Page 76 of Torn from the Alien Commander

She is a beautiful soul.

Rocks’ face lights up as she takes Tyrxie’s hands in hers. “I would like that, Tyrxie.” They smile at each other. It’s pleasing to watch our females getting along so well.

Krogoth must be thinking the same as he watches with a grin. “Do you know what names we’ll bestow on our children?” he asks, tearing his gaze away from Rocks and Tyrxie.

“I do,” I laugh knowing. “But I dare not speak them, in case it alters your choice. And I am rather fond of them.”

Krogoth studies me for a moment. “Astonishing,” he says, shaking his head.

“No, old friend, astonishing is yet to come,” I reply, glancing towards my Tyrxie, feeling the weight of this moment, how it will echo through Klendathian history for all time. “Tyrxie, would you be so kind as to heal Logarn?” I flash a knowing smile at her, despite my heart hammering in my chest.

“But the youth’s uninjured,” Noroth states, scrutinizing the neutral Logarn.

“Is he?” I raise a questioning eyebrow, guiding Tyrxie towards the blonde-haired youth.

“Okay.” Tyrxie stands before Logarn, glancing at me and him. “I’ll try.”

“Remember, just like before, my love.” I marvel at her, my heart filling with intense love and respect. She smiles back, her emerald eyes shimmering until they glow like glorious celestial entities. I can feel her warmth through the bond. Our souls join, blazing with golden and green flames that were always destined to dance together.

The command room falls silent, just bated breaths and the low din of the engines. Tyrxie strains reaching Logarns face, placing two glowing hands on his cheeks. Logarn gazes down at my love, showing no emotion or distress. “I can’t sense anything wrong with him,” she mutters.

“Delve deeper,” I urge, placing a hand on her back.

Tyrxie takes a deep breath, her glowing eyes glazing over, lost in some awareness unique to her. “Wait... there’s a part cut in two.” She frowns with closed eyes, her hands drifting towards Logarn’s head. “Let me see if I can join them together, just like bridging a circuit,” she chuckles.

Logarn grows suddenly tense, his brown eyes misting in fury, filling me with worry. He lashes out with his claws drawn, aiming for Tyrxie’s throat. In a flash, I swat his blows away with a speed none but I possess. But with only one arm, I can only defect his frantic thrashing attacks.

“Restrain him!” I shout.

Chapter 25

Xandor

Divine

Noroth and Krogoth pouncelike mountains of muscle, each clutching onto Logarn with unbreakable grips. The mad youth continues to thrash and squirm like he’s possessed by an entity from the netherworld, but my friends’ arcweave holds remain unyielding. My brave Tyrxie, undeterred, keeps her steady hands on Logarn’s head, her eyes closed in quiet concentration.

An ear-piercing scream emits from Logarn, carrying a shocking level of pain and terror that almost gives me pause. “You’re killing him!” Rocks pleads, her voice frantic, matching the chaotic scene.

“No, don’t stop!” I urge keeping a close watch on the writhing Logarn. “Only through suffering can he break free.”

Tyrxie’s hands continue to pulse green, as Logarn’s struggles become weaker and weaker. His legs give out from under him, and Noroth and Krogoth relax their hold, allowing the youth to fall to his knees. Tyrxie’s eyes snap open, a look of wonder and exhaustion on her face. “I did it, I bridged the circuit.”

Before I can reply, Logarn bursts into heaving sobs, his brown eyes looking at each of us as if for the first time. “I... I, oh Gods, what have I done!” he wails, his voice laden with sorrow. It’s jarring to hear Logarn’s voice carrying any emotion. He crumples into a ball at our feet, the intensity of his crying heightening further.

“I’ve never felt anything like this,” Rocks says, struggling to be heard over the heaving cries. “It’s like he’s experiencing every emotion at once, as strongly as possible.” She shakes her head.

“Tyrxie has restored his mind,” I announce, placing a hand on my love’s shoulder. “But Logarn is experiencing a cascade of repressed emotions, like a blind warrior having his vision restored only to stare into a blazing sun.” My eye shifts to Rocks as I try to explain. “Every pain, every doubt, every longing, every joy, every killing is now his to bear—I only hope he is strong enough to endure.”

“Noroth, take him to the medical lab. Have him checked out,” Krogoth commands as the two help the youth to his feet, his body shaking with sobbing. Noroth nods as he places a massive arm under Logarn’s, leading him out of the room.

An awkward silence lingers as the others stare with downcast eyes, lost in thought. “I’m so proud of you, Tyrxie,” I say, giving her a squeeze. Yet my words don’t reach her or Rocks and Krogoth, who stare at Tyrxie in disbelief. It twists my heart that my love is not getting the respect she deserves. “Don’t you know what this means? Our youth can be healed, our future generations saved!”

“Yes... yes,” Krogoth nods his head, coming round to the notion. “Assuming there are no adverse effects,” he posits.

A flash of irritation rises in me, but I suppress it, remembering they’re not aware of the same things as I. “Trust me, any other method would have resulted in the same. They must process all that was repressed. It’ll take time, but they’ll be the stronger for it—we’ll all be stronger for it.”

“What about you, Tyrxie?” Rocks asks with an outstretched hand and a look of concern. “You are unsure.”

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