Chapter 756: Syngnathidae courting

If you haven't already, check out my other novel, Genesis Sync, which is in the header above.

“What are you two doing?” Rowena asked in exasperation.

“We’re saying hello,” Kasumi explained. “We’d show ourselves, but we’re currently naked, and we’re not yet ready to show the man in your group our naked bodies.”

“Emphasis on the yet,” Erkath added with a chuckle.

“And why, might I ask, are you naked?” Rowena asked.

“Like you can ask that when you appeared to us naked on a holocall recently,” Kasumi retorted. “At least we have the decency not to flaunt our bodies.”

“I’m proud of my body, thank you very much,” Rowena replied.

“Naked on a holocall recently?” Adam asked suspiciously.

Rowena laughed nervously before saying, “I might have called them both after our first time, back when you were asleep.”

“How shameless,” Aphrodite said sarcastically.

“Like you can call anyone shameless,” Rowena retorted.

“Hence the sarcasm in my voice,” Aphrodite teased.

“Oh my!” Lorelie finally gasped as she held her hands against her blushing cheeks.

“Babe! Are you ok? Adam asked in concern.

“Ho ho, this is interesting,” Aphrodite said in amusement as she looked between Lorelie and Muriel.

“What is?” Emma asked as the others showed looks of surprise or amusement.

“Muriel’s sudden change in hair colour is a type of courting ritual,” Aphrodite explained.

“Her hair colour changed?” Adam asked as he observed Muriel, causing her to flush with embarrassment even more as she felt his gaze on her.

“Courting ritual?” Emma repeated as she stared at the flushing Muriel.

“Do you have to phrase it that way?” Muriel asked meekly.

“Am I wrong?” Aphrodite asked, and upon seeing Muriel shake her head, she chuckled in amusement before continuing.

“Her hair has indeed changed colour; I believe her natural colour is an aquatic green. As for the so-called courting ritual. Apparently, it dates back to a time before the Syngnathidae race had evolved to the point that they could assume human form and walk on land.

Back then, female Syngnathidae would court the males they desired by changing the colour of their hair to match theirs.

The female whose hair colour closely matched would win the right to breed with the male.

However, as time moved on and their race evolved, as well as becoming more technically advanced, they used this means of courting less and less until today, where it’s obsolete.”

As she finished speaking, Aphrodite carefully observed Muriel’s hair colour before adding, “It seems that with its lack of use, the ability to mimic their desired partner's hair colour has degraded.”

“It’s definitely darker than Lorelie’s,” Rowena nodded in agreement as she added. “Also, judging by her embarrassment, it seems Muriel didn’t mean for it to happen; I guess it was an instinctive reaction that caused the change.”

“Stop, stop,” Muriel said in embarrassment before looking at Lorelie in panic and quickly saying. “Docking bay two forty-seven is already reserved for your ship.”

And as soon as she finished speaking, the holocall ended, causing everyone to stare at where the holographic screen had been in surprise.

“Well, that was different,” Stacey finally said.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from NovelPhoenix. Please report it.

“I can’t believe she hung up due to embarrassment,” Aphrodite said with a chuckle.

“You do realise that was your doing, right?” Eytelis asked in amusement.

“That's right,” Tephe said in agreement while Maya nodded from atop her head.

“It was worth it,” Aphrodite replied.

Adam looked at the embarrassed Lorelie before asking, “So she wants to breed with you?”

“Seems like it,” Lorelie nodded.

“And how do you feel about that?” Adam asked.

“As long as she joins the harem, understands that anything between us will only be fun and waits until my self-punishment ends, I don’t mind the idea,” Lorelie answered.

“How about you?” Rowena asked as she turned to Adam after hearing Lorelie’s reply. “What’s your opinion on Muriel wanting to breed with Lorelie?”

Adam was silent as he considered his response, and as he was, Tephe suddenly said, “I don’t get it.”

“Get what?” Eytelis asked.

“Aphrodite said that female Syngnathidae would only change their hair colour for males they wanted to mate with, but Lorelie’s a female,” Tephe answered.

“But Lorelie’s not a Syngnathidae, dear,” Aphrodite explained. “From the standards of Merinmians,Lorelie is a female, but from the perspective of a female Syngnathidae like Muriel, she can be seen as a male since she has the reproductive organs of a male Syngnathidae but not the female's extra organs.”

“Ohh,” Tephe replied.

“Now I’m confused,” Emma stated. “You make it sound like female Syngnathidae actually possess both genders' reproductive organs?”

“You're correct; we’ll partially,” Aphrodite replied. “Prior to the Syngnathidae evolution that allowed them to walk on land, female Syngnathidae did indeed have this capability and could breed, as long as one of them took on the role of the male.

In fact, in the beginning, the Syngnathidae race was monogender, and it was only over centuries of evolution that Syngnathidae with only one reproductive gender came into existence.

As this new evolution of the Syngnathidae race occurred, and the male Syngnathidaes became more common, the need for females to act in both roles lessened until the females evolved to a state where they could no longer become impregnated.”

“Wow,” Emma said in amazement.

“How do you know so much about Syngnathidae?” Eri asked.

“I’ve had a few Syngnathidae lovers in my life, and a few of them even gained pink hair,” Aphrodite replied while winking.

“Figured,” Stacey remarked.

“Well, honey?” Rowena asked.

Adam sighed and scratched the back of his head before looking at Lorelie apologetically. “I’m just not comfortable about letting another cock join what is supposed to be my harem. I understand that female Syngnathidae having a penis is natural, and I have no problem with that.

What I do have a problem with, however, is another penis penetrating any of you; toys and such are fine, but the only dick that should be satisfying any of you is mine.”

“My, how greedy,” Stacey remarked with a smirk.

“Nothing wrong with a greedy man; at least he knows what he wants,” Aphrodite stated with a flirtatious wink.

“And we all know your equipment is enough to satisfy us, honey,” Rowena stated while licking her lips.

“I’m only interested in your cock anyway,” Revi remarked. “As an empress, I can’t let any penis other than my husband's enter me.”

“Tell that to the Terren Empress,” Eri remarked.

“I agree with Revi; the only man I want as my mate is you,” Tephe declared as she made a cute noise atop her head.

“Well, I guess that decides that,” Lorelie said with a sigh before smiling at Adam. “I had a feeling this would be your decision.”

“I guess that rules out Muriel from joining them,” Rowena remarked.

Adam nodded before instructing, “Spector, hail the orbital elevator.”

***

As soon as the holocall ended, Erkath broke out in raucous laughter while her long red tail flew around in the air.

“That was brilliant; I can’t believe your hair actually changed colour right as you called her,” Erkath managed to say before breaking out into laughter again.

“You could have warned me,” Muriel pouted.

Kasumi, who had been giggling in a much more reserved manner than Erkath, managed to calm down enough to ask, “How were we to know that you hadn’t realised?”

“That's right, for all we knew, this could have been how you planned to tell Lorelie about your feelings for her,” Erkath replied with great difficulty.

“It certainly surprised Lorelie. Did you see how much she blushed?” Kasumi asked.

“I did. I also noticed that she seemed happy about it,” Erkath replied before teasingly saying. “Congrats, Muriel, looks like you might be able to join the harem and be with Lorelie after all.”

“Oh, shut up,” Muriel retorted, though they both noticed that she wore a smile as she said it.

After finally managing to calm herself down, Erkath said, “Seriously, though, something interesting or entertaining always happens when I’m with them; it makes me want to spend even more time with them.”

“Sounds like Muriel’s not the only guaranteed new member,” Kasumi teased.

“Perhaps,” Erkath replied before turning to Muriel and asking, “So what’s the plan for once they arrive?”

“Dinner obviously,” Muriel replied. “I’ve already got the best restaurant on the planet on standby; I just need to let the owner know that we will arrive later.

“You mean Primus Depths?" Erkath asked in surprise. “Even leaders of other galaxies need to book six months in advance to eat there.”

“That would normally be the case; however, don’t forget that Sealord Aergagon has instructed me to take good care of Diva Lorelie and her party.

Because of this, Grynrim, the owner of Primus Depths, was more than happy to accommodate us.”

“Wow, I never imagined I would ever get to eat there,” Kasumi said in amazement.

“Aren’t you glad you accepted Rowena’s invite?” Erkath teased as she stood up and stretched her immaculate body.

“Where are you going?” Kasumi asked.

“To pick out my outfit for the meal,” Erkath replied with a wink. “Unlike last time, I’m actually trying to leave an impression on a certain someone this time round.”