Predator

Chapter 37

Ian had teleported into Alex and Riddick’s quarters and glanced down at the sullen man sitting on the end of the bed. “The clone, Andrea, is gone as well. I can see traces of the core elements that she was composed of left behind in the room which tells me that Alexandra deconstructed her.”

“Shit.” Riddick held his head in his hands and rocked back and forth with anxiety. “This is my fault. I treated her like shit because I was worried about her using her power while she carried our baby. I should’ve trusted her to know her own body well enough and not flown off like that.”

“I seem to recall my acting like an ass just because she kept a secret from me.” He sat next to Riddick and hung his head. “I just got so fucking jealous because she has never kept anything from me before. In all the millennia that we’ve been at each other’s side, she was always an open book to me.”

“I hit her, Ian.” He whispered as his heart ached for causing his love pain. “I promised her I would never let her down and to love her no matter what the circumstances. How did I show that to her…by hitting her…while she is pregnant with my daughter?”

“I made her kneel and bow before my feet like a disobedient dog. There is probably nothing worse someone could do to Alexandra to humiliate her than what I did. I just felt a need to humble my mate for her transgression against me.” Ian shook his head at the memory and clenched his eyes. “I behaved horribly. I let my power fuel my anger and I lost control.”

“Ian, her behavior during the war…is it possible that my daughter is the cause?” He turned to him with a contemplative look on his face. “Tyr said that Furyan children gestate faster than humans. Is it possible that the baby is able to sense what is happening and direct Alex’s thoughts and feelings on the matter? She is the offspring of a cosmic entity and a Furyan.”

“That is a sound hypothesis, Riddick. This child is a very unique being. It is a possibility that she is self aware already whether by her connection to Alexandra or by her own means.” Ian rose to his feet and began to pace the room. “There is also the matter of this being the first time Alexandra has carried a child in a human fashion.”

“She has absolutely no idea what is going on with her body and emotions.” Riddick held his hands in his lap and stared at them feeling lost. “We drove her away from us and she is going through something completely foreign to her…alone.”

“She isn’t exactly alone.”

“Somehow the idea of Rhade taking care of my pregnant wife doesn’t make me feel better.” He glanced up at Ian with a smirk. “Ian, tell me the truth. You would have gone fucking ballistic if she brought Rhade home with her after they mated, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes. I don’t think there is anyway I could have dealt with another Nietzchean’s control over her senses.” He blushed furiously when Riddick caught him in a lie. “Tyr had so much control over her. I couldn’t imagine having another being like him with the same amount of power over her around here.”

“Ian, Rhade doesn’t have the same power over her that Tyr has. Didn’t you see them together? He absolutely reveres her. He is considerate of her feelings, gives her support when she needs it, and loves her unconditionally.” Riddick closed his eyes and spoke softly. “If Alexandra could only have one mate out of all of us, he would be the perfect man for her and that insight makes me want to throw up.”

“I second that motion.” They glanced up as Tyr walked into the suite. “She took Tamerlane with her.”

“She did?” Ian asked with a hopeful look on his face.

“He disappeared from his room the moment she vanished from the planet.” His brow furrowed as he studied Ian’s contemplative expression. “Why do you find this bit of news exciting?”

“Tyr, it means she hasn’t cut all her ties with us. She still considers Tamerlane her son and is maintaining her responsibilities to him. I think maybe after she calms down we might have a chance of salvaging our family.”

“Ian, the three of you are the reason we are in this position of having to salvage anything with her.” Ares bellowed in anger as he and Duncan materialized in the room. “I am not happy with the use of her power while she’s pregnant and I don’t particularly care much for another mate in her life but at least I didn’t hit her or treat her like fucking shit!”

“I never thought I would say this but I agree with Ares.” Duncan piped in with so much anger his Scottish accent rose to the surface. “You three acted deplorably and now my wife has abandoned her home!” He pointed towards the ceiling and virtually screamed at the others. “She is out there wandering the cosmos trying to hide from us!”

“Actually she isn’t.” They all turned as a unit and looked at Dorian leaning against the doorjamb. “She is in the girl’s room.”

“Kyra’s room?” Riddick asked his son.

“Yes. She is attempting to heal her fully and struggling in the effort.” Dorian watched as her 5 mates neared him to exit the room when he suddenly shot his arm out until his hand settled on the frame of the door effectively blocking the exit. “Take great care, gentlemen. If you fuck this up further by hurting her again, you won’t have to worry about her anger because I will tear you apart myself.” He dropped his arm and vanished from sight.

“Damn, Riddick, your boy sure has a set on him, doesn’t he?”

“He takes after his father, Ares.”

~*~

Alex sat beside the motionless girl on the bed and placed her hand on her forehead. As she closed her eyes and concentrated, Ronon stood slightly behind her and watched in awe as her hand glowed with energy. “You are a healer?”

“I have that ability. Sometimes it isn’t completely accurate if I recently expended a large amount of power but that is extremely rare. This girl underwent some serious trauma when the Necromongers converted her.” She opened her eyes and saw Kyra’s move rapidly beneath her eyelids. “I think I’m making some headway on reversing the conversion. When I healed her earlier, it was just the mortal wounds she had incurred at the Lord Marshall’s hands.”

“So you saved her life?”

“I brought her back to life. She was clinically dead when I reached her.”

“I really want to learn everything about you, mother.” Ronon said quietly as the girl stirred on the bed. “From what I’ve been told and what I’ve seen so far, you are an amazing person.”

“It seems that impression is limited to you and your father these days, Ronon.” She tilted her head and watched as Kyra slowly came back to consciousness. “Well hello there.” She spoke quietly in an effort to not spook the young woman. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you finally wake up.”

“Where am I?” She whispered through a sore throat.

“Ronon, love, would you get our guest a glass of water from the other room?” He nodded his head and went to retrieve the water while his mother smiled at Kyra. “You are on my home world Ariana.”

“How did I get to the Shi’ar system?” She weakly tried to sit up against the headboard but couldn’t manage it until Alex hefted her up under her arms and settled her against the pillows. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome and to answer your question I brought you here.” Ronon entered the room and handed Kyra the glass. “I had to make sure you were completely healed after…”

“I was dead. How did you heal me when I was dead? Who are you?”

“My name is Alexandra and I am the Majestrix of the Shi’ar Empire.” She smiled as the young woman’s eyes widened in surprise. “I have some unique abilities that allow me to do just about any damn thing I can imagine.”

“Why would someone of your stature save a convicted murderer like me and bring me to your world to heal me?”

“Your life is valuable to me, Kyra, because of what I am. I am the known Protector of Life throughout existence and I waged war against the Necromongers for their crimes against humanity. Even more important than that, I had to save you because my husband values your life.”

“Your husband? Who the hell is your husband that my life is important to him?” The doors slammed open and Kyra’s eyes snapped to the men entering the room. The one in the lead was familiar to her. “Riddick? What are you doing here?”

He moved to her bedside and took her hand in his while he guarded his eyes from his mate. “I live here.” He responded with a smile and a choked whisper. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m great thanks to Alexan…the Majestrix.”

“You can call me Alex, Kyra. We don’t need to be formal here.” She smirked at the use of her title as she looked over the young woman. “We are family now. I see your complexion has returned to normal.” She turned Kyra’s head to both sides to inspect her neck. “The puncture wounds of the converting process are gone. You are completely back to normal, young lady.”

“You reversed the conversion?” Alex nodded in response. “How is that possible?”

“Remember those unique abilities I was telling you about?” Kyra nodded and she gasped in wonder as Alex formed a ball of fire in her hand. “I am capable of anything, Kyra.”

“Wait a sec. You said we were family now? How are we related?”

“I think somewhere deep down my husband always considered you a younger sister and even though you would have to physically move a mountain to get him to admit it, I am positive he loves you.” Kyra followed Alex’s gaze to Riddick and her mouth dropped open. “Don’t you, my love?”

Riddick’s eyes met his wife’s and her sweet-honeyed voice along with her loving smile made him nervous. She was still hurt by their treatment of her and he flinched when he saw the bruise on her cheek from his slap. “Riddick, you’re married to the ruler of the Shi’ar Empire?” Kyra asked in shock and he nodded in response as he maintained eye contact with his wife. “How did you luck in to that?”

“I don’t know.” He said in a whisper as he choked up with emotion. “We just found each other one day and you said it yourself…I got lucky.” Alex rose from the bed and Riddick cast his eyes on the ugly mark on her cheek again. “Why hasn’t that healed yet?”

She brought her hand up to her cheek and traced her fingers over the stinging flesh. “I decided to let it stay until it heals on its own.” Her eyebrow arched and her nostrils flared as she tamped down the spike of bitter anger that rose in her. “I thought I’d keep it as a reminder of what happens when I disobey or piss off my mates.”

His eyes clenched from the pain her words brought him and when they opened he saw her turn to leave the room. “Where are you going?”

“Home.” She threw over her shoulder as she moved off. “You need time to adjust Kyra to her new life here and Telemachus is waiting on me.”

“My lady, please don’t leave yet.” Ian stepped into her path and blocked her way to the door. “We really need to talk.”

“What about, Ian? We said everything there is to say unless you feel the need to make me crawl on all fours again.”

“I’m sorry for that. I was…”

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear anymore of your shit!” She whirled around and fixed Riddick with fiery eyes. “I don’t need to see the puppy dog look from you either! You don’t deserve the right to feel hurt! I am the one you hit, you son of a bitch, while I carry your child!”

“I’m so…”

“Sorry? That’s right. Everyone is sorry for the whole incident but you know what? I don’t give a shit. Maybe I had it coming.” She spun around and paced the short distance between the bed and the blocked door. “That’s right I kept a secret from my husbands and they felt slighted enough to punish me for it. I must have had it coming! I helped save two systems from slavery and destruction, managed to bring a truce to the Nietzcheans’ civil war, and…oh yeah, I saved the life of a girl you hold dear but somehow none of that matters.” She gazed at Riddick and spoke with a trembling lip. “The only thing that you could think of was broken promises.”

She turned to Ian with tears running down her bruised cheekbone. “You could only focus on the insecurities of my being able to keep something from you.” Her eyes looked over Ian’s shoulder and found Tyr looking guilty behind him. “With you it is always jealousy. You were pissed that I found another Nietzchean worthy enough to be my mate and your superior Kodiak genetics couldn’t stand it.”

“We fucked up! We know that but one disagreement between us is no reason for you to run off and leave us.” Riddick moved a little closer to his unreasonable wife and stopped when her hand shot up encased in flame. “You aren’t thinking clearly right now. We have a theory that you need to hear.”

“Really? What would that be?” He moved a little closer until her eyes flamed and her voice took on the inhuman sound that preceded the release of the Phoenix. “Don’t come any closer to me, Richard! I don’t want you to ever touch me again.” She covered her cheek again with her free hand.

“Baby, don’t say that. You know I love you and I didn’t mean to do that. We think it’s the baby that is making you act this way. You’ve never had a child like a human before and our daughter is mixing up your hormones like a witch’s brew.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ian and I were talking and we think the baby is self-aware.” The fire dimmed in her eyes as her curiosity kicked in and she cocked her head to the side to listen to him. “She is growing at a faster rate than a normal human child and it stands to reason that our offspring might be strong enough to affect your actions and emotions.”

“Sounds reasonable.” She said in deep thought.

“You think so?”

“Yes. However that still doesn’t erase the fact that you hit me and I’m not willing to let that go just yet.”

“Riddick.” Kyra spoke up from the bed after observing the entire drama unfold before her eyes. As Alex’s anger grew, she briefly wondered for a moment. ‘What the hell have I gotten myself into?’ He turned to her clearly frustrated that she was interrupting his conversation with his wife. “You hit your wife while she’s pregnant with your baby?”

“It is more complicated than that, Kyra.”

“I don’t think so. It seems pretty cut and dry to me. You lost that infamous temper of yours and struck out at her when she didn’t do things your way. I can see that there are a lot of things going on here that I don’t know about but it doesn’t excuse the way you all treated her.”

“Young lady, you don’t know what you are talking about. There are things that we have control over when it comes to our wife and…”

“Your wife?” Kyra cut him off and sat up a little straighter in bed. “How many of you is she married to?” The five mates present raised their hands at the demand of a 17-year-old girl and she narrowed her eyes at them. “Alex.”

“Yes, Kyra?”

“I like your lifestyle.” She turned back to the other men in the room. “Who are the rest of you?”

“I am Dorian, the son of Alex and your friend, Riddick.”

“Whoa.” She turned to her big brother figure with a look of shock. “How do you have a full grown son?” When he opened his mouth to answer she held up her hand and waved him off. “Never mind, it isn’t important right now.”

“The rest of these men are my sons from the others, Kyra. They can introduce themselves later.” Alex told her and turned to the boys. “Brandon, come here.” When he was standing before her, she caressed his cheek and smiled at him. “I would like you to see to Kyra’s needs and show her around when she’s feeling better. From what I’m told she is headstrong so make sure she is well before she leaves this room.”

“As you wish, mother.” He bowed his head to her and went to take the seat at Kyra’s bedside.

“Kyra, it was a pleasure meeting you finally and I hope you recover your strength soon so my son can show you the beauty of your new home.” She went to her side and took her hand. “If you need anything just ask my grumpy child and he will fetch it for you.”

“You’re leaving?” The girl asked.

“I have to. I am reversing the conversions of the Necromongers and sending the ones home that still have one to go to. It is very busy work and it will take me some time to get it done.” She glanced up at the sad faces of her mates and turned back to the green eyes fixed on her. “I can’t stay here right now. The pain is still too fresh but I’ll see you soon.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. You are part of my family now and I have responsibilities to you.” She could sense the emotion rise within the young woman and felt surprised when she threw herself into her arms. “It’s okay now, Kyra. You have a place here and people who will care for you. You’re not alone anymore.”

“What about you? If you leave won’t you be alone.” She whispered.

“No, I have this baby growing inside of me and I have 2 very special men to look after me.” She pulled back and stared into the green eyes filled with tears. “I’ll be fine and so will you.”

“I owe you my life. Thank you.”

“Thank him.” She thumbed her finger in Riddick’s direction. “If it wasn’t for him a lot of people would have lost their lives before I got there.”

She rose from the bed and turned to her mates who still blocked the door. “You know you can’t keep me here just by standing in front of the door. I’ll just teleport.”

“You can’t leave with my baby. I need to be by your side to care for you and help when your hormones get out of control.” Riddick stalked towards her slowly. “You can’t just hole up with Rhade with mine and Tyr’s children.”

“Yes I can. I can do whatever I want to do and I don’t need your damn permission. Not any more.” He moved closer to touch her in an effort to gain control over her body and she quickly sidestepped him. “I told you not to touch me again!”

When Riddick turned to face her, Ronon moved to stand between them and protect his mother. “Don’t try that again.” He held out his hand and Alex took it in hers. “Let’s get out of here, mom.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and teleported them off the planet.

“Shit!” Riddick yelled in frustration.

“How did you expect it to go, Riddick?” He turned to Kyra and cocked his head at her in curiosity. “You can’t just knock a woman around like that and expect her to forgive you just because you’re sorry. She strikes me as a tough woman and doesn’t like to be manhandled like that unless she wishes it. Am I right?” When he didn’t answer, she laughed at all of them and pointed towards the door. “She’ll forgive you when she’s ready until then leave. I’m tired and need some rest in a real bed for a change.”

She watched the men leave her room in silence and turned to Brandon when he chuckled from the chair on her right. “Very well-spoken, Kyra. You are very observant in your assumptions of my mother. She is hurting right now and does not need them pressuring her into anything. She will forgive them when she’s ready.”

“I know. I just hope it doesn’t take too long. I’ve never seen Riddick this heart-broken before.”

~*~