77 - A Massage (3.3k words)

Mitchell's POV

I listened to Skaris and Muir explaining to a group of twenty scorpions how to please a female.

We used a empty classroom with high ceilings, earth-tone walls, relaxing light ambience, and mattresses for practices and demonstrations.

Skaris pointed at various parts of Muir's body, "You can make her body relax and open for you with a massage. Use this oil to stimulate her body and increase her sensitivity."

He called over a scorpion, blindfolded his eyes, and handed him a bottle of oil, which Bart gave to us when we visited the nursery.

From the scent, the oil must have been made from the plants that foul female collected in the desert! She dared to visit the cubs behind my back and didn't even bother to hide it!

The scorpion squirted oil in his hands and rubbed it over Muir's shoulders and arms, spreading a relaxing smell through the classroom.

"Not so hard," Muir said, "Your touch is meant to make her relax, not to rub away her skin."

"Oh, right," the scorpion said, his hands becoming gentler.

Kidnapping females wasn't as easy as it used to be because of the damn Tiger King and the village's protection from the Beast God, so we had to focus on the few we had.

"We plan to open a resort where a massage from a blind scorpion will be one of the main attractions," Muir said, "Our clients will be beastmen and females, who will pay for a stay and will be treated with hot springs, food, drinks and whatever their heart desires."

The resort will also have a nursery where the families can leave their cubs.

They had no interest in ruling over anyone, so the resort could only be treated as a business, not as a city for a permanent stay.

Once Muir approved the quality of the massages, I brought over the lioness female, who listened to us talk from a distance. She was a bit afraid but a lot more obedient and cooperative.

"Do you wish to try it, Lia?" Skaris asked her, exchanging the mattress for a clean one.

"Okay," Lia nodded shyly as she took off her top. He gestured for her to lie down on the mattress. He guided and controlled the scorpion's hands to ensure it didn't lose control and break her body.

"It's really important for her to enjoy it and advertise our services to other females," Muir said as he sat beside me, watching the scorpion work.

Muir's presence made all the females feel more safe and comfortable. As expected of an eagle beastman. Their reputation for being noble and trustworthy was unshakable.

Lia's face relaxed, her cheeks turning red as she moaned and groaned whenever the scorpion pressed a certain spot.

"That sound indicates that you can move to her legs and tights," Skaris instructed.

Lia's arousal grew, and the scorpion couldn't help but sniff her.

Skaris slapped his head, "You are a professional. Don't lose yourself."

The scorpion swallowed hard as Lia's body arched, her mouth slightly parted, her breathing heavy, and her legs trembling.

Skaris slapped the scorpion again when his hand slipped in between her legs, "Ask her if you can touch her further. Remember, it's up to her. Don't do anything she doesn't allow."

"Lia," the scorpion mumbled, "Can I touch your...flower?"

"Y-yes," Lia answered, spreading her legs a bit, surprising everyone in the room. They don't plan to mate right here and there before everyone's eyes, do they? Not that I would complain.

"The more she enjoys it, the more she will open up to you, and the easier it will be for you to slip in," Skaris continued.

With a straight face, he picked up a sour fruit to demonstrate a female's private part and his fingers as a male's private part: "Stretch her gently until her flower opens completely and let her get used to the size of your fingers. Only enter when her flower can fit the same number of fingers as the size of your male part without feeling pain. Move slowly and be gentle; otherwise, you could hurt her and damage her flower."

I glanced up at Muir, who also didn't seem interested in watching this. They both looked like they wanted to be anywhere but here, but that foul female's words gave them no choice but to stay.

"You better make sure our future clients are satisfied after each stay with a scorpion, or you'll be the ones giving out massages instead."

After a short while, Skaris spoke up, "That's enough. You can stop."

Lia's face was completely red, her eyes dazed and unfocused, "More..." Her hips were in the air, and her flower was leaking her juices all over the sheets.

Skaris slapped the Scorpion again, "She won't be the only female visiting the resort. Choose wisely who you want to mate with, so you won't end up as a rootless."

"But, but what do I do?" The scorpion was a bit lost, his erection painfully visible through his loincloth.

"Deal with it on your own before every massage," Skaris sent him to the corner of the room and gestured to another scorpion, "It's your turn now."

I could see how these secret techniques could give the scorpions a great advantage over other beastmen. Lia's reaction showed that she never experienced such a thing with her males before.

After her fifth massage, Lia put on her top again and walked up to Me and Muir, her cheeks still flushed, "Can I choose who I want to mate? It would make carrying a clutch of scorpion eggs much easier."

"Sure," I nodded, "Which male do you want?"

"Well," she thought for a moment, "I think I'll try the first one since he did the best job."

All the twenty or so scorpions in the room dropped their jaws at her words, "Damn that lucky bastard! This is my first time hearing a female picking a scorpion mate on her own! I can't wait to try this method on the females," one of them said.

The males all looked excited, but the three other females in the room seemed to feel a bit nervous but also a bit excited to receive a massage. I could see the hope for a better future in their eyes.

"So, this is the secret technique?" One of the males asked, "If a female gets a massage from us, she'll accept us?"

"Yes and no," Skaris replied, "You can't just rub her and expect her to mate you. She needs to feel safe around you, comfortable and relaxed. You have to get to know her and understand her desires. This massage technique is one way to make her open up and show her vulnerable side."

"You know so much about how to keep a female satisfied. How did you end up in the Flame City then?" one of the scorpions asked.

"What terrible female abandoned you? Tell us, and we'll find and take care of her for you!" Another offer was made.

Lia pointed out that it must have been his scars that had put his female off. I could see her point. Skaris's appearance was a bit frightening for a wolf beastman.

Skaris chuckled without answering. He was being secretive, and that made him even more mysterious in their eyes.

They looked at Muir, "You too, should have had a female, right? Where is she? Did she abandon you, too? Do you plan to take revenge on her? If yes, count us in!"

Muir coughed into his fist, gesturing for them to stop spewing nonsense and continue learning.

The males and females eyed the deep scars on his chest and back, thinking they were the reason why he was also abandoned.

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

Two moons later...

All the scorpions inside the classroom room were stripless and fast to adapt individuals.

The ones above one stripe were the ones with possessive and jealous tendencies.

Anything above three stripes was basically a nightmare to be around for any female.

I wanted to introduce a few beauty routines for the females, especially the soap and comb Skaris used on me the first time. Also, the new body oil product.

The happier our females look, the better our image in the society. That's what I picked up from traveling and living with Bart.

It didn't matter if the majority of the scorpions couldn't control their inner instincts. They had to behave and act in a way, which would not bring shame upon those males, who would represent us in public.

Father visited me a few times, watching how the hierarchy system he first set up when he became the Flame's City's King was being challenged. He didn't say anything, just observed us silently for a while before returning to his chambers.

The weakest scorpions became the most favorable among the females.

The strongest could still receive territory and a chance to mate a female, but Skaris made it very challenging for anyone to rise in rank. He fought in the combat pit even after reaching the Supreme level.

I've never seen a rootless with such a strong will to live before, to have a will so strong that other rootless envied and looked up to him.

It was the first time in history that the Scorpions' society changed so drastically in such a short time.

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

The oasis - nursery...

I lay on the sand, arms behind my head. The fireplace's warmth flickered nearby, and the stars twinkled above in the endless night sky.

Bart sighed, rubbing at his bruises. That foul female gave her males an order to keep him in shape, and they happily abused his ass.

When they sat around the fire, I couldn't help but ask, "Hey, did any of you meet the Tiger Queen? I heard she settled down in the Tiger tribe. Apparently, she's very popular among the beastmen for treating her males well. She even took in a feral snake as her mate and let him live with the villagers like he is one of them. I'm really curious about her."

"The rumors are true," Bart said, "I've met the Tiger Queen a few times. I used to be jealous of her males, especially Winston and my brother, Shuu. How she treated them is beyond any beastman could ever dream of."

"You are talking like you're not anymore," I said, noticing his change in tone.

Bart chuckled, "I wouldn't change what I currently have for anything, not even a Tiger Queen, the most sought-after female in the world. I have had enough of going along with what others think is the best. This time, I'll listen to myself."

I turned to my side and supported my head, "Do you think the Tiger Queen will come to love someone like me? What do you think will happen if I try to court her?"

"An alliance with a Scorpion King will greatly benefit any kingdom or tribe. So as long as you don't try to monopolize her or harm her mates, she will give you a chance, I think," Skaris said while adding more wood to the fire, "Dear said the Tiger Queen would have accepted both Muir and Curtis if they wanted to be her males. Too bad they didn't know any better."

"What?!" I exclaimed, sitting up straight, "No way! Really?!"

"We had the chance, but our hearts looked the other way. You will never understand. It's hard to describe our irrational decision without experiencing it yourself." Muir rubbed his temples with a sigh, his eyes closed, and his brows furrowed, "I must admit that the Tiger Queen is a great female. Her popularity has increased tremendously over the past few moons. She will need more males for protection, especially ones like you, who can control the scorpions and the rootless."

So they've all met the Tiger Queen and didn't refute the rumors, huh? It wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear.

"Our Dear is still the best...for us, at least," Skaris said, Muir and Bart nodded in agreement.

This was more of a response I expected from males obsessed with their female.

"Do you still want to kidnap my father and gift him to your female?" I asked. These bunch of fools were suicidal and stupid to no end, but I guess that's what makes them fun to be around, "My father is not someone you can just capture."

Muir was silent for a moment, "That's why we have his son on our side, aren't we?"

I chuckled, looking up at the moon, "He is my only family. Even though he has his flaws, I don't want him to die, so if it's just kidnapping and kicking his ass, you can count me in."

The future was uncertain, but for once, it looked bright.

Besides wanting my father as a gift for their female (I still think they are just joking), they needed more help and asked me to lend them a few of my scorpions for the resort. (Not for free. I would get my share of the profit.)

Why scorpions and not regular beastmen? The risk of females making regular beastmen quit for them would be too high, and regular beastmen might share their secret techniques, which could hurt their business. Taking in a scorpion mate, on the other hand, came with too many risks. First and foremost, they would have to get my approval, which meant? Visiting the Flame City together.

To think all this happened because a certain group of males were looking for a gift for their female ─ a female who gets bored too easily!

Just look at how much fun she had with me at the beginning and how bored she was around me the last time she visited the nursery! She better appreciate what her males are willing to go through to make her happy, or I swear I will throw her into the combat pit to make it extra exciting for her!

"Well, maybe I will pay that Tiger Queen a visit," I said. Just thinking about that foul female made my blood boil in anger. "Will you take me there, Muir? I'm curious why you would throw away an opportunity to be with such a female. She sounds too good to be real."

Every time I see that foul female disregard everyone's existence, I'm holding back not to shake her to death. Yes, that's why I wanted to kill Bart because that female should have died under my hands and not his!

"Fine, I'll take you," Muir agreed, "Just avoid mentioning us if possible. I don't want the Tiger Queen to think badly of our female because of your big mouth."

I scoffed and stood, trying to shake away the annoyance. That foul female keeps making me feel these dark emotions, which I never felt before but can recognize very well.

They were logical, and they had a reason, unlike my random thoughts of wanting to kill Bart, or Muir, or Skaris for absolutely no reason.

I bet I wanted to kill them for liking such a foul female and putting up with her bullshit!

"Arrrgh!" I let out a frustrated groan and kicked the sand, "How could your female not see how great we are? Is she blind? What is her problem? How did she turn you idiots into such whipped, simping fools? Ugh! She pisses me off!"

"Do you need a massage?" Skaris suggested, "You've been very agitated lately."

"No thanks, I already had two from the cubs today," I replied, walking up to Muir, "Take me to the Tiger Queen. Let's see what a female so loved by everyone can be like. Maybe, just maybe, this Tiger Queen can cure my foul mood!"

Muir stood up and began packing his things, suppressing a smile.

Bart was clearly amused by my reaction, laughing, "If you keep making such a scary expression, the Tiger Queen will probably run away before you even open your mouth. It's like you are about to go berserk."

"Just watch you all," I kicked a few rocks into the air and sent them flying toward their heads, "Watch as I make the Tiger Queen fall in love with me and make you all wish that you were in my shoes, wishing you had the chance to get closer to such a female!"

Skaris dodged the rock, "I'd rather wish to stay in the Flame City, papa Mitche."

Muir jumped, kicking the rock back at me, "While we're gone, make sure everything runs smoothly there."

Skaris nodded in response, "I will."

Bart got hit and groaned, holding his bloody forehead, "Are you crazy? I have cubs to look after!" He was clearly not amused anymore, and his smile vanished, replaced by an annoyed expression, "Just go already! Don't come back until you find a female of your own! Then we will laugh at your stupid ass for falling in love with such a female!"

I laughed, waving them off, "You all wish. My chosen female will be the most beautiful and loving female you will ever meet! I will make sure to rub that in your faces when I bring her here." I said as I dodged the rain of stones flying at me, "Now, show me the way to the Tiger Queen, Muir!"

Muir shook his head, taking the lead as he flew out of the desert. I sprinted in his direction and jumped on top of his eagle form.

Ah, what a nice farewell, I thought as I lay down on Muir's back to stare at the night sky.

[We all thought Yaya would come to like you eventually, but it seems like we were wrong. Well, it's not your fault. It means you were never really an option for her.]

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

[Winston.]

"Winston... the Tiger King? The Tiger Queen's current head male?"

[Yes. We wanted Yaya to take him in as her fourth mate, but she was against it. That's how Skaris got his chance. It's almost like you are the second Winston to her. Someone she doesn't hate, but also doesn't want to have anything to do with.]

I didn't like being compared to a disfigured white tiger, but I knew his strength wasn't to be underestimated. It made me want to challenge him to a fight just to see if he was that tough as the rumors said.

[It's actually a miracle that she took me in, and also Curtis.]

I raised a brow. Muir's words began to make less and less sense.

[Skaris and Gold didn't have to face the same things we did to become her males. She accepted them rather smoothly compared to us, and I think it has something to do with the Tiger Queen.]

The Tiger Queen again. I hear nothing but her name lately, literally everywhere I go.

╔═══ Author's note ════╗

Killing intent, anger...what emotions should follow next? 😏

The trio must find Mitchell with emotions so funny. They can't stop cracking up at how confused he is by his emotions and try to explain everything logically. 🤣

Bart is not afraid to stand up against Mitchell, and has opened to the rest of boys, cracking up jokes with them here and there. 💪🏻

Mitchell only sees YY's flaws because she doesn't want to show him anything else. The cubs are the exception because she can't bother with acting as someone she isn't either. 🤡

The novel's synopsis, where YY wants to re-home all the "book husbands" to her best friend, still holds true, as you can see. 😏

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