Predator

Chapter 28

Alexandra woke the next morning with a nursing child on her breast and the adoring eyes of Riddick and Tyr on her face. She smiled lovingly at her 2 mates and turned her shining eyes to Tamerlane. “He is just as insatiable as his father.”

Tyr chuckled softly. “I can guarantee that my appetites far exceed those of my son.” He cupped her cheek in his palm and kissed her lips before he placed a gentle kiss on their son’s head. “I must try to control myself and allow Tamerlane to feed off of you first.”

“How’s that working out for you, Tyr, cuz you sure look like you’re having a hard time?” Riddick laughed at his Nietzchean friend when he glanced down at the tented sheet across his lap. “I’m sorry, man, but I couldn’t let that one go.”

“At least I can use the excuse of getting excited by the sight of my son nursing from her breast.” He pointed at Riddick’s morning erection. “Would you at least put that away before you hurt someone?”

“Tyr, you should know better than to assume that Riddick is capable of showing embarrassment.” Ian said as he waltzed into the bedroom. “He would traipse around the palace naked if we allowed it.”

“Alex walks through the palace and the grounds in the buff all the time. Why shouldn’t we be able to?”

“It could have something to do with the fact that we don’t mind seeing her naked. You; on the other hand; naked is something we can live without seeing.” Ian chuckled lightly at the middle finger that Riddick flipped him and turned his attention to his mate. “How are you feeling today, my love?”

“I am feeling great, Ian. I actually got these 2 to let me rest last night and I feel completely rejuvenated.”

“I am pleased that you managed to beat them off of you long enough for you to regain your strength. Do you have a moment to discuss today’s business?”

“Of course.”

“Ian, is this necessary right now?”

“I’m afraid so, Riddick, and I think you and Tyr both need to be present when I announce her first meeting.” He glanced at Alexandra with a certain amount of uncertainty in his eyes. “It is Telemachus, my Lady.”

“He’s here now?” Ian nodded in response. “Did anyone else come with him?”

“No. He came alone. He knows about the recent events that transpired here and knew you would not be comfortable with anyone but him.” He saw her nod her head as she absorbed that and cast a quick glance to each of her bedmates. “Should I show him in?”

“Yes, Ian. Thank you.” She nervously chewed her bottom lip while Ian left the bedchamber and cast an apprehensive look from the corner of her eye at Tyr. ‘Here goes the serenity we’ve enjoyed for the past couple of days.’ Her thoughts were interrupted when Riddick repeated a question that she did not hear.

“Alex, who is this Telemachus and what does he want?”

“He is a friend of mine, Richard, and I guess we will have to wait to hear what he says to determine what he wants.” Her tone was a little sharp and guilt instantly assaulted her for snapping at her mate. “I apologize for being short with you, my love. I have not seen him for quite some time and I’m a little anxious to hear what he has to say.”

As soon as she finished her soft-spoken apology to Riddick, Ian entered her bedchambers with her guest following close behind. She heard Tyr growl when Telemachus came into view. “He is a Nietzchean!” Her mate flexed his bone blades and turned a hard gaze to his wife. “What is he doing here?”

“Tyr, please calm down.” She placed a tender hand on his forearm interlacing her fingers through his bone blades and gazed lovingly into his dark brown depths. “I trust this Nietzchean.” She glanced at Telemachus and nodded. “How are you doing, Rhade?”

“I’ve been better and now that I’ve seen you again my life is improving rapidly.” He flashed a dashing smile that always made Alexandra melt in the past and ran his eyes over her exposed upper body. “I see you have finally decided to have a child in the mortal fashion.”

“I did not bear this child but I have taken the role of his mother.” She ran her eyes over his 6 ft frame. He was clearly equal to Tyr in size and proportion. His eyes were dark greenish-brown and his black hair hung to his shoulders. “The facial hair suits you. It hides the boyish features and I notice you have gotten a decent tan. Are you finally managing to stay planet-side these days?”

“I have little choice. We’ve had some difficulties lately.” His eyes returned to the nursing child and then locked on Tyr. “That is a Nietzchean boy. I assume that makes it yours.”

“What business is it of yours?”

“The deposed Alpha of the Nietzchean Empire and his child concern me. The Prides are under attack by an enemy force we have never heard of before. I came here to ask for your help, Alexandra.”

Fear coursed through her body and her mates felt her tension. “Your Pride…” She choked out with difficulty. “Is…everyone okay?”

“Yes, my Lady.” His face lit up when he sensed her concern and gave her a reassuring smile. “Everyone is unharmed so far.”

Relief washed away her fear and she released a sigh of air she wasn’t aware she was holding. “That is wonderful to hear.” She glanced down at the contented child in her arms. “I believe it is nap time for you, Tamerlane.”

“Would you like me to return him to his room, my love?”

“No, Ian, I can do it.” She smiled at his sleeping face and teleported him to his crib. Once she confirmed the child was sleeping safely in his room her expression turned serious and her eyes settled on her guest. “Okay, Rhade, tell me what I am looking at.”

“They are an army of mixed races that have all become believers of some place called the Underverse. From what I’ve been able to determine they spread throughout space from world to world and forcibly convert the inhabitants to become their followers. The destruction they leave in their wake is atrocious and whoever defies the conversion is destroyed.”

“The Necromongers.” She whispered and clenched her eyes. “I should’ve known they would get here sooner or later.” Her eyes snapped open and sparked with her inner fire. “Which Prides have they attacked so far?”

“The Jaguar-Sabra and Drago Katsov Prides have suffered some major losses from the invaders already but are rallying their forces on their home worlds to mount an offensive. Some of the smaller ones that have sought refuge from the larger Prides war for domination are hiding in the outer edges of Nietzchean space that borders your territory. I guess they figure if they are close to your space they might be safe for a while longer.”

“Ian.”

“My Lady.”

“Gather all of the Commanders of my fleet and have them report to the Halls of War.”

“Alexandra, you destroyed the Nietzchean Empire when I betrayed my oath to you and cast them back into individual Prides fighting for sole dominance. They have attacked you and your people several times in an effort to seek revenge. Why would you help my people now?”

She cast a quick glance to Rhade and then back to Tyr. “Let’s just say I have a vested interest in…some of the Prides.”

“Jesse and I are all that remains of the Kodiak Pride. There were no other survivors but I so what other Prides could you possibly have an interest in?” Tyr followed the direction her eyes were staring and found them fixed on Rhade. “His Pride concerns you!”

“Tyr…”

“Be silent, woman!” He halted her plea by snapping at her and turned to Rhade. “What is your Pride?”

“Majoram Pride.”

“I remember the name Rhade from Majoram Pride but his name was Gaheris.” Tyr saw Telemachus bristle at the mere mention of his ancestor’s name and decided to provoke him further. “I served aboard the Andromeda Ascendant for 3 years and if I remember correctly First Officer Gaheris Rhade betrayed Captain Dylan Hunt on the eve of the fall of the Commonwealth to the Nietzcheans. That traitor is your ancestor?”

“Tyr!” Alexandra yelled out in exasperation of her mate’s behavior.

“Actually I am the genetic reincarnation of Gaheris Rhade but I am nothing like him and I served on the Andromeda as well. If I remember correctly it was you that betrayed Dylan and the Commonwealth to your newly united Nietzchean Empire. You were the traitor and not some 300 years dead ancestor. Am I right?”

“Rhade!” Tyr started to rise from the bed until his mate caught his arm and held him fast in her grip. “Don’t you dare fight a guest of mine in my own home!” He pulled against her grasp and she flipped on top of him straddling his waist. “I am asking you to stop this now or are you willing to defy me again?”

“No.” His anger dissipated when he looked upon his beautiful wife and he stilled his struggles to get to the conceived threat to his position of power. “I will never defy you again. You know that.”

She smiled and nodded. “I do.” She rolled off the bed and walked over to stand before Rhade. “I know you were goaded into this little pissing contest but if you could refrain from getting into a bloody war with my men I would be indebted to you.”

His gaze burned over her nude flesh and he grinned while he stared deep into the black depths of her eyes. “I’ll have to think of a fitting repayment.” His features softened and she heard his velvety voice within her mind. ‘I’ve missed you.’ He ran his fingers into her hair above her temples and pulled her forehead to his. ‘It has been so long.’

‘I know. I’m sorry that I’ve been gone for so long but as you can see there have been some changes around here.’

‘I also know that your life has ended several times since the last time I saw you.’ He sighed heavily and pulled her into an embrace. ‘You have to take better care of yourself and yet here I am asking you to put yourself in danger again for a race of people who predominantly want you dead.’

‘I’ll be fine, Rhade. The Necromongers must be stopped and I have a personal grievance against them now. They destroyed my latest mate’s entire race and I didn’t do a thing to stop them then. Now they are threatening you and my…”

‘Alex.’ He grasped her shoulders and pushed her back slightly to look in her eyes. ‘If you condemn the rest of the Nietzcheans to spare yourself the pain I would understand. They have done nothing but make attempts on your life and those of your people since you attacked the Empire. I could relocate my Pride into your territory if you have no objections and you can leave the rest to their fate.’

‘You can move Majoram Pride into my space. I’ll feel more secure knowing they are all safe but I will not stand by and let the Necromongers annihilate the Nietzcheans.’

“You don’t owe them anything.” He spoke aloud when he became frustrated. “Why would you risk yourself for the rest of the Prides?”

“I am the Protector of Life.”

“You can’t do this by yourself! You have an infant that relies on you for life and there are the others that need you!”

“Telemachus, please calm down.” She cupped his cheek in her palm and he nuzzled into her touch. “I’ll be okay because I won’t be fighting this battle alone.” She turned to her mates and ignored the jealousy and anger that they directed towards Rhade. “Tyr, we have some work to do. You, Jesse, Rhade, and I will gather the Alphas of the Prides.”

“To what purpose? They could not put aside their petty wars when they were told of the Magog Worldship and that threat still hangs over their heads. What makes you think they will listen to the Angel of Death?”

“Because this Angel of Death destroyed the Nietzchean Empire on a whim and I obliterated the Worldship a couple of weeks ago when I was in a bad mood.” She took in Tyr and Rhade’s surprised looks and shrugged. “What? I was angry and had to take it out on something.”

“My Lady.”

“Yes, Ian.”

“Aside from your little honeymoon excursion with Riddick you haven’t left the planet for quite some time.”

“Yeah I know.” A guilty smirk crossed her face and she shrugged. “I was at the lake trying to calm down and when I couldn’t I destroyed the first thing I thought of.”

“I understand, my love.” Ian smiled behind his hand trying to suppress his laughter.

“So do you think I will have any difficulties getting the Alphas together?” Both of the Nietzcheans shook their heads. “I didn’t think so.”

“Baby?”

“Yes, Richard.”

“Where am I going to be when you’re off talking to the Ubers?”

“You, my love, are going to confront the Necromongers. I have a funny feeling their Lord Marshall is going to be surprised to see you.”