Page 17 of The First Alpha on the Planet
And I supposed the third cookie had a home as I handed him the bag with a huff. “Here. Have a cookie.”
“What is it?” He pulled out the shortbread-esque thing and wrinkled his nose as he turned it over between his fingers.
“Cookie. Fruit in. It’s sugar and carbs. Eat.” I crossed my legs as I took up space beside him and settled in.
He examined the bag, as confused about the package as I had been at one point or another. Still, he took a grudging bite, though. “Not bad. Reminds me of ube shortbread.”
“Laa-dee-richy-dah,” I found myself saying. Someone was spendy rich enough to afford exotic produce. The program that raised me fed me a diet of protein gruel, fiber tablets, and theoccasional vitamin transfusion when I looked peaky. Part of the reason why I loved food so much.
He glanced away, tail swishing away from me in a noticeable withdrawal. “If you had my resources, you too would have sampled many things.”
“I’d not be as rich as you if I had your resources.” I huffed. “How often did you rip us off?”
“Often enough.” Roan crossed his arms over his knees, a rather churlish gesture for someone so well-established and far more humanoid than he was last we saw. “Nice face.”
I reached up to touch my cheek, smooth skin meeting my fingertips, the sensation strange. “Thanks.”
“As I was telling him earlier,” Vil said, interrupting us. “That’s behind us. You made amends. I’ve distributed the money to my crew as their part and sent money to the designated beneficiaries of the crew we’ve lost since then. Everyone is happy.”
“Gotta admit, that payout was nice, not that it does us any good here.” I scoffed and leaned back, stretching a single leg out, enjoying the way my newly changed skin stretched over my muscles. Taloned toes stretched and spread before tucking.
“Well, if we—or when you—decide to leave…” Vil waved a hand aimlessly.
“What makes you think I want to leave?” I glanced up, meeting Vil’s guilty gaze.
“You’ve not…” Vil hesitated.
“You’ve avoided coitus or any interest in any of the omegas. I cannot imagine their eternal pestering is going to ease up.” Noel, as infuriatingly blunt as always, leaned into Vil and inhaled deeply, as relaxed as I’d ever seen him.
“Well… We’re equals here. I have no family out there,” I said, gesturing toward space aimlessly like I could point out which direction we were currently facing. “I have family here.”
Roan scoffed, and I glanced over.
“Though, it is getting a little crowded.” I raised my lip in a little threat display and earned a huff.
“Like one pussy-fruit-coloredomegais going to make your life hell here.” His eyes didn’t flick my way again, posture wilting as much as his tail.
“Get the fuck off your pity party, Roan. Like… Seriously. They spent hours grilling us, making sure we weren’t misogy—speci—sexist? Whatever. None of us give a shit about your gender. And your color is fine! Whoever decided that one set of genitals owned a damn color needs to be resurrected, turned into an AI, and forced to share a mind with Merriel for a hundred years!”
“Speaking of Merriel…” Vil glanced around.
“If it gets too bad, he can vacate his probe.” Roan shrugged. “You know how they are.”
“I don’t think he reciprocates her affection.” Noel glanced off in the direction she flew away.
“I don’t know if that’s affection…” I pursed my lips. “They’re like the last two of a species and one of them is gay.”
Vil’s face twisted in a pained expression. “I don’t think Merriel can quite wrap his head aroundsex. It’s been how long and he hasn’t even figured out how to wire pleasure? He’s figured out eight kinds of drugs in that time.”
“Leticia will update his code if she has half a chance,” Roan supplied unhelpfully.
“I’m going to check in on him.” Vil waved in the air to open a window. “Merriel?”
A beep responded before Leticia’s voice cooed, “Merriel isn’t here right now. Please leave a message after the—”
“Ahhh!” Merriel’s short scream ended abruptly as silence spread among the room.
“Leticia!” Roan sighed heavily.
