Predator

Chapter 42

Alex drew awake when she heard a deep whisper penetrate her sleep. She kept her eyes closed to feign sleep as she listened to Riddick quietly talk to his child that she carried within her. He was telling their unborn of all the things that he and Alex had done together while he lightly traced his fingers over her lower abdomen. She had to force herself to suppress a smile so he would continue. It was another rare moment of her mate’s inner feelings being released and she couldn’t bear the thought of interrupting him.

“We fought this major war on two fronts at the same time. Your mom went a little overboard and killed everyone in sight that threatened her family and allies but that is the way she is. She doesn’t let anyone mess with what is hers and I loved that about her the first time I met her. Anyways, I kicked some asshole’s butt on another planet and your mom managed to show up to give me support when I needed it most. She was so tired when she got there after her own battle but she wouldn’t leave me hanging.”

“Baby girl…” He took a deep breath, held it for a second, and then continued after he released a heavy sigh. “I did something horrible to your mom after the war but I’m sure you probably know that. You are a chip off the old block and I know you’re strong already because of Alex and me. I can’t wait to watch you grow. Anyways as I was saying, Alex is a very powerful woman. Anything she can imagine comes true and that is one hell of a power. That is how she made it so she could carry you in this beautiful body of hers.”

“During the battle something went horribly wrong and she was forced to release that power of hers to save a lot of people. When I found out about it, I got so damn angry because I thought she could’ve hurt you or herself since things are different now. She doesn’t usually carry her babies inside of her body so we really had no idea if her power would hurt you. We argued and I…hit her. After that my worst fear did come true. She left me and I was all alone again.”

“It felt like my heart was torn out of my chest when I found out she was gone.” He let out a small laugh and placed his palm flat against her belly. “Your mom helped me find my heart and just like that she took it away. My life was real shit until I met her. I never thought I would ever have the things I have now like a wife, your brother, and now you until she gave it to me.”

“I don’t ever want to lose her, baby girl. I know you’re supposed to take her place after you’ve grown up but I just can’t lose her. She is everything to me. What would I be without her? I’d probably turn into a bitter old man that lost his only love in life and my attitude would resemble…Ares’. We have to do something so I don’t lose my love, Dawn. Help your Daddy keep your Mommy here in this world, okay?” He leaned down and brushed his lips across her stomach when he heard her voice.

“Dawn?” She asked with a smirk.

“It sounds like a perfect name for a cosmic being that harnesses the power of a sun, don’t you think?” He glanced up at her smiling face and saw her nod her head enthusiastically. “How long have you been listening to me?”

“Just for a couple of minutes and I think Dawn is a beautiful name for our daughter.” He climbed up her body and lay partially on top of her. She gazed lovingly into his eyes and pulled him to her to kiss him lightly on his lips. “That was beautiful. Do you think she heard you?”

“She is self-aware and our daughter. I’d say that anything is possible when it comes to our kid.” He kissed her so hungrily that he left her breathless for a moment and he reveled in his power over her with a grin. “Are you ready for dinner? I think the others are probably waiting on us by now.”

“I guess so.”

“What is it?” He picked up the apprehensive tone in her voice and glanced at her sideways. “What’s the problem?”

“I guess I’m a little scared to be around all of them.” She whispered as she looked down at her lap.

“Don’t be stupid.” He rose up off the bed and held his hand out to her. “You’re not afraid of anything. Come on.” She took his offered hand with a small smile and let him pull her to her feet. “Let’s get cleaned up and go face the masses.”

~*~

After they had bathed, they both dressed elegantly for dinner and Riddick escorted his beloved into the dining hall where the others were seated talking amongst themselves. When her family noticed they had entered, Ares let out a slow whistle and stood up. “You look beautiful, Baby.” The others stood as well while Riddick pulled out her chair for her and when she was seated and pushed closer to the table they followed suit.

“Thank you, Ares.” She blushed when she met his hungry eyes. “You look very regal yourself.”

“I have a reputation to live up to.” He responded cockily.

“We all know you’re an asshole, Ares.” Riddick grinned as he cocked his head at the God of War. “It is firmly rooted in our memories and we’re not likely to forget it. You don’t need to prove it everyday.”

With the exception of Ian, everyone laughed at Riddick’s joke including Ares. “You are fucking hilarious, killer, but in all seriousness I owe you big for bringing our woman home.” His face was lit by gratitude and his eyes held their tears when he spoke again. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do if you didn’t make this happen.”

“You’re welcome but I have a funny feeling that Rhade and Kyra had more to do with bringing her home than I did.” He smiled at Ares and tried to lighten his mood by distraction. “Why don’t we get down to the meal?” He signaled the wait-staff to serve dinner and they moved quickly to fill each of the plates.

“Everyone here should thank the two of them for talking some sense into our stubborn mate’s head.” He raised his glass in a salute to the 2 of them that sat on the other side of Alex. Her other mates, excluding Tyr, the Wielders and her sons raised their glasses as well. Rhade bowed his head in appreciation of the gesture and Kyra blushed furiously giving a slight wave in response. “You two make a diabolical team.”

As they settled in to eat, Alex’s eyes met Kyra’s and they exchanged cheerful smiles. “I don’t believe you’ve had the opportunity with all the drama going on around here to meet the rest of my family, Kyra.”

“No I haven’t but now that you’re back I’d like you to do the introductions.” She smiled at her benefactor with a smirk on her face.

“Well you know this beast on my right.” She indicated Riddick with a tilt of her head and the others laughed. “This is Telemachus Rhade on my left and on his left next to you I believe you know our son, Ronon.” Kyra and Ronon’s eyes met and they shared a bright smile. “On your left sits my second mate, Ares, and our two sons Brandon, who you’ve met, and his brother, Brennan.”

“I am very pleased to meet you, my Lord.” She addressed the God of War with respect and he grinned. She nodded her head at Brandon. “Hey there, Mr. High and Mighty and it is nice to meet you Brennan. I hope you have better manners than your brother.”

“I definitely have more class than this idiot.” Brennan laughed and elbowed his older sibling.

“Shut up.” Brandon elbowed his brother in the side with a little more force due to his embarrassment in front of the young woman he had come to care for.

“Those are my boys.” Alex giggled but her love-filled eyes landed on her sons and she shook her head. “On Riddick’s right is our son, Dorian. The large menacing one on his right is my fourth mate, Tyr, and beside him our son, Jesse. The good looking one next to him is my third mate, Duncan, and our son, Dean.”

“I hear you are the nice one. It is a pleasure, Mr. Macleod.”

Duncan bowed his head to the young lady. “The pleasure is all mine, Kyra.”

“The unusual looking one next to him is my sixth mate and Wielder, Logan, and on his right is my other Wielder, Scott.” Her eyes settled on Ian and he glanced up at her through his thick eyelashes. The pain reflected in her eyes hit him to the core of his being and he lowered his gaze to the table. “The stoic handsome one at the end of the table is my first mate, Ian, and next to him is our son, Jarod.”

“You are the one that is like her, right?” Kyra asked Ian with curiosity.

“I am a cosmic entity like Alex and so is our son.” Ian answered quietly without looking up.

“How did that work out?” Kyra asked with driving purpose in her voice and Riddick cringed on the inside knowing that her animal side was rising. “I thought there was only supposed to be one.” She glanced at Duncan and raised her hand when he looked up at her. “No offense, Mr. Macleod, I don’t mean to tread on your shtick.” Duncan quietly laughed and Kyra turned back to Ian for an explanation. “Well, I’m waiting on pins and needles to hear this.”

“She created me from a part of herself several millennia ago when she craved companionship after she had wandered the stars alone. We were never apart after that until recently.”

“I guess that would be your fault then.” Ian’s head snapped up and his amber eyes pierced the young woman with the accusatory tone.

“What would you know about it?” He said with a hint of malice.

“I know what you’ve told me. She created you. You owe your existence to her and yet you treated her like a fucking dog just because she kept a secret from you. Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds? Mr. Nottingham, I have to tell you a lot of people keep secrets from their loved ones that are a lot worse than the one Alex kept from you and they don’t receive the treatment she got from you.”

“Kyra, that is enough!” Riddick stood up and slammed his hands on the table. “Show some respect to the man. He is her First and a superior being.”

“I don’t think he is a superior being, Riddick.” She stood up and glared at Riddick before she placed her hands on the table and turned to Ian. “He acted like an ass just like a normal man would if he felt humiliated by his woman. That was his way of putting her in her place for hurting him. Personally I think she just bruised your ego and you didn’t know how to react to being kept on the outside of your relationship with her for the first time in recorded history. It is actually pretty pathetic behavior for a supreme being if you ask me.”

“Kyra!” Riddick yelled but stopped in mid-sentence when Alex shot to her feet. “Baby?” She turned her tear-filled eyes to him and ran out on to the balcony knocking her chair over in her haste. “Alex!”

“Riddick stop.” Ian rose from his seat and bade the large man to sit. “I’ll go. It is my responsibility to try to make this right.” He left the table and followed his mate’s exit route.

“Kyra, do you think it was really necessary to start this shit now when we are trying to enjoy her company after she’s been gone for a while?” Riddick glared at his young charge.

“Yes I do. They need to get past this so we can move on as a family and Alex can find her center again.” Her voice rose in volume as she challenged Riddick. “You think you hurt her when you hit her? Let me tell you something, Riddick, what you did doesn’t compare to the pain he inflicted on her! She is the most powerful being in existence and her first mate, who knows all her fears, weaknesses and humiliations, used that knowledge to bring her down. It is the ultimate betrayal a person could ever commit against their loved one.”

Everyone went quiet around the table as they reflected on Kyra’s outburst. “She’s right.” Duncan spoke up and looked Kyra straight in the eyes before he glanced at the others. “Alex told us in graphic detail all the atrocities that Tristan committed against her when he held her prisoner. He broke her and we had to deal with the ramifications of letting her down. Ian’s insecurity of losing his place of importance in her life drove him to degrade her. He needs to fix it or we all might be fucked. Oh and Riddick, do not curb Kyra from speaking her mind in her home especially when she knows more about what is going on than you do.”

“How does she know more than I do about my mate and her problems?”

“We did the girl-talk thing earlier before you so rudely interrupted and I know how a strong woman feels when she is brought down by a man…any man.”

“Duncan, why is Ian insecure?” Riddick asked clearly in the dark to how things were changing around him. “He has been the one constant person she could rely on since the beginning of creation. How could he possibly be losing his place in her life?”

“You really are a fucking idiot sometimes.” Duncan shook his head back and forth and settled his elbows on the table with his hands up for emphasis. “You are the reason he feels like he is losing his place.”

“Riddick, do you know about the nightmares that Alex suffers from on an almost daily basis?” Ares asked trying to run interference for the frustrated Immortal.

“Yeah, she had one the first night I spent with her.”

“She has had those every night since she destroyed that planet. Ian could sense it when they hit her and he would go to her room every night to comfort her until she slept peacefully.” Ares was trying to be patient with him but his infamous temper was rearing its head. “He went to her room that night you took your ‘payment’ from her. She was having that same damn nightmare and he went to comfort her and guess what he found? You holding her until she settled it and it passed.”

“I didn’t know he came into the room that night.” Riddick arched an eyebrow and looked down at the table. “I didn’t know people could escape my senses and get past my guard until I met some of you.” He eyed Duncan with a hint of humor when he remembered getting caught literally with his pants down in the woods that surrounded the lake the day he first saw Alex.

“Ian displays just as much stealth as Alex does, my friend.” Tyr interjected.

“There is something else that is probably bothering him even though it has proven to be good for Alex.” Ares thought carefully trying to put the words together correctly. “He told me that you were the one she was destined to find. You were the one person in existence that could balance out her power and stabilize her so she wouldn’t lose control again.”

“He told me that too.” Tyr said and rubbed his eyes in a tired fashion before he continued. “He said that she really didn’t need the rest of us anymore after she found you. You controlled her entire being and the rest of us were basically obsolete. He said she would probably keep us around for sentimental reasons but we weren’t needed to help her anymore.”

“And?” Riddick waved his hand at Ares to make his point after he absorbed Tyr’s comments.

“Do you have any idea what it must be like for him to be the second most powerful entity in creation and not have the ability to help her with her power imbalance or even heal her? He isn’t part of the equation. He isn’t even on the same level as we are. Tristan was a fucking human and he had more control over her than Ian did even when he was good. Riddick, you have become the ruling Lord of the Shi’ar Empire and the only man that its Majestrix truly needs in her life. Ian has lost his place in her life but in truth he never had one. He was just a stand-in until you came along.”

“Ares, I didn’t know this and it was never my intention to make him feel alienated. He knew how I felt about her before I did and he told me to pursue her.”

Duncan shook his head and looked at the confused and forlorn Riddick. “That is because he only thinks of her well-being. He doesn’t give a thought to anything else. That man has been by her side every time she died and waited with tears in his eyes for her to rise again.”

“Every time she died?” Kyra spoke up loudly and looked at the saddened faces around the table. “What the hell do you mean every time she died?”

“She is the Phoenix, Kyra.” Ronon whispered in the quiet room. “The mythological bird of power that dies in the fire and rises from the ashes to be reborn anew. She has died thousands of times but always returns. Is that right, father?”

Rhade nodded his head. “That is correct, son.”

“How would you know how many times she has died, Rhade?” Tyr asked in a contemptuous voice. “You have never been by her side when she was cut down in battle.”

“She let me read the archives, Tyr.” Telemachus closed his eyes waiting for the outburst he knew he could expect from the Kodiak. “After I mated her, she brought me here to read the archives.”

“That is a ritual meant for mates that she bonded with! Not some lover she took on the side!”

“Tyr…” Riddick began.

“I’ve read the archives too, bub.” Logan turned his steely hazel eyes on Tyr and practically growled. “What the fuck does that make me? Am I just a lover that she took on the side? What a minute, that is exactly what I am. She took me to her bed so she could forget your cheating ass.”

“Stop it!” Riddick’s voice reverberated off the walls and everyone fell silent. “We made promises earlier to try to get along and accept all of this for her sake and if any of you fuck this up I’ll kill you. You know damn well she is the air we breathe and we can’t live without her so this shit stops here. My son explained it to us very well that she feels pain in whatever we have dominion over when we are at odds and I won’t see a repeat of that shit again.”

~*~

Alex leant against the banister of the balcony listening to her mates arguing inside and it tore at her being. She knew Ian had followed her out here but remained in the shadows and listened to their words about him. “You just going to stand there, Ian, or did you have something to say?”

He walked forward a few steps and stopped before he was within reach of her. “I don’t know what to say anymore, my love.” He whispered.

“Is what they say true, Ian? Do you feel like you have no place in my life anymore because of Riddick?”

“I think so but in all honesty I was never more than a lover and a companion to you during the time we’ve been together. We might be mates and we had a child together but it isn’t the same as the others. We used our power to create Jarod. He wasn’t conceived the way the other boys were. I mean we did make love but we both know I am an extension of you and he is an extension of us. We are just two cosmic beings who reached into their power reserve and made a child of that energy.”

“Is that what you really think?” She asked in a broken voice with her back still facing towards him. “You think you were nothing more than a lover and someone to watch over me until Riddick got here? You think the birth of our son was just a passing thought of 2 cosmic beings to construct an extension of their power?”

“I don’t know anymore, love.”

He was caught completely unaware by a power-encased fist that connected with his jaw and found himself crashing through the doors that led into the dining hall. The occupants sitting around the table threw themselves to the floor to avoid his flying body as it smashed through the table and the wall behind it.

“You son of a bitch!” They looked up from the ground to see Alex walking through the debris with clenched fists and a murderous look on her face. “I can’t believe after everything we’ve been through that you think so little of me!”

Ian rose from the rubble with his hands up in surrender to her. “My lady, I don’t know what to think anymore. I can’t explain it but that is what is running through my head these days.” She grabbed his shirt in her left hand and threw a right cross to his cheek. “Alex, stop hitting me!”

“Make me!” She landed another punch to the same spot. “I have told you for ages that when I thought of the perfect man I created you!” Another punch snapped his head to the side. “Did you think I was lying, Ian!”

She pulled back her fist to hit him again but when she threw it he caught it in his hand. “I said stop hitting me!” His eyes emitted his white energy and his voice took on the inhuman sound hers often did when she had been pushed too far. He let loose a burst of power that blew her out of the damaged balcony doors and over the side.

“Ian, what have you done?” Ares asked in horror.

“I’m just having a talk with my wife. Now if you’ll excuse me, we need to finish this discussion.” He flew out the door with the others on his heels but they stopped at the banister when he took to the night sky. He hovered high above the ground looking around for his mate when suddenly 2 fists struck him in his back and sent him flipping end over end through the air until he straightened himself out. “There you are, baby.”

“Here I am, Ian.” Her power erupted from her body and the Phoenix cried in the silence of the night as it encased her form like a long lost lover. “Come and get me, baby. I’m right here and I’ve always been yours.”

“You can still say that after all these new editions to your life?” He released his power and 2 Phoenix entities circled each other in the sky. “I have no purpose in your life anymore and you know it!”

“You are such a fucking idiot, Ian.” Tears of flame ran down her cheeks and she lost her aggressive stance. “You are the first being I ever loved and you will be the last because we eventually outlive everything around us whether that is here or our real home. Your purpose in my life is what it always was. You are my Protector. You are my center. You are what I aspire to be. Let me ask you a question, my love. If you are just an extension of me, why are you fighting me now?”

His brow furrowed in confusion as he thought about the answer. “I don’t know.”

“You are your own person, Ian, and that is why we are so different. If you were an extension of me, you would be nothing more than a clone like Andrea. You think for yourself. I just gave you life and shared mine with you.”

“Why did you keep Rhade from me?” He asked in his normal voice that cracked with emotion. “Why did you hide his part in your life from me?”

“I didn’t tell you about him because of Ronon and his purpose in my life.” She moved closer to him and he took her in his arms. To the people on the balcony, it looked like the two fire birds were merging into one. “You wanted me to stay here amongst the mortals and I still wanted to be released from my burden someday. I thought you would try to stop me by killing him and I couldn’t allow that. He is my son and I love him whether he completes his destiny or not.”

He kissed her forehead and pulled her against his body. “I’m sorry, my love.”

“Me too, Ian.” She sobbed. “I didn’t mean to hurt you so badly by keeping this from you but I had to protect my son.”

“You’ve never hidden anything from me before and…combined with my sudden insecurities, I overreacted terribly. Forgive me, my love.” He kissed her forehead and desperately sought her trembling lips. “Please forgive me.”

“How could I not forgive the man of my dreams?” She returned his kiss and their love made their power flare brightly in the sky.

“Anyone sensitive to sunlight better cover your eyes.” Ares said as he shielded his eyes from the miniature sun that formed on Ariana’s surface that night.

The longer they held on to each other for comfort and love, the brighter their power shone in the sky. ‘Hey you two! Knock it off. You’re going to throw off the sleeping habits of the residents on this world. They’re going to think it is morning the way you two are going at it.’ Riddick sent his mental scolding to the two powerful beings in the heavens.

They broke apart and drew their power back into their bodies before they flew back down to the balcony. “Sorry, my love. We got carried away.”

“Uh huh. Are you two okay now, Alex?”

“Yes, Richard.”

“Great.” Ares threw up his hands. “Now that you’ve cleared that up, how about you two go repair the dining room and conjure us up some food. You kind of fucked up dinner and I’m starving.” He went back inside with the others laughing at his ability to create levity right after a battle amongst 2 cosmic beings with the power to destroy galaxies just took place outside their home.

“I wasn’t kidding when I said he was an asshole.” Riddick said as he escorted Alex back into the palace.

“I heard that!” Ares yelled from inside the destroyed room.

“You always do, you prick, and that is why I say it so often.” Riddick yelled back.

“I have an idea.” Alex said in a gentle voice that made every one turn to face her. “I’ll fix all of this mess later but in the meantime why don’t we all go to the lake and have dinner there?”

The surprise registered on all of their faces. Riddick grabbed her shoulders to turn her towards him and stooped down to look into her eyes. “Are you sure, Baby? That is your place of sanctuary.”

“I’m sure.” She smiled and glanced around at her family. “I want to show you my special place. It is the most beautiful thing I ever created next to Ian and my children and I want to share it with you.”

Smiles spread across all their faces and Riddick took her hand in his. “Well let’s go then. I’m sure between you and Ian; we can expect dinner to be waiting for us when we get there.” He glanced up at Ares and tilted his head in his direction as he spoke to their mate. “We don’t want the mighty God of War getting cranky on us due to lack of food.”

“You are such an asshole.” Ares responded shaking his head in mock exasperation.

“I have a reputation to maintain too.” He smiled down at Alex and nodded his head. She rolled her eyes with a smirk on her face and transported them all to her formerly private sanctuary.

~*~