Chapter 9 Tristan
I'm warm, cozy even. I open my eyes. I'm back in my makeshift nest, but some of the blankets have been switched out. I'm wrapped up in one of the fluffiest ones and Varn'lac's powerful arms and tentacles.
I wiggle enough to turn over and look at the Thallan. All four of his eyes are closed. I think he's actually asleep. I guess I did push him a bit. I can't believe he really did fuck me to sleep. That's never happened before. I know I asked him to, but I'm impressed he did it.
"Awake already?" Varn'lac's deep voice reverberates around me.
"Mm," I look up into the one eye he's opened.
"How're you feeling?" He opens a second eye, diagonal to the first, and runs his thumb along my jaw, making me shiver.
"Better," I admit. "Why are there rut suppressants but not heat suppressants?"
He chuckles, his remaining two eyes opening. "Mostly because we lost the omegas before any suppressants were available. After that, it was largely because rut can make an alpha highly volatile and violent, so that seemed like the more important hormone response to get under control."
"That makes sense, but still seems unfair." I run my fingers through an errant strand of his white hair that's lying over his shoulder.
"Hm. I can look into it. I probably have some of the most recent and thorough research on omegas." His fingers trace down my neck.
"Just don't overdo it. You already don't sleep enough."
He laughs. "Look who's talking."
Before I can reply the intercom in the house pings. Varn'lac sits up and searches through the pockets of his discarded pants, pulling out the small communication device. He hits a button.
"Noramselin."
"Varn, it's Ish. Your proposition passed preliminary vote in the council meeting today. We're going to take it to the Grand Hearing in a few days." The voice is a bit staticky, but has the same feral tone all Thallan seem to have. Varn'lac isn't on the council, I wonder this is about.
"That's excellent news. You certainly work fast, Ish'lark."
The other voice laughs. "I just can't believe we hadn't thought of it before."
"We just never thought anyone would volunteer."
"Guess so. I'll let you know if it passes in the Grand Hearing.
In the meantime, you should send word to your friends to hold off on omega hunting for a while.
We'll need their expertise if the motion passes and we can get approval from the Treaty planets, but we can make what they do into more official jobs at that point. "
"We'll go back to being regular scientists." Varn'lac laughs. "Keep me in the loop. I hope it goes well."
"Me too. Bye." The line cuts.
"What was that about?" I ask. He doesn't always leave his calls on speakerphone, but he did this time.
He smiles at me, showing off a row of white pointy teeth.
"Your suggestion earlier, that we make becoming an omega a voluntary sign-up thing.
It passed in the council meeting so the suggestion will be taken to the public forum, the 'Grand Hearing' and be voted on by the citizenry.
If it passes that, then our ambassadors will reach out to the Treaty planets. "
I blink at him for a moment, not quite believing what he's saying.
Did he really take my suggestion this seriously?
I only mentioned that earlier today, and he's already talked to enough people for it to be going to a vote officially?
I don't think I've had any suggestion of mine taken so seriously so quickly before. I don't know how to react.
He frowns. "What's wrong?"
"Huh? Oh I just… I guess I didn't expect you to take me seriously so quickly." I shake my head.
Varn'lac laughs. "You're smart, Tristan, and it was a good suggestion, of course I took it seriously."
I shrug. "I guess it's just not something I'm used to."
He leans his forehead against mine. His head is bigger than mine so his horns don't touch me when he does this. "Get used to it. I know you're smart, and you're my omega. I will take you seriously."
I give him a light headbutt. "You're being sweet and it's freaking me out."
He laughs. "Sorry, should I breed you into unconsciousness again?" His grin spreads too wide across his face.
I roll my eyes. "Please don't, I'm already not going to be able to walk properly for like three days."
He rolls me onto my back, kneeling over me. "That's not a deterrent."
I glower at him. "My ass still hurts, asshole."
His grin softens. "I know, I'm teasing."
I shake my head, laughing. "Hell, you're impossible."
The End