Page 28 of Fractured Souls

“This changes things.” Tarak’s gaze softened a fraction, but he didn’t entirely lose that calculating hardness. “You might be of use to us, Alexis Carter. But first, this threat must be contained.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?” She stiffened, pushing Nythian’s arms aside. This time, he released her, but he didn’t step back. They were still close enough that she could feel his hard torso against her back.

This familiarity… she wasn’t used to it.

Why didn’t she step away from him?

Why did it feel so comfortable?

“The Tharian has forged a unique ability into you.” Tarak’s words cut through her awareness like a scalpel.

“No,” Alexis snapped. “That isn’t mine. You’re going to change it back.”

She stared at her blue hand, which bore the striking black streaks of Zharek’s dried blood. To her surprise, she could actually flex her slender blue fingers now. They were perfectly smooth, without the fine lines and wrinkles that made human skin so unique. She made an experimental fist, then released it. Everything seemed to be back under her control.

Weird. I have an alien’s hand.

Tarak raised an eyebrow.

Enki was cold and silent.

Nythian put his hand on her shoulder, as if bracing her for the worst.

Why were they looking at her like that?

Alexis’s shoulders slumped. “It’s… it’s not possible, is it?”

I cannot change it back. Perhaps with time, the medic could devise a way, but I do not know for certain.

“The Tharian has shown us that she can kill with a touch—through you. That makes you dangerous, Alexis Carter. Until I am confident that you pose no threat to us—or to yourself—you must obey my orders.”

Obey?

Her first instinct was to protest loudly—she couldn’t pledge allegiance to a Kordolian—but with Nythian behind her and the intimidating Tarak in front, she knew it would be pointless.

She was completely powerless here.

“We’re not going to treat you badly,” Nythian said. His voice reverberated right through her; rough, deep, and tempting. A flicker of warmth sparked in her lower belly. “That’s not how we do things around here.”

She wanted so badly to believe every word he was saying, but she knew this routine.

Good cop, bad cop. She used to do it all the time in the HPA. Usually, she played the bad cop.

Could she trust them?

This Nythian, this warm, growly, reassuring person—was this really him, or was he just doing his job?

There had to be another side to him. There was another side to him. He hadn’t even flinched when Enki cut off Zharek’s hand. In fact, the three warriors had moved in perfect sync, as if they were connected by some sort of ESP.

As if they’d done this sort of thing a thousand times before.

But without them… she had nothing.

She couldn’t go back to Earth; not now.

Perhaps not ever.

So Alexis made a quick decision. “Fine. It’s not like I have a choice.”

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