Page 43 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
His head tilted. “Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”
With anyone else, I’d think he was playing dumb, but that furrowed look was sincere. I’d bet my life on it.
“You’re not,” he said.
“I have a lot to think about.”
“And be happy about,” he added.
Am I? Yes, no. Maybe.
He stared at me and his forehead furrowed. “You don’t understand me, and I don’t you.” His voice softened. “I thought we could be friends.” He sniffed and blinked several times.
“I don’t dislike you,” I said.
“But you don’t really like me.”
“That’s not–”
“I’m traditional, but I’m not stupid.” He sniffed a few more times as if trying to hold on to his emotions. “You know about the previous generations?”
That was an open-ended question, but I guessed correctly. “The way they used to treat Femeni?”
He nodded. “My family never beat a Femeni – ever. They could read and pursue outside interests, but they were happy at home.”
“Sounds like Volardi propaganda.”
His dark skin flushed red. “I remember the laughter in my home. Both of my fathers loved my Oma. From the time he gave birth to my brothers and me to the last time I saw him, he never stopped loving me. He cooked our meals, held us when we were sick, and read us stories.” Tears pooled in his eyes and dripped down. “You know who I think is the worst to us?”
I had an idea but shook my head.
“Our sex. We need Femeni and Omegas. Some continue having children, but others are using this as their chance to do other things once they give the minimum.” His shoulders slumped. “We need children. They should continue having babies but, I don’t tell them that. If it’s what they want to do, I respect it. There’s honor in raising a family. You think because I choose this, I’m weak. We’re told we can do anything we want now, and this is what I picked for the rest of my life. There’s a saying: A good Femeni or Omega make their Soturi better. What’s wrong with that?”
I leaned back into the chair. I could have said counter-arguments but was the life he wanted so bad? My face twisted into a shameful frown. “I’m sorry Taleen.”
He raised an eyebrow, but I couldn’t say if he didn’t believe me or maybe he didn’t get many apologies. I held my hands out as if to admit defeat. A momentary thought if I was becoming subservient flickered in my mind.No. I don’t need to fight, just to do it. Taleendid nothing, except argue. Compared to a gunshot that was a lot better.
His lips curled into a soft smile. “Apologize for what?”
Mentally I grinned. The kid might’ve been gentle, but he wasn’t stupid. He was testing me, but it was fine. Truthfully, I think it made me like him more. “For dismissing what you want from life. Plenty of people did it to me or at least my sex.”
He said nothing, but the slight smile said he liked my reply. I wasn’t sure if we would ever begreatfriends – I couldn’t see much in common – but we could be cordial. ‘Neighborly’ as they would say on my old planet.
The lanky redheaded doctor from before came by. His slender build and my common sense said he was Dara. Having a Soturi near someone’s mate would cause too many issues. The doctors did nothing wrong, except stand near a mate, but that was enough for a fight. Soturi had to posture between their sexes. There were Femeni who practiced medicine – New Texas has one – I wondered if that would have been better.
The redhead’s deep voice drew out. “Your mates are ready. What about you two? Ready to see your child?” I nodded yes, but Taleen was quicker. A few seconds later, Graden hurried to my left and Balo walked softly and stood to Taleen’s right.
In my side vision, I saw both brothers glare at each other, and I frowned. I would’ve liked a brother or sister growing up. It would have made my childhood less lonely. Unique means you’re special but alone in the universe.
But that’s not true anymore, is it?I couldn’t say, but my attention was on what our baby looked like. In unison, two orbs floated over and shot quick purple beams over Taleen’s and my stomach. Above the spheres, a hologram of my child formed.So pink!
Graden squeezed my hand firmly, and my lips shivered while we looked at the tiny boy within a curved membrane. He wasn’t completely formed and reminded me of a sim between the soft dough and the final humanoid shape. It was as if someone sculpted clay but hadn’t finished the fine details. He had his feet and hands, but the eyes were closed. The white-grey umbilical cord disappeared at the edge of the image. Graden ran his hand over my stomach, and the hologram flickered with his touch. I bit my lower lip and stared at more than a baby. All my life I feared this moment, and I fought against it. Sometimes I suspected I became a bounty hunter to prove I was better than an Omega. Deep down I asked if… well, dying isn’t what I wanted, but I didn’t want to live to be pregnant. Paradoxical but true. That way I would never end up as the universe demanded.
I glanced quickly to Balo. He stood up straight and proud as if he were carrying the child.That I would like to see.No this was our burden although the word seemed wrong. For all the death I’ve given, I was now giving life. Gooseflesh rose on my arms, and my breath shook. I closed my eyes out of foolish pride; I couldn’t have tears race down my cheek. I wanted to look, but it was too overwhelming. This little thing was in me and it would soon grow. I thought about what Taleen said about his family; a simple life for them but a good one.
There were people back in New Texas with a small homestead with cattle and horses. I knew a few who could’ve expanded, but they didn’t. They are happy with their tiny lot in life, although I wouldn’t say this responsibility was little. Somehow being a bounty hunter didn’t seem so scary anymore but having this baby did. Graden lowered to his knees and hugged me close while I inhaled his citrus clove scent. That muggy male scent broke through my defenses, I felt the slow tears pool down my nose and onto his dark hair.It’s the hormones, it’s got to be.
Once I had finished with the tears, Graden wiped them away and gave me a soft kiss on the forehead. I studied the deep purple eyes I’d never seen before in any man. I’ve been in a few if not relationships than temporary get-togethers, but nobody looked at me like that. I gave him a child, and that would be enough to endear me to any of the Volardi, but there was more. Nothing was sad, but I knew it as much as I loved the little boy that was growing inside my stomach. I leaned up and tasted the sweet salt of his lip. A thought came that was so alien but right.Thank you, Graden. A Volardi male got me pregnant, and now I was thankful. Our child’s image continued to float within the hologram above us with his eyes closed and oblivious to my mental torment. Biology created him, but like I to Nate, he wasn’t supposed to be born. He was here because of Tiny’s manipulation and betrayal.He was right all along. Wrong, but right.
