Page 116 of Fractured Souls

The whole scene looked so alien, so glacial.

She didn’t belong here.

Alexis found herself yearning for Nythian; she missed his warmth of his arms and the comforting rumble of his voice.

Then Lodan blinked, and the illusion was shattered. “It’s done.”

Already? Just like that?

She hadn’t felt a thing.

How unnerving.

Lodan detached himself from the pilot’s chair and Alexis did the same. He ignored her as he moved swiftly and silently, exiting through doors made of thousands of unravelling black fibers.

She followed right behind. “Where are you going, Lodan?”

“Into the enemy ship. Nythian’s obviously caught up with something. I’m just going to go and make sure he’s okay, give him some help if he needs it—which he probably doesn’t.”

“I have this crazy urge to come with you, but I’m guessing you’re going to tell me to stay back here because it’s too dangerous.”

“Nythian’s my friend,” Lodan shrugged as they passed into a dark room where she could barely see. “I don’t mind taking him on in a training battle, but I don’t ever want to fight him because I’ve done something stupid like putting his mate into unnecessary danger.” Lodan moved in the darkness, but she had no idea what he was doing, because he was like a goddamn shadow; all she could see was the faint silver outline of his face. “Don’t worry, Alexis,” he said softly. “I know him better than almost anyone. If he’s quiet, there’s good reason for it, but he isn’t dead.”

“But what if he’s injured or incapacitated?”

Lodan chuckled softly. “Then there’s nothing to worry about, because he won’t be injured for long.” He stepped out of the dark chamber, entering the dimly lit corridor. Frowning, Alexis stalked after him.

Now she could see again. She blinked. Lodan’s tall frame bristled with all kinds of weapons; guns, blades, small round devices she assumed were explosives of some sort.

While they’d been talking in the dark, he’d been arming himself.

He paused in the middle of the corridor and turned to her, a gentle—almost kind—smile on his face. “I’ve been Nythian’s partner for a long time, Alexis. Believe me when I tell you that it would take a lot to bring him down. Sure, he goes off the deep end sometimes, but it isn’t what you might think. Let me go down there and make sure everything’s clear. I’ll holler if he needs you.”

She could only stare at him as he turned and disappeared into the shadows.

“It’s hard, isn’t it?” A soft voice made her turn. Noali stood there, barefoot and wearing nothing but a simple cornflower blue cotton dress.

She looked ethereal, so out of place on this dark, forbidding ship that it was almost ridiculous. As she approached, the Tharian power in Alexis reacted, sending an electric ripple down her arm.

Despite her delicate appearance, Noa was a little bit terrifying. A small part of Alexis reacted to Noa with pure fear; that was the Tharian side of her, a fragment of billions of years of knowledge passed down to her by Anuk. Deep down, she recognized Noa for what she truly was.

But Noa was also an ally, and she was human. Alexis pushed away that irrational feeling of fear.

“I mean, they’re so powerful they almost seem invincible,” Noa said, “but then they go on these ridiculous missions that are so dangerous that any ordinary mortal would think they were utterly insane. And they’re so damn nonchalant about it all. I have to remind myself that he was doing this long before we met. The kind of training they’ve been put through…” She shook her head in wonder. “Ash is injured, and that’s crazy, because it’s been a long time since any enemy’s put a scratch on him, but he still managed to escape easily. Nythian’s cut from the same cloth. He’ll be okay.”

“Then you understand that I can’t help it if I’m worried.” Alexis walked forward until they were just inches from each other. The tingling in her arm grew more intense. “But I appreciate you trying to make me feel better. Still, I’m going to go down to edge of the tunnel and wait for him. I just can’t help it. I’m sure you know what I mean.” Her hand crackled with power now; she almost felt like she would deck anyone who got between her and Nythian—especially if he needed her.

“I’ll go with you,” Noa offered, a wry smile ghosting across her lips. “Ash has ordered me to keep myself busy until he arrives. He hates it when I fret over him. Follow me. I know my way around here a little.” She confidently walked off into the darkness, and Alexis followed her down to the lower decks.

Nobody challenged them or stopped them, not even the silent warriors they passed on one or two occasions.

It was as if they had some sort of special status.

Finally, they reached the lower hatch, which was connected to a dark tunnel that disappeared into nowhere. A pair of armed-to-the-teeth Kordolians stood guard. “You can’t go any further,” one of them said, offering them a respectful nod. “Lodan’s orders.”

“We’re not going to do anything reckless,” Alexis reassured him, although she was burning with the urge to go down there and find her man. She swore she could almost feel him.

“He’s down there,” Noa confirmed. “I can sense him. Something feels different, though. It’s almost as if—”

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