Beastmen Love-Chapter 153: Deep Desire

"She used too much power.." Xzan softly says.

Claud and Kangki arrive, and then Claud takes her from Xzan’s arms.

"Thank you. We will take care of her now." Claud says.

They fly back to their castle. After the danger was gone, everyone started to question everything that happened. People wanted to know why their leaders were so powerful and who Astri really was.

"Listen. We understand that all of you have several questions, and since we had to expose our true powers we will tell you everything. What you need to know is that we hid this to protect our mate and also to protect you. First, let us go to her and see if she’s fine. Tomorrow morning let’s gather in the central area and we will answer all your questions." Lee says.

The others fall silent and nod, agreeing. After all Astri’s spouses leave, some start talking to each other.

"I’m very sure that I heard that the Higher Priest had powers like no one had. I just didn’t know that it was more than one Higher Priest."

"Some of us already knew about this. They asked us to keep it and secret because our Tribes call attention to every place, and people wanting to come here just to become stronger is a wrong reason. All of us worked hard to make our Tribes safer and with good people so we keep growing safer. That’s why we kept the secret." A feather beastman says.

"But all those monsters came here because of them? We were attacked by too strong Monsters. We could have been killed." A bear beastman says.

"We would be all dead if they weren’t here. Those Monsters didn’t come here because they were here. They came here because the Tribes are powerful and they want us to blame the leaders so they can control us." Xzan speaks.

"The battle was just a reason to make us question everything. An excuse to shake our structure and lose strength." Dante says, understanding Xzan’s point.

"Let’s divide the next watcher and the rest should go back home and rest. Rest and get calmer to think better. Tomorrow the other leaders will explain everything you need to know." Shung speaks.

Shung and Xzan divide the watchers, Dante and Shan help them. Even if they know there’s a lot to come, they decide to rest and be ready for when it’s time.

Astri’s spouses are discussing at the castle after they finally see her state. Their children watch scared, crying worried about their mother.

"STOP!" Claud warns the others, and they fall silent.

"There’s no use discussing now. You’re scaring the cubs. Astri will be fine. Stop acting like mindless beasts and blaming others. Even if it was Claud or I, none of us could have stopped Astri. Don’t blame Galion. If you want to blame someone, blame yourselves for not being good enough to have finished those Princes faster!" Kangki spits.

The others stay quiet, feeling guilty indeed.

"I’m sorry.. I couldn’t stop her. She saw through me, father Claud." Hopin softly says.

"Don’t blame yourself, Hopin. I asked you this knowing the chances you could stop her was very low. All of you, none of you should blame yourselves, even if it’s the natural thing to do as spouses. Astri did what she had to do, nothing more. Things happened this way because it was supposed to happen this way. We must trust her and Nature. She’s tired and hurt, but she will be fine." Claud calms everyone, including Kangki, who is feeling guilty for falling in love with her and bringing this kind of danger to her.

On the next day, Astri wakes up slowly and feels sore all over her body. She sees her children sleeping around her and smiles, then she gives a relaxed smile.

She looks at her arms and they’re all red and purple, like it was bruised from being hit by something. She tries to sit and that wakes up her children, even if Atlas woke up more for the commotion on the bed, he’s happy to see his mother awake.

"I’m alright, guys. Nothing can hit your mother stronger than herself. I could just eat a whole deer." She says, hugging them even if feeling sore.

"I’ll call fathers. They’re making breakfast." Hopin says, then hops up and runs outside.

He arrives at the living room, and he looks at his fathers talking to Xzan, Shung and Dante.

"We must thank you both for saving her." Claud says to them.

"If we were in normal circumstances we would accept you as her future spouses, but it’s not our choice. Astri chooses her spouses her own way, not accepting someone just for favors or alliances. She needs to like them. If you want to make her like you, we won’t stop you." Lee speaks, not very happy, but it’s what all of them agreed since they’re in debt with Xzan and Dante.

"Excuse me.. Mom woke up and she’s hungry." Hopin says, taking everyone’s attention.

"I’ll go." Zin is the first one to speak up, slithering away fast.

"You worm! We were going to decide on the bigger stick!" Lee says, running after Zin.

The others know fighting now for her attention will be worse, so they wait. Zin slithers back carrying her in his arms, her spouses gather around and she raises her right hand slowly to touch their faces, happy to see them fine.

"Why are your arms so bruised like this?.. Don’t move." Dieg says, worried and holding her hand and putting it down again.

"I’m fine. And I’m happy all of you are fine too, loves. Let’s eat. I’m starving as I haven’t eaten for days, really." She smiles.

They smile back, happy to see her fine even if hurt like that.

Zin sits her in her place and they decide on the bigger stick who will sit next to her to feed her. Koa and Dieg won and they excitedly sat on her sides.

"Ow.. Shung, Xzan, Dante, sit down and join us. You look like statues over there." Astri softly says.

They blink and then sit down too, they were wondering how she might be thinking about what happened, however, they rather enjoy the food and let her feed herself before asking anything.

When she’s satisfied, she lets Claud and Zin tend her sore arms with unguents, and bandages to hold up the medicines.

"Astri, people are waiting for the leaders to come out and explain what happened." Shung says.

"I’ll go with them. I’m sure they have more questions about me than anything else." Astri answers.

"You don’t owe anyone any explanation if you don’t want to. You’re our Queen here, whatever you decide should be ultimate." Xzan says.

"I do owe some things, yes. We need those people and I care about them. Like I also owe you and Dante. You saved me. Nature told me that. Thank you." She says and smiles at Xzan and Dante.

They blush a little, and look away shyly. Kangki rolls his eyes, hating to see so clearly their desires in their minds.

"Sweethearts, you go stay with uncles Galion and Saul, and start doing your chores with them. I have some things to do. All right?" Astri says to her children and they nod obediently.

Hopin carries Atlas and they walk away.

She calls Xzan and Dante to sit next her, asking Dieg to give them space.

"I would be quite broken if you didn’t help me. I appreciate what you did for me. I can feel you have strong wishes inside of you. I want to hear it from you." She says to them.

"I want to become your male." Xzan says.

"Me too." Dante affirms.

She nods, making her spouses anxious but they don’t say anything because they have agreed with that.

"I don’t take spouses because of favors or alliances. I accept males I nurtured deep love and that I want to spend the rest of my days with. Regardless of how strong he is or his race." She says, making Dante and Xzan’s shoulders fall down in defeat. "I’m not saying I’ll never accept you. I’m saying I don’t want more males since Claud, and then I met Tyr, Beau, Koa and Kangki."

They smile understanding that they’re not out of the question. She looks at Xzan directly.

"Xzan, you might not understand now, but we need you very much. We will need to travel far away in a few days, after all this is settled. Shung can’t handle these tribes on his own and you’re the only one I believe that is good enough to be in our place. If you become my spouse anytime soon, we will suffer with distance. Can you understand that?" What she told him made him proud and also happy, having all the clues that the chances of her accepting him one day were high.

"Yes. I promise you I’ll do my very best to take care of our Tribes." Xzan nods.

"Good." Now she looks at Dante. "Dante, you already have a spouse. Even if you don’t love her, you’re tied to her. I have a serious question for you. Do you really want to break this bond with her?"

"If there’s a way to break this bond.. I mean her no harm, but I don’t want to be bonded to her anymore." He answers.

"All right. Bring her to me after our meeting with the tribes. And her males too." She says.

"Yes. I’ll do that."

"You..will accept all of them?" Koa asks Astri, worried.

Koa and the others know that is common knowledge for the mermaids of how to steal males from other females.

"Of course not. Who do you think I am?" She chuckles, and that relaxed greatly the others. "You really need to stop taking me as an average female. Let’s go. Who will be carrying me now?"

"I hate to say this, but it’s better for Astri to stay with Kangki. Even though I don’t believe people will be hostile, we don’t know how things might turn out and wanting or not Kangki is the strongest and his aura is scarier than ours too. Even not a Monster anymore his aura shakes people for sure. Wayde, Tyr and I do the talking and the others will only guard her, and Kangki carries her. Agreed?" Lee says.

"Agreed." They answer.

Kangki smiles and carries Astri, then smells her neck.

"Totally agree." He says, and she chuckles.