Page 42 of The Accidental Omega
They grin, rounded, flat teeth showing, “Well, four now. And we’re going to be best friends.”
Another laugh from our omega, which makes me grin in pleasure.
“Aleron Zallan.” The voice is deep, rich, and I know it to be from the aleron of the pack we are closest with, Pack Osils.
But Elizabeth goes stiff. Both Nimme and I notice. Their arm reaches across the table for her even as I curl her against me, my arm over her shoulder.
My touch eases her but before the Osils aleron can say anything else, a nanoflier zips in between us, chasing a dolrgr, no doubt, who is after our sweetener.
The nanoflier hovers, rotating in mid-air, searching.
Elizabeth’s eyes are locked on it and Zallan notices.
He steps behind her, an arm banding around her waist easily and pressing her against his body in comfort.
“A nanoflier?” She breathes, eyes still tracking it as it zips back and forth in front of us, searching its target.
“Indeed, wedari.”
“Is its prey near?” She asks.
“Prey?” Wells asks from nearby.
She makes a noise in her throat. “The thing it is after?”
“Oh, its target. Yes. a dolrgr. There must be one near,” Zallan answers.
“I want to see one,” she responds.
Zallan purrs, “Anything you wish for, Libby, we will provide.”
She leans back against him harder, her happiness evident.
WE ARE INSIDE THE SWEETENERoperation, partially showing the workings of it to our omega, and partially in search of a dolrgr.
“They sometimes come in, though the little assholes have learned to bore into the Glohas trees,” Zallan explains.
The sound that escapes Elizabeth is contemplative.
I tilt my head, something tickling at the back of my brain.
“Remind me, omega, what you spent your time upon on Earth doing?” I ask.
Her eyes dart around the space, clearly searching for a dolrgr.
“Wildlife biologist,” she answers without thought.
Wells replies, "Explain in other words, please.”
A single dolrgr zips into view.
Elizabeth tracks the tiny critter for a moment and frowns.
“Is it... venomous? Poisonous?” She asks, continuing, “What does it normally eat?”
“No,” Zallan answers, shaking his head. “A fruit that is edible to Celnoe but not palatable.”
“What is its range? Is it a widespread species? Does it have any known symbionts?"
