“Are you well, little one?” he asked.
Jamue quickly nodded and stared at his feet.
“Rosh, you are too kind. We’ll make the official introductions once everyone is here then. Excuse us,” his father said and dragged him to the door while mumbling under his breath. It sounded like he was cursing his dad and brother.
“Are we leaving?” Jamue asked, hoping. But his father crushed his hopes when he answered him.
“No,” he growled, rushing to their hover pod. “Go find your brother. He’s probably still at his health centre oblivious to what's going on around him. Bring him back here quickly. I’ll go find your dad.” He shut the door and turned back to the house.
No. I want to go home, Jamue silently cried.
The pod came to life and drifted away. Jamue gave the house one last glance, wishing he could run to a place far away. But where?
Life was hard for omegas on their planet. They had no rights. And he was scared of living in a commune house.
What am I going to do?
He stared out the window trying to think of a way to stall. If only he could stall his heat too. That wasn’t possible.
Jamue sighed.
He frowned when he saw Holi walking down the tiny walkway along the airway.
“What is he doing?” he asked, turning to the driver. “Can you stop for him?”
The alpha gave a sharp nod and drifted to a stop.
Jamue opened the door and rushed to Holi. He gripped his arm, dragging him back to the pod.
“Jamue, what are you doing?”
“I should be asking you. Do you want to die?” Jamue shoved him into the pod and got in after him.
“Maybe.” Holi folded his arms over his chest defensively.
“What?”
“Just take me home, will you?”
Jamue stared at him stunned. He wanted to ask him what was going on, but he had a feeling Holi wouldn’t tell him. They barely had a relationship. There was no way he would confide in him.
“I’m going to find my brother. I’ll take you home afterwards, okay?”
“Fine,” Holi said, looking out the window.
“Do you need anything?” he asked anyway.
Holi gave him a lethal look. “No.”
“Okay,” Jamue raised his hands and turned to the other window.
***
Hym
He was going to die.
Hym groaned, doubling over as everything inside him felt like it was about to explode. He was in so much pain he could barely breathe. The burn of the flaming blade slithered from his wound and spread throughout his body.