Chapter 273: Ferocious Beast Attack?
Gareth’s compound eyes blinked softly. A trembling female offered a peeled grape to his lips.
The demonic, colorful butterfly markings on The Everwake’s cheeks shimmered faintly. Black beast skin was wrapped around his lean, powerful waist, his ink-black hair trailing to the floor. His voice was brutal, like a thin, cold line of ice. "If Gareth is willing, he can be the one to form a Contract with her, and together they can resist The Parasite Swarm."
Gareth snorted with laughter. "You must be joking, my King. Queen Hecate isn’t someone you can form a Contract with just because you feel like it. The Corrosive Swarm has their eyes on you. If I stepped up, I’m afraid we’d be at war with The Corrosive Swarm before we even faced The Parasite Swarm. Have the Blade-Wing Insectoids become so arrogant that we think we can take on two clans at once?"
His voice was full of mockery, but held not a shred of fear.
The surrounding Swarm Beastmen fell deathly silent, not daring to interrupt.
Then, the sound of footsteps echoed. Everyone turned toward the noise and saw the bewitchingly beautiful Hecate.
She was alone, following slowly behind a Blade-Wing Insectoid sentry. With each step, her long, shapely legs were revealed in tantalizing flashes. The seated Blade-Wing Insectoid warriors couldn’t help but look up, yet their gazes held not greed, but fear.
Hecate was the youngest Queen of the Corrosive Swarm. She was known for her fierce and violent temper. Rumor had it she had devoured many of her Beast Husbands—a truly vicious woman. In that regard, she was quite similar to Evangeline, the Virago of Norfell.
As Gareth watched Hecate approach alone, his eyes glinted, and he shot a meaningful glance toward The Everwake on the high seat.
’Of course, he knew his Brother’s objective. The Everwake didn’t want to go through with this Contract and was deliberately making things difficult for Hecate. A pity he had miscalculated. Queen Hecate’s feelings for him ran deep—so deep that she was actually willing to abandon her own clan.’
’As this thought crossed his mind, a hint of amusement flickered in Gareth’s eyes. He couldn’t wait to see how his brother would reject Hecate now. If he turned on her at this stage, the two Swarm clans would really go to war.’
’With The Parasite Swarm lying in wait, it was the absolute worst time for the Blade-Wing Insectoids and the Corrosive Swarm to go to war.’
’The two clans were already weaker than The Parasite Swarm. How in the world was The Everwake going to clean up this mess? Heh. This was getting interesting.’
The Everwake caught Gareth’s amused expression. His own face was grim as his rainbow-hued eyes swept over Hecate, who was now walking straight toward the dais. Her golden hair swayed with her steps, her eyes locked onto him as if she wanted to eat him alive.
’He’d heard the rumors about Hecate, of course. She was supposedly even more savage than the female he was Contracted to.’
’But that didn’t faze him.’
’He’d always known that with The Parasite Swarm watching greedily and his own Blade-Wing Insectoids in peril, an alliance with the Corrosive Swarm was the best, most beneficial outcome. That was why he had turned a blind eye to his clan’s correspondence with Hecate.’
’He just never expected Hecate to choose him.’
’If the leaders of the two Swarm clans became partners, the alliance would be that much more solid. He should agree.’
’He should. He really should agree. But why did some part of him so vehemently reject the idea?’
The Everwake closed his eyes. The demonic butterfly markings on his cheeks pulsed with a faint light. Suddenly, a wave of perfume washed over him. Hecate was upon him, and without a moment’s hesitation, her voluptuous body landed in his arms.
It was a cloying, seductive scent, the kind that could stir a primal urge in any male. But The Everwake instinctively wrinkled his nose as a wave of profound disgust washed over him. By the time he realized what he was doing, his hands were already raised to push her away.
Hecate, however, seemed to anticipate his move, wrapping her arms around his neck instead.
"The Everwake, you told me to come alone, and I’m here. What, are you going to reject me now? Don’t forget, this Contract isn’t just about a male and a female. The fate of both our Swarm clans is at stake!"
"I have some news for you. Consider it a sign of the Corrosive Swarm’s sincerity regarding our Contract."
Hecate gazed at the handsome face, now just inches away, and a fire ignited in her chest.
’This feeling was all too familiar. Back in The Hive, whenever the urge struck, she would simply grab a male—it didn’t matter if he was her partner or if he already had a female. Her own satisfaction was all that mattered.’
’But she had never met a male who could make her entire body burn with just a look.’
’It was just like the first time she saw him. He was just a newly ascended King, hardly her equal. But seeing him stand there, his ink-black hair sweeping the floor, his rainbow eyes filled with a cold, brutal light... he looked as though he would never show a moment of tenderness to any female. And in that instant, she had burned with a desire to possess him. It was a feeling she couldn’t quite explain.’
Hecate’s red lips drew unconsciously closer to The Everwake, about to press against his own thin lips in full view of everyone.
Gareth watched the "intimate" scene, a flicker of derision in his eyes. ’So much for not wanting the Contract,’ he thought. ’When a female throws herself at him, he can’t resist after all, can he? Too bad. I wonder how long Hecate’s interest will last?’
The Everwake’s crystalline eyes stared coldly at Hecate as she drew near. Just before their lips could touch, he shot to his feet, kicking her away in the same fluid motion. "Hecate," he said icily, "this is not the Hive of the Corrosive Swarm."
Hecate went sprawling to the floor. When she looked up, her eyes were filled with wounded accusation. "The Everwake, what is it about me that you’re so unhappy with? If you don’t like that I have so many Beast Husbands, I can eat them all! If you disapprove of me breeding children in The Hive, I can promise to breed less, to focus only on bearing children for you! Is even that not enough?"
’This was the first time she had ever desired a male so intensely. She didn’t want to resort to... other means, unless she was absolutely forced to.’
’Such a captivating male... If she could make him genuinely fall in love with her, to have him by her side day and night, to see him show his gentle side to her and her alone... The very thought made her body tremble.’
In the hall below, the Blade-Wing Insectoid warriors exchanged glances and began to mutter to one another.
Hecate’s ferocity was legendary throughout the Triangle Abyss; they had never seen her so humbled, and all for a male. If their King truly formed a partnership with her, perhaps they could one day absorb the entire Corrosive Swarm. Then, even The Parasite Swarm would have to bow before them!
At this thought, the Blade-Wing Insectoid warriors straightened their spines, their gazes fixed intently on The Everwake.
Even Gareth narrowed his eyes, casting a thoughtful glance upward.
The Everwake, looking down from on high. Hecate, prostrate at his feet. It was a sight that made the blood run hot.
In that tense moment, the sound of frantic footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the cave.
The Everwake’s rainbow eyes turned coldly toward the entrance, where several Blade-Wing Insectoid Beastmen were rushing in.
Their faces were ashen. They dropped to their knees, their voices trembling with terror. "My King! A Ferocious Beast has entered the Triangle Abyss! It’s colossal—bigger than a Tusked Mammoth! Like a small mountain!"
"No! It’s bigger than a mountain! It’s heading for Blade-Wing territory! It must be here to wage war!"
"My King! The Ferocious Beast is almost here! We must find a way to defend ourselves!"
"..."
