Chapter 146. Abelha’s room

Zeldi almost collapsed the moment we were done, only managing to get to her own bed before the day caught up with her. Not even her want to tease me could push through her haze.We mumbled some goodnights to each other before I tucked her into bed and left, having sold all her milk to my store but one. Just in case I needed to pull an all-nighter.

Tarakona had gone to hunt by the time I emerged, and both Voras and Madu were happily chatting in a tree that Voras was currently spinning a web around.

I watched with fascination from the porch as she wove around branches to create a silken tree hut, only stopping to devour a Kobold cocoon before continuing. Madu must have said something rude partway through because the Gorgon was trapped upside down as if she were a caterpillar on its way to become a butterfly.

I almost laughed at myself as I looked at the sight. Mostly because I was completely unsurprised, and that by itself should have been concerning to anyone else. But to me? It was almost another day in paradise.

You should visit your new Livestock before you learn your new ability. She is curious.

Oh? But she should be in her room right now.

Yes, she is, and she has given you permission to enter. We believe she has something to say.

Well, that's not ominous at all.I gave Voras and Madu a final look as my Arachnid woman pushed my Gorgon, forcing her to swing around. Madu made gagging motions at the movement, causing me to smile once again.

Yep, my life is officially weird, and I will admit it.

Stepping back inside, I brought up my options for the girls' rooms with just a hint of pride when I saw they had all given me their permission to enter their respective rooms. It was a small thing, I know, but it showed trust. It also reminded me I hadn't visited Madu's yet.

Selecting Abelha's room, I felt myself get whisked away before being deposited into a cave made entirely of wood... Like the inside of a very large tree.

Okay, this was not at all what I was expecting from her room. I mean, sure, the walls glowed with a soft yellow light, but the room itself looked like a cave that doubles as a maze. How was this her room?

"Ah. There you are." Came Abelha's voice as she buzzed down from an opening close to the ceiling. "I was a bit curious about this whole room ordeal, but I'll admit, this is perfect."

"How?" I said back, still unsure exactly how this could be her dream space.

"It's close, compact and has so many different rooms that can be turned into locations for different stages of my hive's life." She replied like it was obvious.  "Like this one." She pointed to a room up above my head that required her to hold me as she flew up to show me. "This one is perfect for holding my eggs after I lay them as they grow, especially when the walls of my hive are made."

The room was quite large and had what looked like shelves spotted around the walls in the wood. I could only agree with her not quite knowing what I was meant to be looking for.

"I'll take your word for it, but I thought you would be happier in Dríade's room with her?" I asked, unsure again how their symbiotic relationship was supposed to work.

"I will spend the majority of my time here, but she will give my children access to her room so they can pollinate whatever she has growing. She originally wanted a Queen Bee to set up in her own tree once it grew enough, but I would much rather be here." She spread her arms, and I saw the first bit of genuine happiness fill her gaze. "This is so much space that is just perfect. My hive will be so big that I could potentially rival a Dragon with the number of my soldiers alone."

I did not mention Tithalia at that because I very much doubt the massive fire Dragon would struggle to wipe out any number of bees if they stood in her way. Though I couldn't tell if she would prioritize her daughter or having some honey based on how rare the girls seemed to find it.

"But until then, yes. I will be spending the majority of my time with the Dryad. She is a pain in the stinger, but she will force her Grove to support me and vice versa when my hive is formed. Voras said you managed to sort out Madu just by fucking her stupid. Any chance you could screw the bitch out of Dríade?"

"If only that were an option." I sighed. "She's happy to be my Livestock, but same as you, I am respecting her wishes, not wanting to be a part of my harem."

It still felt weird saying that out loud. My own harem. Though I think it felt weirder when everyone took it as normal, and no one batted an eye. If I could go home at all to explain it, I'd end up in a lunatic asylum faster than I could say it.

Abelha clicked her tongue. "That's a shame. I wonder what she plans to do once her own Dryad's start wanting their own kids? It's a long time off based on the size of their trees, but it's something she will have to prepare for as their Grove mother."

"That is a damn good question." I mused along with her.I gave the walls another once over, still not seeing the appeal but trusting Abelha that if this was perfect, then that's all there was to it.

"Do you need anything else just while you're here waiting for... Well, me to get stronger, I guess?" I asked when the silence started to get deafening.

Abelha tapped one of the walls but shook her head. "As I said before, just enough food and water to make sure I don't waste away. Everything else would be extra, though, if there is an offer..."

She trailed off and started to strip. I was too surprised to stop her and only found my voice when she bent over while lifting her abdomen. I looked. I mean if course I looked; it was right in front of my face.

I also paid attention to her wings as the almost transparent limbs worked overtime even as she was standing around to make it easier for her to move. The silence of them was so bizarre to me, as bees in my old world were not quiet.

Continuing like she hadn't done anything strange, Abelha threw the overalls into the corner of the room. "I would like something made out of the Arachne's silk. Something soft that I could sit on but also run across my arms when I want to feel it."

"Like a blanket?" I asked, continuing to stare but keeping some distance. She was made to be cuddled and knew that fact.

"Perhaps. I know I am asking for more than I should, but you mentioned trading to get items I can't make." Abelha turned around and cupped her arms under her chest. "It got me thinking about what exactly that could mean for me if I actually could."She waved her hand at the room as her antenna twitched. "This room guarantees my safety, so you have that covered. I haven't tested your trespassing thing yet, but this room alone is enough that I can do whatever I want inside and nothing can happen to me. The only problem I can find with it is that if I take your permission away, it doesn't remove you instantly."

She let out a sigh that was followed by a smile. "But if only you and Dríade can come and go, excluding my workers and guards, of course. Then I don't care who you have on the farm because it wouldn't bother my nest or me."

I nodded along, happy she was smart enough to see the implications of her personal room.

"What I'm getting at here, Clovek, is that because I will be safe and have room to grow my hive unimpeded, I would like to take you up on the offer to trade. You will get a large quantity of my honey anyway, but I would like to propose that I get something in return if I provide more than our agreed-upon amount."

"A good idea," I said back. "But I have a better one. Why don't you just ask me for something without needing to trade? My job as the owner of this farm is to make sure you are as comfortable as possible, and if all you're really asking for is Voras's silk, then that's pretty easy to get."

Abelha cocked her head to the side. "But that would mean you give it to me for free... Why?"

"Because I want you to grow," I answered. "Same as Dríade. I want you both to be able to grow as much as you possibly can, because when you do. I get more." I then pointed to her state of undress. "And I want you to actually want me."

"But I do want you. Well, once you're good enough at least." She replied, and I could see the confusion on her face.

"Would you want me for fun and not just to fertilize your eggs?" I countered, watching the myriad of confusion and surprise war on her features.

"Ummm. Yes?" Abelha questioned herself.

"We'll work on that, Abelha. Just know that I want you to want to be here. Not just because of the benefits but because you enjoy our company." I explained.

Logic fought inside her as she tried to come to terms with what I just said. I knew it wasn't going to be a quick thing, but I hoped that by showing her some type of caring, she might start to have her own.Eventually she gave up, though I feel that might have been because she came to some conclusion that logically made sense to her.

"You wish for me to be your girl. Not just your Livestock?" She questioned, and I remembered Dríade saying something similar about her not being one of my girls.

"You didn't want to be?" I returned her question.

Abelha blinked as she gave it some thought. I waited, giving her the time she needed to figure it out. "What exactly does being one of your girls mean?"

I spluttered out a laugh. "That's a question for Zeldi. She would give a better answer, but to me? It simply means if someone else offered exactly the same as what I have here, you would pick me every time because you want to be with me."

Abelha watched me without blinking for a long moment as I caught my breath.

"To want to be with you." She repeated, testing the words. "To want to be with you... Just because I want to... What does that look like?"