Predator

Chapter 17

Tyr kept his silent vigil over his wife for the first two days after their return from Kortoth of which Alexandra remained unconscious. Her burns did not fade. Her bones did not mend. Her wounds did not heal. He tried everything he could to assist her body’s healing factor from old Earth remedies; given to him from Duncan; to mystical remedies; passed on by Ares; and nanobots that he programmed to treat her injuries. Nothing had worked.

He sat next to her prone form on the bed; afraid to touch her for fear of causing her more pain; and openly wept. “May I give you some advice?” Tyr lifted his pain-filled eyes to Ian’s and the Phoenix’s cosmic mate felt the Nietzchean’s agony from across the room.

“If it would help her, I would gladly accept any words you offer, my lord.”

Ian was taken aback by Tyr’s humble plea and moved to take the seat that Tyr had occupied for 2 days while keeping a watchful eye on their wife. “I know she is hurt bad.” He glanced quickly at Alex and; unable to bear the sight of her condition; he turned his gaze back to Tyr. “She is probably injured as bad as I’ve ever seen before and let me tell you that is saying something.”

“Is there anything you can do?”

“I have never been able to heal her. Sadly, that is not a power she passed on to me. It is ironic that she gave me the ability to heal others but I am left helpless when it comes to her.” Ian leaned back in the chair and cast his eyes to the ceiling in silent frustration before he looked back at her troubled mate. “In her current condition there are only 3 people that can help her.”

Tyr’s eyes looked hopeful for the first time in days when he heard Ian’s words. “Who are they? Where are they?”

“The best choice of the three lies right beside you but you know that is not a possibility. Alexandra will not allow herself to pass on and be reborn because of the pain it will inflict on Dorian.” He watched Tyr reach a tentative hand out towards her arm but pulled it back at the last second. “Of the other 2 that can aid in her healing, Riddick has left that responsibility to you.”

“Nothing I’ve tried so far has worked.”

Exasperated at the sheer density of this genetically superior human, Ian shook his head in amazement. “Tyr, have you forgotten what part of her you have control over? She gave you dominion over her body! Did you honestly think it was just for sexual purposes?” He knew the instant he said it the Nietzchean would need further clarification due to the confusion on his face. “Concentrate the power she has given you and direct it through her body. Force it to bend to your will and repair itself.”

“Ian, I’m afraid to touch her!” Tears flowed freely down his face as he looked at her broken and burned body. “I don’t want to hurt her…again.”

“Tyr, you know as well as I that she is not made of glass! She is the most powerful being in existence and you need a strong hand to help her.” He patted Tyr on the arm and rose from his seat to leave him to the task at hand. “I would do this in the bathing pool and wash her skin to see how you are progressing.” He could feel the anxiety rolling off the solemn man in waves. His fear was coming dangerously close to overwhelming him. “Tyr, look at me.”

“What?” His head snapped up and 2 sets of dark eyes bore into each other. “What do you expect of me?” He yelled out in desperation.

“Riddick has entrusted the most precious thing we all possess to your care and I agree with his decision completely. I have taken care of this woman since the beginning of time. I know how hard it is to see her like this but you have to get past this irrational fear of yours and do what must be done.” He could feel a sense of determination filter through the man before him and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “I trust you to take care of OUR woman.”

Tyr’s eyes widened in surprise at Ian’s smiling face and he nodded his head. “I won’t let the family down.” Ian nodded his head and turned to the door when Tyr stopped him. “Ian, will you look in on my sons? I haven’t had the opportunity to update Jesse on his mother’s condition and Tamerlane…”

“I will see to your children as I would my own until you are free to do so yourself.” Ian looked back at Tyr and then to their wife once more before he left the room.

Tyr took a deep steadying breath before he lifted Alex as gently as he could in his arms and carried her to the medical table in the bathing room. He set her unconscious form down and stripped off his leathers. Adjusting the water to a cooler temperature, he retrieved her body and moved down the stairs into the bath. Sitting on the bottom step, he settled her across his lap and closed his eyes to draw on the Phoenix force that resided in his own body.

After what seemed like the longest minutes of his life had passed, his eyes snapped open when the power within him responded to his call. He had never used his ability over her in any other manner than to make her body submit to his sexual will and was surprised when it manifested in a golden glow from his hands.

He used his free hand to cup some water and dribbled it over her face and hair. When the swelling dwindled away from her eyes and mouth, he let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and continued to run water over her badly burned arms.

The water hissed and bubbled when it came into contact with the burns. After a couple of seconds when the sound and bubbles faded, he ran his wet hand over the area and the dead, ugly flesh peeled away to reveal her usual sun-darkened skin color underneath. He repeated the process over and over until all the burned areas were a horrible memory but no longer visible to the eye.

He moved on to the cuts and other various wounds that marked her torso. While he ran the water over the surface of her body, he focused his healing efforts to the bone and muscle within and willed them all to vanish. Her body complied with his demands and he sensed all of her internal injuries had healed in accordance to his wishes. He had accomplished what he had set out to do but was concerned when she didn’t regain consciousness.

He rested his forehead against hers and clenched his eyes. ‘What did I do wrong, baby? Why aren’t you waking up?’ He mentally searched her entire body to determine if he missed anything in the process of healing her and realized he could not detect any mental activity from her mind. ‘Alex, wake up! It’s okay to come out now, my love. The pain is gone! You don’t need to hide from it any longer!’ He hugged her to him fiercely and rocked her back and forth. ‘I promise I fixed everything, baby. Please wake up!’

“Tyr.”

He pulled his head back an inch from hers and slowly opened his eyes to see her eyelids flutter. “That’s it, baby. Come back to us.” When her black eyes reflected his face to him, he let out a sigh of relief and smiled at her. “Hello, beautiful.”

“Hi back.” She drowsily looked down at her body and turned questioning eyes to him. “You did this?” With tears rolling down his smiling face, he nodded his head. “I always knew you could find something else to do with that power I gave you other than make me melt at your touch.” She caressed his cheek and kissed him lightly on his lips. “Thank you.”

“There is nothing to thank me for. I love you and I would do anything for you.”

“I know, baby, and I love you too. You proved yourself already by defying me yet again and following me into Kortoth.” He averted his gaze at her chastisement until she lured it back by placing a lingering kiss on his lips. “I love you, Tyr, and I want you in my life. I always have.”

“I promise I will never betray you again. I don’t ever want to see that pain in your eyes again when you look at me.”

“Don’t ask me why, Tyr, but I trust you.” She ran her hand along his jaw, over the shell of his ear, and into his locks. “I trust you with my mind, body and heart. You are my mate and I have always been yours.”

He let out a shaky breath at her declaration and kissed her forehead. “Thank you, my beloved. I swear I won’t ever make you regret that decision.”

“I know you won’t, Tyr, because next time I will kill you.” She began to giggle hysterically at the look on his face and quirked an eyebrow at him. “I’m kidding. Would you be a dear and carry me to bed?”

His brow knitted and turned concerned eyes to her body. “Did I miss something? Are you not healed completely?”

“You did not miss a thing, Tyr, but just because you healed my body does not mean my strength has returned. We just engaged in a major battle and even I have some limits. I am exhausted and it will take quite a few days before I am back to normal.”

“I am sorry. I didn’t realize…”

“It’s okay. I just need some time to regenerate.”

“Then time you will get, milady.” He picked her up, carried her to the table, and set her down while he retrieved a towel. “I will ensure you get plenty of rest so you can recover completely.”

She saw the gleam in his eyes as he set about drying her skin. “I know that look, Mr. Anasazi.” A grin spread across his face as he moved the soft cloth over her breasts and lingered longer than necessary between her legs. “I believe I am dry now, Tyr. Well, my skin at least is dry.”

His rich laugh filled the room as he ran the towel over his own flesh. “Forgive me, Alexandra. It appears my body does not care that you require time to rest.” When he threw the towel aside, an impressive erection stood proudly against his abdomen. “Your body has the usual effect on mine.”

“So I see.” He lifted her in his strong arms and carried her to the bed. When he placed her in the center, she held on to his neck and pulled him towards her. “I might not be in top form for our normal activities, Tyr, but I would love for you to make love to me. We have never really done that before.”

He looked at her with total love in his eyes but under that laid a tension that she understood before he could explain. “I don’t…know if I can control myself, Alexandra. Nietzcheans don’t…”

“Hush.” She pulled him down on top of her; where he rested on his forearms above her; and she began to place light kisses over his face. “I trust you to love me, Tyr. I am your mate.” She glanced down at her right bicep and his gaze followed hers to find her double helix in place. “I always have been.” He looked back into her eyes with awe in his. “It’s always been there. I just didn’t allow anyone to see it after you…”

“I know why you would hide it but it makes my heart fly to know that it has always been there.” He kissed her urgently and ran his tongue into her mouth to dance against her own. He broke off the kiss and gasped for breath. “Alex, I don’t think I can do this.”

“I beg to differ, my love.” He held his breath when he felt her hand glide over his shaft and guide it towards her waiting body. “I think you are more than capable of doing this.” She wrapped her legs around his waist and positioned the head of his cock at the opening of her pussy. “Make love to me, husband.”

He growled deep in his throat when she used her legs to pull him to her and his hard length into her wet pussy. “It has been so long. You feel so good wrapped around me. Your pussy feels like heaven.” He looked into her desire filled eyes and gasped as she clamped down on his shaft. “I am complete when I’m with you.”

“Then you are whole again, my husband. Now would you like to make that child that you wanted from my body?”

He cocked his head to the side and smiled in wonder. He pulled almost all the way out of her and drove back in until he was fully seated within her inner depths. “Are you sure, Alexandra?” He continued his steady thrusts and watched her eyes roll up into her eyelids. “I don’t want to rush you into anything.”

“It is no rush, Tyr.” She panted and groaned with every push of his thick member into her tight body. “I believe it takes about 9 months for a baby to be born. Am I right?”

He stopped his movement and looked deep into her black eyes. “You are going to carry this child in your body?”

“That was your wish, was it not?”

A huge smile spread across his face and he thrust into her with renewed vigor. He was making another son with his wife and the thought of it almost made him take her with his usual primal nature. It was something they shared. Primal desire for each other. He remembered her recent condition and forced himself to rein in his darker instincts.

Their lovemaking lasted for hours. She slept nestled against his body and wrapped in his protective arms. He sent a mental note to their large family to alleviate the worry he knew they were all feeling. ‘She is healed.’

Ian materialized in the room and took in his mate’s state of undress. The smell of sex that permeated the room almost drove him to take her from Tyr’s arms and fuck her there on the bed. “You were successful in your endeavors.”

“I did as you instructed.”

“I don’t recall telling you to mate her the second she was off her death bed.”

“Ian?”

He rushed to her side as she lifted her head slightly off of Tyr’s chest to glance at him. “I am here, love.”

“Good.” She nodded her head with some effort due to exhaustion. “Leave him be. It was my idea.”

“I’m sorry.” He ran his eyes down her body to inspect Tyr’s work of a miracle and came across something that took him by surprise. “You carry a life within your body.”

“I do.”

“Do you think that wise considering the life you lead? You will be hard pressed to stay alive to give birth like a human.”

“I guess I’ll have to rely on my husbands to protect me during that time.” She reached out for his hand and squeezed it in her own. “Do you think that will be a problem?”

“No.” They all looked at the door to see Riddick’s large frame standing just inside the room. “I don’t think it will be a problem at all. I’ll personally kill the next son of a bitch that even tries to harm my wife with my bare hands.”

“Richard, shouldn’t you be instructing Dorian?”

“I heard Tyr’s news that you were okay and I just couldn’t stay away.” He moved to the bed as she rose up and took her in his arms. “I had to see for myself. You feel alive.” He buried his face in her hair and breathed in her scent. His eyes darted to Tyr’s over her shoulder. He didn’t respond to the jealousy he felt at detecting the Nietzchean’s scent on her but nodded his head in gratitude. “Thank you for taking care of OUR woman.”

“Your gratitude is not necessary. As you said, she is our mate and I wanted to see her well.” Tyr pulled on his leather pants as he addressed Riddick.

“I guess congratulations are in order. I can smell the life within you and I promise the child’s father that I will protect his child as he protected mine.”

“Thank you, Richard.” He pulled her into a deep kiss that left her breathless when he released her.

He turned to Tyr and smiled. “Don’t think for one minute that just because she is carrying this child in her body that the rest of us will not get to spend our time with her.” He smirked at the Nietzchean and Ian joined in as well. “I plan on bedding her tomorrow. Ian, you have the day after if I’m not mistaken?”

“She belongs to me the entire day to do with as I please.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “And the pissing contest continues.” She flopped back on the bed and pulled the covers over her naked flesh.

“Alexandra, I think the boys would like to see their mother if you can manage to stay awake or out off the throes of passion for a couple of minutes.”

“Richard, you developed a new emotion – a sense of humor. I am impressed. Send in the boys.”

He leant forward and kissed her gently on her forehead. “Love you, baby.”

“I love you too.”

The door opened and her sons along with Tamerlane streamed in to her bedside. Riddick stopped Ares and Duncan at the door and gestured for Ian and Tyr to follow him outside.

Duncan was irritated that he had not been around for her when she entered Kortoth and was not allowed to see her while she was in Tyr’s care afterwards. “I would like to see my wife if you don’t mind? I have been kept out of the loop for a while now and I don’t mind telling you it is pissing me off!”

“You can see her in a minute! We have more important things to discuss right now!” Riddick growled at the Immortal.

“What would that be?”

“Tristan is coming. I can sense it.” He looked at Ian to see his white eyes look off into the ether and then return to their normal color. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Yes you are. He is definitely planning to launch some new attack and we all need to be prepared for anything.”

“Ian, I think the best way for this to go down is if you divide the power that was stored at the temple between the rest of us. We all need to be able to defend her and the boys.”

“I definitely want some.” Ares spoke up. “What did you expect? The son of a bitch killed me!”

“She is on guard now. I don’t think we need to worry about Tristan again. She will handle him.”

Riddick got in Duncan’s face and practically growled. “You are missing the point, Duncan. Alexandra will not be handling Tristan or any other aggressor for a while. We will.”

“She is the most powerful being in recorded history. She does not need protecting.”

“Her baby does!” Riddick had to wrestle down the urge to beat Duncan to death for his childish behavior. The only thing that kept his rage at bay was the knowledge that he did not have the opportunity to bond with him and Tyr as of yet. His jealousy still ran hot when he thought of Alex with Ian and Ares and he has known them a lot longer.

“She just gave you a son and you knocked her up already?” The Immortal shook his head in disgust. “It doesn’t matter either way. Her unborn children are always safe in that gestation dimension.”

“First of all, this child isn’t mine! It is Tyr’s and if you say one fucking word about it I will rip your head clean off. She is finally happy that most of us have come to get along or even like each other. You are the only one making her miserable and breaking her heart. You know her heart, right? The part of her that you have dominion over and are callously killing it.”

Duncan fell silent when he took Riddick’s words as truth. His mouth hit the floor when the next bomb dropped. “For the record, this child is not growing in the birthing dimension it is inside of her. She decided to have it the human way and it is up to us to protect our wife and our children.”

Ian stepped between the 2 men and placed a hand on Riddick’s shoulder. “I will divide the power amongst you according to your ability to contain it without losing control. You need to prepare yourselves for the transfer and then we need to get ready. He will be hitting us again soon.”