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“Dad, she’s been crying for the last lunar,” Bella scoffed and left Miracle’s chamber with an exaggerated eye roll.

As tough as Bella acted, she was going to miss her sister a lot.

“Dad, where’s that yellow wrap I really like?” Miracle asked Diligen.

The way the girls called all of the older generation in the hive Dad made Isa smile. The amazing part was that none of the men wanted to know who actually fathered which girl. It didn’t really matter to them. The girls loved all their fathers and were cared for and doted on by every member of the hive. Because of that, the girls grew into confident queens with none of the baggage that weighed Isa down.

“I’m sure the Calabar Hive will have fabric!” Osmia teased his sister.

Miracle spun, her eyes narrowing on Osmia. “It’s no wonder no queen has chosen you and the rest of my brothers.” Miracle made a snarky face.

Family titles were a little weird in the hive, at least for this generation. Osmia wasn’t really Miracle’s brother, he wasactually her uncle, like most of the hive. But because he emerged about the same time as the girls, brother was the title that stuck.

“Kyla isn’t ready to leave her hive yet,” Osmia defensively countered.

It was true. Kyla, one of the Nemus Hive daughters, had all but bonded with the next generation of this hive. Isa liked the young queen, knew her since she was a baby. It was good, since Kyla would be living in the mountain with her. It also helped that Isa was friends with Kyla’s mom, Elizabeth.

“Aren’t you supposed to be guarding the primary entrance?” Bellator asked Osmia as he entered the chamber. “Remember what we discussed?”

“Of course. I was just saying good journey to my sister.” Osmia swiftly hugged Miracle, whispered something that made his sister smile then ran off.

“Discuss what?” Isa’s brow furrowed, wondering what could be more important than seeing Miracle off. They weren’t at war with any of the hives or even having a spat. It was the warm season and no foul weather was expected. That’s why Miracle was traveling to her new hive.

“The…” Bellator made a hand motion that looked like a ship crashing.

“Oh. Yeah.” Isa instantly recognized the gesture they’d used over the years so as not to frighten the children.

Decades ago, they’d dealt with the weapons and wreckage from the Manifest crash. The process got all the Vorto hives communicating again, with only a few diplomatic hiccups. They’d done what they could to protect the planet, but there was always a risk Earth would still come. It sounded like the young legionnaires had been briefed on the threat.

“Mom, don’t worry about me.” Miracle tackled Isa in a bear hug. Miracle literally shifted into aferoand hugged her.

“Oh my gawd, you know you’re a head taller than me!” Isa staggered under the weight of her daughter.

“Easy!” Artifex plucked Miracle off of her, then planted a kiss on her furry cheek before depositing her on the floor. The girls were so spoiled, he didn’t even reprimand her for fluxing into theferoinside the hive.

Miracle laughed as she changed back again.

“Was it your goal to break our queen, so she can’t possibly miss you?” Phara chuckled as he grabbed Miracle’s hand and they started out of the chamber.

“That sounds about right,” Isa laughed, while looping her arms through Artifex and Bellator’s arm.

“Maybe.” Miracle wagged her brows.

Isa smiled as Miracle’s other siblings joined the impromptu parade out of the hive. She still marveled at her cavernous home and especially the Vorto men who loved her. She was living a life she never could’ve imagined back home. Her gaze landed on her daughter, as she was again reminded of her life on Earth.

“You know, you don’t have to go live with the Calabar Hive. Remember what your dad said, your life is more than your biological imperative.” Isa smiled at Phara, treasuring the day he shared that wisdom with her. “Your true duty is to find fulfillment and joy in the life you were given. And you can change your mind at any time,” Isa said not just for Miracle’s benefit but for all of her daughters.

She wanted her children to know they had a choice, always, and that they were valued and respected. She couldn’t prevent them from feeling the weight of restarting the Vorto population, but she tried to ease it any way she could. There weren’t enough queens for all the hives on the planet, but there were a hell of a lot more than before. So, if any of her babies wanted to stay at home, that was perfectly okay.

“I love you, Mom,” Miracle said in a humoring tone as she smiled at her.

“I love you, too.” Isa blew her daughter a kiss.

Then everyone chimed in with the phrase, and it had Isa grinning from ear to ear.

What had been a death sentence on Earth had become her liberation. Isabella was a queen, Queen of the Tumulus Hive. More importantly she had all the love her heart could withstand, and was free to give it back in equal measure. She was richer than anyone could ever fathom.

The End