Page 24 of Fractured Souls

She did the only thing that made sense right now.

She sought the man who had held her so tightly in the middle of her storm.

Nythian?

His eyes immediately locked onto hers. Strange colored eyes he had, like some mythical vampire or demon. Pointed ears, fangs, snow-white hair… holy hell. So alien. She could stare into his eyes for a very long time, wondering where he and his kind had come from, wondering how Kordolians could co-exist with humans without one species completely dominating the other.

“Must be a pain-in-the-ass, having a parasite in your head. Don’t worry, Alexis. We’ve dealt with far worse things than this. Let’s see what she wants. She might even be reasonable.” The tiniest hint of amusement entered his voice, and instantly, she felt better.

Unlike the other two, Nythian’s presence was warm and reassuring.

“Alexis Carter.” She almost jumped out of her seat as the commander addressed her directly. The Tharian presence in her mind retreated a little. “My name is Tarak. Abbey, my wife, has told me a lot about you.” He paused, allowing that little snippet of information to sink in.

Abbey’s husband?

Abbey had mentioned that her mate was a Kordolian, referring to him in warm, affectionate tones that made Alexis think she was a little bit crazy.

This guy?

Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

Why did he make a point of telling her that? To make her feel at ease, or get her to drop her guard, or what?

“You were retrieved deceased from the wreckage of the human long-range transport, the SS Malachi,” he continued, the harsh truth of his words hitting her in the face like a cold slap. “Out of respect, Zharek restored your body to its pre-injured state. Out of necessity, Enki released the second-stage Tharian that had forcibly bonded with him into your body. She did the rest. Your life was returned to you. We do not completely understand the mechanism, but you are here now, and you are alive. The Tharian has given you a second chance. In exchange, it seems you must accept her. Do you understand?”

“You’re telling me I have to settle for this...” She looked down at her mutated hand, wondering what kind of life she was going to live now.

“You are alive,” Tarak said, pulling her into the powerful vortex of his existence for just a fraction of a second. In that instant, she knew he’d been to the same place as she had, that precipice between life and death.

Once you saw it, nothing was ever quite the same.

“You’re right,” she said softly. “I don’t have any choice.”

“Not if you want to live.”

I want to live.

Strong fingers curled around her shoulder.

“Of course she does,” Nythian said softly, uttering the words that she couldn’t. “You think she would be here if she didn’t?”

Strangely, she didn’t mind him speaking for her.

“I’m going to address the Tharian now,” Tarak said, and any trace of warmth in his voice—imaginary or otherwise—disappeared. “Anuk Pranaka-teh, I am told you have a demand to make of me.” A cynical snort escaped him. “Tread carefully, Tharian. We do not respond well to threats, as you are very well aware.”

The presence in her mind stirred. Shock, indignation, fear… Those emotions flowed through Alexis, but they weren’t entirely hers.

Ignore my fear. It will always be there. It is an instinctive reaction. They are supreme predators; it is simply their nature… but at least these ones are more like the Kordolians of old. This one… he is called Tarak al Akkadian… worldbreaker. For one with such a formidable name, he can be surprisingly reasonable.

Was a death threat really the best way to gain their co-operation, then?

Violence is the language they speak best. In over five Tharian si-cycles, this is the first chance I have had. With Enki… I never would have been able to do this. Tell him I need to go home. I must return to Tharos.

Alexis’s thoughts swirled. If she and the Tharian were irreversibly bonded, then that meant they would both be going to Tharos.

She wasn’t prepared to travel to some strange unknown planet for unclear reasons. Would these Kordolians even entertain the thought of taking Anuk home?

What if Anuk was laying a trap?

---