Page 14 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
I saw a bit of a man from the hologram stare at me, and I hoped it was the right parts. His shoulders were higher, and his gaze didn’t flicker. It was easy enough to figure out what he went through. There are several options. Either he wasn’t punished enough, too much, or just right if there ever could be a perfect amount. I thought back to some of my bounties. When I kill, it’s quick. I don’t slice them up and let them linger. I can’t say what twenty years turned him into but sending him off to more punishment didn’t seem right.
“Graden,” I shouted.
The doughy snowman sim knew enough to respond and reverse melted back into taut muscles, tanned good looks, and a warrior’s body. “I want your word,” I said. No mating.”
He smiled so faintly I wondered if I saw it at all. “The only way it will happen is if you beg for it, and I grant you the honor.”
“Now it’s my turn. Don’t flatteryourself. I’ll go to your planet and then decide.”
“Unacceptable. The offer has a time limit.”
“So, does your kingdom. Which option is worst for you? Me accepting or not agreeing?”
“I can say the same for you Caan. You will either be dead or alive.” For several quick heartbeats, the only Omega with two Human parents and an aquatic prince glared at each other. He broke first. “Very well, in the interest of cooperation, we shall meet. Once there, you have one planetary rotation to decide. I cannot waste time with you.” Purple eyes stared back. “You have power Human, but do not overestimate what you have. The Volardi are known for giving the Hand to those who help, and the Boot to enemies. Ask your other father about his experiences with the Boot.” With that, he melted back into the white clay form.
Can’t believe I’m doing this, but I know one thing. We ain’t mating for real, that’s for damn sure.
***
Chapter Nine
GRADEN
“I can never thank you enough,” I said to Rodion. Thick spirals of his coarse red hair bounced and swayed with every methodical step. To our left, ocean waves crashed against the black sand and rough dark rock. The smell of brine and salt wafted over and mixed with my leather leggings. Six outfit changes resulted in a bare chest and lower armor, and I questioned if a seventh was in the future.
He nodded that he heard. My gratitude was unneeded and under the wrong circumstances, insulting. I was royalty and him my loyal guard. To thank him for performing a duty was like thanking the sun for rising. I expected it, but I was still grateful. “You performed your duties far beyond what any other prince could expect.” Royal protocol didn’t require the last line, but friendship did.
He guessed the answer to my unspoken question. “My guards escorted his ship my liege. Nobody will get to him or his passengers.” There were implications in the statement, but I said nothing while continuous roars from the ocean surf filled our walkway. My brother was the clear threat, but Volardi does not harm family. I couldn’t do something because he might conspire against me. Without a mate, the throne would go to him. The repopulation lottery gave him more than a hope for a family, it would make him a unquestioned ruler. A valid concern, but not the only one.
“Or,” I said. “No chance for Caan to get away.”
“He said he would meet you and it shall be done.”
I didn’t know the man – beyond what the records showed. He was a criminal but not cruel or at least less than a man in his profession could be. My eyes blinked several times while I thought about him. Soturi have different wants with their Femeni or Omega. Some prefer them tiny so they can fulfill our natural desire for protection.
He can defend himself. The security records from the mining colony proved that. Even thinking it made my stomach rumble with revulsion.Would I be less of a Soturi if he took my job?As for being small, he was taller than a Femeni but shorter than I. He didn’t have the usual purple eyes, but his light blue color was close. They added an exoticness to someone already non-standard.Why do I care? He’s a mate in name only. A way to keep the kingdom from my brother’s hands.
I stopped outside the decorated, thick wooden door to my room. “I’ll meet Caan alone.”
Rodion’s pause was slight, and other men would have missed it. “One warrior to another?”
My lip curled into a smile. “Go watch from your distant hiding spot as I know you do. This one is different. Most of his sex aren’t warriors.”
“Or,” he said flatly, “dangerous.”
“Go,” I said softly. “I’ll be at the landing pad shortly.
I walked down the smooth, grey stone steps and then into my bedroom. Soft flickering blue light from the ocean filtered into the clear dome around my room. Familiar colorful coral I’ve seen since my childhood shimmied between the waves.
I removed the leather kilt-leggings and held up a metal one. Caan wouldn’t know our ways – I think. Different kingdoms have varied customs. We share the three-point triangle shell tradition, with all the other aquatic domains, but here we adjust our clothing for formal meetings. Greeting another warrior wascomplicated. Wear too much, and you broadcast your fear. Too little is a dismissive insult toward an opponent while insufficiently armed. My fingers went over the silver metal. It was enough to imply respect and still leave portions of my body uncovered. The perfect way to meet a warrior and mate.
***
I stood in a large clear ring big enough for several spaceships. Through the circle I saw colorful aquatic life dart beneath the waves. A landing pad below ocean level wasn’t the safest, but it reminded us of our home. The Ryba was the first here, and they lived in the ocean. When we saved them, we got one-third of the planet as compensation, but most was the land above the waves. We are Volardi and of Augo. Brine was in our veins, and the constant reminders helped us remember our given home.
Caan’s curved silver ship landed, and it reminded me of a bird of prey. The rounded inward, forward look was what they did with their wings when they grabbed a fish from the waters.Or attacked another animal.The missiles ports were empty but didn’t take away its intimidating aura. Far off in the distance were our saucer-shaped silver crystal chips. Close enough to vaporize the craft if needed.
His ship landed with a metallic thump amid the still, damp air. The ramp extended, and I swallowed hard as I waited. This wasn’t a typical mating introduction. Had it been, perhaps I would have smiled or thought about our life together. Usually my family would be here, but this secret meeting was something my brother would do; adherence to the law but not the spirit. Even the Ryba was like that. For decades they would agree to treaties and circumvent without breaking the agreement.
