Page 40 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
“As if I would ever harm…”
Delius whisper-shouted to Graden, “Enough! This is a happy time and excellent news.” He stood before Taleen’s bright smile and slightly leaned forward. This was the closest a king would ever bow to someone who wasn’t a king himself. From Taleen’s tight-lipped, shiny-eyed expression he got the significance. He wasn’t showing, but his hands went over his stomach as he imagined himself bigger.
My eyes were on him but what I saw was somebody else. Taleen’s dark, lanky muscles and silver hair morphed like a sim until I was looking at myself – if only mentally. In my mind’s eye, my tanned, hard abdominals stretched out while a child grew inside. My sharply angled face shone with the stereotypical Omega glow, and the ‘pudginess’ grew around. Pregnancy was never in my plans, and it wasn’t now, but I’ve studied. It was my sex, and it was a practicality to know about something that couldin theoryhappen. I’ve read, watched videos and observed Omegas and Femeni when possible. Most of their weight was in their belly, but they expanded in other places.
My hands caressed my stomach slowly, and I realized I imitated Taleen. I guess it made sense since we were both the same sex. To my side, Graden whispered. “Are you well?” The dusty smell of concern wafted off him. I swallowed hard and wiped away a bead of sweat.
In my mind’s eye, I was huge and rolling back and forth on the bed while I desperately tried to get up. Me, the one that hunted down the Dracon gang and brought in the Riversville robbers.I’m like a ball with arms and legs.
My gaze went over to Taleen, and his hands were out as if he were miming his full, future stomach. My throat clenched while muscles flexed. There’s a time where you don’t think about something – you just do. It usually was in a gunfight or before a physical fight. You can’t spend all your time thinking about how to throw a punch. Instinct made me run forward andpushthe king of this kingdom out of the way while I approached the Golden Doorway adorned with thousands of black and golden shells – each worth a fortune. I was one step through when I threw up on the royal carpet. Intricate geometric designs blurred in my vision while I continued to retch. During one of our previous walks, Graden told me the story of the fabled knitters and how invaluable this carpet was. It was a gift from another island and helped smooth tensions, but now it soaked up my breakfast.
More retches followed until nothing came out, yet my body continued to mime the actions. There’s a phrase; ‘It feels like I’m about to die’ and this was it.
Graden was only a step behind me, and to his credit, he had his hands on me and gently lowered me to the floor not caring about the mess but making sure I was away from my puddle. Purple orbs flew to my side and shot slow purple sensor beams over my body. My vision overlapped with my own or rather what Tiny was seeing.
He said nothing while I continued to moan on the ground. I studied Augo culture, and the implant told me most of the emergency systems were on automatic and would call the doctors, and I’m sure within a few seconds they would be here. The orbs had backup systems as well and would send out redundant messages. Graden understood but yelled to the spheres. “My mate is ill. Come now!”
His shaky hand went over my forehead he wiped away the beads of sweat that threatened to drip into my eyes. My vision overlay grew less opaque, and I saw Tiny’s concern face. “The doctors will be there soon,” he said. I was only dimly aware of other people while I mimed another empty retch. Nothing came out although I almost wished it did so I wouldn’t have to deal with the twisting in my stomach. I like to think of myself as a capable guy, but all I could do was hug myself while the frigid cold blew over me. Sometime between the doctor’s heavy footsteps and staring into Graden’s wide-eyed look, I lost consciousness and drifted into the black.
***
I woke to find myself in a large bed with Tiny. Instead of looking at me, he stared off into the distance with a pursed lip expression. Various colored orbs floated almost out of my view. Outside was a purple force field. A dark-haired man with skin as white as sand stepped into the bubble, and it morphed around him. I knew it was to keep out infection. Graden was outside and had his arms folded against his bare chest. His thinned lips were both ‘Let me attend to my mate’ and healthy caution. The doctor nodded, and he came in. Once his massive frame moved to the right. I saw Balo, Taleen and the King. Both stared back with similar faces.
“What’s wrong with me doc?” He raised a thin dark eyebrow to my accent or slang then smiled. “There is nothing wrong. I apologize for the delay, but I wanted to be certain.” His grin continued, and he stared at Graden then turned, so he and King Delius were in view. “My liege, I never thought I would be so fortunate to see two births so close together. This truly is a joyous time–”
“What in the hell?” I screamed. “I can’t be pregnant. I’ve been using–” My hands balled into fists and nails dug into my rough palms. I knew what I should say and not say. Both sides of my brain fought within those few heartbeats, “using most of my time, to learn about Augo.”
Balo’s deep voice rumbled the shimmering force field as his eyes narrowed. “You have had intercourse with my brother. Why is this unexpected?”
“Because an Omega knows his body,” I said.
“Are you sure?” Balo’s hands went out as if miming a drooping stomach.
I didn’t see Graden’s stare, but Balo raised his eyebrows, and he tapped Taleen on his shoulder. The short, thin Omega waved enthusiastically and mouthed his congratulations.
Yeah, thanks…
King Delius walked through the force field as if he had every right to do so and I suppose he did. His soft voice lowered, and he nodded toward me. “It’s your first.”
I said that it was.
“Hence the surprise I’m sure.” I found myself unable to speak but nodded quickly. He turned to Graden. “It’s unlikely your child will come before Balo’s. You know this?”
Graden’s jaw set and he nodded.
“Then I’ll be on my way,” said King Delius. “Congratulations.”
Soon after the last of the medical tests stopped, and the doctor left with a slight bow as did everyone else. Graden’s hand went to mine, and I slapped it away. “Don’t you ever touch me again,” I sputtered.
“Caan…” whispered Tiny.
“You did this.” I leaned back into the bed and shook my head. “I believed you. Thought this was all fake.” My eyes widened to hold in a tear. I wouldn’t give him that – acting like a stereotypical Omega. He already took so much away from me – he wouldn’t get more.
Graden’s voice was quick but still a whisper. “You think I mislead you?”
“The nanites are too perfect with multiple redundancies. There are two things I’ve been careful about in my life. Making sure I don’t die, and I don’t give life to someone else. Tiny would have told me if they stopped working.”
Graden’s eyes narrowed. I would’ve given anything to have been able to read his devious mind. For me to be pregnant two weeks after our first session, meant he did this right away. He was probably thinking about it as soon as I stepped off the ship.Of course. I’m just an Omega hole to him and a way to the throne.
