Swarm is a renowned beauty in our Triangle Abyss. Even the Parasite Swarm drools over her. She is willing to form a Contract with us Blade-Wing Insectoids and has specifically chosen you. Isn’t that an honor?"
The speaker was a young, red-haired Beastman, lounging against a Swarm female. His handsome face was marred by a pair of compound eyes, which lent his gaze a perpetually cold quality.
He was The Everwake’s own younger brother, Gareth.
Prince Gareth of the Blade-Wing Insectoids had never been a picky man, and he loved nothing more than fooling around with females. Fortunately, the Swarm was vast and had no shortage of them, enough to satisfy demand internally. Now, however, it seemed he had set his sights on Hecate.
