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“Never!” Phara felt like he’d be struck in the gut.

“I know that, but she doesn’t.” Artifex grimaced.

“We will just have to show her this is her hive.” Phara sighed, sad that he couldn’t instantly alleviate her fear. “I will take her to bathe before the feast.”

“A good idea.” Artifex nodded. “I need to stay here and make sure the feast is coming along. I will send Diligen. He can quickly fashion coverings to fit her.”

“Good.” Phara smiled as he exited the preparatory, glad that they could do something to ease their queen’s discomfort.

He should watch where he was going, but Phara’s gaze was focused on the sleeping queen in his arms. Everything changed from the moment she arrived. Isa fit a niche in their hive thathad long been void. It wasn’t simply their need to produce another generation and prolong the species, though. It wasn’t the gnawing desire to mount her, either. This growing feeling was something different, something profound, and when he figured out exactly what it was, he’d tell Queen Isa.

Phara bypassed the dining commons and took the descending tunnel into the queen’s branch of passages.

“Found our queen.” Phara poked his head into the beta’s suite, located just before Isa’s chamber. “It’s bath time. Come.”

Gregis, Rego, and Galis instantly stopped their game ofshofti,jumped up, and followed.

They crossed the queen’s chamber and descended into her private bath.

“I’ve heated the water as you requested before you disappeared,” Masculum, one of his gammas, reported as they entered.

“Yes. We were delayed,” Phara chuckled.

Galis’ tongue shot out and tasted the air then he grinned. “I can smell what delayed you.”

“Guilty.” Phara grinned back.

With amused smiles and happy chuckles, Gregis, Rego, and Galis waded down the steps into the bath. Phara was about to join them but hesitated. The fire next to the water channel feeding the bath was roaring, and steam wafted off the pool. The betas’ brows furrowed as they questioningly looked at him.

“I don’t know if it will be too hot for her.” Phara grimaced as he dipped his foot into the water. It felt fine to him, but he had more than himself to think about now.

“I think you’ll have to wake Queen Isabella to have her test it,” Rego suggested.

“Agreed.” Phara sat down on the nearby ledge and looked fondly down at Isa. She was breathing peacefully, making a cute little wheezing noise, and murmurs that almost sounded likesomething. “I don’t want to. Come and look. She’s making her adorable twitters even in her sleep.”

The three betas waded to the edge and peered at the sleeping queen cradled in his arms.

“She is very vocal,” Gregis commented as he listened carefully and watched Isa’s rosy lips move.

Phara held his breath, worried what else the beta might say. Gregis was the opposite of Galis, and wasn’t known for having the most pleasant demeanor.

“I never realized how quiet the hive was,” Gregis continued. “I like her twitters.” The male stared fondly at Isa.

Phara let out his breath, slightly shocked, but very happy that even Gregis was moved by their queen’s arrival. Gregis’ observation was also surprising. Their hive had been quiet. He hadn’t really noticed until Gregis pointed it out. Not only was Isa’s bubbly voice filling their quiet caverns, there was a happy buzz permeating the hive. When he went to find their new queen, everyone he passed radiated this zeal. Isa truly was bringing change to their hive.

“I like the fringe on her eyes. I like when it flutters as she looks at us,” Galis interjected.

That was Galis, perpetually happy and a bit special. Though, he did agree with Galis’ observation.

“Greetings, my queen,” Rego said.

At the comment Phara looked away from Galis in time to see Isa sleepily smile. Her gaze panned from Rego to him, and her smile widened, her eyes brightening.

“Greetings, my lovely queen.” Phara beamed at her.

“Why, Phara, what big teeth you have,” Isa giggled, then yawned and stretched.

Phara’s grip tightened so she didn’t roll into the hot bath, glad the betas were also there to prevent it. Her amusing sleepy observation made him laugh.