Page 55 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
My man’s wide palm brushed over my stomach and ripples went over the hologram. Graden’s asked how it felt and sometimes I had answers. The overall description was inelegant. I sat on the bed most of the time or in a hoverchair. Icouldwalk, but it left me so tired, I couldn’t do other things. Graden had duties, and I didn’t want to be lethargic when he returned. He asked me several times if I was okay before he moved on to another subject.
“I have two questions to ask. Neither will be a pleasant topic.” I said nothing, so he continued. “Nate?”
One word but I got it. Should I invite him? Graden’s guard kept an eye on him, and his life was… well, it wasn’t a life. Just going to the ocean and buying things to eat. I took him away from prison, and it seems he made one of his own. What he tried to do back on Earth was reprehensible. If Matros or Peter ever got near, they would kill him – a man who experienced my fears for real every day for twenty years. I didn’t want to, but I nodded my head anyway. “Yes.” For whatever that man did, I figured he had the right to see his grandson.
He nodded that he heard, but his expression was blank and unknowable. Volardi put family first although there were exceptions. As if I sensed his thoughts, he moved on to his brotherly ‘exception.’
“Balo,” he said. “For several times we held the kingship, and then it slipped back to him. Now it comes back, I wonder what my brother will think of this?”
“He won’t like it,” I said flatly. “I’ve seen men like him before. They get so hungry they can taste something before they ever get it.” His eyes narrowed before the implant translated the New Texas saying.
“Yes… he seems to experience his kingship while not on the throne.” His shoulders rose. “Such a man will be used to something and will not like it when he ‘loses’ it.”
My lips pursed into a frown. There were plenty of things I didn’t enjoy about pregnancy. The beautiful ‘Omega time’ was anything but that. Cramping, heartburn, nausea and the rest were terrible, but at least I could dosomethingabout them. Find another type of food like imported New Texas meals, lay down, get massages, but this was everything I wasn’t. To wait and let life take over. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t speed up the delivery although I suppose in some ways, the universe did it for me. He sensed a dusty waft of curiosity, and I explained my feelings. “There’s no way,” I said, “to have our child come into this world quicker.” I chuckled low. “Unless you want to cut into me.”
He turned with a seriousness I never saw before, and my heart skipped before resuming its regular beat. They say mates know what each other was thinking, but that wasn’t true here. “You’re considering it?” I whispered.
“Only in the most abstract way. I cannot unhear what is said.” He shook his head. “No, and for many reasons. I willnotrisk you or our unborn child for political power. That is Balo’s way. We’re fortunate your gestation is faster than usual. Before we had no chance and now we do.”
“And that’s it? We do nothing?”
“Sometimes doing nothing is something,” he shouted. “What would you have me do? I cannot do something to satisfy my urge to act.” His nose flared out. “I can smell the frustration. This should be a pleasant aroma, but instead this room fills with the stink of rotting vegetables.”
My nose wrinkled to a familiar sweaty scent. The dark-bearded man who could make me easily frown walked into the room. “Well, this is interesting news.”
I swallowed hard as his stare lingered on my stomach. Graden stepped between us while several orbs floated within my side vision. I didn’t see him, but I’m sure Rodion was nearby. “You’re quite loud when agitated brother. Perhaps if you were to let loose of your emotions occasionally, you would have better control.” His right eyebrow rose. “The future of Augo is in the stomachs of our mates. How interesting! Whoever delivers first gives their mate the kingship. For the rare occasion, they are in charge of who’ll be king.
***
Chapter Thirty-One
CAAN
Oh, this is not good.
The hoverchair’s steady hum and speed increased as a reactivated Tiny overrode the safety controls. Darkened stone raced by as we sped down the underwater tunnels. Meanwhile, the red-headed security chief’s instructions rang in my mind. “Run. Meet me at the market.”
My nose wrinkled from the smoke I shouldn’t still be able to smell. Tiny rested against my immense stomach while we zoomed around a corner. His eyes flashed silver, we were too far underground – and underwater – to contact the Planetary Datanet. The simple chair connection was fortunately fine.
His tinny voice drew out. “What in the hell is going on? You need to stop turning me off. Then I see you, Rodion, plumes of smoke and you’re three months pregnant.”
“Slightly less, I’m gestating faster.
His voice turned solemn. “You’ll deliver soon.”
“I know, and Graden should be here.”
His hands went out as if arguing with himself and maybe he was in a way. Having him around like a tool, seemed rude. His VR implant allowed him to practice new skills and play virtual games. He created doubles he could talk with within milliseconds. The fact that my duplicate created twins wasn’t lost on me.
“Caan, I feel like I’ve been dropped into something I can’t follow.”
“Welcome to the club, can’t say I know much more than you.”
He let out a dismissive murmur. “One minute you’re mad because of the pregnancy–”
“Betrayal,” I said. “And not something I want to rehash.”
“Now we’re in these forgotten passages.”
