Battling an armored creature wasn’t the same. If my neck throbs were any indication, it shot me with poison. Still, I looked around the room for anything I could use and saw nothing. The old Peter might have screamed. I’ve been on this planet long enough to get used to strange creatures.

I raised my voice slowly to not startle it. Over a minute of constant calls for help passed before the door to my room – jail I suspected – opened. Short and squat Fuath strolled into the door with his green head held high. He smiled and bared his rows of serrated teeth. Behind him were the two, tall grey skinned females from before. They were his wives and advisers. Even guards when needed. Whatever was needed.

My research told me their society was set up with redundancies. During their environmental catastrophes, females weren’t educated yet in line for succession. The old society expected they would find a mate and transfer responsibility to the males. A polluted planet with greater male deaths ruined those plans.

Kingdoms with royalty that couldn’t read or had no experience with ruling, was a bad idea. It only took a few years to change their mindset. I couldn’t help but see parallels with the Volardi. Their Omegas were treated as a disposable caste or sex and it nearly took the entire race into oblivion.

I stared up from my bed to the shorter king and then to the black eyes of his wives.

Yeah, those are intelligent eyes.

My nose wrinkled at the slight sickly-sweet seaweed smell. Some of it was them, but also the environment. I guess you can’t have an underwater city without the smell of water.

I was about to shout my demands, but Fuath spoke first.

“You are with child and under the waves. We know these caverns, valleys, and floors. Your Volardi do not.”

“You’re talking about a race that can travel the stars and rearrange matter.” There were more abilities like creating Omegas from humans and teleporter technology. I kept that to myself.

“Your Volardi Masters have an arrogant view of their technology and abilities.”

“They aren’t my masters.” Although, he was my Alpha, so I wondered how much that was true under a certain point of view.

“Then disagree with the Emperor and see how correct you are.”

I let it go since there were more important things to think about.

“In keeping us under the sea, the Volardi forced us to memorize every tunnel, cavern, and hiding spot.”

“You’re an aquatic race. You started in the water.”

“They started in the caves, and yet they have the stars. They concern themselves with matters that are only Volardi.” He held out a webbed hand. “Come.”

“No.”

“I would like to invite you for a walk… if you are able.”