Page 8 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
Old eyes on a young face stared back, and he shuffled to the door and kicked the discarded clothing out of the way. His smile was quick, but not genuine. “Sorry kid, you get used to it. I did.”
My other father’s words returned with a country drawl. ‘If you want to know a man, press a gun against his head.’ It wasn’t a gun, but I knew who he was.
Nothing but a coward and a broken man.
***
Chapter Five
GRADEN
“This will tear Augo apart and shatter the shell,” shouted Matros – king of our nearby and neighboring kingdom. Soturi males compare ourselves against each other but never admit to it. My body was more for swordplay and agility.What’s his for? Bursting through a wall?
Like all Soturi, he was tall but broader than most. Thick muscles that could lift black rocks from our underwater caverns flexed as he waited for a response. He frowned, and his hand went through his black hair and over his right purple stripe. Staring hard at another Soturi wasn’t protocol – especially within the royal chambers.
Nor was watching his light brown-haired mate, yet I couldn’t turn away even if those brown eyes might return my look. I had no desire for Peter although the shorter Omega with beautiful cheekbones was considered attractive. Despite the pleasant visual of the slender, muscled man, I would never approach him inthat way. Volardi have many rules, but the top is wenevertake another’s mate, nor do we give the appearance of considering it.Especially when I have noneof my own. My stare was intellectual. His earth-brown eyes weren’t purple, and his chest was without the two flecked lines.
Over twenty rotations back – after the Gloom War – we found them, the Earthlings and savior of our race. The closest genetically to our own, and after the transformation, practically Volardi in every way; especially where it mattered – a womb capable of giving us children. It would’ve been simple enough to make them look like ourselves. The Emperor in his wisdom decreed that they should be recognizable at a glance – hence the strange color eyes and blank chest. It was to remind us of our debt and to pay tribute to the dead Femeni and those my people treated poorly.
Would my brother understand that lesson?We were both in attendance as was my father. Subconsciously, I think Balo was being groomed for leadership. Leading is dealing with what’s coming, not what you want. My brother would do well to know that.Instead, he’s tearing chunks from this planet.
My father’s voice drew out as he breathed in deep. I recognize the gesture: preparing a question when he already knew the answer. I remember it when my brother and I fought, but now I saw it again. “One of your children...?”
Matros shook his thick head and say, “No. It would be several generations before the Emperor abolishes the lottery.”
“And too long for my son.”
“The other one,” whispered my brother. He grinned, and his dark beard wrinkled.
The insult was understood by all, but we said nothing. “We’re lucky,” said Matros. His hand went out, and he gripped Peter’s hand firmly. His mate was small, and currently not with child although he had been. Generations back, it would’ve been rare for a Femeni to attend a royal function. Beliefs that were blasphemous or extremely rare were now regular. We failed our third sex as a race, and their loss almost took all the Volardi with them. He was Omega from Earth, but Peter stood as if he were Soturi himself. Whether it was his birth background or Matros’ love, I couldn’t say. Others would find fault in his stance, but it was admirable. My brother desired a submissive Femeni and per his boasts got one. I didn’t know what I wanted in mine beyond availability. My father said the nose would know, but I’ve never smelled that scent or inhaled the certain knowledge you’re meant for each other.
I discreetly asked Balo. He sneered and said I would have to have a mate to understand. Otherwise, it was like explaining something to a child. A part of me wondered if he feltitwith his Femeni. There were rumors of higher-ups and other types finding mates that weren’t a perfect match. There wasn’t anything nefarious, just ‘less perfect.’Is that what he did?
“My time,” said my father, “is cresting to an end. The waves of my rule will ebb and another will take my place. The Sacred Scrolls say nobody must rule forever. Our empire demands new ideas or at least the chance for them. Augo will either change out of necessity or see it’s best to remain. It will be one of my two sons.” He gestured to my brother who leaned forward. “Balo intends to join the Separatists.”
“For the good of Augo we need children,” said my brother.
“And yet,” said Peter. “You got one and still want to leave.” Small but fierce came to mind. Any Augo child knows it’s not the size of the creature to fear, but what’s inside. The universe filled our oceans with tiny, toxic creatures that would paralyze with poison. The small man didn’t seem so different.
“Mind your tongue,” said Balo.
“My Mate,” said Matros, “speaks the truth. The one with a Femeni plans to leave. The other without prefers to stay.”
“If you want my kingdom to remain,” said my father, “Then the solution is easy. Offer a mate. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating.”
Matros inhaled deep. “A mate to a kingdom with someone who wishes to leave. A mate would keep Augo united. The loss of this mate…our childwould ensure we split. Who’s to say he’ll be protected?”
My father’s voice rose to a shout. “It’s my kingdom! Every Femeni or Omega will be undermyeye.” A red flush I haven’t seen since we were children raced over his face. “Do you doubt my ability to provide protection within my castle?” He leaned forward. “I fought the Gloom and protected Augo from their fleet while you were still in the wading pools. Do you wish to state what troubles you about my home?”
We all knew, but protocol forbade him from naming my brother.
Matros jaw set and Peter stared with quiet confidence. He could say something. Changed times and what I suspected was within him gave him that ability. Instead, he remained silent. The aura wasn’t unlike the giant eels I saw under the waves as they waited for prey.
I would have taken any Femeni within reason. Generations back there were nothing but Volardi Femeni, and I wondered about the Human ones. They weren’t as submissive and their ‘water’ boiled hotter.
In theory, there should have been better chances for me. This wasn’t after the war, and we’ve had two decades of beneficial coexistence with the Humans. As useful as that was, the Femeni births spiked – almost as if they were subconsciously picked because they had to produce more. I would have treated any Femeni well… exceedingly so, but they were matched by scent. Chemical analysis and psychological profiles ensured the Femeni would have the perfect mate. Taking one, meant I would take someone’ssoulmateas the Earthlings would say.
The meeting ended with much unsaid, yet I heard the warnings in my mind. Matros’ nation bordered our own, and he would endure the change badly. Only our kingdom would feel it more. Our relationship has always been friendly although there were issues with the aquatic Ryba. His government was the first to open relations with them, much of that credit belonged to Peter. For eons, two races were unfriendly to each other. Now with our Human mates, three lived in harmony.And it’s a Volardi that will tear it apart.For now, he was an ally, but that would change once my brother took over.
