Predator

Chapter 57

It had been almost an hour since Alex’s life signs had faded. Her sons were still writhing in agony from the large influx of power they had received. Ronon and Ioan were the only ones unaffected and tried to help their brothers.

All of her mates with the exception of Ian and Riddick were talking calmly to the Guardians. They were desperately trying to get through to the boys and help them assimilate their future birthright. As of yet, they had no success.

“Dorian, can you hear me?” Ronon asked as he tried to pry his brother’s hands from his temples. “I’m right here, my brother.”

“Its too much.” Dorian cried out as he rocked back and forth. “I can’t…take this, Ronon. Please…make it…stop.”

“I can’t, Dorian. I’m sorry but mother is the only one who can make it go away.” He wrapped an arm around Dorian’s shoulder and held him to his side. “Listen to me, Dorian. This power is going to be a permanent part of you someday and you need to learn how to deal with it.”

“I can’t…”

“Yes you can. Close your eyes and focus your thoughts.” Ronon spoke loud enough for the others to hear. “Try to remember the training Alex gave you. The keys to controlling your abilities are there. You just need to get your thoughts in order.” He noticed that the others were beginning to settle a bit and urged them on further.

“The extra power you are finding so difficult to control is a tiny fraction of what our mother deals with on a daily basis! Quit whining about it, get your shit together and become the destined Guardians she intended you to be!” He glanced at the others and noticed they had calmed down in the arms of their fathers. He could see them coming to terms with their power and smiled at Dorian’s meditative face. “Is it better now, Dorian?”

“Yeah.” He said on an exhaled breath. “Thank you, my brother.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You have done something truly amazing here, Ronon.” Ian said quietly as he held his love’s still hand. “You made these boys realize what it means to be Alexandra.” He played with her fingers for a moment before he looked up at the chosen five. “He’s right, you know? It feels like that for her every moment of every day.”

Ian glanced over at Riddick who was cradling his daughter in one arm and holding Alex’s other hand. “I need you all to listen to what I have to say now because I don’t know if I’ll get another chance. That little girl is your future and it is time for you to learn what it is that you will be guarding.”

“Riddick.” He waited until the grieving man’s silver eyes met his. “You need to hear this too, my friend. It will be your duty to ensure the family goes on after I am gone. My responsibilities to Alexandra exceeded those of just a mate. She relied on me to control the palace and planet. I had to resolve disputes within our home and between other worlds. That will fall to you soon.”

“Ian…please don’t do this now.” Riddick blinked tears from his eyes and glanced down at his fallen mate. “I just lost her. I don’t want to think about losing you too right now.”

“I’m afraid you have no choice, my friend.” Ian reached across Alex’s body and ran his finger over Dawn’s tiny hand. “We need to make sure your little one is properly cared for in the near future. We have not done a good enough job of protecting Alexandra and I don’t want the same mistakes made with Dawn.”

Riddick nodded his head and glanced down at his daughter. “I don’t want any mistakes either. I haven’t been in Alex’s life for very long but I have failed her as well.” Dawn had a tiny hand wrapped around one of his fingers and stared into his eyes. “She looks like she holds all the secrets of the universe in those eyes.” He whispered in amazement.

“She probably does, my friend.” Ian was about to turn to address the others when he felt something latch on to his little finger. He looked down to see Dawn’s delicate hand holding his finger and gazed into the dark eyes that had turned to him. “She is so beautiful, Riddick.” Ian said with tears in his eyes. “She definitely has her mother’s eyes.”

“I hope she has inherited everything from her mother.” Riddick whispered.

“Riddick, do not even think such a thing. There are many aspects of your being that Dawn would be lucky to have.” He smiled at the tear-filled eyes of a new father. This day should have been one of his happiest and yet his pain blanketed the room. “Please remember that you are the one that was destined to bring balance to Alexandra. She wants to live again because of you.”

“Thanks, Ian.”

Ian cleared his throat that was tightening with emotion before he turned back to the others. “You all know now what is going to happen when the time comes for Dawn to become the next Protector. I will be the one who passes on my cosmic power to her.”

He glanced around at the saddened faces of the boys and Alex’s mates. “When my death occurs it will transfer energy to you that will trigger your transformation into her Guardians.” His voice took on a serious tone and his demeanor became business like. “What you need to know is what your duties will be.”

“Alexandra’s mates all have a purpose in her life and dominion over certain aspects of her being. You each will have similar purposes with Dawn.”

“Ioan will be a mentor and companion of sorts to her. He is a Phoenix in his own right and can help her along her path. He is not a Guardian like the rest of you.” Ian smiled proudly at his son before he turned back to the others.

“Dean will guard her heart just like his father has guarded Alexandra’s for centuries.” He looked at father and son and returned Duncan’s nod. “Jesse will be the guardian of her mind. Tyr has always been a constant challenge to Alexandra and it is only right his son does the same for her daughter.” He smirked at the Nietzchean and received a small smile in return.

“Dorian, my boy, you will have to safeguard her soul. Your father gave your mother her link between humanity and godhood. He gave her the soul she needed to achieve her balance in life. You will make sure your sister’s soul remains pure.”

“That brings me to our Godlings.” He glanced at Ares’ boys and gave them a grim smile. “The two of you will be going back to basics. Brennan, you will be the guardian of your sister’s light. Her good nature will be yours to nurture and protect. Brandon, you are the guardian of her dark nature. She will be tempted to give in to it someday, Brandon, and you need to ensure she never does.”

“Ronon is the Balance of Judgment. He will be the one who decides who lives and who dies amongst the bad elements in the universe. I am not saying that Dawn will never be called upon to take a life but her primary function is to protect it. If judgment needs to be made, it will be Ronon’s decision. He has to make the hard choices so that Dawn never becomes the Angel of Death like her mother did.”

“Do you all understand now why Alexandra has been so protective over you? She has given you her creation to protect.” He wiped the tears from his cheeks and ran his eyes over his mate. “What she did not anticipate was being here to see it happen.” He looked back at her mates and smiled.

“Your wish has been granted and you get to keep her but you will have your hands full. None of you have ever seen her at full strength before. It is a sight to behold. She is a magnificent creature. You will need to exercise your dominion over her to ensure her stability.”

“It won’t be an easy task, gentlemen. The way she is now is nothing compared to what she used to be. When Alexandra roamed the heavens at full power, she was the most vibrant and primal being you could ever imagine. Her power will be beyond comparison. I have never been close to her strength and I don’t believe Dawn will be either.”

“Before she wakes, the five of us who went to the temple the day Tristan re-entered our lives will have to return there. I will draw out the power that I divided amongst you and the power that the Wielders diverted into you. We will have to transport her there before she rises and I will transfer her power back into her body.”

“She will be restored to her original state of being. It was something she feared after she took human form but she has the balance she needs now to control it. The Wielders will remain as a back up in case she needs to be restrained.”

“The battle that awaits her is something that none of you can help her with. The Abyss is the Phoenix’s enemy and only the Phoenix can defeat it. Ioan or myself might be able to assist her but the rest of you need to protect each other and Dawn. None of you stand a chance against it and you will only get yourselves killed.”

“The Abyss can kill Alexandra but she will rise again. I do not believe it can end her existence. To be honest, I never thought anything could destroy her and I still don’t. Keep in mind that it can damage her enough that she stays down long enough for it to destroy everything she holds dear.”

“This is the longest that she has been down now, isn’t it?” Duncan said sadly as he held his son and stared at her bloody body on the bed. “I cannot remember a time where it has taken her so long to rise and her wounds still haven’t healed.”

“I think you are right, Duncan.” Ares whispered quietly as he sat between his sons on the floor. “I have never seen it take this long either.” The War God glanced at his sister, who stood nearby with Tamerlane in her arms, before he turned to his boys. “Are you two okay to sit here for a moment?”

“Yeah, dad.” Brennan nodded his head wearily. “I’ll be okay.”

“Brandon.” Ares tilted up his son’s head and looked in his tear-filled eyes. “Are you alright, son?” His oldest nodded slowly and hugged his father. “I know you’re having a hard time with this. We’ll talk more about it later. Your aunt and I will help you come to grips with this in any way we can. I love you.”

“I love you too, dad.”

Ares stood up and went to sit beside his mate. His eyes misted over as he looked over the blood soaked sheets. “Alex, baby, you need to wake up now.” His voice caught in his throat with a sob. “We need you to heal and open those gorgeous eyes of yours.” He gently brushed her hair away from her face.

“You have 2 beautiful babies here that need their mother.” His tears flowed freely and his body began to shudder with his sobs. “Your sons are terrified and need your reassurance. Your mates would rather die than to go another moment without you.”

“I’d rather spend an eternity in Kortoth than sit here and helplessly watch you like this.” He covered his eyes with one hand while he ran his fingers through her hair. “You need to wake up and feed your babies. You need to open your eyes and tell us everything is going to be okay.”

“Ares.” Duncan gripped the distraught War God’s shoulder and whispered in his ear. “She’ll come back to us, my friend. You believe me, right?” Ares placed his hand on Duncan’s and nodded his head. “You know she can’t leave us alone for a second and expect us to take care of ourselves. She just needs a little more time. Right, baby?”

They both stared at her pale face waiting for a response that did not come. “Ian, look at the wound in her shoulder.” Duncan said as he held on to Ares. “It is starting to knit. It is slow but I can see it closing.”

“The Highlander is right.” Ares said as he sniffled and wiped the tears from his face. “It is almost imperceptible to the eye but I can see it as well.”

Ian scanned his Lady’s form and noticed her healing factor labor to mend her wounds. “You are correct, gentlemen. It is beginning but is going to take some time.” He looked deeper and found that all traces of her pregnancy were being healed and removed from her system. “Her body is healing the wounds and the effects that Dawn’s birth had on her.”

“How long do you think it will be before she comes back, Ian?” Riddick asked as he stared at her face with hope in his eyes.

“I don’t know, Riddick. It is almost impossible to tell how long it takes for her to be reborn. I just hope she heals completely before she wakes.” Ian clutched her hand in his and let out a sigh of relief. “I need you all to do me a favor.”

“What is it, Ian?” Duncan asked.

“I need you all to either bury everything I just told you so deep in your minds that she cannot detect it or you have to let me suppress the memory.” He glanced over at them with his soulful eyes. “She cannot know what I have planned. If you have any doubts about being able to hide this from her than let me know now. I will just erect a shield around my part in Dawn’s future.”

“Ian, isn’t that a little extreme?” Ares asked with a furrowed brow. “I’ve never known you to mess with people’s minds before.”

“She cannot find out about this before it comes to pass, Ares.” His voice took on an eerie hollow sound and his eyes began to flicker with his power as his temper came to the foreground. “She will never agree with this and you know it! I don’t want a fight on my hands just to be able to spare her life.”

“Are you even sure it is possible that you can do this?” The War God’s temper rose as well and his voice got louder. “What if you aren’t compatible with Dawn?”

“I am a Phoenix! Of course I am compatible with Dawn! It is not like I am a mortal donating an organ.” He knew Ares was arguing with him just because he did not want to see him die and it brought his temper back down. “Ares, I have stood by and watched her die for us thousands of times. I just can’t do it anymore. She wants to live…for all of you and she wants to see her daughter grow. Can’t you understand that?”

Ares looked long and hard into Ian’s eyes in search of an answer. He nodded his head slowly when he was certain that Ian was resigned to his fate. “I don’t like it, Ian, but I understand it. If I was like you, I would gladly give my life to save her too.” He reached out and grabbed Ian’s forearm. “Just so you know, I would do the same for you.”

“Thank you, Ares.” He smirked at him and gazed at the nods that followed suit from the other mates. “I know most, if not all, of you have shielded your thoughts from Alexandra in the past. You have the ability to keep this a secret without my help but you have to make a conscious effort to do it for an extended period of time. Do any of you think you will have a problem doing it?”

“No we won’t.” Rhade said as he wrapped an arm around Kyra’s shoulders. “I haven’t been amongst you for long but I know what this means to you. I don’t think any of us will give you away.”

Ian’s eyes narrowed on the young woman who shivered in Rhade’s embrace. “Lady Kyra.” Her eyes snapped to his and he saw the uncertainty in her gaze. “You are a mortal and you have no experience with mental shields. If it crosses your mind even once, all our hopes will be dashed.”

“I can bury it in my mind.” Kyra wiped the tears from her cheeks and her eyes darted from Alex’s prone form to Ian. “I have a lifetime of horrors locked away in here. It won’t be a problem.”

“I know of the horrors you speak of.” Ian said sadly as he gazed into her mind. “I just saw them. If you cannot shield your memories from me, there is no chance that you can hide them from Alexandra. I’m sorry but I cannot risk it. There is too much at stake.”

“I can guarantee that Kyra will not reveal your plans.” Ronon went to her side and took her hand in his. “She has a formidable mind and I will assist her in shielding her thoughts.”

“Ronon, you can’t be expected to be by her side every minute of every day.” Ian shook his head at the young man. “I cannot afford for her to slip up and reveal my plans to your mother.”

“She will not mess this up, Ian.” Ronon took a step in front of Kyra and pulled her behind him. “And I will not allow you to tamper with my mate’s mind.”

“Ronon, please…”

“Ian.” Riddick spoke up from behind him with more conviction in his voice than he had had since his mate’s death. “I will vouch for her too and I won’t allow you to do it either.”

“Okay. I trust you.” Ian sighed and glanced down at his mate’s wounds. “Her shoulder is almost completely healed. Ares, help me roll her on to her side.” The two of them gently turned her towards Riddick and a smile formed on their faces. “Her back is unblemished. Her healing is speeding up. I think she should wake up anytime now.”

They settled her down on her back and a collective sigh of relief could be heard around the room. “I think we should go to the temple now.” Riddick said as he glanced at the others. “If she wakes up before we complete the transfer, we are fucked. Ian, set up an altar in front of the statue for us to lay her on.”

Ian nodded his head at Riddick in agreement. His eyes turned white for a second and then returned to normal. “It is done.”

“Good.” He rose up to his feet and adopted his take-charge attitude once again. “I want everyone there. Ronon, since you and Ioan are not overrun like the other boys I would like the both of you to teleport everyone now.” Both of the boys nodded in agreement. “Tyr, as soon as you guys get there I want you, Ares and Duncan in place around the statue.”

“It will be done, my friend.” He said as he helped Jesse to his feet.

“All of you go ahead.” Riddick waved them off. “We will be right behind you.”

In a flash, Riddick was left cradling his daughter in his arms while he stared at his wife. “Well Ian, are we ready for this?” His eyes darted up to her First and he waited for a response. “You know damn well she would try to fight the Abyss at her current power level. She would never reclaim the rest of the Phoenix force. It scares her.”

“I know she wouldn’t absorb the rest of her power. She would try to fight the Abyss as she is now and she would die…repeatedly.” He looked back up at Riddick and nodded his head. “I’m ready to do this…now.” He grabbed Alex’s hand and Riddick took the other.

~*~

They appeared a split second later in the temple standing beside the altar that Alexandra lay upon. Riddick brought his mate’s hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across it. “Jack, come here.” His charge walked shakily to his side. Tears flowed down her cheeks when she looked at Alex. “Baby girl, look at me.” Her eyes darted to his and he pulled her into his chest with his free hand.

“She’ll be back in a few moments. I promise you and when she gets here she is going to be pretty pissed.” He pulled back and stooped down to look in her eyes. “I have something I have to do and I need you to watch Dawn for me. Okay?”

“You trust me to watch over your baby?” She choked out in a whisper.

“Of course I trust you.” He kissed the top of her head and clenched his eyes before he looked down into her face again. “I love you. I can say that now because of her.” He tilted his head towards Alex. “So can you.” He carefully placed his daughter in her arms and leaned down to kiss Dawn’s forehead. “You need to go stand with Athena. It is safer against the wall.”

“Okay.” She smiled down at the little one cradled in her arms. Dawn had grabbed a ringlet of Kyra’s hair and was playing with it. “I will take care of her.” He nodded and turned to the statue before she called out to him. “Riddick, I love you too and please be careful.”

“I’m helping the woman I love, Jack. Until she is lying in my arms again and holding our baby in hers, I don’t have a care in the world.” He smirked sadly and moved to stand before the likeness of said woman. “Vaako help Ioan and Ronon get the boys seated along the wall. When she comes back, her power will probably leave them in a bigger rush than usual. I don’t want them falling down and cracking their heads open.”

Vaako bowed his head at Riddick and assisted Jesse. Ioan helped Brandon and Brennan. Ronon situated Dean and Dorian on the floor. He went to stand beside his mate and father. Athena cradled Tamerlane in her arms and they all focused on the 5 men standing in a circle around the marble statue.

Ian glanced at Ares on his right.

He nodded and smiled at Duncan.

Duncan returned the smile and glanced at Tyr.

The Nietzchean inclined his head and turned to look at Riddick.

The Furyan’s silver orbs reflected the same pain that filled Tyr’s. Riddick couldn’t force a smile if his life depended on it. He took a deep breath and turned to Ian. “Lets do this.”

Ian nodded his head and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were burning a brilliant white. His cosmic energy burst from his hands, punched through Ares and Riddick’s chests, and continued through Duncan and Tyr’s. A fiery circle of energy connected all 5 men and they convulsed as Ian ripped the borrowed Phoenix force from their bodies.

They collapsed to the ground as the energy left them and were forced to shield their eyes as Ian’s form was encased by the Phoenix. It flared brighter than usual as Alexandra’s power fueled his own. He seemed at peace for a long moment as he felt her essence flow through his veins but it was a short-lived peace.

He threw his head back and released an inhuman cry as his mate’s power tore out of his body and returned to its holding cell. He staggered back a couple of feet and waved off the others. “Get along the wall with the others!” He yelled over a high-pitched sound that pierced the air. “I have no idea what will happen when they are rejoined!”

The four men stumbled across the floor trying to reach safety and were met halfway by Rhade, Ioan, Ronon, and Vaako. Telemachus helped Tyr off the floor and dragged him to his son. Ioan grabbed Ares’ hand and effortlessly pulled him to his feet. He wrapped his arm around the War God’s waist and deposited him between his boys.

Ronon ran out and picked up Duncan. He carried him over to the wall and sat him next to Dean. Riddick was the only one on his feet. He was moving slowly as if every ounce of energy had left his body. He began to falter and was surprised when Vaako wrapped an arm around his back. He pulled Riddick’s arm over his shoulder and helped his Lord to safety.

Ian turned to his mate’s body that lay on the altar. Her wounds were healed. Her abdomen was flat again and rippled with her muscles. By looking at her, one would never know she had just given birth except for her enlarged breasts. Her chest had yet to rise to take in a breath.

His eyes leaked tears that shone with the light of his power. “I hope you are ready for this. It has been a long time since you have been yourself.” He bent down to kiss her cheek and whispered in her ear. “Please forgive me, my love, but there is no other way.”

Ian reached his right hand out towards the fiery statue and extended his left to rest on her chest. The power arced from her likeness, ran through his body, and flowed into its host. Alexandra’s eyes snapped open, her body bowed on the altar, and a shrill scream split the air. The Guardians cried out as her power left their bodies and returned to its rightful owner.

Her form burst into crimson flames that continued to grow brighter and hotter. Her family huddled on the floor trying to shield their eyes and cover their ears at the same time. The fire that licked her body like a long lost love threatened to consume the hall. Her scream was so high-pitched that cracks formed in the marble walls.

The Royal Family felt like their eyes were burning from the light and heat. Some could swear there was blood running from their ears from the inhuman sound that split their heads. Ioan and his little sister were the only ones present that were unaffected and 2 sets of black eyes were riveted to their mother’s writhing form.

Just when it seemed like it would never stop, Ian’s arms fell to his sides and he stumbled back in exhaustion. All eyes went to Alexandra’s burning body on the altar and waited for a sign. She was still but she was breathing heavily. The flames licked her skin but her flesh had returned to its healthy color of tan.

After a few tense minutes ticked by, Alex shot up to a seated position on the marble slab. Her eyes were concealed by fire but they could tell she was taking in her surroundings as her head turned from the ceiling to the walls. “Ian.” She cocked her head to the side as she stared at him. Her voice had a hollow, metallic sound to it.

He remembered that voice like it was just yesterday. “My Lady.” He stood at the foot of the altar and gazed at her with wide-eyes.

She lifted her hands before her face and watched the flames dance from her skin. “I am restored.” Her head snapped back up to his and fire burned from her eyes. “What have you done? Do you know what you’ve done?” Her voice vibrated the walls around them as she yelled in anger.

“I did what I had to do and there is no turning back for you.” He responded in a confident but even tone. “Your ancient enemy has returned and this is the only way for you to defeat it.”

“You cannot expect me to keep this!”

“I am sorry to disappoint you, my love, but this cannot be reversed!” His temper rose with her stubbornness and he yelled back at her in the same metallic tone. “I made sure of it! I might not be as powerful as you but after an eternity together, I know how you work!”

“The lives that could be lost…”

“Alexandra, shut up! You need to think about the lives you are going to save!” He lifted up a weary arm and pointed behind her. “Like the lives of your family! Your mates, your sons, and your 2 infants need you!”

“My babies!” She gasped and hopped off of the altar. She turned to look behind her and saw her family huddled together on the floor. She seemed to glide on the air as she crossed the room to stop a couple of feet from her loved ones. Her fiery gaze landed on her newborn in Kyra’s arms.

Her child was reaching her tiny arms out to her but, as soon as she raised her hands to take her, she remembered the flames that still danced along her skin. “Well this completely sucks.” She glanced over her shoulder to glare at Ian. “Do you have any idea how long it has been since I had to reign in my true force? I cannot even hold my daughter!”

“You know damn well that your flames will not hurt your child!” His voice boomed back at her. “They won’t hurt your mates or your children!”

“I do not want one of my daughter’s first memories to be of her mother on fire!” She screamed back at him with tears of flame running down her face. “I wanted her life to be normal for at least a short period of time! I did not want her to look on me and see this!”

“Baby.” Her head snapped around to look at Riddick who was just getting to his feet. “This is what you are and our lives have never been normal.”

“Richard, my eyes are exuded flames. My skin is on fire. My voice is not the sound a child should have to hear. I am a creature of the sun again. I cannot bear to have my babies look at me with fear in their eyes.”

He took his daughter from Kyra and walked serenely into the flames that surrounded his mate. “Alex, our child is a creature of the sun as well and she is as beautiful as her mother.” He glanced down at Dawn and smiled when he saw her eyes were fixed on Alex. “Our daughter wants her mother to hold her, baby. Are you going to deny her that?”

She looked down at her child and fell into her black eyes. Her mate placed Dawn into her mother’s arms and pulled them both into his embrace. He kissed her gently on her lips and leaned his forehead against hers. “She has my eyes. Well she has what my eyes used to be.” Alex smiled up at him.

“You can draw it in. I am your control, remember?” He nuzzled her hair and drew in her scent. It was vibrant and primal just like Ian had said. “You need to remember the lessons that you taught the boys and concentrate. You are whole again but you are in control. Concentrate, baby.”

She closed her eyes and focused her attention on her inner fire that raged to remain free. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she mentally drew it all within her. The flames reduced to a flicker before they retreated beneath her skin. When she finally opened her eyes, they had returned to obsidian black and matched the pair that stared up at her.

“Hi, Dawn.” Her voice sounded like music to her own ears and she smiled brightly. “Your mommy is sorry she went away, my darling girl, but I promise you I will make it up to you.” She turned to her family who were picking themselves off of the floor and her gaze narrowed on Dorian. “This was your first transference. Are you alright?”

“He’s better than alright, Alex.” Ronon stood next to his brother and draped an arm over his shoulder. “He and the others learned to assimilate their new power.”

“Well congratulations, my darlings.” She smiled as she glanced over her 5 chosen Guardians. “I am so proud of you.”

“You have Ronon to thank for it, mom.” Brandon stepped forward and looked his mother straight in the eyes. “He helped us remember our training and encouraged us to get it under control. I personally don’t think I would have made it without his kick in the ass.”

“Well I guess I am proud of all of my boys for a number of reasons.” Alex turned to the Goddess of Wisdom and smiled at the boy in her arms. “Athena, I cannot thank you enough for taking care of my son. I am sure both of my little critters are hungry. Will you hand him over to Tyr so we can retire to the nursery?”

“Of course, my Lady.” The Goddess gave Tyr his son and turned to her Creator. “It was my honor to watch over your child while you were incapacitated.”

“Vaako, if you wish to remain here and continue your studies you may or you can retire to your quarters and return later. It is your choice.”

“I will stay a little longer, my Lady.” He bowed his head and gave her a small smile.

“As you wish. I think we should all go home and get some rest. I know I’ve been dead for a couple of hours but I could use some quality time with my babies.” She walked towards the center of the hall and paused in front of Kyra. Her head snapped towards the young woman and her eyes narrowed on her face. “Kyra, I do believe you have something you need to say to me.”

Alex’s statement hung in the room like a black cloud. Tension coursed through everyone around her but she was too engrossed in her daughter-in-law to notice. Kyra visibly swallowed with difficulty and put on her best smile. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t play coy with me. It is useless to hide it from me. I can see it within you.” Alex placed her hand on Kyra’s abdomen and smirked. “You made me a grandmother.”

Kyra set out a sigh of relief as Alex pulled her into a hug. “I am pregnant. After everything that just happened I completely forgot. I am so glad you are okay.”

“Me too. I cannot begin to tell you how happy the two of you have made me.” She released her and cupped her son’s bearded cheek. “I am sorry that I interrupted your honeymoon. Feel free to get back to it. I am locking myself in my room with my mate and my kids and it will take the arrival of the Abyss to get me out. See ya!” She had teleported away with Riddick, Tyr, and her 2 children to her chambers. She left the others behind to wipe the sweat from their brow in relief.

“That was fucking close.” Ares said as he slid back down to the floor.

“It was too close.” Ian said angrily. “She is infinitely more powerful than she was before. We have to keep our guard up at all times or we will lose her forever. Try to fucking remember that!” He yelled out in his full cosmic fury before he vanished from the temple.

~*~