Emma’s stopped laughing and now she’s watching me curiously, her head cocked to one side. “I have to admit, I disliked Aurus on sight,” she said. “When Khan took me to the Council of Kings, he was just so arrogant, so demanding… and all that ostentatious gold everywhere. Aside from the Stone King, he was probably my least favorite.”
“Stone King?”
Emma shudders. “He’s creepy as fuck. There are a bunch of kings here on Ulfaria. I assume you know?”
I nod. “One of the harem members clued me in to a lot of stuff. But I still don’t really get the obsession with Omegas.”
“Yeah, it took me a while to fully get that, too.” Emma gets up and pours herself a glass of whatever’s in the jug on the table. “Would you like a drink?”
“Sure.” I accept the goblet gratefully, taking a long swallow of the cool, fragrant juice. “This is good!”
“Leeberry juice. I’m craving it. I mean, I’m craving cheeseburgers more, but there just aren’t any to be had around here.” She settles back down into her blue couch, still clutching her goblet. “So, about the Omegas. Basically, this is how it works: Ulfarri society is made up of Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. This is like a caste system, and you’re born into it. Betas make up the majority. They’re the worker bees, the engineers, the scientists—or magicians, as they like to call them here,” she gives a rueful little smile, “the artists… basically, most of the population. The Alphas are strong, bigger, and the warrior class, you could say. They’re the protectors. The Omegas are essentially the breeders. Beta/Beta couples have Beta kids. In very rare instances, they’ll have an Alpha or Omega baby, but it’s rare enough that most people have never seen it happen. The army is dwindling, and the planet is constantly under threat from various other species who want to kill everyone here and take Ulfaria for themselves. Either for the resources, or just a new place to live. Ulfaria needs Alpha soldiers to stop that from happening. To make the next generation of Alphas, they need—”
“Omegas,” I finish for her. “I remember Juno said that Alphas can’t breed with Betas.”
“Exactly.” Emma sets her goblet down and curls up, pulling her legs underneath her.
“So the rut, the estrus, all the sex… essentially, Aurus is just trying to knock me up?”
“Afraid so. Believe me, I struggled with it. The last thing I ever wanted to do was have kids.” She pats her belly and gives another rueful smile. “But after Khan…” She trails off, absorbed in her own thoughts.
“After Khan… what?” I prompt.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll tell you another time. I don’t know how long we have.”
“Aurus doesn’t know I have an IUD,” I say quietly, and Emma’s blue eyes widen.
“You do? Jesus, Kim! He’ll lose his absolute shit!”
“I had it put in on Earth!” I’m indignant, wondering why I feel so defensive. “It’s not like I knew I was coming here!”
“You’re right, of course.” She covers her mouth but a giggle escapes anyway. “God, I’d love to see his face when you tell him.”
I snicker. “I’m waiting for the right moment.” I waggle my brows.
“Aurus isn’t going to know what hit him. I’m glad you’re comfortable standing up to him. I get the impression that few people—if any—do.”
“Yeah, he tells me all the time:You are not what I expected.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing.” Emma’s gaze grows penetrating. “So you are settling in with him okay?”
“For now. I’m not planning on staying with him. I’m going to escape,” I tell her.
“And go where? It’s not easy to get back to Earth.”
“I don’t need to go back to Earth,” I say, and it’s true. I have no specific memories of my home on Earth, why would I want to return? Besides, Ulfaria is so fascinating. “Anywhere. Leave the palace. Go exploring. Teach sexual liberation classes to Beta women, I don’t know.”
Emma giggles again. “Oh, Aurus will love that.”
“Yeah, he doesn’t get a say,” I announce with more boldness than I feel. “I was hoping you could help me.”
Emma considers this, twisting her fingers together in her lap. “Is Aurus unkind to you?”
The question takes me completely by surprise. “Well, he’s not cruel. He doesn’t keep me naked and chained to a wall somewhere.” My pussy pulses when I imagine it—apparently, it thinks being at Aurus’s mercy would be hot.“He’s even almost tender, at times. But that’s not the point. I’m still a prisoner, even if I do have scented baths and pretty dresses…”And shaking orgasms, and protective cuddles. “It’s the best sex I’ve ever had, or probably will ever have. But it’s not enough.”
Emma is quiet for some time, still twisting her fingers. “I wish I could help you,” she says, “I really do, but I don’t see how. Unless we somehow convince Aurus to send you away. I mean, I could help you escape from him, but I doubt he’d just let you go.”
“Maybe I could hide out here?” As soon as I suggest it, I realize how dumb the question is.
