“I agreed to be your mate... not your slave.”

I pressed my lips together to stifle any outburst. Layt, my former Dara would have been perfect. He knew the right amount of... indulgence to give our Femeni. I protect, I fuck until he fills the room with screams of pleasure, and I give a good life. Why am I failing?

My voice lowered, “You are in a new home. You don’t know the dangers that are out there.”

“Yes, the Ryba. I’m not an idiot. I’ve survived a farm with coyotes, snakes, and even black widows. Believe me. I know how to look out for danger.”

That wasn’t true. I risked death from the collar because this… ‘Nate’ nearly killed him.

I paused while the implant gave me the visualizations of the creatures he mentioned and felt myself frown. “So alien,” I mumbled. “Regardless, there is a phrase; ‘Calm before the storm’.”

“We have it too.”

“Then you should know the truth. The Ryba do not stop. When they do nothing visible, they plan.”

The soft male voice came from behind. “My son is correct. They aren’t an evil people, but they are a... troubling one.”

I turned and saw a short man who should look younger within his force field. “Oma...” With no prompting, we went toward each other and hugged deep. Only the barest of heat came through the field.

“See,” I said. “Our Oma has been here longer than us both. Heed his advice.”

My Oma’s lips turned into a slight grin. “Is that so, my son? I was to tell you to let your Femeni be. He’s a survivor.”

“Yes, and if he wants to remain one, he should wear the Medical Shield. At least for a while.”

My Oma’s face wrinkled. “You are my son, and my liege. No one will disobey you but please don’t pursue this.”

“Again?”

“I’ll wear mine. There’s no need to give him the same fate. If it were not for my room where I can turn this off, I would have gone mad.”

I whispered low. “I… I cannot remove it.”

“You could,” he said with a sad smile. “You aren’t cruel but… you could if you wanted.”

I said nothing for there was no need. I lost my Femeni and my Dara to his own hand. My Oma might fall to contagions. Even the doctors said his immune system was weakened. Microbes and other items laughable to our bodies, were deadly to him.