Predator

Chapter Seven
Author’s Note: When you picture Jesse think of Shemar Moore.

Through the haze of madness that was sweeping through her being, she heard weapons fire and explosions rock the palace. ‘Shit.’ Her body was wracked with pain and she heard her son from Tyr cry out in her mind. ‘Jesse!’ She forced herself to her feet despite the fact that she was feeling the beating that her child was receiving.

The danger she posed to her family was pushed aside by the immediate threat they were now facing. Unable to teleport, she stumbled towards her home. Her body flinched and shuddered from every abuse visited upon her men. Cuts formed on her skin and blood ran from her mouth as she continued to stagger to her goal…her loved ones.

The invading party of Nietzcheans had the entire royal family rounded up and helpless using Duncan, Jesse, and Brennan as the weakest links to keep the others at bay.

“Where is the Destroyer?” The alpha male, Marcus, asked. “The Angel of Death! Where is she?” He forced Duncan to his knees and brought a sword to his neck. “Anasazi, where is your bitch? Tell us or your son pays for it!” A gauss rifle was aimed at Jesse’s back.

Alex stood on an upper level balcony in the shadows trying to hide the fire of her eyes from sight before she was ready to strike. “You here to help, Richard? You don’t have a stake in this.” Her voice was strangely hollow to his ears. She no longer sounded human.

He stepped out of the shadows smiling that she had sensed him yet again. “My place is by your side. I’ll fight with you and for you until my last day.”

She cocked her head to the side and gave him a slight smile. “Here’s hoping that is not today, my love.” Sword in hand, she walked to the edge of the three story balcony and dove off.

Riddick ran to the edge, watched her somersault in the air and land squarely on her feet behind the men who had their weapons trained on her mate and sons. A swing of her blade and two headless bodies fell to the ground. “Looking for me?”

Since she was the greatest threat amongst the royal family, all the Nietzcheans directed their weapons fire at Alex. As Riddick ran down the stairs to the lower level, he saw her take several shots as she cut her way through the seemingly never ending invaders. He panicked when he saw the damage her body was incurring and moved faster to get to her side.

The collar on her neck was still suppressing her ability to heal. Her wounds were severe but she was gripped in a bloodlust rage that pressed her on. She picked up another sword and the deadly dance she exhibited captivated both friend and foe alike. Ian steered the rest of her family out of her path to a safe distance behind her. He could see the madness overtake her and knew in that state she could unintentionally cause one of them harm if they got in her way.

Her eyes fell on Riddick as he emerged into the midst of the battle. He was beautiful to behold as he fought his way through the men that separated them. His ferocity rivaled her own in combat and her heart rejoiced when his eyes met hers across the room.

Her family was behind her and she stood between them and the enemy but Riddick was outside of her barrier of protection. He was swiftly making his way to her but it wasn’t fast enough. She sensed the threat to him and turned her head to see a gauss rifle aimed towards her love.

Everything appeared to move in slow motion to her eyes. She saw the outcome before it happened and ran with inhuman speed to him. “Richard!” He looked up to see her flying towards him. She heard the blast leaving the weapon and threw herself into his chest. They fell to the floor and Riddick saw the burning hole in her back.

“NO!” Riddick saw the pain in her beautiful face and felt it in his own heart. “Baby, why did you…”

“Save you?” Her fiery eyes focused on his concerned face. “You are worth it and it is something I should have done a long time ago.” Her eyes widened and her entire body tensed. “Time for you to back off, love.”

He stared at her in her shock as she rose to her feet before he followed suit. “Why?”

Her hand went to the collar and it melted at her touch. “Because things are about to get real…messy.”

“I’m not leaving your side.”

The fire erupted from her eyes and he saw flames dance from her hands. “Stay behind me.” She turned to face the now wary enemy and he wrapped his arms around her waist. The flames spread over her entire body until it engulfed them both and he was surprised to find it did not burn. “Don’t be. I will never hurt you again.”

“Alex!”

Their eyes fell on two men approaching from their right. One was a large, muscular man with black hair that seemed to rise up into two points on the sides of his head. He had 3 metal claws protruding from the knuckles of both hands and a large metal gauntlet on his right forearm.

“Logan, stand down. I got this.”

“Alexandra…”

The other man wore the twin gauntlet of Logan’s on his left forearm. He had short brown hair and wore a pair of red sunglasses that concealed his eyes from sight.

“You do not need to rein me in, Scott! I’m in good hands.”

“She’s in the best of hands!” Riddick leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I’ve got you, baby. Now let’s do this thing.”

A protective barrier of energy went up around her family and the wielders just as her power erupted from her body in the form of a giant bird of fire. Riddick held on to her as wave after wave of destructive force left her; swept through the palace, grounds and surrounding space of Ariana; and destroyed every threat to the Phoenix’s family.

The energy that she was emitting passed through him and he felt a stirring deep within his being. His own long dormant power shot through her and the Phoenix’s avatar cried in victory before it retreated back into its human shell. As the flames dissipated, she finally succumbed to her wounds and collapsed in his arms.

“Baby?” He lowered her to the ground and cradled her gently in his lap. He knew her injuries were fatal and; despite the fact that she would rise again; he was in great pain to see it happen. “Alex, don’t go.”

She stared into his beautiful eyes and smiled. “Your eyes…remind me…of my stars…my home. Every time…I die I…return to them.” Her hand went to his cheek and he nuzzled into her touch. “Now when I…come back, I still…feel like I’m…home.”

Tears ran down his face unnoticed until she caught them with her fingers. The shock of this display of emotion combined with the burning in his chest and he could no longer deny the way she made him feel. “Please don’t leave me. I love you.”

“Typical. A girl’s gotta do something extreme to hear the words she longs to hear from the man she loves.” She started to cough violently and when she removed her hand after it subsided, he saw the blood. “I’ll be right back. I…promise.” Her eyes closed, her breath stilled, and he pulled her to his chest.

The barrier around her family dropped when her heart stopped. They ran to the couple and stood in horror at the sight of her burned and bloody body. Tyr fell to his knees beside them with tears flowing from heart-broken eyes. He reached out and took her hand in his shaking one. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

“Don’t. Touch. Her.” Riddick’s voice sounded animalistic as he held her protectively in his arms. “Boys, you better steady yourselves!” He remembered how her power transferred to her sons when her life signs ceased and; judging by the energy that recently coursed through his body; he knew it was going to hurt like hell.

When the Phoenix force passed to her heirs, the pain of it brought them to their knees screaming in agony. Except for Tyr, all of their fathers went to their sides and tried to help them adjust to the burden.

“I know what you did, Anasazi.” Her mates’ attentions snapped to Riddick. “When our power combined, I saw into her mind. You brought this shit to her door.”

Ian read their minds and sensed Tyr’s guilt and Riddick’s rage. He knew it was true and was torn between killing Tyr or pitying him. It seemed that decision was not his to make.

Riddick gently laid Alex on the floor, kissed her forehead, and rose to his feet. Madness grew in him that rivaled her own and when he saw Tyr move closer to Alex, he lost control of it. He grabbed him by his leather vest and drug him to his feet. “I told you not to fucking touch her!”

“She is my wife!”

“You don’t have the right to claim her! You’re the reason she died and believe me when I say it was fucking painful!”

When Tyr glanced down at his mate, Riddick tackled him to the ground and a war between the two alpha males ensued. Ian, Ares, and Duncan watched the fight turn bloody and move around the room as they looked after the still overwhelmed boys.

Ian knew his love would be devastated if any permanent harm befell either of these 2 men but her children were his primary reason for not interfering. He had never seen such an influx of transference before now. They simply could not adjust to the increase of power and he feared for their sanity and survival.

“Ian, she’s been down for awhile now and I don’t think the boys can take much more of this!”

“I know how long she’s been out, Duncan, and when her last day comes, the boys will have to deal with a lot worse!” He looked up when he heard a crash and saw that the fight had moved out to a balcony overlooking a cliff.

“Ian, this shit is getting out of hand!”

“I know, Ares!” He moved to Alex’s side and shook her by the shoulders. “Love, please wake up!” He looked at the boys still writhing bodies and back to her mate and potential mate. Tyr had his bone blades at Riddick’s throat; who held them off and broke one close to the forearm. “Alex!” Ian slapped his wife hard across her cheek snapping her head to the side. “Come back to me now!”

He heard the boys screams subside and turned to see them settle. When he looked back at her, a pair of black eyes met his amber ones. “Was that necessary? I’m fucked up enough without you slapping the shit out of me.”

Ian pulled her into a tight embrace in relief then pulled back to arms length. “My love, Riddick and Tyr…”

She heard them cursing each other and with great effort rose to her feet. As she ran towards them, again the outcome flashed in her mind’s eye before it happened. Their struggle threw them off balance and they began to topple over the damaged marble banister.

She reached the edge and grabbed Riddick’s forearm. Tyr had a hold on his other arm and in her weakened condition; their combined weight pulled Alex with them. Her left arm wedged between two support columns halting their descent but the strain of holding the 2 men dislocated her shoulder and she screamed out in agony. “Shit! Can the two of you be anymore difficult?” She focused past the pain and looked down at the men who fought for her heart. “Tyr, climb up Riddick and I before my arm gives out!”

“Alex…”

“Now!” Tyr started up Riddick’s torso and then hers before he made the top. “Richard…your turn. Hurry!”

He wrapped his now free arm around her waist, climbed up her body, and hit the edge. He turned, grabbed her wrist and hoisted her up. “You okay, baby?”

“Do I look okay? I’m riddled with plasma burns, a gaping wound in my back, and; thanks to you two jerk offs; a dislocated arm! Ian!”

“Yes, love?”

“Are the boys okay? I gave them quite a shot of power.”

“I believe they will be fine.”

“Good. Fix this for me.” She indicated her shoulder with a nod of her head.

He positioned himself behind her, popped her shoulder back into place, and held her as she sagged against him. “I’ve got you, love.”

“I know, baby. You always do but I need to check on the boys.” She turned hard eyes on her combative males. “I trust I can turn my back on the two of you and you will be able to curb your instincts to tear each other apart.”

It was a warning not a question and both men took it very seriously. The looks on their faces were something akin to scolded puppies. They watched her spin on her heel and go see to her children.

“Jesse, are you okay?” She knelt next to her son and checked him for injuries. His and Brennan’s wounds healed when her power passed to them but all of her boys were still weak from their ordeal. “Baby, talk to me.”

His dark eyes met hers and he attempted a slight smile. “Hi, mom.”

“Hi, baby.”

“I’ve missed you. I’m glad to be home.”

She pulled him into a tight embrace and tears welled in her eyes. “I’ve missed you too, baby, and I’m so happy you’re home.” She released him to look at his handsome face and smiled. “You know I’m not letting you out of my sight for awhile, right?”

“Yeah, I know but that works both ways. You’ve died twice in 2 days. Are you trying to set a record or something?”

She laughed softly and absently wiped the stray tears that ran down her face. “You are a pain in the ass.”

“Like father like son. That is why you love us.”

“Right…your father.” She shot a withering glare over her shoulder at Tyr and he averted his eyes from the intense stare. “Your father and I have some unfinished business.”

Her head turned back to Jesse when she felt his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be too hard on him, Mom. He loves you more than life.”

“And Freya? How does he feel about her? He loved her enough to violate his oath to me.”

“She is dead.” She turned to Tyr and saw the sorrow in his eyes as he spoke. “She was killed in a Genite attack recently.”

“Is that why you returned to me?” She got to her feet and narrowed her angry, tear-filled eyes. “Am I your second choice? She’s gone and you come crawling back to me!”

“No…”

“Nietzcheans have a fucked up mentality on how to make a name for themselves! Your inherent drive to procreate with as many mates as possible is a ridiculous way to gain the power and notoriety that you all crave so much. You are mated to the ruler of the known universe and a supreme being yet you still follow this stupid mandate of yours.”

“It is not like that…”

“Shut up!” Her mind tapped into his thoughts and the truth was made known to her in an instant. Her anger then grew into fury. “You bred with her and brought your spawn back with you. Did you really expect me to allow your whore’s child to live in my home?”

“I expect you to let me and Jesse back into your life!”

“Jesse was never cut out of my life! You were!”

He grabbed her shoulders and stared into her pained eyes. “You are my wife and I will not allow you to leave me. Am I understood?”

She felt his hold on her take effect and began to sway towards him in his thrall. Her gaze caught Riddick’s and a moment of clarity entered her mind. “I understand completely.” She brushed his hands off her and pushed him away. “I understand that you came back to me when your plans for re-taking the Nietzchean Empire didn’t work after I destroyed it. I understand that you came back to me after your whore died and expect me to protect her child. I understand that you brought war to my home and endangered my family.”

She turned and walked away from him but stopped when she heard him yell. “Alex!”

“Yes, Tyr, I also understand that I am your mate and you have rights to my body but that doesn’t mean I have to like it or you right now.” She looked back at Riddick and held out her hand. “Are you coming, my love?”

Tyr watched Riddick walk past him and take her hand in his. “Where are you going, Alexandra? We are not finished.”

“We are for now. As for where I’m going, that would be to my chambers. I am going to be busy letting my 5th mate claim me and give me his child.” Riddick felt the tremors run through her body and knew she was tiring so he swept her up in his arms. She smiled at Ian as they passed them. “Make sure we are not disturbed for the rest of the day.”

He smiled back at her and bowed his head. “As you wish, my lady.”