Sphinx Transformed
Author: Christine Murphy
Date: 2014-05-01 07:00:00+00:00
Description: Kidnapped by the evil Wraith from her family and friends, Alexandria is tortured and genetically altered by Turin to become one of his deadly weapons of destruction. Her life-long protector, Joshua, blames himself for her disappearance and is crushed by her loss. He will stop at nothing to bring her back where she belongs - with him. When she does return, she is physically and mentally altered and only he can truly reach her with his love and their ever stronger growing relationship. With Joshua’s gentle love and support, Alexandria’s mind clears and she is more than ever determined to find a
Publisher: Red Sage Publishing

An eRedSage Publishing Publication

This book is a work of complete fiction. Any names, places, incidents, characters are products of the author’s imagination and creativity or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is fully coincidental.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or any portion thereof in any form whatsoever in any country whatsoever is forbidden.

Information:

Red Sage Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 4844 Seminole, FL 33775

727-391-3847 eRedSage.com

Sphinx Transformed

An eRed Sage Publication All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013
eRedSage is a registered trademark of Red Sage Publishing, Inc.

Visit us on the World Wide Web: http://www.eRedSage.com ISBN: 9781603108577; 1603108572 Sphinx Transformed eBook version Published by arrangement with the authors and copyright holders of the individual works as follows:

Sphinx Transformed © 2014 by Christine Murphy Cover © 2014 by Lacey Savage

Printed in the U.S.A.

ebook layout and conversion by jimandzetta.com

Sphinx Transformed

***

By Christine Murphy

TO MY READERS:

Come join me once again in the domain of the Sphinx Warriors, protectors of the Earth, and the women who bring out their need, passion and love, giving them purpose beyond their destined role as Warrior. The sizzling third book in the Sphinx Warrior Series dives right into the action shortly after Alexandria has been taken from her Sphinx family for Turin’s evil plans. Joshua is beside himself and determined to get her back, realizing she has been more to him than just the Sphinx Leader’s sister he’s protected since becoming a Sphinx Warrior. Once Alexandria is recovered, he will not stop until she is his no matter what she has become. Of course, Alexandria has loved Joshua all her life and has always wanted to be his. Please join me in the next chapter in the world of the Sphinx Warriors, Sphinx Transformed, where Joshua and Alexandria will fight for their lives, their love,and the never ending battle against an enemy that seeks to destroy them. Their skills as a Healer, a Warrior, and Sphinx will be a deadly combination against the Wraith. Be a part of their dedication and love and delve into the world of the Sphinx Warrior.

READER ALERT!:

Joshua and Alexandria have been close for years, but with her return, Joshua wants to take it to the next level, and the physical attraction shoots off the scales. With the unique traits inserted into Alexandria’s DNA, her sexual drive will make her aggressive and Joshua is more than willing to give in. Her very purr can bring him over the edge of his control and he in turn will bring her to heights of ecstasy even in Sphinx fashion on all fours. Enjoy!

Prologue

Drake Dimension in the 13th Universe – Dungeon of the Wraith Stronghold – Present Day

“Alexandria, give us your Power, your Life Force,” hissed the ever-present Wraith.

Gray-skinned, lanky-haired creatures with vicious claws and teeth meant for tearing and destroying the unsuspecting victim, their very touch would take the life from a person and leave behind nothing but an empty husk. The Wraith had no mercy, no conscience. They would simply descend on a world through a Dimensional Gate and destroy every living soul on the planet until there was nothing left. The only ones who could stop them were the Sphinx Warriors. Ancient men who had vowed long ago to protect the Earth and all of its inhabitants and who were Alexandria’s family. She missed them desperately.

Pressing her hands harder against her ears, Alexandria sat curled in the farthest corner of her cell out of their reach trying to ignore their whispered taunts and threats. She could hear but not see them in the dark, dank prison where she had been brought after her abduction from her home. Her home was in the Genetic Research Complex where the Egyptians and her Sphinx family lived in Yuma, Arizona and whom she might never see again.

She quietly sobbed in misery and tried to get comfortable on the rough damp floor. No matter how hard she tried, each movement caused sharp pains throughout her body. When she brought her knees up closer to try to conserve her body heat, a sharp crack sounded in her lower back. She bit down hard on her lower lip in an attempt not to cry out and ended up drawing blood. Her body felt icy on the surface and on fire deep inside. Every muscle was stretched to the maximum and her bones continued to crack and pop. Frustrated, she wanted to reach out and destroy something, but all she could do was take the pain of her mutating body.

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Yes, Turin, half Wraith, half Sphinx, and Wraith leader had done this to her. His knowledge of science and technology had given him the ability to experiment with genetics and inject her with some type of genetic cocktail. Another wave of mutation hit her and she braced herself while her muscles continued to spasm and her eyes to burn as if they were on fire. She realized this was even worse for her mentally because she was a doctor and a Power Healer and understood the implications of what Turin was doing to her. If she survived the changes happening to her, she wouldn’t be the Sphinx Alexandria anymore. She would be one of Turin’s Wraith-like creatures.

“Ancients help me,” she whispered in anguish.

She knew it was too late for her now and prayed the Sphinx Warriors wouldn’t find her. She couldn’t be saved and she didn’t want them to see her like this. Especially not her brother, Michael, and definitely not her lifelong protector and love, Joshua. He would be crushed, shattered seeing her like this. He had never left her side in all of the long years even when her own abilities had started to fail at an early age. She loved the Warrior with all of her heart even though he had repressed his own feelings for her. Still she knew he loved her because he would go to the ends of the Earth to protect her.

“Oh, Joshua, I’m so sorry.”

The words barely left her lips when she heard the deep wicked laugh. Alexandria drew in a rough breath and pushed further into the corner curling even tighter into a ball. Even the Wraith who had so mercilessly taunted her grew deathly silent. It was Turin and he was evil incarnate.

“Come out, come out, my sweet Alexandria. You can’t hide from me.”

Shivering violently, she would have done more than hide if she had had the strength. She would have run fast and in any direction to escape him. All she could do though was sit and listen to his slow dragging gate approach her cage and the jangle of the ring of keys he carried. She could barely make out his outline when he reached the door and knew there was no escape from him.

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Watching in dread, she followed his slow movement into the cell and tried to crawl away from him when he approached her corner. She knew he would touch her with his malformed hands and his decaying scent would surround her making her gag. The stench in the dungeon was bad enough but his presence made it a whole other level of hell.

“No you don’t, my sweet.”

Turin grabbed her arm in a tight punishing grip. The man looked like he was on death’s door with his completely black eyes and emaciated body, but his Power was strong and deadly.

Alexandria knew he could draw the very Life Power out of a person if he wanted to with just his touch but somehow she had realized shortly after her abduction she had some type of immunity against it, but she had learned that he could still injure her with his brutality.

Turin grabbed her hair and yanked her up into a standing position, his putrid breath washing over her face. Jerked upright against him, Alexandria felt her hip pop out of the socket and almost blacked out from the agony. She swallowed hard trying to ignore his stench and the pain, afraid she would go into another round of dry heaves.

Yanking her hair back, he grabbed her chin jerking back and forth to inspect her.

“Yes, yes. You’re coming out perfectly. It shouldn’t be much longer now. The Wraith genes I’ve inserted into your DNA are integrating nicely. You’ll have more height and strength than you ever had as a puny Sphinx doctor. Still, the eyes aren’t perfect, but they’ll be close.”

She spit at him when what was left of her Sphinx side reared its feline fury at him.

“I’ll rip my eyes out before I allow you to take away my Sphinx heritage”, she growled.

Turin viciously punched her in the stomach and Alexandria doubled over in pain unable to breathe. Not letting her recover from his abuse, he grabbed her by the hair and spun her around so she faced away from him. He grabbed her roughly around the 8

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throat with one clawed hand digging in with his nails.

“You’ll do no such thing. You’re mine and you’ll be the most perfect mixed breed Wraith ever. We’ll make an undefeatable army and you’ll use your abilities to open the Gate for me at will.

Soon I’ll have you tamed and the Sphinx feline within you will be nothing. Now that the Wraith genetics have stabilized, it’s time to suppress the Sphinx side of you.”

“No! Let go of me.” Alexandria struggled against him with all her might, but she was too weak. The only thing she ended up doing was snapping more bones out of place since her muscles and tendons were loose with the changing.

Turin didn’t even appear to notice her attempt to escape him.

He easily held her by the throat against him with one hand and uncapped a syringe with the other. She tried kicking at his knees but it only infuriated him and he forcefully jabbed the needle into her neck all the way to the base. He twisted it for good measure and then forced the entire syringe full of fluid into the muscle.

Alexandria gasped when the stinging liquid entered her system.

She grabbed at her neck trying to stop the spread of the burning fluid. Turin simply laughed at her and threw her to the ground.

The impact didn’t help her already abused body.

“That’s right. Feel the burn go through you. Soon your Sphinx will be nothing and you’ll be tame and malleable for me to train for your new position as a deadly Wraith Warrior. Then you’ll return with me to the staging cavern and you will be my messenger of death for your leader brother.”

“Never!” Alexandria screamed. “I’ll never harm my brother. You can’t force me to. I’ll kill you first!”

The man was truly insane. She watched him raise his arms and face to the ceiling and had no choice but to listen to his mad rambling.

Her denials did nothing and he laughed down at her. He kicked her out of his way when she grabbed at his leg. Curling up in a ball on the floor, she could only watch him leave her cell until he disappeared into the darkness beyond.

Already she could feel the genetic concoction take its toll on her.

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The icy coldness in her veins spread and her inner Sphinx growled and hissed trying to escape the dark tendrils of destruction. How can I survive this? She didn’t know how, especially if her Sphinx was taken away from her. In fear, she lay violently shivering on the ground while the cold spread and the inner heat of her Life Force died.

“Oh, Joshua. I wish you were here.”

But it could never be. She would never see him again and if she did, he would have to destroy her. She prayed he would have the strength to do so, otherwise, she would be the instrument of her brother’s death if Turin had his way. Full convulsions started to take over her body, and she prayed to the Ancients for them to let her die.

10

Chapter One

Yuma, Arizona Desert – Underground Genetics Research Complex/Area 46 – Present Day

The insistent never-ending banging on his door just wouldn’t stop. He swore the door was going to come off its hinges any moment now from the Warrior who just wouldn’t leave him alone.

“Come on Joshua, get your ass up. Everyone’s going to the planning room, man.” The muffled shout came from Hunter who was standing right outside the door.

Flipping off the unseen Warrior, Joshua rolled over in his king-sized bed, punched one of his four pillows and tried to get comfortable. He just wanted to be left alone and sulk in peace. He knew at heart he was being a prick to everyone but he just didn’t care. Ever since Alexandria had been abducted, the only thing that mattered to him was finding her and bringing her back from the clutches of Turin and the Wraith.

Just thinking about her and what Turin could be doing to her made him furious and a bit desperate. His inner Sphinx, reflecting his turmoil came to the surface and Joshua growled loudly. He was truly pissed at everyone and himself. Alexandria should have been safe and still with him. It was his personal responsibility, which he had taken on centuries ago, to keep her safe and protected.

He had watched her grow from a child to a teenager and then to a young woman. She had tempted him left and right with her beauty and kindness and broke his heart when she used her abilities to the point they had failed her. She had given everything for him and the Warriors to make sure they had the strength to fight against the Wraith and become weak and vulnerable.

Although he had wanted to be so much more to her, he had kept his distance interacting with her as a mentor, a friend, and a protector in respect for his leader, Khenti Michael. Alexandria was 11

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Michael’s sister and he just couldn’t let himself cross the boundaries into a more serious relationship with her. Being close to her was exactly what he had wanted for a long time now. Yes, he was in trouble, crumbling on the inside, being torn to pieces. He shoved his face into the pillow trying to make his spinning thoughts just stop.

“Damn it, Joshua. What the hell?” Hunter was definitely losing his patience with him but Joshua still didn’t care.

Joshua sat up in the bed throwing the pillow across the room.

“Ancients be damned! Why can’t you just leave me alone and fuck the hell off.”

Even through the door, Joshua could hear Hunter’s exasperated sigh.

“Look. Khenti Michael has ordered everyone to the planning room. I’m exhausted too, but what choice do we have.”

Running his hands over his face, Joshua knew Hunter was right. Once again, he was taking his frustration out on a good friend. He flung the blankets back and tossed his legs over the edge of the bed. He stood up slowly realizing he was still tired and hungry as hell. Striding over to the door, he grabbed the knob and jerked the door open.

Hunter stood right outside the door looking aggravated and extremely exhausted. His brother in arms looked like he felt.

Hunter was pale with circles under his eyes, giving evidence of how many battles they had had to fight since the Dimensional Gate opened back up again. The thought just pissed him off all the more. It had been two months of panic and frustration while he waited for anything from the Gate and to be able to try and find Alexandria. Now the damn thing was opening every night for the past two weeks with no reprieve to the fighting and there was still no sign of her or Turin.

Joshua leaned against the door expecting Hunter to fall over any moment. “You look like hell.”

“Fuck you, man.” Hunter shoved past him and entered his room in one stride. “And please put some clothes on that gnarly ass.

Have you even showered or just been sitting around in this trashed 12

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room throwing an attitude? You need to get your act together.”

Looking around his room, Joshua realized his living quarters really did look trashed. Amazing to him since he’d chosen the smallest of the rooms and didn’t have a whole lot to mess up. The arrangement worked for him, though, with its basics. A king-sized bed with brown sheets and blankets, a wooden oak dresser, a brown leather recliner, and one large inset closet containing all his clothes, weapons, and other miscellaneous items. The only other room was the bathroom, which was just as simple like the rest of his personal space.

“You’re right, Hunter. I need to get my act together.” He ran his hands through his shoulder-length hair.

“Sorry, for unloading my attitude on you.” He walked towards the bathroom slapping Hunter on the shoulder when he passed him.

“No worries. We all have our issues. Speaking of, how’s your Life Power?”

Joshua could hear the hesitance in Hunter’s voice. Everyone knew how sensitive he was about his Power and the sudden onset of his lack of control over it since Alexandria had been taken.

At first, he didn’t say anything, just went into the bathroom to the white porcelain sink and cranked on the silver knobs. He shoved his cupped hands under the water and splashed the cool liquid over his head and face. Grabbing a towel, he dried his hair and face and then dared to look at his reflection. Yeah, I look like hell too. It hurt just to look at himself. His strawberry blond hair was tangled; his bluish silver eyes bloodshot, and visible bruises and cuts still marred his tan skin. It was a bad sign his wounds weren’t healing. Not being able to heal quickly meant his Life Power was dangerously low.

“Low and fucked up,” He called out to Hunter.

Not bothering to be neat about it since the Egyptians cleaned his room anyway when he wasn’t in, he tossed the towel on the floor. Sauntering back into his room and over to his closet, he saw Hunter had sprawled out in his large recliner. The man looked completely laid back, but he knew Hunter, like all Sphinx 13

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Warriors, could be up and at your throat in less than a heartbeat.

Opening up the double doors of the closet, he stepped into the large walk-in. He grabbed a pair of black fatigues and a black t-shirt off the hangers and pulled them on. Reaching down he retrieved a pair of black military boots near the back of his closet and his protective micro-chain mail gear. It did wonders for protecting a person’s hide from sharp claws and weapons but not from the touch of a Wraith. One touch and the creatures could draw every bit of life out of person.

Grabbing a pair of socks out of his drawer, Joshua walked back over and sat on his bed. Putting on his socks and boots he mumbled, “So, since the entire complex feels like the pits of hell with the dark energy of the Gates vibrating through it, I take it this meeting is not a good one.”

Hunter sat forward leaning his elbows on his thighs to brace himself. “No. Not good at all. We didn’t even get twenty-four hours’ worth of rest this time. The Gate openings are getting closer and longer. Fighting the Wraith is basically non-stop and taking its toll on everyone. Frankly, I’m worried about Stormy. She doesn’t look good.”

Stormy, their Power Keeper, transferred Life Power to give the Warriors strength to fight the Wraith. She had once been human with hidden genetics and had been transformed into a Sphinx.

Khenti Michael was forced to Join with her to save her life, but in the long run, it had been a good thing since it brought Michael and Stormy together. The man loved her more than anything. If something happened to her, Joshua knew their leader would be devastated. Kind of like what he was feeling now.

“Yeah. She’s been looking paler and paler. It seems harder for her to draw the Power in. I think we’re in trouble. Fuck.”

Blowing out a pent up breath, Joshua massaged the wrist his Sefu Element resided on. Half element and half biological, it hummed against his skin. He was already fired up for the next battle and the Element would detect his surging Life Power. At least what there was left of it that he hadn’t used up during his Power Burst last night. The Element might look like jewelry 14

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silently sitting there but when his energy was pushed to it, the Element would reflex into a deadly silver and crystal Power Sword.

He looked down at the silver Element wrapped around his hand and wrist where it resided for the rest of a person’s life once it bonded with them. To him it looked like a thick silver chain wrapped around the base of his middle finger, twisted down the back of his hand, and then wrapped around his wrist. On the back of his wrist, in the center, was his Power Signature. His special sign was two wolf paw imprints.

Joshua sat in silence with Hunter for a moment trying not to think about the next few hours and what they might bring. The time for inner thoughts didn’t last long, though. Joshua sat up straighter as did Hunter when Khenti Michael’s deep voice connected through the Warrior Link. Gentleman, any time now would be nice for you to join us.

Hunter stood up and picked up Joshua’s protective gear tossing it at him. He turned to head out the door tossing over his shoulder,

“Time’s up, Warrior. Let’s go get another ass beating from the Wraith.”

“Speak for yourself, asshole. I’m going to be the one kicking some Wraith ass.”

With gear in hand, Joshua was hot on the heels of Hunter. He barely bothered to slam the door shut behind him in an effort to keep up with the long-legged Warrior. Hunter could move quickly when he wanted to making him one of the most proficient and deadly Warriors among them. Being an expert in every weapon and technique in existence as their combat trainer gave Hunter even more of an edge. In between Joshua’s expertise in Sefu Elements, creating deadly weapons, and understanding how to make them sing, Joshua considered himself a pretty fair competition for Hunter when they had time to train.

Reaching the top of the grand mahogany staircase, Joshua patted the top of the large golden Sphinx statue. He considered the statue his good luck charm and thought they were going to need every bit of luck to get them through another night of hell. He bounded down the stairs two at a time, jogged across the polished 15

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tiger-eye marble floor, and reached the elevator bank just in time.

Hunter had already punched the call button. The elevator arrived in seconds and the doors opened. Joshua smoothly entered right behind Hunter.

Three floors down to the eighth level, the elevator carried them in no time. The doors whooshed open and Joshua led the way this time to the planning room. The surveillance equipment center was a part of this level as well. Joshua shook his head thinking of Ethan. Ethan was the brainiac Warrior who understood all of the equipment and seemed never to sleep with his constant monitoring of the complex. He was always typing away at some computer or hand held device, interpreting readouts, reporting results and all sorts of other geeky stuff.

Arriving at the planning room, Joshua reached for the door but before he could get his hand on the knob, it was jerked open. He looked up to find Raven standing there blocking his way with a shit-eating grin on his face and a drink in hand. “About time you fuckers showed up. Michael’s pissed.”

Joshua shoved him out of the way entering the room with Hunter right behind him. “Then get the hell out of the way, Raven.

You’re slowing me down.” Brushing past the black-haired Warrior, Joshua made a beeline straight to the leather chair in the center of the room. This was his chair and no one gave him grief about it since he was second to Khenti Michael.

Not like it was the only one. There were several other leather chairs, leather couches, small tables, and other furniture taking up the large room. In the front was a huge war planner’s desk filled with keyboards, monitors, computers, and other surveillance equipment. Every time they met in this particular room there seemed to be another piece of equipment added to the collection.

There were even monitors with images of charts, reports, and images from video monitoring equipment attached to the walls.

Among all of this was Ethan, furiously typing away and occasionally running his hands through his short black spiked hair, which made it stand up even more.

Joshua lowered himself into his chair and took a deep breath.

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Just being in a room full of Warriors and Guardians, the non-stop banter, and the humming of the electricity through equipment was unbalancing his unruly Power. His energy was spinning more and more out of control with the lengthening period of time away from Alexandria. He clenched his fists trying to get control and when Raven passed by him within arm’s reach, Joshua snagged the alcoholic drink out of his hand.

Raven growled and spun around drawing back his fist, “Son of a…”

“Enough!” Michael thundered, drawing everyone’s attention.

“All of you sit down and quit screwing around. We don’t have much time.”

Michael appeared to be distracted himself and Joshua noticed with concern that Stormy wasn’t present for the meeting. A rare occurrence. She was almost always within Michael’s reach.

Moving to find a seat, Raven cast a dirty look at Joshua. Joshua wasn’t intimidated, though, and returned the glare slamming back the rest of the drink. He set the empty glass beside the chair on a small table and enjoyed the slow burn hoping it would dampen some of the unruly energy in his body. What there was of it.

“Now if I can have all of your attention. Ethan may have identified an anomaly causing the Gate to open more frequently.

We need to keep an eye out for it and neutralize as soon as possible. Ethan?”

Ethan stood up from behind the many monitors and strode around to the front of the desk. He rotated one of the monitors to face forward as he went.

“Shit, yeah. I think I’ve narrowed it down. If you see here in the Gate readings, there’s a spike of energy right before the Gate opens. I’m pretty sure it’s not a piece of electronic equipment doing this but something else.” He paused looking at his captive audience.

“Oh for Ancients sake man, spit it out. We don’t have time for the theatrics.” Jacob shouted at him.

Joshua looked at Jacob fully agreeing with him. He was as impatient to move on like everyone else. The only reason why 17

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Jacob was still sitting on the couch and not hovering by the door was because his Mate, Eleina, was sitting on his lap.

Ethan shrugged, “Sorry dude. The readings appear to indicate it’s an energy directed at the Gate causing the opening. An energy that has humanoid patterns.”

Joshua sat up straighter, his entire focus centered on Ethan.

“Do you think it’s Lexi…” He stopped in mid-sentence. Damn it, don’t use her pet name in front of these guys, you idiot. Just what he needed, showing more weakness.

He forcibly cleared his throat and continued.

“Do you think it’s Alexandria?”

He had to ask the question even though he was heartbreakingly sure the answer was no.

“Dude, I wish I could say yes. But, I just don’t think so. If it was her, the reading would have a Sphinx pattern and I would think she would have come back to us by now.”

Joshua dug his nails into the leather of the chair and his breathing became deep and rough. Every time a small amount of hope of Alexandria returning surfaced, it was drowned again by depressing reality. What little Life Power was left in his system began to cycle faster and faster. Looking at his wrist, he saw his Sefu Element was beginning to glow brightly.

“Fuck”. He staggered quickly to his feet. His one goal, to get out of the room before his Power exploded again.

It didn’t help either that the Gate’s energy spiked indicating an opening was imminent. In between the feedback from the Gate and his own energy imbalance, Joshua didn’t think he stood much of a chance of controlling himself. But he had to try. At least until he got to the staging Cavern and let his energy loose on the evil Wraith.

Before he left the room, he paused not looking at anyone but apologizing anyway.

“Khenti, I’m sorry. I need some air.”

“Understood,” Michael said. Joshua’s leader truly did. He could tell through the Warrior’s Link.

“We’ll meet you down there shortly before the Gate opens. If 18

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you can, stay engaged through the Link and I’ll update you that way.”

Joshua nodded and exited quickly into the hallway. He made it about halfway down the hall to the elevator bank and had to stop.

He leaned against the wall with one hand and closed his eyes trying to concentrate and bring down his hyperactive system. His Power circled and bubbled like a volcano getting ready to blow. He knew if his energy did explode he would end up face down on the ground because of the low level of Life Power he had left. All of the Warriors were low and he suspected there wouldn’t be any transference of Power for this round.

His suspicions were confirmed when Hunter asked the question and Michael answered it through the Link. Joshua could detect the tension in Michael’s answer. No Hunter. There will be no transference this time. You’ll all have to do the best you can and conserve what Power you have during the fight. Stormy needs a break, no matter what she says.

Yes, there was definitively a point of contention from the last of his statement. Joshua could picture their petite blond haired Power Keeper standing up to her Mate telling him she was fine.

Khenti Michael, of course, would try to play his leadership role on her like he did with the Warriors, which never worked with her.

She was small but stubborn as all hell and simply would do what she thought needed to be done. Michael must have really performed some fast talking and promises to get her to rest.

Rest. The very word made his entire body shake with the need to lie down and stay in bed for several weeks. But he had to suck it up like everyone else and be the Warrior he was supposed to be and not a damn pansy. Taking a deep breath, he pushed away from the wall and forced himself to stand up straight. Feeling a bit better, he listened to the rest of the planning through the Link while he finished moving to the elevators.

After stepping into the elevator upon its arrival, he put on his battle gear. Luckily, he had remembered to grab the lightweight chain mail before he left the planning room. While he geared up, Joshua listened closely to the approach to be used when the Gate 19

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opened. Standard formation of Warriors and Guardians, hold the perimeter, watch for escapees on the ends. The Wraith were slick and would try anything to get through their line. It had happened before and Jacob had had to hunt the creatures down. He was a Tracker. Jacob had destroyed the Wraith he had found but another had used the opportunity to complete its evil mission resulting in Alexandria’s disappearance.

Just the thought had Joshua’s Power spiraling up again and his inner Sphinx growling ominously. He had to move and was relieved when the elevator arrived at the staging cavern and he could get out. He stepped out pausing in the entryway when his Sphinx snarled. Down, boy. Save it for the fight.

Michael brought his attention back to the planning with a ping through the Link. Can you handle that? Joshua refocused on the conversation. He had missed something while being lost in his own inner conflict.

Sorry, Khenti. Repeat.

Joshua could almost hear Khenti Michael’s inner sigh. We were discussing the approach of clearing the way and if you’re up to it and have control, firing some of your Power Bursts at the Gate for a distraction. Eleina can mix in some of her Power Spheres.

Then Ethan can get in closer and try to pinpoint whatever the source is opening the Gate. If we’re lucky, we can disable it.

I agree and will make it happen. Grimacing, Joshua dreaded the upcoming drain to his Power, but there was no way he was going to tell his leader how bad off he was. He would make it happen or go down trying. And he might indeed go down trying.

The energy from the Gate was off the chart screeching on the higher end of the energy scale. To him, it felt as if every hair on his body was standing on end.

Stepping into the main area of the staging cavern, he took note that most of the Guardians Elite were already present and preparing for the upcoming battle. They were checking weapons, stretching, and discussing strategies. The Elite went through many of the same preparations the Warriors did but without a Warriors Link to speed the planning. They were expected to be just as 20

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proficient at everything else as the Warriors when it came to being skilled and deadly at battle.

Joshua remembered long ago, the Guardians had only been a presence to observe and record the historical events that occurred with the Sphinx. When they realized the Warriors were dwindling in number, their head Guardian, Arik, and many of the other Guardians took an oath to fight beside the Warriors. Each Guardian who passed the rigorous training and tests was awarded the official title of Guardian Elite and all were considered equals to the Sphinx Warriors. The only difference was their inability to heal as quickly as the Sphinx, so had to train even harder and wear extra gear. Plus, Michael strategized so they didn’t take the brunt of the battle keeping it focused on the Warriors.

Observing the staging cavern, Joshua checked on the condition of the Dimensional Gate. It was so close to opening, the pre-dimensional energy was already visible. The Gate appeared to Joshua to be one huge spiraling black hole with spinning trails of blood red, black, and strings of glowing white. Taking up half of the center of the Cavern, the Gate would occasionally wisp out and touch the walls even though the cavern was almost four football fields across. The entire scene was surreal with the background of the domed gray stone walls and the red mineral lines glittering from the light of the Gate.

Feeling like he was being pulled into the spiraling menace, he stepped back and turned toward the trauma cell, which was on the far back side of the cavern. The cell was used to care for the injured during battle, to stabilize them, and then when the medical staff could, move the patient to the main medical facility. Both medical sites were state of the art with everything needed to take care of any of the inhabitants in the complex, no matter what their genetic make-up.

Joshua strode across the cavern and stopped right before the Trauma Cell doors where Guardian Arik and Jenny, the medical assistant who took over for Alexandria, were standing. Arik nodded to him in greeting.

“You’re early, Joshua. Where are the rest of the Warriors?

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Coming last minute as usual?” Arik slapped him on the shoulder trying to lighten the mood.

Shrugging, Joshua returned, “Yeah. You know the rest of the yahoos don’t arrive until last minute. Minus Khenti Michael, who is planning, of course, and has an excuse. You know me. I like to get here early so I can take out more of the Wraith.”

Arik paused for a moment seeming to consider his next words.

“So, how is Stormy? Were you able to perform a Transference?”

Joshua ran his hand over his face. He was sure Arik already suspected the answer, but evidently needed to hear it.

“No. She needs to rest. We’ve been weaker than this and will just have to deal.” He caught Jenny drawing a hand held medical scanner out of her lab coat pocket.

“Don’t even think about it, Jen. You know I don’t like those things. I’ll be fine and if I get low you’ll be the first to know.”

She smiled nervously and shoved the device back into her pocket. “Fine. But you know Alexandria will be angry if something happens to you.” Jenny instantly paled and looked down at the ground sniffing.

“I’m sorry, Joshua. I forget she’s gone or maybe I’m just in denial.”

Arik put an arm around the distraught assistant and Joshua felt sorry for her. Alexandria had been close to her as a friend and as a mentor. Alexandria had been close to all of them and Joshua couldn’t stand to hear talk about her being gone but he understood too well the grief of her absence.

“We’ll find her, Jenny. If it’s the last thing I do, I will find her.”

He stood in silence considering just exactly how he was going to do that when the Gate’s energy suddenly flared out.

Joshua moved forward with the other Guardians in a defensive stance and Arik pushed Jenny through the Trauma Cell doors and closed them. Joshua noted out of the corner of his eye that Arik had moved up beside him.

Reaching out with the hand his Sefu Element resided on, Joshua bent at the wrist in a reflex action pushing Power to his Element. Instantly it glowed, moved from his wrist, and settled 22

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into the palm of his hand. In the blink of an eye, the shape transformed and became the hilt of the Power Sword with his dual Wolf Print Power Signature settling on the end of the pommel.

Once the grip and guard were formed, the blade lengthened out until a full silver edged Sword with a crystalline inner blade was complete. If he looked at the Sword, Joshua knew he would see the silver edges of the blade had intricate scrolling all over it. The Power Sword was both beautiful and deadly.

The Guardians prepared too, drawing their twin swords from the scabbards on their backs. They spread out until the rest of the Warriors arrived. It didn’t take long and they showed up rushing over to the group and reflexing their Swords. Michael, as usual, positioned himself up front. No matter how the Warriors tried to get him to let them do the head-on work, he refused to sit back and let his Warriors take on the brunt of the battle alone.

Working through the Warrior’s Link and verbal coordination, everyone settled into strategic position. Not too soon either, Joshua noted, when the Gate’s Center wavered and the background of a dead and rocky world could be seen. Wraith squatted just beyond the entryway to Earth, the red volcanic ash rock their only color to a barren backdrop. The spiraling Gate appeared to fight the opening for a moment and then the Dimensional Gate stabilized and finished exploding outward. With a now-open Gate, dozens of Wraith streamed into the Staging cavern in attack mode.

Well, let the fun begin. Joshua thought sarcastically. He raised his Power Sword roaring a battle cry and dove into the chaos.

Battle cries from the other men echoed off the Cavern walls and the high-pitched screeches of the Wraith were painful to his hearing. He wanted to be able to cut out all of the creature’s throats just to stop the sound. His blade sliced down doing just that to a charging Wraith and the start of the bloody fight was officially underway.

The ring of metal on metal and the shouts of Warriors and Guardians coordinating verbally and through the Link kept his concentration focused. His swings and cuts with his Power Sword 23

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were sure. Overhead swings, jabs, downward thrusts, and other combinations kept the Wraith at bay. Those stupid enough to get closer to him ended up with a Power Sword guard in the side of the head or one of his throwing daggers through the chest. No Wraith would ever get close enough to touch him. He was determined to kill them all. Over and over, he took Wraith down while coordinating with the other Warriors and moving his position closer to the front of the battle while the others kept a gap so he didn’t end up trapped. It was exactly according to Michael’s plan except for the fact the Wraith just kept coming and coming.

More and more Wraith poured from the Gate until Joshua thought they were going to be defeated just by the stench of the creatures alone. Everyone held fast though and pushed the onslaught back. Joshua dug in, determined to hold down his position even though he could feel his energy start to waiver.

When three Wraith tried to pin Joshua down shoving him back with their weapons and trying to grab him with their clawed hands, he lost it.

His fury at the situation and knowing one of these damn abominations had taken Alexandria fired up his inner Sphinx.

Growling and snarling over the loss of Alexandria, his beast tapped into his Life Power, and after that, everything went south.

All he could see was red and the desire to destroy as many Wraith at once screamed through his system. The Power Sword he held in his hands began to glow when the energy spiraled and centered into the blade. He smiled wickedly at the Wraith knowing they were about to meet their maker.

Joshua, damn it. You’re almost in position. Don’t blow it now.

Michael shouted at him through the Link.

Joshua knew there was something he was supposed to do but he was so lost in the intense energy spinning within him all he wanted was to release it into the enemy. He swung his white hot glowing blade back and forth in front of him with both hands. The Wraith had little choice but to back out of his way. When the energy emanating from the Sword touched them, their skin sizzled. The sound was gratifying and he juiced up the Power 24

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Sword more.

Shit. Joshua! Do you want Alexandria back or not? This time Michael’s command got through to him.

He paused in his forward movement realizing he had almost screwed up. It was difficult but he drew down the Power which was violently humming in his Sword. Leaving just enough in the Sword to give it a slight glow and to be ready for action, he continued to battle against the Wraith. Not taking long, he reached his required position right in front of the Gate near Khenti Michael.

Joshua glanced over at Michael for his order and didn’t have to wait long for his leader’s growled, “Joshua, now!”

“Shit, yeah.”

Pushing a bit more energy into his Sword, Joshua released a Power Burst directly into the group of Wraith between him and the Gate. Wraith flew everywhere, bits and pieces of burned flesh and body parts scattering throughout the Cavern. A Power Sphere followed shortly after impacting several more Wraith.

“Go Eleina,” Joshua muttered.

It was good to see Eleina up to full speed as a Priestess Warrior again. For a while, it had been touch and go on her living but, damn, ever since Joining with Jacob, the woman was a force to be reckoned with. Concentrating on directing his energy into his Sword again, he shot out another Burst of Power and then Eleina followed again with her Sphere. Back and forth, they hammered away at the Wraith in their concerted effort.

His next Burst hit directly on a half dozen Wraith still in the action of stepping across the Dimensional Gate threshold. The Power exploded outward disintegrating the Wraith and causing the Gate to shimmer. A furious female scream suddenly echoed from the other side of the Gate. Everyone in the Cavern froze in place and Joshua had a premonition his entire world was about to shift.

Unable to help himself, Joshua was transfixed staring at the Gate. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. Before his eyes, a black haired beauty stepped up to the opening with the Wraith 25

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leader, Turin. Turin grabbed at her as if he was trying to pull her back out of view. Her eyes glittered with rage as she scanned the cavern. He suspected she was looking for the source of attack to the Gate and knew it wouldn’t take her long to figure out who did it since his energy would have produced feedback if she had been connected to the Gate.

“Lexi,” Joshua whispered.

She was here. Lexi was within his reach. He stepped forward but stopped when her angry stare turned on him and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. This was not the Alexandria he knew and there was definitely no recognition in her eyes.

Eyes that were not the deep blue he remembered but now a reddish black which whispered to him of Wraith eyes. Except the whites of hers still showed. The change in her had not stopped there. Her entire body was different. No longer was she overly petite and tiny like a teenager, but her body had filled out with strength and womanly curves. Her skin was paler, but thank the Ancients, not the color of the Wraith’s gray skin. Even her hair was more lush and longer. The blue-black strands were free and flowing down her back to her waist. This was Alexandria but not his Lexi. What the hell had Turin done to her?

He growled furiously ready to propel himself at Turin, but Raven flew by him before he could even move an inch. No doubt, Raven still wanted to kill Turin. Unknown to everyone including Raven, Turin had been revealed as Raven’s half-brother. Before Raven reached Turin, though, Michael and Hunter grabbed the Warrior pulling him back. Probably a good thing, since Joshua realized it was probably another trap. Either way, Turin quickly faded back out of view but not before Joshua noted the patch over his left eye.

Joshua smiled. Score one for Jacob. Jacob had attacked Turin that fateful night when two Gates had opened and Turin had threatened Eleina. But Eleina was safe now and Alexandria was not. He could hear Turin yelling for her, but she appeared to be ignoring his orders.

Alexandria turned away from Turin and focused her scan on the 26

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rest of the Cavern. Appearing to find what she was looking for, she stepped fully into the Cavern. Joshua wasn’t sure what she was after but the condition she was in told him she wasn’t in control of herself. Breaking into a full run, she reflexed her hand forming a Power Sword. A Power Sword which formed into cold black metal with a black crystalline blade.

“What the hell?” Joshua shouted to the others.

When he realized her target was Khenti Michael, he shot across the small distance to intercept her. What he was going to do, he wasn’t sure but he knew he couldn’t kill her. Or possibly even hurt her.

“Out of my way!” He yelled in frustration as Warriors and Guardians converged in his way.

“Sorry, man. I can’t take the chance of you not reaching her and Khenti Michael must be protected!” Hunter shouted right before he slammed his Power Sword guard into the side of Alexandria’s head.

Absolute fury ignited in Joshua, sending him over the edge of his control when he saw Alexandria collapse to the floor, blood flowing freely from her head. How he managed to reflex his Sword out of the way or even had enough sense left to do it before he tackled Hunter to the ground he didn’t know. His love for his fellow Warrior was probably the only thing that had saved Hunter, but Joshua still proceeded to beat the hell out of him.

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Chapter Two

“I repeat. I’m not going anywhere.” He sternly directed his answer to Jenny who was scanning him with the damn medical device again.

“I’m conscious and breathing and I’m not going anywhere until I’m sure Alexandria is okay.” He looked down at Alexandria’s unconscious form again for the hundredth time since they had brought her to medical. She was back and he still couldn’t believe it, although she wasn’t in good shape. The side of her head looked like hell with all the swelling and dried blood caked in her hair. It was taking longer for her injuries to heal than normal and the fact was worrying the hell out of him.

He wanted to see her awake and back to his normal Lexi. But he doubted that was going to be the case. Even if she came out of unconsciousness, she would stay strapped down to the gurney. She had tried to attack Michael, acted too much like a Wraith, and had only appeared to have the intent to help the creatures. Not only that, Jenny had sedated her with a strong medication which could even knock out a Sphinx Warrior. Jenny was taking no chances.

“Man, give Jenny a break. She’s just doing her job and looking after your hard-headed ass.” Hunter rasped from his perch on another gurney while his body did a quick mend from Joshua’s beat-down. Joshua glared at him, still highly upset one of his best friends had clocked the woman he cared about and had been protecting most of his adult life .

“Like you’re one to talk. And what the fuck was that all about. I should have beaten you harder. Hitting Lexi…” He cleared his throat, “…hitting Alexandria like that.”

If it weren’t for the fact he was running on zero Power, he would have gone over and punched the man again.

“Damn, it, Joshua. What would you have had me do? She was moving too quick and you wouldn’t have made the distance in time. Khenti Michael had shock all over his face and his gears 28

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hadn’t appeared to be spinning too fast for the situation. I could have killed her you know, but that wasn’t my intent.”

Hunter ran his hand through his black hair on the side which was streaked with silver. “We all care for her and pray to the Ancients for her recovery.”

Sighing heavily, Joshua leaned forward on his knees. “I know, Hunter. You did exactly what you were supposed to do. Protect our Khenti no matter what. If it had come down to her or Khenti Michael…”

Joshua swallowed convulsively. He had to say it. Had to say the words young Warriors in training learned for this particular painful situation.

“A Warrior must be proficient in order to protect his or her Khenti.” He paused, hanging his head and whispered, “No matter what the cost.”

“No matter what the cost,” Hunter echoed. Joshua could hear the deep pain reflected in Hunter’s words.

He had to give the man a break. It wasn’t his fault things had happened the way they did.

“Look, Hunter. I’m sorry I put the beat-down on you. I really haven’t been myself lately. You did the right thing.”

“No. I deserved it. Besides…” Hunter smiled crookedly, “…if I hadn’t been pre-occupied, I would have beat your ass hands down.”

Joshua rolled his eyes. “Give me a break.”

“Good to hear you two have kissed and made up.” Joshua stood up quickly when he heard Michael’s voice. He felt instantly light headed and was unsteady on his feet.

Michael rushed forward and pushed him back down into the chair.

“Easy, Warrior.”

Michael moved over to where Alexandria lay so quietly and hovered over her. Joshua could see the shadows pass across his expression.

“How's she doing?” Stormy stepped from behind Joshua. He hadn’t realized she had accompanied Michael. Glancing at their 29

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Power Keeper, he could see her exhaustion. She had circles around her eyes and was pale. Moving over to Michael’s side, she grabbed his hand and he pulled her against his side.

Jenny looked up from her work of cleaning Alexandria’s head wound. She put the bloodied gauze down on the wheeled medical tray. “Considering what she’s been through, she’s doing as well as can be expected.”

Joshua dreaded the next question he knew was coming. The question he had been too weak to ask himself.

“What’s caused this change in her?”

Even in the face of this nightmare, his Khenti could cut straight to the point. No matter how painful the answer was going to be.

Jenny picked up a new piece of gauze and continued with the disinfection of the wound. She blew out a breath like she was looking for her courage. “I ran some preliminary tissue and blood tests from the wound. They’re only preliminary but I’m sure what the outcome will be.” Her eyes became sad and she looked up at Khenti Michael. Joshua could feel his stomach lurch and he clenched his fists in dreaded anticipation.

“Her genetics have been tampered with.”

The growl escaped Joshua before he could stop it. The group turned and looked at him but he wasn’t going to apologize for his outburst. He crossed his arms over his chest in an effort to slow his heart rate.

“Continue,” he said quietly, even though he only wanted to shout.

“When I said tampered with, I was referring to a form of mutation. Somehow, her Sphinx DNA has been intertwined with Wraith DNA and her Sphinx DNA has become almost non-existent. That’s why she isn’t healing very quickly and her physical appearance has changed. The physical is minimal but…”

Sadness crossed her expression, “…the damage to her Sphinx side is significant. I don’t believe there’s anything left of her inner Sphinx according to the Power readings.”

“I’ll kill Turin.” Joshua shouted coming to his feet. A big mistake. He suddenly was seeing black spots and quickly had to sit 30

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back down in the chair.

“Stand in line, Joshua. We all want to kill him.” Michael growled hugging Stormy closer.

Joshua watched the two of them and the obvious love they had for each other no matter what was occurring around them.

Michael bent down and kissed her forehead, tucking a loose gold blond strand behind her ear.

Stormy smiled at Michael and then wiggled out of his arms. She approached Joshua and before he could scoot out of her reach she grasped his arm pushing Life Power into him. He jumped up breaking contact with her and evaded her attempt to touch him further.

Michael shouted at her but being the stubborn Power Keeper she was, she continued to stalk him.

Stormy reached out and begged, “Joshua, you need Life Power.

I’ve never seen anyone look as weak as you do. Please let me help you.” She followed him around the room but Michael finally captured her hands.

Joshua tried to reassure her. “Listen to me. I’m weak but I’ve been worse. A couple of hours of sleep and my body will naturally pull enough Power from my surroundings to give me enough to stabilize. I normally have the ability to draw a small amount, but haven’t been sleeping all that much. Please, Stormy. I appreciate your concern and would take a Transference any other time, but…not to be rude, have you looked into the mirror lately?”

Her shoulders slumped and she sagged into Michael’s arms.

“I have, but everything screams in my system to transfer Life Power. That all of you need Life Power. Even Michael won’t let me help him.”

Michael intervened grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him. “Angel, how are you going to help us at the key moment if you go down? We need you, but you need to rest. Please.”

Joshua didn’t know how his leader did it, sharing his Mate with the other Warriors for Life Power. He staggered back over to the chair sitting down heavily.

“And besides, didn’t Ethan say we had a break because the 31

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Gate’s energy calmed back down and has nearly dropped off the chart?”

“Yes. That’s correct. Ethan explained he suspected Alexandria was a part of the Gate’s unusual behavior opening so often.”

Joshua noted how Michael stroked Stormy’s back while he spoke.

“She’s always been able to change Life Power and direct it into healing, so perhaps whatever change was made to her DNA allowed for her to interact with the Gate’s energy. Just as Stormy can hold the Gate open when it destabilizes, Alexandria figured out a way to actually open the Gate from the Wraith side.”

Joshua rubbed at his eyes. He really did want to stay near Alexandria but if he didn’t crash, he was going to pass out. His body was failing him. He was even weaving in the chair. It would feel so good to crash and not have to wake up for a while. A hand on his shoulder made him realize he had done just that and nodded off in the chair for a moment.

He looked up to find Michael holding him by the shoulder so he wouldn’t fall to the floor.

“Josh, let me and Stormy watch over Alexandria for a while.

Once you’ve rested enough so you’re not going to end up as another patient, then you can come back and relieve us. I promise we’ll let you know if anything changes.”

Joshua nodded his head. “Yeah. You’re right. I’m of no use right now and who better than her brother to watch over her. Please let me know if anything changes.”

“I will.” Michael pulled him up to his feet. “Are you sure you can make it back to your room?”

“I’ll take him.” Joshua looked over to see Hunter up on his feet.

His injuries from the battle against the Wraith and the beating were almost gone. His Sphinx healing ability had performed miracles on the man’s face in record time.

“I’m feeling good and owe him a hand.”

Joshua leaned heavily against Hunter feeling like a drunk man.

“You’re okay, Hunter. No matter what anyone says.”

The only reason Joshua stayed on his feet was the result of Hunter’s assistance. Right before he left medical, he glanced over 32

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his shoulder one more time at Alexandria. She seemed so small to him, her still form not moving at all. He thanked the Ancients she was alive and returned to him, but he didn’t understand why they would let this happen to her. There had to be an answer, but being the Ancients, they only revealed the truth when it was time.

Hunter pulled him forward when he stalled at the door.

“Come on, man. She won’t be going anywhere and you want to be at your best when she comes to.”

****

Mind numbing panic was the first thing Alexandria experienced when she awoke. Her thoughts were disjointed, present and past overlapping each other. Was she in the dungeon again chained up like an animal? Turin had promised she would suffer endlessly again if she disobeyed him. When she tried to move her arms, she realized she was restrained in several places.

Keeping her eyes closed and her breathing even so no one would know she was conscious, she tested how each point of her body was restricted. Flexing each limb, she found she was locked down by her wrists and ankles. Unusual, since Turin would also tie her down by her waist and neck. In that position, he could do any amount of experimentation on her he wanted. He did too, injecting burning liquids into her blood stream, slicing off pieces of skin and flesh to perform his tests. At times, he just liked to torture her, stabbing her, drawing Life Power from her. Anything to see how close he could bring her to death.

During those sessions he would whisper to her that the Wraith were her only family. If she swore her allegiance to them, then the torment and pain would stop. Even now, any thought otherwise brought intense pain to her skull and shrieking from the Wraith side of her. Yes, she was Turin’s half Wraith and she had a mission. Turin would give her freedom and all of the Life Power she would ever want if she killed the Sphinx leader, Michael. The image of her driving her Power Sword through Michael’s heart brought intense pleasure and pain.

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Alexandria didn’t understand why the pleasure and pain came together. It should just bring her pleasure to do Turin’s bidding.

She had been well on her way to completing her mission too, but one of the Sphinx Warriors had snuck up behind her before she could finish it, damn it. Killing him would have been easy too, because the leader had dropped his guard. Thinking about Michael’s death made her skull start pounding again.

A noise next to her brought her back to the current situation.

Strapped to something, unable to move, and possibly back in the lab for more discipline from Turin, since evidently she had failed in her mission, brought instant panic. She had to find a way to escape.

Listening intently, she followed the sound of movement.

Someone small and light-footed, the whisper of material, and the metallic click of something she couldn’t identify. Alexandria cracked her lids just enough to see but not give away she was awake. What she saw made her blood run cold. She was not in the Wraith stronghold any more and more than likely not in the Drake dimension. This place was too clean, the air was fresh, and there was so much light. Drake was dark, suffocating with heat, and had the constant presence of swirling, choking dust.

The enemy had captured her and she had to escape immediately. First, though, she had to assess her situation. She scanned the room finding there were five personnel present. The closest was a young blond-haired female wearing a lab coat and holding a glass ampule of clear liquid. She was in the process of pulling the fluid into a syringe. The second was a young dark-haired male also wearing a lab coat. He had a long barely healed slash down the right side of his face and his arm was in a sling.

Sitting at a table, he appeared to be sorting paperwork. Alexandria also noted three other males positioned at different locations around the room in full battle gear.

She smiled inwardly pleased the three had such strong Life Power. The energy made her hungry and she would drain each of them to gain enough strength to complete her mission and escape back to the Drake dimension. These people were not strong 34

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enough to keep such a strong Wraith as she prisoner.

“Jenny, do you think Alexandria will ever be herself again?

There’s so much damage to her Sphinx genetics. The Wraith DNA is like a virus all through her system almost completely destroying any presence of her true genes,” the dark-haired man asked while he continued to sort the papers in front of him.

“I don’t know, Warren. It’s a wonder she’s even alive, the mess Turin has made of her system. Physically, she’s been changed, her inner Sphinx appears to be gone, and there are way too many Wraith characteristics to make me comfortable around her.”

Alexandria covertly watched the woman now known to her as Jenny turn towards her and remove the needle from the rubber stopper of the ampule. She placed it on the counter next to her and capped the syringe before putting it in her coat pocket.

“I’m beyond relieved we found her, but I don’t know if we’ll ever have the Alexandria back that we know and love.”

Alexandria stiffened, the female’s words echoed in her brain –
the Alexandria we know and love. How could that be? They were the enemy so how could they ever know and love her. The Wraith were her family and there was no love. Only hatred and cold brutality. The strongest and the most skilled at taking Life Power away from others survived. Completing missions and being given a break from the daily beatings from Turin was the only loving anyone got in life. Love… her head wanted to explode just from the thought of the word. She loved no one and no one loved her.

An alarm went off somewhere across the room and the dark haired man stood up. He moved over to the far end of the room and Alexandria could just barely make him out while he did something on the other side of the room to make the annoying sound stop.

“Jenny, it’s time for her injection. We don’t want her waking up too soon. Do you want me to give it to her?”

“No, I can do it. I’ve already got it prepped.”

Alexandria sensed Jenny moving closer to her. Why would they be giving her an injection? Turin gave her injections and then her body would scream with pain as if her skin was being peeled off an 35

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inch at a time.

Alexandria’s eyes snapped open, pinning Jenny with the most hateful glare she could muster. There was no way she could take any more injections and she had to escape the restraints now.

Shrieking at the top of her lungs to try and drive this Jenny away, she flexed against the bands holding her wrists and ankles. Oh yes, she knew her Wraith shriek was the most un-nerving sound ever.

She had chased away many a Wraith who had tried to kill her with her ear-piercing shriek alone.

Jenny covered her ears. “Alexandria, stop. We’re not going to hurt you. This is just to make you relax while we try and do some more tests on you and to make you comfortable.” Alexandria noticed the three guards approaching her, but Jenny put up her hand.

“No, its fine. She’s still restrained and not going anywhere.”

Pulling the syringe out of her pocket, Jenny cautiously moved closer. Alexandria shrieked louder and fought against her restraints. She couldn’t let them inject her. Injections always caused pain and she suffered for days. Anything, she would do anything to escape that. Let her be and she would kill anyone they wanted.

“Alexandria it’s okay. I won’t hurt you I promise.”

Alexandria didn’t believe her. There was only torture and pain.

It was a lie. Oh Great Wraith within me, give me strength against these enemies. She focused deep inside where her darkness lay and pulled against the straps with all her might. Nothing happened for a moment and then the darkness within her flared to life. All four of the restraints popped off her limbs at the same time.

In a lightening quick move, she squatted to her feet on the gurney and in a hissing voice said, “Ahh, but I promise no such thing.”

Flipping off the far side of the gurney, Alexandria landed on her feet and reflexed her black Element to a deadly Sword. The darkness inside of her laughed with glee and urged her to destroy and kill anything within her reach. She would be rewarded with 36

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such wonderful Power. Laughing hysterically, she ignored Jenny and focused on the three guards who were quickly advancing on her. She took note that one of them was communicating through a hand held device.

Faster than they could track her, she was in front of the guard with the communicator and knocked it from his hand. She laughed in his face and slammed him against the back wall before he could engage her with his sword. The other two guards tried to trap her between them. She spun on her toe maneuvering away from them and blocking a well-aimed side swing with her blade.

This guard seemed to be more proficient and determined to stop her. He sliced through the air at her head but she overhead blocked, he completed his arcing swing dropping towards her legs but this time she back flipped out of the way landing crouched on the floor.

“You idiot. Stop her, don’t kill her.” The taller guard yelled at the other who was still trying to advance on her. “She’s still Michael’s sister, even if she is a Wraith. He’ll kill you if you take her out.”

Alexandria slowly stood up, her weapon becoming so very heavy in her hand. Michael’s sister? Who was Michael’s sister? She felt confused. Where am I? Her head ached and her ears began to ring.

A shrieking was consuming her mind and she just wanted it to stop. Kill them, kill them now. Take their Life Power. She shook her head trying to stop the dark demands. Before she could find her equilibrium, the guard advanced on her and sliced his sword across her arm.

Screaming in fury, she jumped back out of his reach. Red blackness dropped over her sight and the mantra of kill, kill, kill rang through her head. She would kill this man, but first she would make him pay for her pain and then she would hold him close and draw every bit of life out of him. Shrieking, she ran at him.

The man’s expression was priceless to her as she engaged him over and over again in a vicious offensive attack with her Sword.

The other guards tried to get near her to save him but her 37

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lightening quick reflexes threw them back while she continued to play with her mouse. Finally, she weakened him to the point he was disarmed. Grabbing him by the neck, she slammed him into the wall pressing her body against his.

“Your life is mine,” she hissed.

Staring deep into the man’s hazel eyes, she plunged her darkness into his mind numbing him so he couldn’t move. She dove into his system and began pulling the energy out of his shaking form. The darkness within her writhed in glory and drunkenness while she took life from the helpless male. She thought it would be perfect if that stupid female called Jenny would just stop screaming. Perhaps, I will kill her next.

Smiling at the man, she decided she was done toying with him.

Vaguely, she wondered why the other two guards weren’t attacking her anymore, but didn’t really care. The darkness only wanted the life. Just before she engaged to yank the rest of the life out of the man, an incredible jolt of energy hit her in the side. She was thrown down to the ground in a heap.

The jolt was so intense her head spun from the new energy still sizzling along her nerves. Alexandria lifted herself to her hands and knees shaking her head. Lifting her hand from the floor, she tried to reflex her Sword, but she found she was too unbalanced to form her Sword. Fury burned in her. She was never supposed to be helpless again. Turin would punish her severely for failure. She shrieked and staggered to her feet, her head down, and her hair hanging in disarray. She swept it back, staring hatefully at those surrounding her.

“I’m sorry, Alexandria, but I couldn’t let you harm the Guardian Elite.” This was spoken from a woman dressed in black and violet.

Her white blond hair was captured in an intricate twist at the back of her neck and her light blue eyes appeared to ask for forgiveness to Alexandria. But there would be no forgiveness.

She started to advance forward when several low growls vibrated in her ears. As the excessive sizzling of the energy which had bombarded her earlier started to wear off she became aware of the others surrounding her. More fighting men. Extremely large, 38

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well-muscled males staring her down with a mix of emotions.

Anger, disbelief, remorse, compassion, confusion, desire, love.

Love? She panicked and her heart started racing out a furious beat.

Alexandria swept her arm in front of her. “There is no love!”

She screamed. “Only hatred and death.”

“No, there is love, Alexandria. You are our family and you are loved.” One of the Warriors with blond hair moved up behind the female who had hit her with the energy. He reached around her waist and drew her up against his body.

Shaking her head back and forth, Alexandria felt the darkness deep within her deny what she was seeing. There was no family.

There was no love. Yes, only the Life Power and death. She clenched her hand trying to shake the aftereffects of the energy attack and reflex her Sword. Destroy them all. Take their Life Power. Yes, that was what she would do.

Bringing her hand up, she readied herself to reflex when the static eventually stopped dancing through her system. Attack and win, or succumb and die, but fight to the end. Her odds weren’t good with so many battle-hardened males surrounding her, but she would go down fighting in honor of her Wraith brethren. The damn bastards.

“Alexandria, please stop.” A deep voice called to her so gently.

Something inside her cried out to hear the unseen male’s voice again. He was somewhere to her rear and to the right but she didn’t dare look for him. There were too many in front of her and to her sides. To spin in any direction would leave her vulnerable, just as she was vulnerable now. But oh, how she needed to see the owner of those words which had felt like a caress to her soul.

Frustration made her angrier, and she shrieked at all of those who prevented her from finding him.

Just a few seconds more and she would be able to form her Power Sword and fight to the death if necessary for her freedom.

First, she would have to knock the blond woman, Jenny, who was approaching her again with the syringe, out of the way. Alexandria didn’t want to kill her. Jenny wasn’t the enemy and the effort 39

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wasn’t worth it considering there wasn’t much Life Power within the woman. She was definitely not Sphinx.

“It’s okay, Alexandria, it won’t hurt. I promise.” Spoken so softly while Jenny approached her inch by careful inch. Alexandria hissed at her and backed up. She had heard that promise before right before Turin had sunk the dull needle into her neck and forced burning liquid into her already tormented body.

So fixated on escaping the needle, Alexandria hadn’t realized how far she had backed up. Suddenly, she was surrounded by two strong arms. She fought and kicked back at the unseen captor and threw her head backward. Satisfaction coursed through her when she heard a snap and a grunt. Score one for her. Still, Jenny, in her white lab coat was getting closer and closer with the syringe which would only cause Alexandria more pain.

Panicking from the intense fear the dripping needle evoked, she locked her body into position and reached down grabbing the man’s arms. Digging her nails in drawing blood, she focused on his energy and let the darkness in her take over. The black inky hunger swirled out through her fingertips and grabbed at the energy. A sharp intake of breath told her she had scored. The man had no choice but to let go of her or die.

As soon as he released her, he tried to get out of her reach but he was far too late. Shrieking at him, Alexandria spun lightning fast to find a tall sandy brown haired man standing behind her with a crystalline ankh on his right cheek. What a perfect target, you fool. With her Wraith hardened nails bared, she swung directly at his cheek tearing deep gouges from the corner of his shocked eye, across the ankh, and to the side of his chin.

“Fuck!” he cried while blood splashed everywhere and he staggered back grabbing the side of his face. Alexandria stood there watching him wondering why the satisfaction of her score didn’t surface. If anything, she felt saddened by what she had just done.

Realizing the heavily armed men around her were coming in with weapons drawn, she moved to reflex her Sword. Yes, it was time to battle and she would not slow down until they took her 40

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head. Right before she started the reflex, someone else grabbed her on both sides of her face. Larger, stronger hands than the man she had just marked yanked her head around pulling her right against his tall frame.

Hissing, she swung her hand to rake her nails down his face as well, but right before she would have made contact, she froze in place. Her hand hovered shaking just a breath away from his cheek. Looking into his face, she knew in what heart she had left that she was lost forever. The man’s grieving bluish silver eyes consumed her. She felt herself spiraling down into their depths and just didn’t want to move away from his embrace. His very essence seemed to surround her, whispering of protection and warmth, and his scent was tantalizing and unique.

The dark Wraith side of her shrieked in the depths of her mind, but she ignored it for the first time since its presence within her.

Alexandria’s hand unclawed and relaxed. She then moved it one precious inch to run her hand through the strands of his long strawberry blond hair. Transfixed, she smoothed her fingertips over the stubble on his jaw and then across his lips. Smiling, she watched in pleasure as the pupils of his eyes dilated. She wondered if he would stay still and let her taste those masculine lips. Just one taste.

“Jenny, have your medical team look to Guardian Arik, now,”

the wonderfully masculine man rasped.

Alexandria pressed closer to him liking the feel of his body against hers. She could sense the faster beating of his heart.

Looking behind her, he firmly ordered, “The rest of you stand down. I have her.”

“Mine,” she whispered not sure of what she was claiming.

Trying to turn and see what had claimed his attention behind her, she suddenly remembered her situation. Stiffening, she grabbed at his arms wanting to defend him.

“Careful, don’t hurt,” she mumbled to herself.

Her nails could rip the skin from his arms but everything about him suppressed that desire to rip and tear. Her only desire was to protect and be near him.

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“Joshua are you sure about that? Look what she did to Arik, dude.”

Alexandria hissed at another large male with spiked black hair whom she could see out of the corner of her eye.

“Yes, I have her. Now back the fuck up.” Yes, this was Joshua and somewhere in her messed up mind she recognized him.

Alexandria’s full attention was pulled back to Joshua both by his hands and his voice.

“Alexandria, stop struggling. I have you if you’ll let me.”

His expression was still so sad. She wondered how she could make him happy. Wanted to make him happy.

“Yes, have me,” she whispered while pushing her hips up against him. Ecstasy was what hummed within her beating down the darkness when she heard the breath rush from his lips at her actions.

Her pleasure didn’t last though from the next words he spoke.

“Alexandria I want you to promise me you won’t fight. Jenny is going to give you something so you can rest.”

The image of the dripping syringe overshadowed everything else. Alexandria struggled to see behind her but couldn’t because Joshua held her securely from moving her head.

“No, stay with me. Look at me, Alexandria. Know I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. No matter what has happened on the other side of the Gate, I will not let anything happen to you here.

Tell me you understand.”

Understand? How could she understand? Her body was shaking like a leaf. She had a death grip on Joshua’s arms. Plus, all she could imagine was Turin jabbing in the needle, twisting it, and ripping it back out.

“No…no hurt?” She stammered and bit down on her lip hard to focus on the pain. “Promise!” She demanded.

“I promise, Alexandria.” Spoken with so much conviction, she believed him. His eyes told her of his promises and everything he couldn’t say. This man was hers. No, this Warrior was hers.

Holding on for dear life as the fears tried to consume her, she focused on his bluish silver eyes. Alexandria knew the moment she 42

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would feel the sting of the needle because of the flash of something powerful in the depths of them. A power of something she couldn’t quite understand but knew he would keep her safe.

Still she jumped when the needle entered and the sedative was pushed into her system. Hissing, she didn’t feel a burn but the darkness reared its hateful head anyway. Closing her eyes, Alexandria didn’t want to see the damage she would do to the handsome Joshua if she failed in keeping it at bay. She held tight to his forearms and could hear herself hissing. One more time she looked up at him and saw the helplessness written on his face, the need to try and help her. She fought for a few seconds more, hoping the feeling overcoming her was unconsciousness and not the vengeful hate of the Wraith consuming her and then darkness descended

The last thing she knew was being surrounded by Joshua’s strong arms and his pledge, “I won’t leave you, Lexi.”

43

Chapter Three

Sitting in the straight back medical chair, Joshua ran his fingertips across his forearm where Alexandria had been holding on so hard her nails had dug in. Of course, she could have done a lot more damage, but he had watched her fight against the impulse before passing out from the sedative. It had been one hell of a struggle for her though. For both of them. His system was still jacked up from the stress of keeping the other Warriors from taking her down. Breathing deeply, he was still trying to get his Life Power back under control. The small amount of pain from the nail marks brought clarity to his thoughts and how messed up his Alexandria really was.

Still, he was proud of her and the steel determination she had shown to control the Wraith-like behaviors transformed within her. It had been unnerving, watching the black of her irises fade to her dark blue and then back to black again. In the end, there was nothing he could do but watch her succumb to the sedation and collapse in his arms.

When the other Warriors had stepped closer to assist him, he had snarled at them. Not having to be told twice, they all had backed off. They would know now he had deep feelings for her even if she was part Wraith. Joshua knew he had no choice but to admit it to himself, too. At first, he might have been protecting her, but over the years watching her grow up and go through the things she had had to, he had developed deep feelings for her.

How deep he didn’t know, but he really didn’t want to delve into it at the moment. He just wanted her to wake up.

“How much longer, Jenny? Are you sure it wasn’t too much?”

Joshua needed to know Alexandria was okay.

Jenny walked over to the medical cell where Alexandria was confined. She leaned up against the clear Plexiglas door and traced one of the ventilation holes. “She’ll be fine. The dosage was high, but the Wraith DNA in her is making her resistant to the normal 44

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dosage. That’s why she woke up and took us all by surprise.”

Joshua sat back in the chair and ran his hands through his loose hair. “Is there anything we can do for her?”

“Yes. Perhaps. I’m working on a combination of suppressants which should work on her Wraith behavior. I’m hoping the suppressant will bring our Alexandria back to the surface and keep the Wraith at bay. If anyone can figure out how to reverse what was done is her. To keep her semi-lucid, it’s going to be a careful balance of enough to keep the Wraith down but Alexandria conscious. I’ll need to give her the injection every night.”

Joshua crossed his arms across his chest sighing deeply. “What a fucking mess. There has to be some way to fix her. I hope you’re right, Jenny, and she can figure it out.”

A timer buzzed across the room somewhere. Jenny glanced over to the table with the burners, beakers, and bottles of pharmacological powders and liquids she had been combining.

“That would be the completion of my suppressant. All we can do now is wait until she wakes up and then figure out a way to get the first batch into her system.”

Watching Jenny walk away, Joshua clenched his hands together. The waiting was killing him. Not to mention Khenti Michael’s constant checking on his sister and telling him to go get some rest. There was no way he was budging. He had promised Alexandria he was going to stay with her and he meant it. Trying to gain her trust in her current state was going to be a challenge, but for her, he would do anything. Now he knew the hell Michael and Jacob went through over their women.

“How you hangin’ in there, Warrior? You look like shit.” Joshua glanced up to see Warren, ex-Guardian Elite in his white lab coat.

Tall and muscled, the man looked like he could take down anything. Sometimes it was hard to remember he was still healing from a disabling injury. As usual, Warren was popping a couple of white pills in his mouth. Instead of drinking water to wash them down, he just crunched them and swallowed dry.

“A hell of a lot better than you. Still eating the drugs like candy, I see.” Joshua pointed to the painkiller and uppers Warren had to 45

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take for injuries he had sustained during one of the battles. The man had a significant scar across the bridge of his nose and across his cheek. His arm had been so mangled it was no longer usable and hung by his side, but he was an expert at drug combinations so Jenny had put him to work in medical. It was lucky too because without Alexandria and her specialized Powers of healing, the medical staff had to explore other options.

“Hey, don’t knock it. The drugs keep the pain at bay so I can concentrate and the uppers keep me from being depressed and hacking off this useless arm. Besides, my knowledge may just save our doc’s life.”

Joshua couldn’t argue with him about that particular truth.

“Yeah, I gotta give you credit for your skills with drugs and I’ll owe you big if you can bring her back.” By the Ancient’s, he prayed Lexi would come back to him. His pulse raced at the thought of her being physically with him but never having her sweet smile gifted to him again. He glanced away from Warren avoiding eye contact.

Dealing with his inner conflict and emotions wasn’t something he wanted revealed to another male. Warren must have felt the vibe, because he turned away mumbling about needing to check on his work.

Looking back at the marks on his arms, he wondered how much longer he was going to be able to stay by Alexandria’s side before Michael ordered him to go rest. He would have to refuse and that would open a whole mess of questions. Being second to the Khenti gave him a little breathing room, but even that would end eventually and his behavior questioned.

A soft moan caught his attention. He glanced over to where Alexandria lay on a low cot with nothing but a pillow and single sheet. Even that simple bedding could be dangerous if she tried to use it as a weapon. Not to mention she still could reflex her black Element into a Power Sword. Joshua wasn’t sure how Turin had managed not only to change her but her once silver Element to cold shiny black.

Joshua stood up and moved to the Plexiglas watching her closely. Alexandria appeared to be fighting the sedation, her head 46

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tossed back and forth, her forehead drawn in concentration. “It’s okay Alexandria, I’m here. I stayed just for you.” If only he could do something for her.

For several minutes, she tossed and thrashed on the cot, her hair tangling around her, but then she quieted. The stillness didn’t last long. Suddenly she sat up looking around her with terror in her expression. She flipped onto the floor and then scooted backwards until she was jammed up into the back corner of the cell. Huddled in a tight ball, her arms around her legs, she rocked back and forth. Joshua’s heart broke as he listened to the high-pitched whine coming from her. His Alexandria was lost in terror.

Leaning against the Plexiglas, he tried to catch her attention.

“Alexandria. Look at me. You’re fine now. You’re safe. I’m right here.” He pleaded with her in desperation. Joshua just didn’t know what to do to help her.

Watching her scan her surroundings, he saw none of his Alexandria within the tormented woman curled on the floor. Her eyes were black as midnight, but unlike the flat dead eyes of Wraith, hers had a slight luster to them. Joshua observed her restless actions not sure what to do. After a few moments, she flung her hands out in front of her as if trying to push something away and then her expression changed. The Wraith surfaced in her. There was no mistaking the snarl on her features of the Wraith persona as it took over. The darkness within her even had the nerve to shriek at him. She closed her eyes and fisted her hands in her dark black hair hissing under her breath. Yes, his Alexandria was still in there fighting.

Slowly, so he wouldn’t startle her, he squatted down next to the clear cell door. He placed his palm flat against the Plexiglas and spoke to her softly. “Lexi, fight for me. I know you’re in there.”

When she didn’t acknowledge him, he said more sternly. “Damn it, woman. Stop ignoring me and fight!”

He wasn’t sure what to expect or if he would even be able to get through to her. They had always had a special connection even when they were younger. All he could do was hope it was still there. And perhaps the connection was.

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Alexandria’s eyes snapped opened and focused completely on him. She tilted her head to the side and slid her tongue slowly across her lower lip. Lifting her hand to her lips, she traced the path her tongue had taken with her fingertips. Closing her eyes, those fingers traced down the side of her throat, down her collar bone, and over her breast. Joshua focused in on the small sensual actions of her hand. His chest tightened and his fatigues became tight against the heavy erection her actions had enticed in him.

Every inch of his body was suddenly on fire with need. Warrior get a grip. She’s in trouble. Stop thinking with your cock.

Joshua just watched her, wondering what she was going to do next. Her behavior was completely bizarre, as if she had multiple personalities. A frightened child, an insane demon, a sensual creature. Right now, she was the sensual creature crawling across the floor on her hands and knees, slowly making her way over to where he squatted. Finally reaching him, she tried to touch his hand through the Plexiglas with hers. When she couldn’t, she came up on her knees bracing against the clear door with her hands. She rubbed the side of her head against the door where his hand rested.

To his surprise and pleasure, Alexandria purred. By the Ancients, she had actually purred. He called over his shoulder,

“Jenny, I’m pretty damn sure she’s purring. I thought there was no sign of her Sphinx.”

Jenny came back over to where he was squatted. “There wasn’t.

I double checked the DNA reading and there wasn’t much of anything. Perhaps there’s something deeper that survived.”

Alexandria threw herself back from the contact with the door upon Jenny’s approach. She shrieked furiously. Back-peddling across the floor crab style, she hissed all the way back into the original corner she had started out in. Once she was curled back into a ball, Alexandria shrieked again and covered her face with her hands. Joshua’s inner Sphinx snarled at the loss of Alexandria’s closeness and the presence of the Wraith in her again.

“Fuck!” He shouted surging to his feet. He paced away from the cell door trying to bring the unruly surge of Power back under 48

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control that swirled within him.

As soon as he had moved away, the shrieking stopped and he was sure Alexandria would be rocking in the corner again. He heard a low moan coming from her. Joshua turned back to the cell and ran his hands through his tangled hair. Yes, she was sitting there rocking again like she was catatonic. “Damn it, Lexi.” His Power spun furiously from the yoyo effect of her second-by-second personality change.

With the small amount of rest he had been able to get, his Life Power level had increased slightly anyway. He now had enough energy in his system not to feel like he was going to fall over at any minute. On the plus side, he could fight again if needed, but on the minus side, it was going to be difficult controlling his Power especially with the stress of seeing her like this.

“There has to be something we can do for her. What’s the next step?” He gruffly demanded of Jenny.

Jenny fidgeted moving back slightly. He guessed the behavior of Alexandria was unnerving to her as well. “The suppressant is completed. I have it in my lab coat pocket so she can’t see it. I saw her reaction to injections before and didn’t want to get her wound up. I’m not sure how we’re going to give it to her. Just her touch could take someone down.”

Joshua pinned Jenny with his stare. He knew she wouldn’t like what he was going to tell her, but he wouldn’t be taking no for an answer. “That’s why you’re going to give it to me, lock me in with her, and get your instruments ready to see if the injection works.”

Gasping, Jenny sputtered, “You can’t, Warrior. She could kill you. We should sedate her, strap her down, and deliver it to her safely for us and her. If needed I can get some of the other Warriors to assist. I’m sure Michael would help with his sister.”

“You will not tie her down again or have anyone else see her go through the suppression!” Joshua bellowed at her. Seeing Jenny cringe under his fury, he sighed, lowering his voice. “Look, I’m sorry, but you damn well know she doesn’t want to be seen like this. I don’t think I can handle having anyone else touch her either, and Michael is already stressed out with Stormy in the 49

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condition she’s in. There’s no point in putting him through more.”

“I know, Warrior. The past few weeks have been rough on all of us.” Jenny glanced at Alexandria still in the corner rocking again and making strange little noises. “You care for her and that’s the only reason why I’m agreeing to this.” As soon as Jenny took the syringe out of her pocket, Joshua grabbed it palming it so Alexandria wouldn’t see and go into a new round of freaking out.

Slipping the metal syringe into his fatigue pants pocket, Joshua approached the cell door. “Alright, I’m ready when you are.”

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I just hope you know what you’re doing.” Stepping up to the cell door, Jenny tapped a combination into the key pad on the wall. Silently, the Plexiglas door slid open just wide enough to allow Joshua entry.

“I do. I’m doing this for the Lexi I lo…” his throat closed up and he looked down at Alexandria on the floor. Was that what he was feeling? Was it love which was causing him to be twisted up and out of control? Taking a deep breath he mumbled, “You better get your monitors ready.”

Slowly, he moved further into the cell, his hands out by his sides trying not to look threatening. Difficult to do being over six foot and packed with muscles, but hey, he was doing his best. As soon as he was inside the cell, Jenny sealed him in. Sealed him in with an unpredictable woman who was part Wraith. Nothing like throwing yourself in with the lioness.

Joshua took a few more steps into the cell until he was about half way in. He stopped his forward progression when Alexandria stopped rocking and looked up at him. Her eyes were still the color of midnight coal, no reflection, no soul in their depths. She hissed between her teeth and slowly slid up the wall until she was standing in the corner. He wasn’t sure what to expect, this gorgeous woman he had known for so long, now with a dark side which could destroy so easily.

One thing he knew, though, he still cared for her and he trusted she wouldn’t harm him. He was betting his life on her. Slowly Joshua reached out to her with one hand, “Alexandria, come to me. It’ll be alright. I can make you better. I know you won’t hurt 50

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me.”

She gave him a seductively killer smile sending the rest of the blood to his already hard erection. Lifting her arms above her head she slowly stretched and murmured, “Don’t need better. Already there.” She dropped her arms and prowled forward two tiny steps.

“Your Life Power is low. Agitated. Will only be an appetizer.”

Keep her talking. Gotta reach Alexandria in that mess somewhere. “Listen to my voice Alexandria. I can help you. Jenny made a suppressant. Let me give it to you. Let me try and bring you back.” Joshua watched her closely. He didn’t think the mention of another injection was going over well. Alexandria’s eyes narrowed on him, her fingers curling like she was contemplating striking out at him. She took two more steps closer to him, this time with aggression.

Joshua stood his ground. The Wraith in her would not intimidate him into harming Alexandria. “Alexandria, damn it, listen. I need you to come back to me.” He hated this. He was a Warrior. Why was he begging this wisp of a woman? Deep down he knew why. He couldn’t live without her. “Didn’t you hear me? I need you. Please.” He grated out.

Alexandria stood unmoving just watching him. She stroked his body with her eyes from head to toe and his blood ran hot from the experience. He could almost feel her fingertips against his skin.

“Why Life Power low?” He didn’t answer her. He couldn’t answer her and give away the condition of their Power Keeper with the Wraith so near the surface. Who knew if it could communicate with Turin. “Why low?” She screamed at him in frustration.

Not rising to the bite of her verbal attack, he levelly answered,

“It doesn’t matter. I’m doing fine. Isn’t that what you really want to know, Lexi? If I’m doing fine? How you can help me? You’re our doc, Alexandria. Don’t you want to take care of me and make me better?”

He couldn’t tell if he was getting through to her or not, but she was definitely confused. She rubbed at her face, flung her long hair out of her way in agitation, and pulled at the tattered clothes she wore. Curling her hands into fists, her breathing became more 51

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erratic and she chewed on her lower lip. “Power should not be low.

Life Power is mine!” She shrieked at a mind-numbing decibel and Joshua cringed from the pain to his eardrums alone.

Perhaps not revealing his true condition to her was a big mistake. Realizing he might have just infuriated the darkness within her, all he could do was lift his hands and try to supplicate her. The action didn’t make it any better. There didn’t appear to be anything he could do to calm her so he stood there unmoving and waiting while she shrieked at him. She quieted for just a moment -
and then attacked him.

Alexandria was a lot stronger than she looked. One second he was standing before her, and the next, he was flat on his back on the cell floor with her on top of him, her nails imbedded in his shoulders. He kept his arms out to his sides hoping it wouldn’t aggravate her further. Not that he was the biggest of the aggravations. Jenny was screaming outside the door for help and Warren was cursing up a storm. But at least the man had enough common sense to go to the communications panel, which wasn’t what Joshua wanted. He didn’t want anyone else to elevate the situation any more than it was.

Besides, Alexandria wasn’t harming him other than the stinging of her nails. Even with her lunging for him with a wicked expression on her face, there wasn’t an instant when he had feared her. Currently, he was quite happy with her sprawled across his body. He thought perhaps he really had lost his sense and was just enjoying the masochism. Or it could be he was just enjoying being pressed up against her with her hips tightly straddled over his. Her luscious breasts were pressed up against his chest and he could feel her nipples tighten through the thin fabric of their clothes.

The shouting and chaos outside the cell door faded away from his consciousness when he felt Alexandria’s breath whisper against his ear in little puffs. A hot flash of energy suddenly ran all the way down his spine and through the center of his body to settle at the base of his cock. That fast and she had fired up not only his body but his Life Power. Joshua heard Alexandria’s breath hitch in her throat. Her nails eased up out of his skin but she still kept a 52

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firm grip on his shoulders. He felt her shift just a bit and then she was full on rubbing her core against him.

“By the Ancients, Lexi.” He groaned. Hoping he wouldn’t incite any damage, he reached for her hips and tried to stop the enticing movements and what she was doing to him. Not that he really wanted her to stop, but he wanted Alexandria fully with him when they came together. And he knew now that he really did want to come apart with her more than anything. But not now, not here.

Joshua squeezed harder on her hips and she moaned in his ear.

She fisted the collar of his shirt in her hand and the next thing he knew, she had shredded half of it off of his shoulder. He had to get control of the situation now. “Alexandria, you have to stop.”

Evidently not inclined to listen to him, she nipped and licked along the column of his throat and then across his collarbone to his shoulder. The hand she wasn’t using to brace herself above him wandered down his chest, over his stomach, and down across his erection. Growling in her ear, he captured her naughty hand entrapping it. He moved her wandering hand back up his body and held it against his chest. She purred and he felt her teeth graze his shoulder.

Jolted back to his senses by the sensation and its implications, he grabbed her hands with lightning speed and rolled over with her. Entrapping her hands above her head and throwing his leg over hers, he held her down. Luckily, she didn’t fight back, but lay there looking up at him with a bit of satisfaction and a bit of confusion.

Had she really known what she was doing tempting fate and playing with the spot where Power Mates in ancient times marked each other before the Joining? Joshua didn’t think so, but who knew with the current condition she was in. And if she knew what she had been doing, which part of her was trying to claim him?

Alexandria, the Wraith, or was her inner Sphinx still alive and kicking somewhere within her? All three? The complexity of the situation was a bit disconcerting.

“Lexi, we have to stop. Do you understand?” Joshua wasn’t sure if she understood since some of the sensual haze still seemed to be 53

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clinging to her, but he was relieved when her expression cleared a bit and she nodded.

“Yes, I think that’s a very good suggestion.” A tightly spoken command sounded right by the door.

Joshua looked up to find Khenti Michael standing outside the cell door, a thunderous expression written across his face. Jenny and Warren stood nearby trying to look in any direction but inside the cell. Sauntering up right behind Michael were Jacob and Hunter their arms crossed, each trying to keep the smirks off their faces. Joshua was glad Raven wasn’t present. The man would have incited Michael even more.

“Khenti, it’s not what it looks like. Well it is, but…” Joshua realized he was just babbling and making things worse. Only Alexandria could mess his head up this way. Joshua knew his ass was in trouble when Michael growled long and low.

Alexandria didn’t seem to care about the exchange and tension around her. She continued to try and rub up against Joshua.

“Damn it. Alexandria, stop.” Thank goodness, his words got through to her and she stopped moving against him. Of course, now she pouted beneath him. Keeping an eye on her and what she might do next, Joshua tried to concentrate on the conversation and explain to his leader.

“Michael, I was trying to describe to her about the suppression.”

Alexandria stiffened underneath him and he shifted to make sure she couldn’t escape. “Jenny gave the syringe to me and I was trying to get through to Alexandria. Which as you can see didn’t work out as planned.”

“I would have never surmised that.” Michael still sounded a bit pissed to Joshua.

Joshua sighed and wanted to laugh when Alexandria turned her head towards Michael and growled at him.

Michael lowered himself closer to the floor and excitedly asked,

“I thought her Sphinx was gone.”

Jenny spoke up, “There was very little of the Sphinx DNA left, at least that we could find. I’m hoping her behavior is a good sign and not the Wraith mimicking.”

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Breaking into the conversation, Joshua spoke his mind,

“There’s no way a Wraith is going to be able to imitate a Sphinx.

They’re not that clever.” Alexandria hissed up at him. He looked down at her. “Fine. Prove me wrong and let me help you. I still have the suppressant. Will you let me help you?”

Alexandria stubbornly stared up at him, giving him no reply.

Joshua hung his head and closed his eyes. He was so tired and his Life Power level seemed to be dropping again. What the hell is wrong with me? “Lexi, please let me help you. You’re breaking my heart. What more do you want from me?”

“O-okay.” She stuttered. Joshua sighed in relief and looked down at her to see how she was doing. She appeared to be struggling to reach him from the depths of her entrapped psyche.

“Can’t break your heart…Joshua.” Alexandria tried to pull her arms free but Joshua held on tight. He could detect a burning anger beginning to surface. “No audience. No…no Michael see.”

She tossed her head and her muscles tensed under his hold.

“H…hurry, Joshua.”

He would have to be hard and border on disrespectful, but he would just have to suffer the consequences later. Directing a stern look at his Khenti he growled, “You heard her. Everybody out except those who can support her medically.”

Michael didn’t take the demand well. He pushed up to his full height and slammed his fist into the Plexiglas. Yes, Joshua thought he was definitely going to pay later. Pay for both his demand and for the image he was sure Alexandria and he made earlier laying on the floor pawing at each other.

“She’s my sister!” Michael shouted, “I won’t be going anywhere.”

All the shouting was just aggravating the situation and not accomplishing anything in Joshua’s opinion. Alexandria was in full flight mode now, she was squirming and arching her body to get away from him. Joshua couldn’t take much more of her suffering; he was going to give her the shot anyway if the stand-off didn’t end. Taking both of her wrists still pinned over her head in one hand, he reached into his fatigue pocket and pulled out the 55

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syringe. He brought it close enough so Alexandria could see it and know his intentions.

Joshua could see her fear surface. Turning to Michael again, Alexandria begged, “P..please, Michael. No see.” When he appeared indecisive, she cried out, “No see! You trust Joshua. I…I trust Joshua.” Running out of energy to fight, Alexandria lay there, tossing her head back and forth mumbling, “No hurt, Joshua.

Hurry.”

Popping the cap off the needle with his thumb, he gave Michael the last opportunity to make the decision either for or against Alexandria’s request. In the end, Michael did exactly what Joshua thought he would do. He spun away grabbing the other two Warriors and departed. Joshua sighed. Yeah, he was going to pay big. But for Alexandria, it was worth it.

Leaning down, he kissed her forehead and whispered, “Hang on, Lexi. I’m bringing you home.” He almost cried out himself when he had to pierce her tender skin on the side of her neck with the needle. Her entire body tensed beneath him and she stared in terror at the ceiling. Joshua went as slow with pushing the fluid in as he could, but it still had to have stung with the powerful chemistry Jenny and Warren had to use in making it.

When he was done, he threw the needle away and curled his body around Alexandria. All he wanted to do was protect her from whatever was going to happen. He let her hands free and pulled her closer. At first, she struggled against him, shrieking in fury.

She punched and kicked against him. Occasionally, she dug her nails into him, but the damage was minimal, even though it looked worse with all the holes in his shirt. The fury of having been injected again was spent quickly and she stilled.

The stillness didn’t last long, though. The suppressant circulated through her system and Joshua felt her entire body convulse when it hit the Wraith portion of her body. She screamed and thrashed against him. He gritted his teeth holding on to her and using his body as a buffer so she wouldn’t hurt herself. The shrieks of the Wraith and the screams of Alexandria filled the cell for several endless minutes. Sometimes it was Wraith, sometimes 56

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it was her. At other times, Joshua’s ears vibrated with both of the voices overlapping each other.

“Jenny! We’re going to need some scrubs and something to clean her later.” Alexandria was drenched beneath him from the heat she was putting off. “And some proper bedding. She’s going to be all bruised to hell. Fuck!” Another hard convulsion twisted her beneath him. He thought he heard bones snap and he hoped he wasn’t doing damage to her with his weight. It wasn’t like he was light or anything.

Whatever the suppression was doing to her wasn’t good. He hoped while it was putting down the Wraith side of her, the drugs weren’t destroying his Lexi as well. How the hell she was going to survive this new torment, he didn’t know. He couldn’t imagine her having to endure this every single night. What kind of existence would that be? “Hang on, Alexandria. I’m here for you. I promise I won’t leave you.” His throat tightened up and he whispered for her ears alone, “Don’t leave me.”

Joshua felt Alexandria twist her hands in his already shredded shirt and heard her moan of anguish. She pulled on the shirt so hard that what few threads holding it together gave way and Joshua felt the rest of the front of it rip away. Her soft palms rested gently up against his chest even though the rest of her body twitched violently. The skin-to-skin contact was a shock to his system, especially with how incredibly hot her temperature was.

Before he could even gather his thoughts from the feeling of her hands on him, Alexandria unexpectedly tapped into his Life Power. He gasped preparing to give his Power, his very life to her, if that was what she needed to survive the suppression. The revelation that he had no fear of stepping into the boundaries of death for her wasn’t a surprise to him. He had spent ages protecting her above all else and realized as long as he was alive and she was alive, he would continue to watch over her. No matter what her brother thought.

Yeah, if he survived whatever she was about to do to him, he would need to deal with Michael. There was no way he was going to deny himself the pleasure of Alexandria anymore. No matter 57

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she was sister to the Khenti of the Sphinx Warriors or what she ended up being.

Bracing himself for discomfort and what was to come, he grabbed her chin turning her face up so he could look into her sweet face. The pain was still written there, but her concentration was turned out to him now. He sensed the push of Power before he felt it. And by the Ancients, the energy was incredible. Alexandria didn’t take his Power but pushed Power into him.

He expected a dark energy, but Power was only the light Life Power of Alexandria. Her touch, her scent surrounded him for a moment. A sweet cinnamon which made his mouth water. His entire system felt energized, the exhaustion leaving him. His energy level increased giving him strength.

Joshua concentrated on the weak connection which Alexandria had opened. Using it, he pushed Life Power back to her. She gasped, her eyes closing in pleasure. The lines of pain around her mouth and eyes eased for a moment. When he tried to brush along the connection and into her system, she snatched her hands away from his chest, closing the conduit.

Her presence when she had touched his Life Power had been incredible. He wondered what it would feel like if their Life Forces touched and was determined one day that he would know. But she had to come out of this nightmare first. Without his Life Power surging into her, she began to thrash under him again. All he could do was hold on to her with everything in him and try to find the connection again to ease her pain and give her strength. Joshua held her close, promising anything to the Ancients to bring his Alexandria back from the brink of being in the claws of the inner Wraith, “Hold on, Lexi. I’ll do anything to bring you back. I’ll give you more Life Power than you could ever imagine, if that’s what it takes.”

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Chapter Four

Trapped, unable to move, and starving for Life Power. A hunger that burned so hot for the energy there just wasn’t enough to stave off the gut wrenching need for it. More, she had to have more.

Give me more!! The horrible mantra of the Wraith Turin had genetically engineered into her had mercilessly ranted and screamed at her for the Power. The inner creature had never stopped, never, no matter how many fellow Wraith she had drained Life Power in the process of trying to silence it.

Now, mysteriously, the creatures begging and taunting had diminished to a slight murmur, a whisper in the lower levels of her consciousness. She couldn’t even begin to describe the relief, but still Alexandria gasped trying to pull more air into her starving lungs. The panic which was overwhelming her couldn’t be stopped. She felt trapped, surrounded by an unmoving wall of strength, yet at the same time felt a safeness she hadn’t had in weeks, maybe months. She just wasn’t sure.

Where she was or how she had gotten there she couldn’t clearly remember either. All she knew was she was laying on something soft, covered in warmth, and up against another being. Taking stock of her situation, she realized she had her hands twisted in the person’s shirt and she was weighted down by someone’s strong arms. Ancients, don’t let it be Turin, or a Wraith. The very thought made her want to be violently sick.

“It’s alright, Lexi. You’re safe, here with me. On my life, I’ll never let anything happen to you again.” A deep masculine voice whispered so near her ear.

Everything that had happened in the past few weeks collapsed in on her. She buried her face in Joshua’s shirt. Her Josh. The Warrior she had known almost all of her life who had always been there for her, protecting her, keeping her safe. One terrible event had separated her from him and she didn’t ever think to see him again. Turin had almost taken over her life so she would never see 59

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him again.

Twisting her hands harder in Joshua’s shirt, she let the overwhelming emotions and terror take over her. She sobbed uncontrollably, her body shaking with tremors, but she didn’t care because she knew Josh would take care of her. The images hit her one after another while she relived the horrible treatment by Turin. The beatings, the injections, the forced killings, and the training for her ultimate goal. To kill Michael, her brother. The brother she loved with all her heart. To kill him would kill her, but Turin did such a good job of twisting her mind, reality and nightmare had become one in the same. The only way to get the Life Power the Wraith screamed for was to follow his orders, to train for a mission which would kill her physically or mentally forever.

“Sshh. I’ve got you. Tell me what you need, Lexi. Please.”

Joshua held her tighter and brushed his hand over her hair, down her back. His touch was incredible and brought peace to her chaotic thoughts, her battered body. She had lost hope she would see him again and that he would perish while she was gone.

Joshua dying. The very thought brought her back from the darkness of her own existence even though she continued to cry.

Alexandria untwisted her hands from the soft shirt and tried to tunnel up underneath it. She had to touch his bare skin. Had to see how he was doing. The only way she could use her special power of assessing a person’s condition was with direct skin contact and she was frantic to touch him. Without her being here to change the Life Power within him, she had been terrified he would perish before she could be rescued. If she could be rescued. She had never told him about his condition and no one else knew either.

Finally, her struggle with the stupid shirt was successful and her hands contacted his warm supple skin. She felt Joshua’s swift intake of breath and the movement of his muscles under her tentative touch. Slowly, she smoothed her fingertips over his chest until she was above his heart. She concentrated on her unique Power and pushed it outward from her center. Letting the energy flow through her arms and out through her fingertips, she entered 60

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into his body.

Joshua groaned, his breath brushing against her ear. The sensation raised goose-bumps on her skin and made her body hum. She tried to ignore the wonderful distractions of Joshua being so close to her, his body wrapped around her, and his masculine scent surrounding her. Instead, she concentrated on the ebb and flow of his inner rhythms, his Life Force, his Life Power.

What she discovered worried her and wasn’t far off from what she had expected. She sniffled, turning her cheek into his chest listening to the beat of his heart. Yes, his Life Power was slightly off and extremely low. There was slight damage to the pathways the Power took within him and Alexandria could tell he had had another episode with controlling his abilities. He hadn’t used the more destructive bursts he was capable of in a long time, so things had evidently gotten severe while she had been gone. She had tried to steer him away from using the skill so she wouldn’t have to sneak around and find a way to adjust his energies. What a mess.

She should have told him about his condition.

“Alexandria, I don’t have much Life Power but if it will help you.” Joshua murmured in her ear again. She gasped, yanking her hands away breaking the connection.

Had the beast deep inside her tried to get through and take his Power? The demanding evilness seemed to be repressed, less influential on her. Suppressed. Yes, she recalled what Joshua had risked his life for. To give her an injection to suppress the Wraith side of her. Alexandria started sobbing all over again. “I could have killed you, Josh. You should have let them destroy me.”

“Never!” Joshua’s gentleness as he cupped and tilted her face was contradictory to the harshness of his words. “I’ll never let them harm you. Anyone trying to hurt you will have to go through me first.” Alexandria believed him because she could see the intense expression on his face in the dim light of the medical nightlights.

Joshua’s look softened after a few seconds and he moved one of his hands to stroke through her hair again. Alexandria sighed, feeling the chaotic thoughts lift away as his hand worked its magic.

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“Alexandria, you’ll never harm me and no one will make me believe otherwise. Not Turin, not the dark part of you he put in there, and not anyone here in this complex. I have never and will never give up hope on you.”

A startled look crossed his features suddenly and then he smiled at her, a dimple making an appearance in his right cheek.

“You haven’t called me Josh in a long time.”

Alexandria tried to smile back, but the sobs hadn’t completely subsided, and now she had the hiccups. “Not…not since we were teenagers.” Her fingers twisted in his shirt again. She had the strong desire to touch his skin again. The heat of his body called to her. Not just to heal him, but to feel his warmth against her.

Against her bare skin. The thought brought back images of earlier in the night when she had jumped him and then rubbed her body against his.

Blushing, she glanced up to see if he had caught her thoughts.

Joshua’s dimple made another appearance and his eyes glittered with mischief. “Remembered something, did you?”

“I, um…” She didn’t know what to say. In many of her daydreams, she had wanted to jump him for years, but he had always held back from her. Ever the protector and friend, never the lover.

As if he had delved into her inner secrets, Joshua slid forward until his lips were a whisper away from hers. The hand which had been stroking her hair, slid along her jaw to tip her face up closer to his. “I know this is going to get both of us in trouble, but I just can’t help myself, Lexi.” He moved, closing the whisper of distance ever so slowly as if he was giving her a chance to back away. It wasn’t going to happen though. This was something she had wanted since forever.

The first touch of his lips was a gentle brush against hers. She closed her eyes savoring the contact, the firm caress, the brush of his fingers against her jaw. His breath mingled with hers. Letting go of Joshua’s shirt, Alexandria trailed her hands up his chest and over his shoulders. By the Ancients, the man was incredibly built.

Every inch was hardened muscle and she wanted to touch every 62

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inch of him.

Alexandria had never felt anything like this. Her blood heated, her skin tingled, and her Life Power pulsed within her. She envisioned both of them surrounded by their sparkling, glowing Life Powers while the two energies swirled and spiraled around them, becoming one. Detecting Joshua’s energy ramp up with hers gave her some relief to his condition. At least he was strong enough to create the field around him without her actually having to use her skills to detect it. Perhaps he had improved.

Her medical thoughts were sidelined when Joshua became more demanding in his exploration of her mouth. He nipped at her lower lip and played along the seam of her lips with his tongue. She opened for him and was rewarded with the sensual play of his lips and tongue while his hands roamed along her back and hips. Her breath caught in her chest when Joshua deepened the kiss and slid his fingertips away from her hip, up her side, and over her ribs. He stopped right below her breasts, his thumbs brushing at the bottom curves.

Needing to touch him, Alexandria grabbed Joshua’s shirt, shoving it out of the way, and pushing her hands underneath the fabric again. The contact with his skin was incredible. She wanted more. She wanted all of her skin pressed to his. She could tell Joshua was just as caught up in the sensations, since his Life Power was escaping and sparkling around them. His energy wasn’t as strong as it should have been but gave her hope just the same by its presence.

The heat in her body pooled between her legs and when she would have let out a purr a strange screech escaped her. Aghast, she pushed back from him and slapped a hand over her mouth. In the depths of her mind, she heard the weak Wraith. Mmmmm.

Life Power. The creature whispered to her distantly.

“Alexandria. What is it? Did I hurt you?” Joshua looked at her with concern. He was brushing his hands through her hair again as if to soothe her.

Lowering her hand, she whispered, “It’s the Wraith. I can still hear it.” Joshua’s expression said he was ready to attack 63

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something in her defense if needed. “It’s still suppressed deep inside of me. But for a moment, the Wraith must have picked up on your energy. This is too dangerous, Joshua.”

Alexandria tried to push away from him, but he wouldn’t have it. “Damn it, woman. You won’t hurt me and I won’t let the creature inside you hurt us.” She felt ecstatic for just a moment but then her heart dropped. He had said us and she had waited so long for him even to get close to opening up to the emotion she was sure he had for her. But now that he was opening to her for the first time, it just couldn’t be.

Blinking, she tried to keep the tears from falling. Dreams had become nightmares and now the dreams were within reach, but she would destroy them with nothing but a touch. Sighing she asked, “The suppression appears to be mostly working. Did Jenny say how often I need the injection?” She shivered just saying the word. Turin had scarred her for life on that subject.

Joshua sighed and paused for a moment. “Every night you’ll have to have the suppressant. Warren has produced plenty, so there’s no issue of running out.”

Stunned, Alexandria just lay there with Joshua. Her thoughts spinning out of control. “Every night? I have to go through this every night?” Even she could hear her voice climb in octave, but she couldn’t help it. To go through the hell she had last night just to get to this point had been horrendous.

Joshua gathered her close, stroking his hands through her hair and over her back. She knew he was just trying to calm her and perhaps himself a bit too.

“Jenny said the initial suppression would be the worst. The following would be uncomfortable but nothing like last night.” He growled softly before continuing. “I’m here for you, Lexi and I won’t ever let you go again. Now try and get some rest.”

She had no doubt he meant what he said. He had been with her for centuries watching over her and he would fight to the death to protect her. Burrowing deeper into his embrace, she already felt safer from the world, but would he be safe from her. She didn’t know and only wanted to stay in his arms as long as possible.

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Closing her eyes, she let Joshua’s strong heartbeat against her ear and the stroke of his hands lull her to sleep for a few hours more.

****

“Wake up, Alexandria.” Joshua gently brushed his lips against her forehead. He watched her closely while she sleepily opened her eyes. He was relieved when her dark blues were revealed and not the black Wraith version in the overhead day lights. The lights had switched over a few minutes ago and he had grown concerned when the bright lights had not awakened her.

“Hi.” She groggily whispered, yawning hugely. She stretched and ran her hands up his arm until she could reach his hair. He felt her play with the strands.

“Hi back.” Joshua gifted her with one of his rare smiles. She was the only one who could bring them out of him so easily. “How are you feeling?”

Alexandria flexed her limbs testing her mobility. Joshua thought she already looked so much better. Her skin tone was not quite as pale and was beginning to glow with the golden tan he was used to. Biting at her lip, she mumbled, “Pretty good, considering.” Her stomach growled and she gave him a sideways glance. “Other than starving. I can’t remember the last time I ate.”

Anger suddenly burned hot in Joshua’s depths. He could just imagine she probably couldn’t remember, because knowing Turin, he probably had starved her. The awful man would pay one day.

Joshua placed his hand on her stomach, spanning his fingers out across it and feeling the supple muscles tense under his touch. At least she hadn’t lost her strength. “Let’s remedy that. If you can do without me for a few moments, I’ll go get you something to eat.

We still have the medical stock of food for the patients and Caleb keeps the supply filled.”

“Oh. Okay.” Alexandria seemed reluctant to let go of the strands of his hair she was playing with. She sighed dropping her hand and crossing her arms across her chest. Joshua didn’t want to leave her side any more than she appeared not to want to let him 65

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go. He leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss. “I promise, I’ll only be a moment. While I’m gone, there’s a small restroom in the far corner of the cell so you can shower if you’re up to it. Jenny brought you a toothbrush, toothpaste, a brush, and some other toiletry items. Okay?”

Alexandria nodded pushing herself up into a sitting position.

Joshua reached around her and easily picked her up with him when he stood up. She was so light and yet her small figure carried such strength. He just stood there for a moment holding her close against his body. If he could, he would never let go of her, but it just wasn’t to be at this point.

Setting her away from him, he turned and went over to the door. “Warren, I need to get something for Alexandria to eat.”

Warren instantly came over to the cell door and warily glanced over at Alexandria. Joshua felt his temper rise. “She’s fine, damn it. Let me the fuck out and stop being such a pussy.”

“Don’t be an ass, Joshua. I’m just making sure its Alexandria and not something else. All the work we’ve done, you want me to be careless and you lose her again?” Warren stepped over to the keypad and punched in the sequence to let Joshua out.

Once the door opened, Joshua stepped out. The sound of the door whisking closed behind him was aggravating because of the separation from Alexandria. “Fuck. You’re right.” He ran his hand through his hair and turned to look back at her. She gave him a tentative smile and then went into the bathroom. Once she was out of his site, he turned back to Warren. “Food?”

“Yeah. I just finished putting the extra breakfast items in the break room. Help yourself.” Warren pointed to the second door across the main room. “I’m in the middle of some of the genetic blood tests on Alexandria so I‘ll let you have at it while I finish up.”

“Thanks, man.” Joshua bee-lined it over to the break room. He dove into the refrigerator lifting lids on the extra trays to find something he thought Alexandria would like. Trying to be quick, he chose a tray with cottage cheese, strawberries, sausages, and French toast. He put the sausages and French toast in the 66

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microwave to reheat the items. Every second the microwave counted down seemed like forever to him. All he wanted was to get back to Alexandria and every moment away made his anxiety climb higher and his head throb.

As soon as the timer went off, he had the food back on the tray, grabbed a bottle of orange juice, and was out of the break room and back over to the cell in record time. The relief of seeing Alexandria sitting on the floor patiently waiting for him loosened the tightness in his chest. When she looked up and focused fully on him, he felt his entire world shift. She was his and there wasn’t anyone who was going to keep him away from her again.

The woman looked absolutely beautiful to him. She had showered and her skin still glowed from the cleaning. Her damp midnight black hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she shyly brushed a loose strand behind her ear. The tan scrubs hung loose on her small frame but she still looked regal perched on the bedding on the floor, her feet tucked up under her.

Joshua barely noticed when Warren opened the cell door for him because he was so entranced with Alexandria. He moved into the cell like a man in a trance. Shaking himself, he brought the tray in and squatted down on the floor and settled next to Alexandria. “It’s nothing fancy, but it’s all yours.”

Alexandria licked her lips and Joshua heard her stomach growl loudly again. He lifted the lid out of the way for her and handed her the utensils. She looked at the food as if she was afraid it was going to be taken from her. For a moment, she just sat there, but suddenly dove in with gusto. Joshua just sat there and watched her enjoy the food. Her eyes closed in ecstasy while she relished the food. He had never seen her eat so fast and was afraid she would make herself sick.

She made it about half way through the food and then lay back on the bedding holding her stomach. Joshua moved the tray out of the way and hovered over her. “Are you okay?” He brushed his hand across her forehead concerned she really had made herself sick.

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haven’t had much food in a while. Now I’m just hungry for…” Her expression became uneasy and she shifted away from him. Joshua didn’t like the separation and drew her back near him. There was no way in hell she was going to push him away if the Wraith was bothering her again. She would just have to trust in his strength and her own in fighting her condition.

Before he could voice his thoughts, someone loudly cleared their throat outside the door. “Sorry to interrupt, dude, but Michael wants Alexandria brought to the planning room.” Joshua turned toward the newcomer and saw it was Ethan. Behind him stood Hunter and Raven. Not a good sign. All three of them looked uncomfortable and Joshua knew this was not just a calling for questioning of Alexandria.

Joshua stood up to his full height pulling Alexandria up with him. Once on his feet, he pushed her behind him so she was out of the sight of the other Warriors. “Spit it out, Ethan. I know there’s something more and I’m not going to like it. Am I?”

Ethan cursed, “Hell, Joshua! What do want me to say? We all love Alexandria and its killing us to treat her this way. She’s like our sister, too. But she tried to kill Michael. The options have been taken away from us.”

Joshua’s fury soared when he heard Alexandria gasp behind him. He knew Ethan hadn’t been trying to be cruel but just the same Joshua was close to ripping someone’s head off. He knew the truth of what she had tried to do was causing Alexandria pain. His Life Power started to crank up. Just what he didn’t need was to have another episode. His hyperactive Power calmed though as soon as Alexandria touched him again. She had a knack for being the only one who could bring him back down.

At least until he saw what Ethan had in his hand. A Collar. A black crystal Collar which had been originally created by Turin to enslave the Warriors. However, they had escaped the Collars quite easily. Turin had underestimated them all and Joshua had hoped never to see another one in his long life. But here was another Collar and he knew it was meant for Alexandria.

“What the fuck, Ethan?” Joshua snarled.

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Putting up his hands, Ethan tried to explain. “Look, dude, it wasn’t any of the Warriors’ ideas. The Elders brought the idea forward knowing we need Alexandria, especially for her physician skills, but she can’t be allowed to run loose without some kind of controls. Not with the beast inside of her.” Joshua could feel his blood pressure skyrocket. He couldn’t breathe with the images filling his mind of his Lexi in the damn Collar. He knew what it could do, the pain it could inflict, and the torture of their inner Sphinx.

Everyone must have seen the explosion coming. Alexandria had both of her hands tunneled under his shirt now, trying to calm him in her unique way. Ethan was trying to explain further with his rushed, “Fuckin’ listen to me, Joshua. Michael didn’t want this either. He threw Elder Chloe and the others out of the planning room after they showed up unannounced. He was so pissed his Power short circuited most of my computers so we’re half blind in what the Gate is doing. And right after I brought extra sensors on line. Fuckin’ yeah, we don’t want to do this. But look at her!”

Joshua turned to Alexandria. She had removed her hands from his back and she had curled them into fists. When she evidently realized he was looking at her, she crossed both her arms across her chest as if she was trying to hold herself back. When she looked up at him she had tears in her eyes. Eyes which had gone from her dark blue to a deep endless black. “I’ve caused this, Joshua.” She whispered, “Let them Collar me.”

“No!” He roared. His heart ached with a fierce burn and his breath sawed in and out of his chest so hard, he thought his ribs were going to break. Joshua remembered when Turin had Collared Stormy and the crippling pain it had induced in her.

Their Power Keeper brought down to her knees until she had discovered she could fight back. He didn’t want Alexandria to suffer that or any more than she already had.

He spun away from her, snarling under his breath and stormed over to the clear re-enforced cell door. Before he reached it, Joshua tried to control his rising Power. He really did, but there was no way to hold everything in. If he could only contain enough 69

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so the damage would be minimal.

Ethan and the others must have seen it coming. They hastily backed away from the door right before Joshua slammed his fist into it with all his fury. The heavy door made specifically for enhanced individuals wouldn’t have stood a chance against him, but at the last second, he pulled most of his Power back. Still, enough shot from his fist, blue lightening streaked through the clear door and spread out in every direction. The damage his Power inflicted was significant.

The boom was supersonic and the entire door and the floor under Joshua’s feet shuddered. Spider web cracks spread out in every direction from where his fist had impacted. Small pieces broke free inside and outside littering the floor. He stared down at what he had done seeing the shimmering glass-like pieces everywhere on the floor. Instantly, his blood pressure dropped, and he started seeing spots in front of his eyes. What the fuck?

Joshua took a deep breath. He didn’t understand why he was so out of sorts with his Power. Something was wrong with him but he wasn’t sure what and the timing was the worst. How was he supposed to keep Alexandria safe when he was in this shape?

Maybe because Stormy had been weakened from her constant duty of transferring Power to them and the lack of Power was starting to affect him.

Alexandria moved up beside him and touched his arm. He met her eyes seeing the sadness, the acceptance of her fate in her expression. It killed him to see her that way. Quietly, she said.

“Joshua, Ethan’s right. This...this has to be done,” she choked out with difficulty.

Seeing red, he grabbed her and crushed her against his body.

The feeling of her body against his still wasn’t close enough and he felt desperation clawing away at his control. Everything happening was against all he believed he was supposed to do. He was letting her down. Their whole world was falling apart and he fucking didn’t like it. He growled long and low.

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them. “Fine!” he barked out. “But if she suffers anymore, someone will pay.”

Stepping over to the control panel, Hunter punched in the code and the door slowly slid open. Joshua was surprised the door even worked still but Ethan had always been able to design kickass technology. As soon as the door slid open, Ethan stepped in warily with Raven following closely behind him. Joshua didn’t immediately let go of Alexandria. His inner Sphinx was out of its mind with the instinct to protect, making it difficult for Joshua to let go of her.

“Umm. Joshua, Khenti Michael is getting inpatient.” No sooner had Ethan said the words, Michael reached out to all of them through the Warriors Link. A gift only he had for coordinating with the Warriors during battle and other emergency communications. Joshua thought sometimes it was just a pain in the ass. Michael’s forceful – Any time gentlemen. – rang clearly in his mind.

Joshua gruffly sighed and sent back – We’re on it, Khenti. One moment more, please. Being second in command was a pain in the ass too at times. But it was necessary and he was more than honored to serve under the leading Warrior. Right now, though, he just wished he could give it all up and concentrate on nothing and no one but Alexandria.

Gently, he pushed her away from him knowing the inevitable was here and he just had to get it over with. Joshua brushed his fingers through her dark lustrous hair and stepped away. “I’m so sorry, Lexi. I’ve failed you.”

“You didn’t fail me, Joshua. Turin did this to us.” Alexandria bit at her lower lip and Joshua zeroed in on her tender mouth.

“And he will pay. I promise you that.” Joshua growled. He stepped further away from her and the other Warriors, not trusting that he would not do something violent when they touched her.

Hunter and Raven flanked to each side of her and each grabbed one of her arms. As soon as they made contact with her, Joshua’s inner Sphinx growled, but he maintained his distance because 71

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they were being gentle with her. Hunter mumbled softly, “Sorry, Alexandria.”

She looked over at him sadness written all over her. By the Ancients, Joshua just wanted to hold her. Ever his kind and forgiving Lexi, she responded back, “It’s okay. I know this has to be.”

But Joshua knew she wasn’t okay with the Collaring when she looked down at the floor avoiding eye contact. He knew when he had been Collared it felt like having his freedom and life taken away from him.

Ethan came up behind her with the black crystal Collar in his hands. He met Joshua’s look over the top of her head.

“The Collar has been modified from what Turin created. It focuses in on the energy of the Wraith to subdue and suppress the creature should the need arise. If…” Ethan paused for a moment and Joshua could see the man was struggling with speaking his next words.

“If there’s any Sphinx left, it won’t be affected. I promise. I’ll try and make this as quick as possible but I can’t promise there won’t be some discomfort.”

Alexandria nodded still staring at the floor. Joshua wanted her to look up at him, if only for a moment, so he knew she was going to be okay. She didn’t, though, and remained silent chewing on her bottom lip.

Lifting the Collar above her head, Ethan brought it around and encircled black crystals around her neck. When the Collar settled against her throat and he went to fasten it under her hair, she struggled against Hunter and Raven for a moment. Joshua heard a combination of infuriated hiss and shriek come from Alexandria and when she looked up he could tell she was both sad and pissed, but she showed no fear. His impulse was to attack all three of the Warriors, but with a determination he didn’t realize he even had, he remained in place. If Lexi could take it, then so would he.

Once the Collar was locked in place, Ethan removed a small remote control from his pocket. “Alexandria, I have to activate it. I worked to remove as much of the pain causing activity as I could, 72

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but there was only so much I could do.”

Joshua staggered two steps forward before he could stop himself. They had to get this done or he was going to do something he regretted like ripping out one of his fellow Warriors’ throats.

“How in the fuck can you know that? Do your devices measure pain now?” He snarled sarcastically. Being a true ass to his friends wasn’t normally something he did, but he just couldn’t seem to control himself lately.

“Fuck, Joshua, you dick. This is hard enough on all of us as it is.

Ethan about fried himself testing the damn thing and then I fucking took over as the test lab rat. Now shut your shit up so we can get this done. Alexandria’s suffering enough.” Raven ground out at him.

Suddenly seeing the marks on Ethan and Raven’s necks really made him feel like the biggest asshole ever. But when it came to Alexandria he didn’t care if he looked that way. She was first above all others. Locking his jaw firmly in place, he wouldn’t say anything else until the shit was done. He just prayed to the Ancients the activation was quick.

Ethan brought the remote up near the Collar and pushed one of the buttons. The black Collar made an ominous clicking and zapping sound. The moment the Collar aligned with Alexandria’s energy and the signature of her internal Wraith, Joshua knew. He knew by the way her body stiffened and she gasped from the pain the activating Collar induced, but even more, he felt something within his own body react. He couldn’t explain it, but he knew he had to touch her now.

Shooting across the small distance separating him from her, he grabbed her out of Raven and Hunter’s hold. For the few seconds it took for the cycling of the Collar to complete and her body to stop spasming, he held on to her tightly and growled at the three Warriors. His expression alone would have kept death at bay, but even more so, his Life Power swirled ominously around Alexandria and his body. The blue energy was making its appearance again and all he could do was hold on to her and what little control he had left.

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The few seconds seemed like years to him, but finally the cycling ended and her body collapsed in his arms. Her breathing was labored in his ears but her heart rate beating so hard against him was slowing down. Joshua’s Life Power began to ramp down too, the blue returning to a sparkling white and gold. The energy settled back into his overheated body and he shuddered with the after affects. His own suffering was going to begin later since he really didn’t have the strength to sustain what he had just done.

“I thought you said you had adjusted the fucking Collar to cause less pain,” he aimed sarcastically straight at Ethan.

Joshua felt bad when Ethan visibly flinched and shot back, “I did. You should have felt it before.” Ethan stood there for a moment and then turned his back on the group. “Whatever, I’ll see you in the planning room.” He stalked out of medical slamming the doors behind him.

Hunter rubbed at his own throat while scowling at Joshua.

“Damn it, Joshua. Ethan feels bad enough as it is. You think he wanted to do this? He really had no choice being the only one with the skills to pull this off without doing damage to Alexandria.

Especially with the Wraith genetics in her. Who really knew what it could have done to her?”

Brushing his hand through Alexandria’s hair for a moment, Joshua realized he had to relent. Hunter was right. What happened wasn’t anyone’s fault here in the complex. All the blame rested on Turin. The man would die and preferably by his hand. “I know. I’m sorry. And yes, I need to apologize to Ethan. He did what needed to be done and I’m an ass, as usual.” Sighing he smoothed his hand over to the side of Alexandria’s cheek and pushed her face up so he could see how she was doing. She was so quiet but at least her eyes were back to her mesmerizing dark blue.

It was hard to tell exactly where his Lexi was. So many expressions crossed her beautiful features in such a small amount of time. She looked relieved, upset, confused, and a bit pissed at the same time. He tentatively asked, “How are you doing?”

“As good as expected, I suppose.” When Alexandria didn’t completely meet his eyes, his worry skyrocketed again.

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He wanted her to elaborate a bit more, but Michael interrupted his thoughts through the Link again. Any time, Joshua. Yes, Khenti was going to give him an earful, he was sure, for delaying the inevitable. “We have to go see, Khenti Michael.”

Alexandria pushed away from him and the loss of contact left him feeling bereft and alone. Stubbornness was written all over the way she stood, the way she crossed her arms, and the stiffening of her back. “Yeah, let’s go see my brother. There’s no more putting this off.”

She turned away from him to go with the other two Warriors, but Joshua wasn’t going to have attitude from her. Before they could touch her, he growled out, “She’s mine…my responsibility.

I’ll do it.” Before Alexandria could respond to his words or his actions, he grabbed her hand and hurried her out of the cell with Hunter and Raven following in silence.

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Chapter Five

Alexandria was relieved Joshua had forced the issue in escorting her to the planning room. She had been split on allowing him to continue on without rest. The pain and despair from being Collared was nothing compared to the pain and despair of not being able to heal his body. The genetic changes Turin had introduced into her had not only changed her but the way she could manipulate her Life Power. Even though her ability had been weakening, she could still heal in the past at times when her strength was up. Now, her ability was hit and miss and just plain dangerous to try and heal anyone. As soon as she touched their Life Power, she had the overwhelming urge to draw the energy from them.

Still, her emotions were on a roller coaster, and she needed him near her. His very presence gave her the will to continue when all seemed lost. Only he would be able to intervene if she tried to attack her brother again. The suppression seemed to be working fairly well, but the Wraith still made itself known in the back of her mind with its hissed demand for Power. Any Power and the creature’s strong desire to destroy her brother. She bit down on her lip concentrating on the discomfort versus her morose thoughts.

“Lexi, can you make it? You’re shaking like a leaf.” Joshua pulled her into the elevator with him when the doors opened. He crowded her away from the other two Warriors into one of the far corners of the elevator. She breathed a sigh of semi-contentment when he drew her in close.

Picking at the scrub shirt he still wore, she took a deep breath.

“I have to make it. All I can think of is the damage I could have done to my brother. I’m nervous being in the same room with him.” Especially with the Wraith still pacing at the back of her mind.

Leaning around Joshua, who was trying to block her from the 76

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Warrior’s view, she looked directly at Hunter who held the remote.

Ethan had palmed it to him right before he had stormed off.

“I expect you to use the Collar on me if there is any hint I will hurt him. Don’t trust me Hunter.” Alexandria insisted over Joshua’s growl. “No, listen to me. As long as this thing is a part of me, you can’t trust me. I’d rather be dead than ever harm anyone again. Please”

Joshua tensed against her. He had her in such a tight embrace she could feel every movement of his strong muscles. Every time she shifted, he would move with her. She loved the way he protected her, but in this case, he might have to make a decision between protecting her and protecting his Khenti. Alexandria desired nothing more than having him near her, but the complications just kept mounting.

The precious moments in his arms passed too quickly.

Alexandria drew in a deep breath to fortify her courage as the elevator doors opened on the eighth level where the planning room was. Joshua finally eased up enough in his hovering to lead her out, but he kept a tight hold on her hand. He still maneuvered her away from the other Warriors as if she was claimed by him, but as much as she wanted to be his Mate, Joshua had kept their relationship to the level of just friends.

Rubbing at her temple, she tried to calm down. The Wraith was clawing at her mind, demanding Life Power, and happily hissing it would soon be near its target. “Stop it,” she hissed halting just outside the door to their destination. Joshua turned to her. He cupped her chin so she had to meet his concerned bluish silver eyes.

“Alexandria, you don’t have to do this right now. I can talk to Michael. Postpone the discussion.”

“You mean the interrogation,” she stated stubbornly. Being the sister of the Khenti of Warriors wouldn’t get her out of an intense questioning session, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She would have to fight the Wraith inside her for the information, but she knew she could get to it. “No postponement. I want to do this.

The answers might help to destroy the Wraith. Just promise me, 77

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you won’t let me do anything to Michael. Please.”

Joshua leaned down kissing her forehead. “I promise, Lexi.” His lips were so warm and his Power swirled out for just a moment surrounding her before fading out. When he pulled back, she could see the dark circles under his eyes forming and she couldn’t believe he was still standing. She had to convince her brother to let her go back to medical and work on finding a way to repair her inner Sphinx if there was enough left within her. The research for a way to fix herself might be the only way to get her abilities back to a normal level without the threat of the Wraith taking over them. She couldn’t lose Joshua.

She took a deep breath and squeezed his hand. “Let’s do this then.”

Joshua opened the door and led her into the room of Warriors.

She thanked the Ancients Michael hadn’t had the Guardians Elite present. Their condemning expressions of what she had done to Guardian Arik would burn into her and she didn’t think she could take it.

Scanning the room as Joshua led her in, she saw Ethan up at the rosewood war-planning desk. He was ignoring everyone and focused on the surveillance equipment he was trying to repair.

Michael had done quite the job of short circuiting the equipment when he had evidently lost control and fried a large portion of computers and monitors. Things were getting bad when he couldn’t control his Power even with a Power Mate, which struck Alexandria as odd. Where was Stormy? She was never far from Michael’s side.

On the walls were burned out monitors, on the floor and desktop were computers with the insides torn out of them scattered here and there, and other electronic equipment she couldn’t name. Ethan was doing his best scrambling to combine any parts that were still working to get the system back up. Even stressed out as he had to be, he was still bringing everything back together in an incredibly efficient manner. Two of the monitors were actually up and starting to show graphs, charts, and other information. The progress was a good sign in the midst of so much 78

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destruction.

The rest of the Warriors were sprawled around the room in the brown leather couches and chairs. Caleb was sitting in the chair to her right, checking his supplies again on his hand held and Jacob was sprawled on the couch with Eleina. Eleina mouthed” hi” to her and gave her a friendly smile. At least someone wasn’t afraid of her, not completely. Hunter and Raven maneuvered around her and Joshua and planted themselves in two of the empty chairs.

Raven no sooner sat down than he had a flask pulled out of his pocket and up to his lips. Every one of them seemed to be warily watching her every move. It hurt to see the distrust, but at the same time, she was glad of it. It meant they would bring her down if the inner Wraith took over.

Joshua led her to the center leather chair which faced Michael.

She couldn’t remember how many times she had seen Joshua sit in this very chair. Tentatively, she sat down and when Joshua finally let go of her hand she crossed her arms in front of her. She shivered without his contact and wished he would continue touching her. He didn’t go far though, positioning himself by her side like her own personal guard.

Alexandria sat in the chair for a moment, stubbornly staring at the floor. All she wanted to do was go to her room and try to make sense of her life again. Most of all, she wanted just to spend time with Joshua and hope he would hold her again and make all of this go away. But she knew it wasn’t going to happen. In the end, she looked up to see what kind of condemnation would be in her brother’s eyes.

What she saw wasn’t what she had expected. Instead, so much sadness and regret emanated from him. He looked almost exhausted as Joshua with dark circles forming around his eyes too.

In fact, all of the Warriors seemed more tired than usual. Had they done this to themselves searching for her? By the Ancients, what had she caused? Her weaknesses from her attempt to help the Warriors as a young girl had kept Joshua chained to her side for all those years and then without the strength to fight back by herself, Turin had been able to take her. She thought the Warriors 79

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would have been better off destroying her. She felt like her heart was breaking and tears came to her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Michael.”

She whispered.

He took a halting step toward her as if to comfort her but stopped up short. Alexandria watched while he clenched his jaw and stepped back from her. Thickly he said, “I know, sis. I wish we could have prevented all of this.” He looked away from her and she knew the conflict in him had to be tearing him apart. A Wraith in his sister’s image. How could he love someone like her? There was no way he could because he had to think of his people and the defense against the Wraith.

Michael just stood there for a moment clenching his fists. He crossed his arms across his chest and a muscle ticked in his jaw.

Her brother was conflicted and all she could do was wait in nail biting anticipation as to her fate. Finally, he said, “You know why you’re here?”

“Y…Yes,” She stuttered. “You must know the truth.” Everything in her wanted to tell him the truth too. But the inner Wraith, yes the Wraith would try and stop her. Even suppressed, the creature still was a part of her. Which meant the Wraith would try to make her lie, avoid revealing secrets she only half remembered at times.

There was only one way they would be able to make sure she wouldn’t lie and Raven was the tool. She shivered knowing this could be painful. As if she hadn’t gone through enough pain as it was.

Alexandria felt a strong hand on her shoulder. Joshua ever beside her was trying to give her comfort. “Michael, let her try and answer the questions before we resort to Raven. She can do this.

Alexandria is strong. You know this.”

“I wish we could be sure. I would do anything not to have to resort to this.” Michael ran his hands over his face and up through his hair. He looked at Alexandria and she could tell he was pleading with her to understand.

“It’s okay. I understand and agree.” When she felt Joshua hover closer to her and his hand tighten on her shoulder, she reached back and placed her hand on his. She looked up at him. The fury 80

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written across his features didn’t bode well for anyone. “Please, Joshua, you need the information. I can do this.”

He growled ominously staring down the other Warriors and his hand began to shake on her shoulder. Alexandria hoped he was going to be okay. He didn’t have the energy to be taking on any of the other Warriors. The fury in him didn’t diminish but finally he let go of her and backed up a few feet. “If anything happens to her after all she has gone through, there’ll be hell to pay on everyone’s heads.”

Raven took a big swig from his flask, twirled the cap back on, and shoved it back in his pocket. He sighed heavily and stood up moving over to Alexandria. She gripped the leather arms of the chair in a death grip. This wouldn’t be easy but she was determined to do it. Raven could monitor to see if the answer was the truth, bring the truth to the surface, or rip it from a person if necessary. Truth Finder was his special gift. She prayed it would not be necessary.

As Raven passed Eleina, she reached out and grabbed his hand.

“Raven, give her the chance to answer first. You know her even if she has that thing in her.”

Pausing for a moment, Raven just stood there looking lost in his thoughts. Alexandria knew he hated to do this. Every time he did, the use of his ability was a drain on him and tore him up just as much as the person he helped get the truth out of. Nodding, he continued over to her.

Positioning himself where Joshua had just been, Raven placed both of his hands on her shoulders. Alexandria’s heart rate started to climb and her muscles tensed under his hands. She jumped when his Power tingled along her skin and into her nervous system. She could feel the energy move through her spinal column and up to the base of her brain. Raven locked into the rhythm of her brain waves and when he made contact with the Wraith side of her, the creature screamed in her mind. She shook her head back and forth trying to make the beast stop. She had to get control of it to get to the information they needed without Raven having to fry her brain.

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Joshua growled again. She couldn’t see him, but she could hear his advance to attack Raven. He didn’t make it very far when Hunter and Jacob grabbed him slamming him one of the seats near her and holding him down.

“Stop, I’ve got this. I can do this. Just give me a moment.”

Alexandria cried breathlessly.

The last thing she needed to make her day was having Joshua locked up or beaten down because of her. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on the stand-off with her inner beast butting heads with it. Since the creature was partially suppressed anyway it made it less difficult to weave her energy around the Wraith side of her psyche, effectively chaining it down. Eventually, she was able to subdue it, although not without a lot of effort and concentration. She was sweating profusely by the time she had managed the task. She shook like a leaf, but she was prepared to move on with the questioning.

“She’s ready. Get the damn questions over with.” Raven answered from above her. Obviously, he wasn’t pleased with having to be a part of the interrogation and ready to get the process over with too.

Michael stepped closer and squatted down before her, his arms on his knees for balance. “Alexandria start from the beginning and tell us about the abduction.”

Swallowing, Alexandria waited a moment, but there was no negative feedback from the Wraith by the request. “I was working in medical on some patient testing, and suddenly there was a crash at the main doors. The next thing I knew, I was grabbed by a Wraith and it subdued me. The Wraith took just enough Life Power so I couldn’t reflex my Element or fight it off. After that, all I could do was hang there off its shoulder. The Wraith took me to the Gate and dragged me to the other side. To the Drake Dimension and the Wraith stronghold.”

She shivered feeling Raven’s energy move within her searching for anything else from that night. She flinched when Raven touched the dark side of her mentality, which instantly resisted giving up any more information. Joshua cursed and tried to push 82

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off Hunter and Jacob to get to her.

“Alexandria I need you to get the information from that thing in you or I’m going to have to resort to my more persuasive abilities.”

Raven demanded. “And I don’t want to do that to you.”

“Give me a moment, damn it.” The Wraith hovered over the truth for a moment, but Alexandria slammed it with her own Power until the creature whined in her mind. It was strange having a part of her that was seemingly separate but her at the same time. She could inflict damage to it, but at the same time was causing damage to herself. A wave of pain hit her in the gut, and she gasped but was rewarded with the Wraith backing off.

“The Wraith that abducted me wasn’t the same as the others. It had features that were more humanoid than the other Wraith and the Wraith was much more intelligent. It seemed to be operating on its own and with distinct direction.” Suddenly shocked, she stared at Michael and was sure her mouth was hanging open. “It’s not just me he altered. He’s genetically altering the other Wraith to make them smarter, more dangerous to us. By the Ancients, he’s altering them with Sphinx DNA.”

“Fuck!” “Son of a bitch.” “By the Ancients.” The expletives exploded around the room. Until Michael roared, “Enough!”

He focused back on Alexandria and she swallowed. He was livid and his Power swirled around the room for a moment.

“So he’s using his chemistry set again and making the enemy stronger and more dangerous to destroy us. To that end, he altered you. Why Alexandria? What was your purpose?” Michael’s expression filled with sadness and he reached out as if he was going to touch her. However, he snatched his hand back when she suddenly hissed at him and leaned forward. Raven yanked her back and squeezed her shoulders hard holding her in place.

Appalled, Alexandria slapped her hand over mouth for a moment. The Wraith had jumped in her mind trying to take control when Michael had gotten closer to her. If it was not for the fact the dark side of her was suppressed and Raven had a good hold on her, she would have attacked Michael, she was sure.

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with a renewed death grip.

“I’m so sorry Michael.” She wanted to break down, but she didn’t have time. Raven only had so much patience and he would find the truth himself. Taking a deep breath, she attacked the Wraith’s secrets within her with a renewed vengeance. She was sure she would pay later. It fought her tooth and nail and by the time she had broken loose the information, she was soaked in her own sweat, shaking, and feeling light headed.

“Turin knew I could take the Power and change it. I used the Life Power to heal, but he thought it could be used for other things. One of the side effects of the alteration was I could take the energy of the Gate and change it so when the Gate should be in a closed, inactivated mode, it would be open.”

“Holy crap, dude.” Ethan chimed in from his furious typing at his terminal. “You were the one causing the Gates to open up when they shouldn’t have been. Making us run our asses off back and forth to battles that shouldn’t have been happening.”

Alexandria nodded. “Yes.” She bit her lip not wanting to reveal the second half of her purpose for being there. She clasped her hands in her lap twisting them nervously. She so didn’t want to go into this part, but she dove in anyway. “My secondary mission as you already know was to…umm…” she glanced up to watch Michael’s expression to the rest of her revelation, “take out the Khenti as soon as possible. My Wraith was a little too well trained and went for the goal before we were truly ready. And the rest on that side you know.”

Michael stood up and turned away from her running his hands through his dark black hair, leaving it tangled and awry. When he neared the desk, he slammed his fist into the top of it. Ethan jumped up from behind his computers, clearly getting pissed.

“Khenti, dude, you’re making it difficult here. You want these up or what?”

“Fuck!” Slowly Michael turned back toward her and pinned her with a stare. “Alexandria, you’ve given us a lot of information, but I suspect as easy as that all was, there has to be more. What is the Wraith hiding from you that Turin may have inadvertently 84

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revealed to you?”

Confused, all she could do was look at Michael. She didn’t know what he was talking about. The knowledge she had revealed had been difficult enough, and she was glad Raven hadn’t had to do anything to her. Still, she felt his presence and the tingling of his energy as he seemed to be probing in the depths of her mind. He must suspect something and was communicating with Michael through the Warrior’s Link.

“I don’t know, Michael. I swear.” She shivered dreading what she was about to allow. Closing her eyes, she swallowed and blurted out. “We have to be sure. Raven you have to do it.”

“No!” Joshua exploded up from the seat. Hunter and Jacob barely got a hold of him before he would probably have attacked Raven. He fought them tooth and nail, struggling violently against their grip, but in his weakened condition, he couldn’t fight them off. Alexandria shook her head at him frantically. “Joshua, stop, please. This has to be done.” Looking over her shoulder she demanded of Raven, “Now, you have to do this now.”

Raven nodded at her. She could tell he wasn’t happy about having to use his Truth Finder abilities on her, but he seemed to understand. His grip tightened on her and all she had was time to take a deep breath before he pushed his Power into her system.

Her body went rigid with the sharp energy charging through her brain looking for the hidden information.

There were things she didn’t want to share with anyone, emotions which had been hidden for so long, feelings, and sacrifices she had made for the Warriors. But even through the shredding mental agony and her own vicious internal attack against the Wraith part of herself, she knew Raven would take her secrets to the grave. He might rip out the answers to the questions asked, but he wouldn’t reveal the others he saw. It was just who he was and probably why he was so tortured all the time.

The Wraith inside her screeched and fought against both of them but Raven kept the pressure on digging deep for the information the dark side of her was hiding. Alexandria struggled, 85

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twisting and clawing at the chair, but she wouldn’t fight Raven off instead fighting with him. Each blow to the inner Wraith did damage to her but in the end she was rewarded with the truth. The blinding truth of the secret Turin didn’t want revealed to anyone.

“Stop! Stop, Raven. I know. See that I know.” She cried. For a moment, she wasn’t sure if he was able to hear her because he was so caught up in the raging memories and information which were bombarding him. A command from Michael and the promise of death from Joshua had him snatching his hands away from her.

Trying to catch her breath, Alexandria shifted in her chair to see if Raven was alright. He had his hands held to his head, his face pale and anguished. It took him a moment but his expression cleared and became sullen and withdrawn. He yanked the flask from his pocket and took a huge swig. “Don’t ever ask me to do that again. She can tell you what we found.” Turning on his heel, he stalked from the room slamming the door behind him so hard it shook the frame.

“Let me the fuck go, you assholes.” Joshua was finally released and he immediately came to her. Alexandria just sat there in her bone deep weariness while Joshua ran his hands over her checking to make sure she was okay. When he appeared satisfied she was relatively unharmed, he stayed squatted down beside her and held her hand. He turned and scowled back at Michael.

“Reel your aggression in Warrior and direct it at the Wraith.

You know this had to be done.” Michael looked at her expectantly and Alexandria was more than ready to reveal what she had found.

Running her hand not captured in Joshua’s grip across the leather arm in nervousness, she almost jumped up from the chair when she realized what she had done. She found during Raven’s manipulations she had gouged up the chair while she was struggling. “By the Ancients, I am dangerous.”

Michael’s clearing of his throat brought her back to the need to reveal what she had found. “I know now what I had briefly seen during Turin’s dragging me back and forth for his genetic experiments. For some reason the Wraith took me a different direction than before one night and we ended up passing through 86

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some type of archives area. Smack in the middle of the room inside an enclosed book pedestal was a page from the Pages of Seven. I’m pretty sure it was the Fifth page.”

Caleb had been silent the whole time of the interrogation but suddenly he spoke up, “That’s impossible. Guardian Arik told me the Fifth page had been destroyed in a fire.” Everyone stared at him in the room. Even Alexandria hadn’t heard about that. He squirmed under the stares and blurted out, “What? You didn’t know about the incident?”

Joshua scowled, “Evidently not. Another piece of information the Guardians needed to share.” Alexandria reached over and smoothed her fingers across the corner of his mouth. She couldn’t help it, she was tired of not being able to see Joshua’s smile and the dimple which formed that made her heart beat faster.

Alexandria continued in her description, “The page did look singed on the edges, if I remember correctly. I wasn’t exactly in my right mind at the time, but the page did have gold scribing on the edges and Power Signatures of the Priestesses on it. Also, I don’t think it was a complete page.”

Silence filled the room while everyone digested her revelation for a moment. Michael began pacing back and forth rubbing the back of his neck. “We need to get the page back. I don’t know how but it’s part of the key to destroying the Gate and any future Gates.” He paused in his pacing and Alexandria recognized a look she had seen cross her brother’s face before. A look which would cause grief in the long run if he acted on his own. “I need to think on this,” was all he said, but she knew there was more.

Before she could engage him, though, one of Ethan’s alarms started going off. The loud siren vibrated through her skull aggravating her already unbalanced condition. Her skin prickled with the sensation of dark energy as it spread through the complex. She knew what the implications were as the Dimensional Gate’s presence became known heralding the approach of an opening. Not a good sign for the already weak Warriors, but the evil part of her shrieked in glee welcoming the chance of escape.

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Sefu Elements. Their Power would be flowing to the bracelet form readying it to reflex into their Power Swords. Joshua jerked to his feet as well pulling her up with him and drawing her close to his side. Her own hand twitched with the energy ramping up in her body and flowing to her Element but she didn’t dare reflex.

Michael was too near and she didn’t trust the Wraith wouldn’t take over and attack him.

Michael glanced at her for a moment as if he could read her thoughts but then turned to Ethan. “How soon?”

“Ten minutes tops, dudes. I have enough monitoring equipment up the time estimation should be about 95% accurate. According to the readings, this is the real thing. Not manipulated by anything. Not sure how long the Gate will stay open.” Ethan tapped furiously at one of the remaining functioning keyboards.

Alexandria started shaking violently. She could hear the Gate calling to her dark side. Whispering promises if she would only come back to her Wraith brethren. The inner Wraith shrieked within her trying to surface and take control of her. She shook her head back and forth and pressed against the sides of her head to make the sounds and sensations stop.

Joshua grabbed her hands pulling them away from her head and brought them to his chest. He threaded his fingers through hers and didn’t let go even when she tried to pull away from him.

She didn’t want to end up hurting him or drawing Power from him which he didn’t have to spare.

“What is it Alexandria? Talk to me. Please.” She could hear the worry in his voice.

A pressure started in her chest and bubbled up into her throat.

A low hissing growl escaped for a moment before she choked it back. Coughing violently, she fought to control the sounds. When she finally spoke, the duality in her voice could be heard. Part her voice, part a deep hissing overtone which completely unnerved her but she had to let them know they were more out of time than they thought.

“Five minutes.” The duality was still there. Alexandria swallowed hard, pushing down with all her might against the 88

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darker side of her genetics. “Five minutes is the most that you have. The inner Wraith knows the Gate is going to open by then.

You have to hurry or you’ll be too late.”

“Fuck!” Khenti Michael blew up, his frustration obvious to Alexandria. He froze in place a moment, his expression one of concentration. She could tell he was broadcasting hard across the Warrior’s Link. After a second, his expression cleared and he continued his directives out loud, “Listen up, Warriors. We obviously don’t have time for a Transference with Stormy, so we’re going to have to make this quick and dirty and hope the Gate will stay open for only a short time. Raven is already with the Guardians Elite, drinking no doubt, but will lead them down to the staging cavern. The rest of you head down and gear up. Eleina, get with Jenny and get the medical team down to the trauma cell as soon as possible.”

The reaction from everyone in the room was immediate.

Warriors quickly filed out, including Eleina who was side by side with her Power Mate, Jacob. Alexandria thought they all looked tired and hoped the battle wouldn’t be long. Somehow, she knew from the feedback within her from her dark side that the battle probably wouldn’t last long since the Gate wouldn’t be stable enough to stay open for an extended amount of time.

Michael stepped closer to Joshua and Alexandria, “I’m sorry, Joshua, but I need you to get us set with the updated weapons you’ve been working on for the Elite. We’re out of sorts right now and need them even if the adjustments aren’t completely ready.”

Alexandria was sure Joshua was going to blow at the directive.

His eyes narrowed, the grip on her hands tightened painfully, and the Life Power he did have swirled within him violently. She had never seen him so aggressive towards his leader. Always the supportive second in command, this new side showing in her lifelong protector was un-nerving. “I won’t leave Alexandria. She needs me and I don’t trust anyone else to watch her,” Joshua growled.

“You’ll leave her, Warrior. You have duties to your brothers in arms, to the Elite, and everyone else who would be affected by 89

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your choices. I know you have protected my sister for years and I respect you for your actions. But now isn’t the time! Now get a fucking grip!”

Michael’s fury as leader was something to behold. Alexandria knew her brother was powerful, but he loved all of his Warriors and for him to have to verbally chastise Joshua in this way had to be tearing him up.

“Warren will watch her and already has possession of the remote for her Collar. And before you have a fit over the fact, know Warren has been nothing but professional and caring with her even though he was permanently damaged by several Wraith.

Remember this Joshua, I wouldn’t lightly give my sister’s care over to anyone.”

“Josh.” Alexandria called to him. Called to the man who meant everything to her. She didn’t want him becoming a weak link in the chain of Warriors because of her. “He’s right. Warren is the perfect choice. He won’t pause in containing me if something happens. No one else here can say that. Not Michael, not the Warriors, not Stormy or Eleina, and especially not you. Don’t you see, I’m your weakness. You need to let me go and be the second in command who you were meant to be.”

Watching Joshua, she hoped she had gotten through to him.

She couldn’t take it if she was the cause of his continued attitude toward his leader. He seemed lost in his inner conflict and the fact his Life Power was continuing to degrade within him wasn’t helping the situation. He was running out of time and she had to find a way to help him.

Finally, he calmed a bit, his energy level spinning back down, and he loosened his grip. He let go of her hands and brushed a loose strand of hair back behind her ear. For a moment, he just stood there looking at her, but finally he murmured, “I apologize, Khenti, for my behavior. I’m afraid I haven’t been myself lately.”

Joshua ran a hand over his eyes and sighed heavily. “But know this. If anything else happens to her, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

“Be safe, Alexandria.” Joshua turned to Warren fixing him with 90

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a penetrating stare. “Make sure you take care of her, Guardian.”

With that, he stormed from the room with heavy footsteps.

Alexandria watched him go and then turned to Michael. She started to reach out to him needing to be hugged by her older brother, but realizing what she was doing, snatched her hands back. She took several steps back checking to see if Warren was going to consider zapping her. He seemed to be only watching her closely at the moment, though.

“Sis, I’m so sorry this has happened to you. If I could have stopped it…” Michael took a step toward her obviously torn with needing to touch her and not being able to. “Damn it. Listen. I appreciate Joshua has always been your protector, but with everything that has happened and his unpredictable behavior and control of his Powers it may be a good idea to put space between you and him.” Alexandria started to argue but he interrupted her,

“I know you care for him and want him near but until we can get a grip on some of the crap going on around here staying away from him might be for the best.”

She didn’t want to reveal the secret she had kept about Joshua but she could see there was no choice and the time had come to confess. “Michael, I do care for him. I…I love him.” Alexandria bit her lip in nervousness but her brother only nodded his head.

“I thought that was the case. He’s a good man. But he needs to focus on his duties. You can see that, right?” Again, her brother was torn, but this time he wouldn’t have to make the difficult choice on the matter. The choice was already made through Joshua’s weakening body.

“You don’t understand Michael. If you keep Joshua away from me, he’ll die. He’s…he’s dionic.” Alexandria waited for the explosion from her brother she knew was coming.

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The wait didn’t take long, but his reaction didn’t manifest as she had expected. Michael’s face went pale as a sheet when the revelation she made sank its teeth in. He staggered backwards and sank into the nearest chair, “That’s impossible. No one has lived from the condition past adolescence. And even if there was the slightest possibility of living a long life, there would be no way he could have become a Warrior with that kind of weakness. If in fact he was dionic, he would have known. We would have all known.

Wouldn’t we?” He sat there a moment, running his hands through his hair while he processed the next revelation. Slowly, his confusion cleared and Alexandria could see the wheels turning in his head. “Alexandria, explain this to me. Now.”

Biting her lip, she had to dive in. The secret was revealed now.

“Well, he always hung around me trying to be the other big brother. He always wanted to be a Warrior. Being a Warrior was his greatest goal and I think he thought if he watched over me it would be a way to get closer to all of us. You know how different he was in those days, a little slower, a little weaker. Everyone thought his Life Power and skills were just manifesting slower than everyone else’s. But I knew differently. Even back then, I could see the broken energy rhythms of injuries and sickness. I didn’t know what the actual problem was then but I could tell he wasn’t processing the Life Power he could draw from the living things around him like the others. I could tell eventually the difference would do harm to him building up like a diabetic human who couldn’t process sugar correctly.”

Crossing her arms across her chest, she shrugged when Michael scowled at her and continued anyway. “So, I gave into his overprotectiveness even when I didn’t really need it so he was always around me. He was always hovering, not that I minded.”

She gave Michael a rebellious smile. “Touching him was easy enough and that’s when I changed the dionic Power in him to the 92

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normal rhythm. Besides, his whole life was based on becoming a powerful Sphinx Warrior and you know damn well had anyone known about his condition, he would have been marked weak and rejected.”

Standing back up, Michael began to pace again. “Damn it, Alexandria. There are reasons for those rules. We are protectors. If we are weak, then we can’t protect our people and this world from the destructiveness of the Wraith. Now with you out of commission, what will happen to him? No one else can do what you do.” He stopped in front of her. “He has to be told.”

Alexandria quickly backed up a couple of steps. The inner Wraith was prowling too close to the surface with Michael, its target, so close.

Upset now, she cried back at him, “No! You can’t tell him. The truth would be too much of a shock to his system. And I don’t want him to be beholden to me. I want him to care for me because he wants to, not because he thinks he owes me his life. I couldn’t handle that. Not now, not ever.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, just breathing deeply and trying to calm herself. “I love him too much to let him think he owes me in that way,” she whispered.

“What do you want me to do then?” Michael’s voice cracked and he sounded defeated. “I can’t watch another one of my Warriors die. In the condition you’re in, can you even help him?”

Opening her eyes, she was determined to convince him of what she needed to do.

“First, please don’t tell anyone.” She glanced at Warren a second. “That includes you.” Rubbing at her forehead she continued, “Since he hovers anyway, I can try and convert some of the energy into its appropriate form.”

Michael’s expression told her he was doubtful. “Can you even work your healing ability in your current condition?”

“Umm. I’m not really sure. I think I started to change the energy earlier when I was in the cell, but the Wraith rears its ugly head sniffing around the Power. It might be I need a slightly higher suppression concentration so I can help Joshua long 93

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enough for me to do some research.”

“Alexandria, I don’t know that’s such a good idea. You running around right now. I’m sorry, sis.” He reached out to her, but stopped and looked at his hand in sadness. He dropped it to his side sighing deeply.

By the Ancients, she had to convince him or Joshua could very possibly die.

“Look, Warren can set my processing equipment up in the cell in medical. He’ll be there to watch me and I can still do the research. The experiments will be two-fold to try and fix me and to come up with a genetic venom which can destroy the unstable Sphinx DNA combination inserted into the Wraith that Turin created. Those Wraith are even more of a threat than the ordinary Wraith themselves.”

She waited for Michael’s answer. He seemed torn. She couldn’t even think straight from the thought of him not letting her do this.

If he said no, it could very well be the end of Joshua and of her.

She didn’t care about her life but her heart broke and her eyes watered at the possible loss of Josh.

“Please, Michael. Let me do this. Remember, I’m Collared.”

Michael appeared haunted, exhausted, almost broken to her.

He ran a hand through his already messed up hair. She thought she heard his jaw pop, he was tensing it so hard.

Finally, he said, “Alexandria, I see your reasoning even if it has a lot to do with your feelings for Joshua. Damn it, we all care for him. There has to be a way to save him. I agree to your conditions but Warren will be responsible for guarding you when Joshua isn’t there for you. Two, his condition won’t be revealed unless it starts causing complications beyond what already exist with him and his moods. It’s not like the rest of us are in any better shape. Third, you won’t try anything on yourself without consulting with Warren first. Understood?”

Thank the Ancients. Alexandria felt the stress lift just a little bit.

She was determined to find a fix for all of them. “Understood.” Her doctor mind-set kicked in with those particulars taken care of.

“Now, Michael, about you and the Warriors looking like hell.

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What’s going on? Is there a problem with the Power Transference, with Stormy?”

She suddenly knew from the closed off expression on Michael’s face she wasn’t going to get anywhere with the line of questioning.

Michael moved a fraction closer to her, his voice lowering. “I’m sorry, Alexandria, I can’t talk to you about Stormy right now. Not in your current condition. I hope you understand?”

Nodding, she mumbled, “I do. But if things come to a head, I hope you’ll at least consider accepting what help I can offer.”

“I will, sis.” Michael reached for her again and Alexandria felt the Wraith inside instantly focus in on his movements. Cursing under his breath, he must have picked up on it because he backed off again.

“Warren, take her up to her living quarters. The battle is underway and I need to be there,” Michael lowered his head and strode by her in silence. As he passed, she quietly wished him luck and to be safe. He did the same in return, keeping his distance.

Only after Michael left the planning room did Warren approach her. Even though he knew what she was now, he showed no fear and perhaps no common sense because he moved up within arm’s reach. Maybe the Guardian had a death wish. “Can I get you anything before we head up, Alexandria?”

“No. I think I’ve had enough of everything for the day.” She rubbed at her eyes and almost jumped a foot when Warren took her hand and checked her pulse. “Aren’t you afraid of me? Or at least wary?”

Seeming to be satisfied with his medical check, he sighed. “You have to understand. The Wraith already took everything away from me. In the one screwed up attack, they took my physical well-being, my ability to be a Guardian, and…and any hope of anyone wanting to be with me. So you see, what more could you do to me.”

Alexandria was appalled. If she could just get herself right, then perhaps she could help Warren in some way. His injuries were mostly healed and he wasn’t a Sphinx so the probability of being able to correct the damage was pretty slim. But she wanted to try anyway. “I’m sorry, Warren,” was all she could say. What more 95

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could she say to a man who had lost pretty much everything.

“Anyway, let’s get you up to your quarters. You better get a break while you can. We can set up your equipment tomorrow.”

Alexandria thought the plan for tomorrow sounded good, but right now her head was ringing and she was dead on her feet.

Leading the way with Warren following closely behind her, she made her way out of the planning room and over to the elevator bank. Warren reached past her and hit the button.

“Sorry. You’re access permissions with your fingerprint have been taken out of the system for now.”

“Yeah. Can’t have me running around sucking people dry of their Life Power. I understand.” She answered sarcastically. After she said it, she felt bad about unloading on Warren. But he seemed to understand. He simply shrugged.

Once both of them were on the elevator and he had hit the button to the Warriors’ quarters and cleared his fingerprint on the scanner, he turned to her.

“Listen. I know you’re one of the best at what you do. I have no doubt you’ll find the answer, Alexandria. I have faith in you.”

Before she could respond, they arrived at the Warriors’

quarters. The elevator doors slid open with a silent whoosh and she stepped out into the entryway of her home. A home she had been yanked from only a few weeks ago. It felt like forever since she had been here and at the same time strange to her. Her eyes even rebelled at the bright colors and light. The expanse of polished tiger’s eye marble flooring with its swirling patterns of silver flashed into her sensitive eyes. The carpets of dark gold, red, turquoise, and other bright Egyptian colors dug into her brain giving her a headache. Even the elaborate tapestries of nature, frolicking royalty, and Warriors depicted in battle made her dizzy and her stomach upset. The things she had so loved before didn’t seem to mean anything now.

Alexandria choked trying to hold back emotions which were ready to boil over. Everything was wrong with her, with her world, and with her relationships. How could she take this? Visibly, she was frozen in place and could only call out in her mind to Joshua.

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She had never Joined with him, though, so she knew there was no way he could hear her. The thought crushed her even more never having had his love returned to her.

When everything blurred behind her tears, Warren gripped her arm steadying her.

“Come on, Alexandria. Let’s get you upstairs.” Guiding her, Warren assisted her up the sweeping mahogany railed staircase without any incidence even though Alexandria could barely see anything. At the top, she paused before the golden Sphinx shining so brightly under its spotlight. She rested both of her hands on the head of the Sphinx. Joshua always touched the Sphinx as he passed it for luck.

He would touch the statue and look up at the ceiling above the stairs where an image of their ancient planet, Athenia, was depicted. Her eyes hurt too much from the bright colors to look up at it but she knew the planet was arranged in a huge inset of stained glass with a background universe and starlight sparkling here and there around it. Large planets of multiple hues of gold, silver, and purple colors played among the stars with golden rays branching out from their edges. Lighter golden shooting stars with trailing tails finished the image as they played around the beautiful light blue world of Athenia. The planet had been extraordinary until it was destroyed so long ago by the Wraith.

Alexandria removed her hands from the Sphinx. There was no comfort there for her now. Her inner Sphinx was gone, destroyed, and all she had left now was a cold presence waiting to destroy the ones she loved. Cursing under her breath, she turned to the left from the stairs and could see enough now to storm down the hallway until she reached the next to last door. She didn’t even bother to see if Warren followed or not. Pausing with her hand on the knob, she looked at the last door. Joshua’s room. Even in his protector mode, he had situated himself right next to her. The Warrior who had only been on the other side of her room wall and she still couldn’t jump him all these years.

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protect her. Jerking open the door, she shoved her way into her room and slammed the door behind her. The overhead lights snapped on upon her entry and immediately her vision began to blur again. The colors which surrounded her felt like they were digging into her eyes.

Her Sphinx self had loved the silks and satins in purples, pinks, turquoises, gold, silvers, and so many other colors which overwhelmed her darker self now. Pillows of the glowing colors were scattered on the canopied four-poster bed made of gold filigree. Even the chairs and dressers were made of the shiny gold and covered with more satins and silks, more eye burning colors.

She rubbed at her eyes. “No wonder Joshua hated coming in this room.”

Commanding the lights to dim to almost nothing, she dragged her tired body over to the bed and collapsed on it. Alexandria lay on her back in the middle of the bed and threw an arm over her eyes. They still burned and every muscle twitched in her body from the dark sticky energy which flowed over everything from the Dimensional Gates activity. Focusing on evening her breathing, she tried to slip into the oblivion of sleep.

The closest she could come was just skating the boundary between wakefulness and dreams. Dreams which turned to nightmares. Alexandria would never have thought she could see through Joshua’s eyes because she had never Joined with him, but somehow in the semi-conscious state the battle in the staging cavern played out in her mind.

The swirling blood red and silver Gate spun dizzyingly in the center of the Cavern with black-eyed Wraith escaping in never-ending numbers. The long snouted jaws of the creatures with razor sharp teeth snapped at their competition while they drooled in anticipation of the first contact with someone so they could suck the Life Power out of them. Their clawed hands and the occasional weapons they carried slashed at Power Sword wielding Warriors.

Among them was her Joshua, brandishing his incredible silver Sword with its intricate silver scrolling on the Sword blade and the crystalline inner section glowing in the dim light. His overhead 98

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swings and thrusts were breathtaking as his sleek muscles flexed under his tan skin. The fury against his enemy showed in every slice and kill he could inflict on the Wraith. And when the numbers seemed to be overwhelming, a dangerous death look entered his expression. Anyone with any sense would have run the other direction, but Wraith had no sense.

Alexandria could see him stand his ground, his legs braced and his Sword thrust out in front of him. A wicked smile curved his lips promising retribution and then the Life Power within him began to glow blue. A blue she instantly recognized as the dionic form of his Life Power which would ultimately kill him.

She struggled to emerge from her dreamlike state but Joshua mesmerized her and she just couldn’t surface back to her physical body. The energy within him flowed out from his Life Force and out through his arms. His hands began to glow and the Wolf Tracks on his Sword fired up with blue light. The glowing blue spread down the pommel, grip, and guard of the hilt he gripped so tightly and then quickly through the blade to the very tip. A true weapon of destruction.

Right before Joshua let loose with his Power, Alexandria heard the command from the evil Wraith leader Turin echo in her brain.

Alexandria destroy the Warriors and come back to us. You know where the weak link is. Joshua’s Power exploded from his Power Sword and she heard his grunt of pain.

“No!” she screamed, shooting up and out of the bed. No sooner had she gained her balance then the door to her room slammed inward.

“What the fuck? Alexandria! Lights on, damn it.” Warren’s half angry, half panicked voice shouted into the room. Instantly the blinding lights snapped on and Alexandria had to shade her eyes with her hand from being blinded again.

She knew she had to be a sight trying to catch her balance, shading her eyes, and she assumed with hysteria written all over her face. Her hair was loose and in disarray around her making her look like a crazed witch she was sure. Warren didn’t look much better in his aggressive stance trying to scan the entire room at 99

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once. He leaned in the doorframe and appeared to have been caught snoozing since he looked a bit confused. In his good hand, he held the remote aiming it randomly around the room until he focused in on her and then aimed the controller directly at her.

Alexandria held her breath not moving an inch. One touch of the button and she would be on the floor in agony. She didn’t think she could take the abuse right now. A strange hissing shriek escaped her as the Wraith in her surfaced way too efficiently sensing it was in danger of being zapped. “Warren, what time is it?” She croaked after cutting off the Wraith sound with effort, her throat dry.

Warren cleared his throat and lowered the remote. “It’s almost midnight. I’m sorry, you screamed, and I didn’t know what to think since it’s about time for your injection. We may not be able to wait for Joshua to come give it to you.”

Rubbing at her forehead, Alexandria tried to push the Wraith back down, but the creature kept screaming for Life Power and screaming for freedom. The creature’s opportunity to escape was almost gone.

“The Gate is destabilizing and will be closing soon, but no, Joshua won’t get here in time. I wish I could go to him, I thought I saw him in trouble…I think. I don’t know. Everything’s so screwed up in my head.” She shivered and felt the pressure in her head increase from the pressing Wraith working its way back. “You’ve got to go ahead and give it to me now. But not in here. I can’t take these colors anymore.”

“Where? Back in medical?” Warren stepped back when she neared the open door.

Stepping out in the hall, she took a deep breath, the pressure easing a little now that she was away from all the colors.

“No. In Joshua’s room.”

“O…kay.” Warren commented with raised eyebrows, but she didn’t wait for any permissions or give any explanations. She simply walked to the door, entered the room, and went over to the bed.

The chaotic screeching of the Wraith eased up a bit as the 100

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masculine scent of Joshua surrounded her. She inhaled deeply and let his lingering energy within the room wash over her. Just the little bit of him brought her a whisper of peace. Even her eyes stopped watering with the absence of the bright colors. Joshua’s rich earth toned browns in varying shades of light shale to dark chocolate was soothing.

Sitting on the bed, she clasped her hands in her lap.

“One dose isn’t enough, Warren. You’re going to have to give me a dose and a half.”

“Alexandria, that’s too much. We would need to monitor you.

As it was, you were deathly ill on the first suppression.”

“There’s no choice, Warren! Do it now!” She snarled at him with no warning. Feeling the dark Wraith creep further forward into her mind, she curled her hands into her shirt. “We don’t have time…trust me as your doc, damn it!”

Warren paused for only a split second, but Alexandria figured he must have trusted her enough on her medical judgment, because he pulled out an ampoule and two syringes. He went to the nearest oak dresser and spread out what he needed including alcohol swabs and gauze. Alexandria would have helped him since he just had the one good hand but she didn’t trust herself not to end up grabbing him.

He appeared to be efficient anyway managing with both his good hand and a bit with his damaged hand. Popping the cap off the glass ampoule, he cleaned the top with the alcohol swab and quickly filled two syringes with the suppressant. Once he was done, he grabbed the syringes, another alcohol swab, and gauze.

Coming over and sitting next to her, he said, “Are you sure about this much?”

Such a brave man. He had no idea how dangerous she was or perhaps he did and just didn’t care sitting so close to her.

“Yes, I’m sure.” She gritted out. “If you don’t get on with it, you’re going to become my Wraith’s midnight snack.”

Alexandria had been serious, but Warren just laughed darkly.

Yes, the man had a death wish. She rolled her eyes at him and then flinched when he swiped her neck with the cold alcohol swab.

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“I would give you the injections somewhere less painful, but the suppressant needs to get in your system swiftly. Sorry about this, Alexandria.”

The sting of the first injection made her eyes water but even more so amped up the Wraith and set her into panic mode. So many painful injections from Turin made her skittish to the point of attacking someone even without the Wraith side encouraging her. She gripped the edge of the bed and concentrated on breathing in and out. The second injection was given quickly on the heels of the first so she didn’t get a chance to get too wound up. “You better lie down. The suppressant will be hitting right about…” Alexandria gasped almost falling off the bed, but Warren grabbed her by the shoulder pushing her back on the bed, “now. I guess the additional has a little more kick to it.”

“No kidding. Damn it.” She squeezed her eyes shut and felt the tears stream down her cheeks. The suppressant felt like fire in her veins for a moment and then concentrated in her spine. Shooting up through her nervous system, the suppressant centered at the base of her brain. Her brain cells lit up like fireworks and the inner Wraith inside of her fought against the suppression with poisoned claws. The agony was too much and a scream was ripped from her while she thrashed on the bed. In the corner of her mind, she felt for Warren who tried to hold her down with his one good arm.

****

Joshua stood at the base of the stairs leaning against the end of one of the polished mahogany rails. He glanced up the staircase which looked miles away, at least to him. The battle really hadn’t been that long, but maybe the Wraith had known the Gate wasn’t going to stay open very long, because they had fought tooth and nail tonight. Of course, he had lost it again and used his Power Burst to fry their asses. The Burst was definitely effective, but had kicked his ass and significantly diminished what little energy had remained in his system. Now he didn’t even know if he was going 102

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to make it to his room.

Michael grabbed him by the shoulder. “Joshua, are you going to be okay? You pushed it more than you should have. We could have fought them off just fine. Maybe you should go to medical.”

“Yeah, you big pussy. Jenny can fix your big girl panties for you.” Joshua just glared at Raven for his smart ass comment. He didn’t have the strength to kick his ass even though he really wanted to.

“I wouldn’t talk. You look like the Wraith got the best of you and fucked you up the…”

“Enough! Save it for another night.” Michael bellowed. Joshua saw him look up the stairs with a worried expression. He hoped Stormy was okay. She hadn’t been able to Transfer Power to them in a few days now and hadn’t even been seen outside of her room lately. “All of you get your food, drink, or whatever you need and get your asses to bed.”

For someone as exhausted as the rest of them, Michael bounded up the stairs two at a time and was out of sight before anyone could respond. A deep sigh had Joshua looking back at Raven. He was almost as shitty looking as he felt. Raven looked like he was going to say something, but in the end flipped him off and went in to the entertainment room. It figured he would go for the alcohol first.

No matter how close he felt to passing out, Joshua was desperate to get upstairs and check on Alexandria. The time was well past midnight and she should have had the next round of injection. He had wanted to be the one to give the suppressant to her but hopefully Warren went ahead and did it without much incident, otherwise the inner Wraith would have overcome the treatment and surfaced.

Using the railing, Joshua dragged himself up the stairs until he reached the top. He paused by the gold Sphinx and touched the statue on the top of the head, and then he continued down the hall to Alexandria and his room. Seeing Warren sitting in a chair outside his quarters brought him up short. Panic caused his heart rate to pick up and he had to lean against the wall when a cold 103

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sweat broke out on his skin. “Alexandria, how is she?” He nearly barked, but quieted his voice at the last second not wanting to disturb her or anyone else.

“She’s okay, now.” Warren stood up and held up his hands when Joshua growled. “The suppression was not like the first, but it was uncomfortable because I had to give her a syringe and a half. The one wasn’t enough to last the full twenty four, but the extra seemed to have worked. She was the one who knew the additional would help and was willing to undergo the increased amount.”

Nodding, Joshua backed off. “Got it. Sorry.” He scrubbed at his face feeling like shit and tired of always being on edge and treating others like shit. All he wanted right now was to be with Alexandria and hold her. He had always wanted the closeness and to be with her, but so many things kept him away other than as protector. He had begun to hate the role he had built to use as an excuse to be near her, but it had been the only way since his duty as Warrior and his Khenti being her brother would have kept them apart anyway.

“No problem. By the way, she’s in your room. She said the colors in hers were hurting her eyes and giving her fits. I didn’t ask and figured you wouldn’t care.”

The image of Alexandria sprawled out in his bed with all that luxurious black hair spread around her took his breath away and made the blood rush to his cock. Care if she was in his bed? Hell, he had fantasized about it, but never revealed his thoughts to anyone. He cleared his throat regrouping his tired sex starved brain before trying to talk, “Get some rest, Warren. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

Standing, Warren gripped his shoulder. “You too, Warrior. You look like you could use it. Buzz me on the intercom system if Alexandria needs anything. Or you for that matter.”

Joshua didn’t wait to see Warren off, but quietly entered his room. In the dimmed lighting, he made his way over to the side of the bed to check on Alexandria. He sighed in relief when he saw she was resting easy and not thrashing in discomfort. Just as he 104

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imaged, her thick locks were spread around her, yet at the moment, instead of a temptress, she looked like the young girl he remembered. Innocent and precious in his eyes.

He started to reach out to touch the soft appearing strands laying so close to his fingertips. At the last minute, he pulled back from the temptation. He couldn’t touch her like this, all covered in Wraith blood and gore. Backing away, he silently crept across the room and into the bathroom.

Turning on the water, he peeled off the black t-shirt and kicked off his boots. While he waited for the water to heat up, he examined himself in the mirror. Yeah, he looked like shit. Not only was he pale, he was almost grey like the walking dead. Even the wounds he sustained while fighting the Wraith should have been healed completely, but some of the slices were still pink and tender to the touch. “What the hell?” he whispered to his stark reflection in the mirror. He knew without a doubt there was something seriously wrong with him. When Alexandria was more stable, he would have to go to medical and see Jenny.

Removing his fatigues, he stepped into the steaming shower letting the hard jets of hot water massage away the aches and pains. Leaning back to get his hair wet, he thought Alexandria wouldn’t be happy about someone else taking care of his medical needs. That was one rule she had reinforced with him and would throw a fit if she thought he had gone to someone else after a battle. To her, it was her responsibility to care for him.

The thought brought a smile to his lips. He was the protector, but she was the mother hen circling around him trying to keep him in line. Grabbing his body gel, he upended a good amount into his hand and made short work of lathering up. When he started to get light-headed again, he picked up the pace rinsing off in record time.

Grabbing one of his tan towels, he dried off and then finger combed his hair. Glancing in the mirror, he thought he looked a little better but knew he needed a hell of a lot of rest to get back his strength. He was almost done getting ready for bed when he thought he heard something out in the bedroom. He paused 105

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listening closely but didn’t hear anything more. Finishing up, he brushed his teeth, got a drink, and then pulled on a pair of sweat pants he kept in a small armoire near the sink.

Yawning, he trudged over to the doorway of the bathroom and stopped for a moment staring across the room to where Alexandria was sleeping. He was unsure of sharing the bed with her, but he was going to pass out on his feet and she was out for the count anyway. Having her back and holding her in the cell the other night had been pleasurable accept for the fact she had been so ill. Since then, he had wanted nothing more than to have her in his arms again. He had missed her warmth and presence the whole time they were separated during tonight’s battle. In the end, he already knew what he had decided to do. He was going to lie with her and hold her. His body was already warming up at the thought.

Approaching the edge of the bed, he started to pull the covers back when he noticed she was missing. He froze in place, not moving a muscle, and quickly called upon all of his senses. He detected no danger, but he definitely felt he was being stalked.

Slowly, he dropped the covers and carefully turned around scanning the room as he maneuvered. The shadows were deep but he made out her outline against the wall across from him. He was entranced when he saw her dark blue eyes glowing mysteriously in the dark. “Alexandria…” he breathed right before she pounced knocking him flat on his back onto the bed.

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Joshua just laid there sandwiched between the firm bed and Alexandria’s soft-skinned body not moving one muscle. He wasn’t sure of her intentions or if she was fully aware of what she was doing. Who knew what condition her mind was in with the suppressant running through her system. She was enticingly positioned over him with her hips straddling his and her hands bracing her upper body above his chest. Sitting there a moment, she just watched him with an expression he couldn’t read, the glow in her eyes slowly fading.

Raising an arm, she swept back her long main of luxurious midnight black hair out of her way and leaned down near his neck, she inhaled deeply and purred. He was surprised by the sound since supposedly her Sphinx was no longer within her but either the Wraith was putting on quite the show or they were all wrong.

He hoped for the latter because it would mean there was hope for his Lexi.

Alexandria didn’t stay where she was perched on him for long.

She wiggled closer against him pressing every inch of her body against his. Joshua groaned and he could feel her nipples pearl against him through his thin oversized t-shirt she had on. The breath left him in a rush when she rubbed her core against the erection he was already sporting. The friction was exquisite and drove any sane thought right out of his head.

“Damn, woman. What are you doing to me?,” he rasped nuzzling into her hair.

He had kept his hands away from her, knotted in the blankets so as not to cause any aggression from her if the Wraith wasn’t completely suppressed. Luckily, that didn’t seem to be an issue because he couldn’t stop himself from touching her now.

Unclenching his hands from the fabric, he tentatively touched her sides and was rewarded with a feminine sigh. She rubbed harder against his throbbing cock like she was in heat and Joshua had to 107

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grab her hips to stop her grinding.

The shirt rode up with her movements and the feel of her bare hips was a shock to him. Alexandria normally wore string bikinis which he had discovered when he walked in on her a time or two when he thought she had needed him. Now she had none on at all and his hands started shaking with the thought of how accessible her sex was to hima thought which inflamed him even more. His grip tightened on her in an effort to keep his hands from roaming.

“Lexi, you’re playing with fire. You’re going to get burned.”

“I don’t care.” She whispered breathlessly in his ear. “I’m already burning up. Come join me, Josh.” The sensation of her licking down his neck and across his collarbone lit up his nervous system. Lightening shot down to his groin making him throb with need. His hands slid to her bare bottom and he squeezed pressing her tighter to him. Partly to make his point and partly for his own pleasure, he rolled his hips just enough to rub against her clit.

His plan backfired though. Not only did he think he was going to come with the friction he had caused, but Alexandria clamped her legs tighter against his hips and dug her nails into his arms.

She feathered kisses along his jaw and to his chin, panting and moaning as she went. While nipping at his lower lip, her hands smoothed over the stinging marks on his arms. Joshua felt warmth tingle momentarily and the sting went away. Slowly, she caressed up to his shoulders and then down his chest brushing over his nipples. By the Ancients, I want this, but is this Lexi?

When she finally kissed him, he indulged her for a moment letting her explore. Alexandria’s kiss was tentative for only a moment and then she ran her tongue along the seam of his lips.

He was more than willing to let her taste and touch him, but how far would she go? How far could he let her go before being lost himself? He knew this was dangerous. Not so much for himself but for her if he got out of hand and lost control.

Joshua cupped her face in his palms and pushed her away.

“Alexandria, slow down. I only have so much control when it comes to you.” He was just admitting that to himself and realized all these years he had kept her at arm’s length because of his 108

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increasing need for her. Telling her was opening himself up to more than he was ready for but for her he would take the risk.

“Lexi, I want to Join with you…I mean join you, but now is not the time. You’re still…hell, I don’t even know what to call it. I don’t want to hurt you.” Fuck, did I just say Join. Is that what I want?

Alexandria gave him a secretive smile. “You won’t hurt me, Josh. I trust you.” She massaged his bicep and curled one of her legs down and around his. The angle of her pelvis against his was incredible and she rolled her hips this time showing him what true friction was.

She sighed, “I’m burning up Josh. I want you to stoke the flame.

Please.”

Just her whispered words were almost his undoing.

“Alexandria, do you know what you’re asking? If we start this, I won’t be able to stop. I won’t want to stop. Fuck, I don’t want to stop.”

He pulled her down kissing her lips, running his tongue along her lower lip. When she opened to him, he dipped his tongue into her honeyed mouth, tasting her, deepening the kiss.

He tunneled his hand in her hair wrapping the thick strands around his fist holding her in place. His other hand returned to her smooth bare bottom and he squeezed her against him again.

He wanted more and couldn’t stop himself from roaming. He pulled her slightly up higher on his body so he could slide his fingers down the crease of her bottom. With her one leg already wrapped around his, he pushed his other leg outward, spreading her legs so she was more accessible to him. Now that she was open and exposed, he trailed his fingers farther down until he touched her sex.

Joshua moaned into her mouth when he felt how wet she was.

She was so ready for him, his entire body shook with need and he tried to hold himself back. He fought himself to go no further. She was untouched tenderness and he didn’t want to barrel in without some type of control. In the end, when she wiggled against him trying to get closer to his touch, he couldn’t deny her what she needed. His fingers slipped across the opening of her sheath 109

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brushing back and forth until she was thrashing against him.

Knowing what she needed, he slowly slipped a finger inside her.

Alexandria was so tight and hot, he could only imagine how she would feel around his cock. He didn’t think he would last long as hard as he was and ready to go. It would only take but a few slides within her body and it would be all over with. But this was not about him and all about her, so he began to slide his finger in and out of her causing little gasps and purrs to come from her.

Gently, he added a second finger spreading her inner muscles a bit more. When she breathed seductively in his ear and then nipped his earlobe, he rewarded her with several deep fast-paced pumps of his hand. She threw her head back and gave a soft little cry.

“More, Josh, more. Oh, please, faster.” Her nails were digging into him again so he knew she liked what he was doing. He plunged into her faster as she requested while his other hand moved from her hair and started massaging her soft bottom.

When she started to buck against him, he swirled his fingers slightly while still plunging into her. The enthralled look on her face almost made him smile but he was sure he probably looked just as entranced by her, his own climax so near and he wasn’t even inside of her.

“Come for me, Lexi.” He stroked faster behind and up into her swollen hot core and couldn’t stop himself from arching his own hips in matched rhythm rubbing his cock against her. The material of his sweat pants was starting to aggravate him. He needed skin to skin contact but Alexandria was so near her orgasm, he didn’t dare throw her off with a change of rhythm or angle.

He thought she was ready to come when she arched away from him and froze in place for a moment. But she didn’t, not yet.

Instead, she completely took him unaware. In an instant, her dainty hand found his engorged cock wrapping around him and squeezing the head just the way he liked it. How had she known what he liked? Had she been reading him? Perhaps, he didn’t know and at the moment he didn’t care. His eyes closed and he knew he was in trouble, his will-power giving way.

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“Josh, I can’t…I need. Please!” She cried, her frustration showing in her voice. “Now, damn it!” She started stroking him, he guessed trying to bring him along with her into the spiraling tension of stimulation he was giving her. He suddenly knew she wouldn’t come without him going over the edge with her. She growled, her upper body leaning back down on him, and the next thing he knew, she had bitten hard into his shoulder.

Before the realization of her claiming and marking him completely hit, his inner Sphinx rose to the challenge. Joshua’s mind became hazy as the demands of his Sphinx took over.

Alexandria was his Mate and he would Join with her. He would claim her as his love and his Power Mate. Removing his fingers from her welcoming heat for the moment, he grasped her around the waist and flipped both of them over so her body was now trapped under his.

The weak Life Power within him had been sluggishly spinning up. Now that he was beyond inflamed and his Sphinx now at the surface, his Power burst out surrounding both of them. Joshua grunted from the discomfort of the bluish appearing energy which he vaguely knew should have been a glittering gold and silver.

The energy brushed along their bodies and caressed its way over Alexandria. Hers should have answered in kind, but with her Sphinx being gone, he didn’t expect it. He didn’t care, though. She would still be his no matter what she had become. She restlessly moved underneath him, fluttering her hands over his bare chest, and wrapping her legs around his waist. He looked down upon her beautifully flushed face.

“Yes, Lexi. I warned you and now I know what you need. You need me and you are mine.”

****

Alexandria could taste Joshua’s blood in her mouth. She knew what she had done. Claimed him and left the mark on his shoulder for the world to see. Admitting to herself she had gotten carried away was an understatement, but with the heat burning her up she 111

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didn’t care. He was hers and she wanted him to know it.

The incredible heat was still burning her and just wouldn’t stop.

She wasn’t sure what the sensation was doing to her on a deeper level or what it meant, but it had started soon after she had balanced out from the suppression. After Warren had given her the extra dosage, she had definitely gone through some discomfort, but after the Wraith faded then this incredible heat had started. It burned throughout her body, through her veins and her nervous system, and focused in on her sex, making her want to rub even harder against Josh.

Her Josh who was touching and kissing her everywhere. Her heat had become his heat and now they were on fire together. His touch left sparks along her skin making her glow and she wanted more. Holding him tightly with her legs, she basked in his sensual attentions and let her hands roam down his strong muscled back until she reached the waist of his sweats. Growling, she wanted them off him so she could feel more of his heated skin against her.

She ran her fingertips under the edge of the material and was rewarded with his moan and his kiss.

By the Ancients, his kiss was incredible. He knew exactly how to brush his lips across hers, how to demand entrance, and how to drive her crazy with the thrust of his tongue. At the same time, his hands massaged and tantalized. Joshua explored under the shirt she had borrowed, trailing his fingertips along her side and to the side of her breast. He paused, teasing her she knew, and then with the next thrust of his tongue in her mouth, he palmed her breast and swirled his thumb in a circle around her sensitive nipple.

Gasping in his mouth from the new flood of heat between her legs, she pushed her hands further under his sweat pants squeezing his rock hard ass. He answered with a moan, gyrating his hips into hers. She could feel his erection rubbing against her harder and faster. The friction was satisfying but built up the heat even more. The only thing keeping her from igniting was his Life Power swirling around them, touching her with a crystalline coolness.

Her attention fixed for a moment on his Power. The medical 112

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side of her mind took note he was in trouble. His energy was even bluer than before indicating it was turning more dionic and tearing up his system. She had to help him now but what little focus she had was lost when he brushed his fingers across her clit.

Whimpering with need, she pushed on his sweats to get them out of her way and Joshua obliged her by lifting his hips away from her.

Using her thumbs, she jerked the material out of her way and felt his heavy erection against her skin like a hot brand. Joshua flexed his hips, the tip of his cock sliding against the inside crease of her leg and hip. He groaned and Alexandria arched against him.

She broke the kiss gasping, “Josh, help me. I’m burning up. I need…I need...”

“Lexi, I know what you need.” He whispered in her ear and nipped her neck. Whatever this was she had never felt before in her life. What was happening to her she just didn’t know, but Joshua did know what she needed. He grabbed her leg, cranking it up farther along his back and reached between their bodies. The slow slide of his fingers inside of her was exquisite torture and she moaned against his neck, grabbing his hair in one hand.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the in and out glide of his fingers and the pulsing of his Life Power around her. She wanted him inside her not just physically, but energy wise. Something in the back of her thoughts whispered to her to use her gifts to make both of them feel even better. Reaching out with her Life Power, she aligned her Power with his and brushed along it.

Joshua groaned and gasped, “Fuck. That’s incredible. Don’t stop, Lexi.” Joshua slid his fingers deeper and faster inside her.

She smiled knowing she could give him just as much pleasure as he was giving to her.

Gently, she drew some of his energy into her leaving behind a part of hers. Her medical side kicked in slightly again detecting the blue dionic energy and her gift delved into the patterns. Finding the misaligned structure, she altered it changing the energy to the normal form and pushing it back to him. As soon as the changed Power entered his system, he sighed and kissed her with such 113

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intensity it brought tears to her eyes.

Alexandria held on to him pulling his dionic energy from him and pushing the normal form back in to his body to the rhythm of the thrusts of his fingers. The faster he moved within her, the faster she pulled and pushed his energy. When he started trailing nips and kisses away from her mouth to her neck and collarbone, she opened her eyes seeing the blue was almost gone from his swirling Power and was now a glowing gold sparkling with silver.

Her theory was working and she eased up letting him push his own energy into her. Her focus was gone anyway with the magic his fingers were working. The heat in her spiked and she dug her nails into his back pressing her hips up against him. His breathing became ragged and returned to her lips. His tongue was in her mouth thrusting in time to his fingers again with the added dimension of his Life Power flowing into her closer and closer to her Life Force.

She was so near to coming but couldn’t quite make the edge to fall on the other side. Joshua was doing everything right and he was so caught up in it himself she could feel him rubbing his thick shaft against her clit. The edge was right there and she could see to the other side what incredible ecstasy was waiting for her. She wanted it so bad, needed it. “Josh, please.” She begged against his lips almost sobbing.

Joshua shuddered against her and withdrew his fingers. He grabbed her wrists and Alexandria found herself entrapped by his strong grip. He seated his hips firmly against hers and slid his cock along her wet throbbing sex. Back and forth, he tempted and teased groaning and nipping at her ear. Each slide brought him closer and closer to entering her, and she tried to tip her hips to the perfect angle so he would enter her.

Not being able to help herself, she drew Joshua’s energy faster and faster into her body returning it just as quickly trying to entice him into entering her. Every inch of his body felt like steel up against her, his muscles bunching as if he was holding himself back. She thought if she enticed him just a little more, she could have her way and he would come inside her. He was so close, the 114

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head of his shaft alternately sliding and pressing against the opening to her sensitized sex.

Completely giving in, she opened herself to his Power and Joshua slid his energy deep inside her touching her Life Force. She gasped and froze at the sudden change she felt. His masculine thoughts of needing her so bad but not wanting to hurt her whispered in her head. The thoughts became clearer of his inner fight to control himself and his losing battle. His Life Force was coming closer and closer to hers and she was enthralled by the incredible beauty of it.

Fire spiraled higher in her system with what he was doing to her. Joshua was coming undone and gently thrust his hips against hers, slowly inching his way inside her. Yes, this was what she wanted, but just before his Life Force touched hers and his shaft fully entered her, she felt the presence deep inside near her Life Force.

An awakening of something that wanted Joshua and his Life Force to be with her forever stirred. The Wraith stirred within her and she panicked. Bucking against Joshua, Alexandria tried to get away from him. She slammed down on the Link she had established with him pushing him out.

Struggling violently, she cried, “Joshua, stop. Something’s wrong.”

Frightened now, she didn’t think he heard as his grip tightened on her wrists and his free hand grabbed her hip.

“Please, Josh. Stop! Don’t want to hurt!” A cry of pain and despair left her.

One minute he was on top of her, and the next, he had pushed himself violently off her. Alexandria sat up, scooting across the bed until she was up against the headboard, grabbing the blanket and pulling it over her nudity. She was breathing so hard and shaking so bad but the heat was gone and all she felt now was cold as ice from the close call of hurting Joshua.

Looking up through her lashes, she saw Joshua by the foot of the bed. He was sitting there with part of the blankets pulled up on his lap covering the evidence of his arousal. Alexandria was 115

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worried by the expression on his face. He looked like he was somewhere between shock, remorse, guilt, and anger. He was running his hand through his hair, and he was pale as a ghost. She thought he was shaking just as badly as she was.

He reached out to her and she panicked scooting farther away from him.

“Lexi, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean…” he swallowed and took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. This is all my fault. I should have never let it go this far. I’ll leave and Warren can take over your care. Fuck!”

Joshua moved to get up and Alexandria freaked even more.

“No! Please don’t go Joshua. Damn, it. It wasn’t you. It was me.

Or whatever the hell is wrong with me. You did nothing wrong but everything right. I wanted to be with you, to have you inside me on all of the levels.”

She slid across the bed towards him hoping he wouldn’t run.

Once she was next to him, she reached out and touched his cheek.

“I felt you within me. Heard your thoughts. Please don’t leave me, Josh.”

Taking her hand, Joshua kissed her palm and held it over his heart. She was beyond relieved when he said, “I will never leave you, Lexi. I felt you too. Saw your very Life Force. It was incredible and all I wanted was to touch your living energy. To touch you.”

He pulled her into his embrace and settled her onto his lap. She noticed he was careful to keep the blanket between their bare skin and suspected, like her, he was still fired up. “And I don’t believe you would have hurt me but I could have hurt you.”

“You could have never hurt me, Joshua. You always protect me, but…” she bit at her lip. How to voice her desires and not chase him away.

“I want more. I want you but not before I figure out a way to fix what Turin did to me. I can’t take the risk of hurting someone I…love.”

She was afraid to look up at him, to see his rejection, but he wouldn’t let her avoid him. He gently pushed her chin up so she was meeting his eyes. Alexandria wanted to cry out with joy when 116

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she saw not rejection but love reflected back at her. If it was the last thing she did, she would make everything right and Join with him, if he would have her.

“Lexi, I’m an idiot and should have told you long ago that I lo…”

Alexandria kissed him hard stopping the words she had wanted to hear for so long from his lips. Really, she did want to hear them, but she wanted him to say he loved her when he wanted so she was sure he meant it and not just because she had forced the situation upon him.

Slowly, she drew her lips away from his. “You don’t have to say the words, Josh.”

He smiled at her, the dimple she loved making an appearance.

“I want to try something if you will let me and show you what you mean to me. If you think the Wraith is suppressed enough so you won’t be frightened.”

Giving him a look letting him know any fear was strictly to protect him from her dark side, she wrapped her arms around him leaning in close.

“The Wraith appears to have gone back to sleep. All’s quiet.”

She was curious as to what he wanted to show her.

Joshua pulled her head to his shoulder and brushed his hand over her hair. Alexandria closed her eyes letting the sensation soothe her frazzled emotions. His deep voice vibrated up through his chest as he spoke.

“I’m not sure of what all you did with my Life Power while I was making love to you, but in the intensity I’m pretty sure we formed a partial Link. Will you open for me so I can check?”

Alexandria was nervous but she nodded. “Okay.” Concerned, she sat up looking at him. “Okay, but if we feel any type of interest from the Wraith, we have to stop.”

“Agreed.” He smoothed a lose strand of her hair behind her ear and caressed her cheek. He leaned forward and gave her the gentlest of kisses. “Ready?”

Taking a deep breath, she sighed, “Yeah.”

Concentrating, she dropped the subconscious shields all Sphinx could hold in place to protect their Life Power and Force. Just like 117

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that, she felt Joshua slide down the Link they shared. He was right. They had formed a partial Link. She squealed giving him a hug.

“Josh, I feel you.”

He kissed behind her ear. “And I feel you. See what you mean to me, Lexi.”

His words pulled her in and she moved with his energy. She felt all the emotions and desires he held back from the outside world.

Absolutely enthralled, she felt his powerful protectiveness for her, the desperation and loneliness when she was taken by the Wraith, the helplessness when she was hurting, and the fury when she was in danger. Woven in powerfully with all of those churning emotions was the passion of how much he wanted her and the incredible love he had kept even away from himself for years.

“Josh you’re incredible.” She couldn’t resist and ran her fingertips over the contours of his face as if she was just learning him. He in turn cupped her face with his hands and just looked at her with love in his expression. Could it be true she could have happiness within her reach? She wasn’t sure and she closed the Link.

“What is it?” Joshua smoothed his hands over her hair again.

She noticed he did that when she became upset. His form of soothing her she suspected.

“This is all so incredible and I do want you. But how can we make it work? I’m so screwed up and I need to find out how to fix myself. Michael gave me permission to start working on some genetics research in the lab. And if anything happens, Warren can always zap me.”

Joshua growled darkly. He ran his fingers over the Collar she wore. The thing agitated her neck, but if it prevented her from hurting anyone, she was willing to take the discomfort.

“No one is going to zap you with that thing and it’s coming off as soon as I can convince the Elders. I would rip it off now if I didn’t think the damn thing might injure you. And as far as this genetic testing, well, don’t do anything which might risk your pretty neck. I love you just the way you are. Wraith or not.”

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Alexandria hugged him again. He had said the words aloud and she knew he had meant it. But would his love last with all of her issues and when she revealed his condition to himbeing dionic and needing her ability to keep him healthy. By the Ancients, she didn’t want to tell him, but if they were linked, then he would find out eventually. And if he did truly love her and was not just caught up in the moment, then he would get over it. Wouldn’t he?

She bit at her lip, indecision agitating her. Knowing she had no choice really, Alexandria brushed her fingertips down his cheek one more time and then pushed away from him. As she stood and moved away, she felt his hands trail over her as if he was trying to keep her near him.

“Alexandria, talk to me. I can tell there’s more bothering you.

We’ve touched each other’s Life Power and deeper. We can’t hide from each other anymore and I don’t want to go back to just being your protector.”

Joshua rearranged his sweats so he was covered again. He stood and she noticed he started following her limited wandering around his room.

Grabbing the bottom hem of the t-shirt she had borrowed from him, she pulled down making sure her bottom was covered. Now that the heat from her over-stimulated body had settled down, she began to feel a bit self-conscious. Enjoying herself was an understatement, but still she couldn’t believe the way she had basically attacked Joshua. Now that her mind wasn’t consumed by thoughts of sex, the serious need for discussing his condition was weighing heavily on her. She realized there was no escape from the subject this time.

Sighing and halting in her pacing, she softly asked, “Joshua, how do you feel?”

Joshua stopped behind her so close she could feel his heat. He encircled her with his strong arms and pulled her up against him.

His deep voice vibrated through her when he answered, “I feel incredible now that I’m with you. Lexi, you’ve always made me feel better, no matter what the circumstances. Must be the magical doctor’s touch you have.”

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Alexandria twisted her hands together. This was so much more difficult than she thought it would be. She wanted to lean back into his body, but she stood stiff in his arms. Afraid of his anger and her deception all these years. She had exactly what she wanted in his love, but she couldn’t be selfish and had to take the plunge into the awful truth. “About that. Don’t you think it’s odd that whenever you’ve felt out of sorts or when I was gone how much worse you felt, but once I touched you, you feel so much better?”

Her voice squeaked on the last. Great, now he would know she had been hiding something big. Her voice always betrayed her.

A huge sigh escaped him and he turned her around in his arms so he could look at her. She bit at her lip again, another tell he would pick up on. “Alright, Alexandria, the last time you acted this way, it was because you were in trouble. Woman, how can there be anything worse than what you have gone through the past few weeks? Tell me, let me help you.”

He brushed a kiss across her forehead and ran his hands across her hair. She realized she wasn’t going to be able to put what she wanted to tell him strictly into words so she opened herself up to their shared connection. Joshua detected it instantly and reached out to her through his. The contact with his energy took her breath away. No wonder Stormy and Eleina had such an intense look when they were linked to their Mates.

Now that she had his complete attention, she took a deep breath and dove in rushing the words out before he could interrupt.

“Joshua, I’ve loved you since we were kids. You were always there for me. Always. And when I found out about your condition I couldn’t let you go. Even then, I was old enough to realize how serious it was. I refused to tell anyone and searched for a way to help you. I went into the old Gardens in Egypt and prayed to the Ancients. I would give up anything for you and somehow they must have heard me. I found I could pull the Life Power before full adolescence but didn’t tell anyone because I knew they would forbid me. I practiced, and when you became sicker, I found every reason to be near you. I was frantic one day when you took a turn for the worst. No one could tell but I did. That’s when I realized I 120

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could capture your energy and adjust the Power so it wouldn’t hurt you from time to time. Surely you noticed how often I’ve always touched you. Not that I needed the excuse. I always wanted to be near you and touch you.”

Alexandria watched his expression closely feeling him deep within her processing the memories she was giving him, the emotions she was showing him. His mind was sharp but being a strong Warrior, he couldn’t quite allow himself make the connection of his unknown infirmity.

Touching his face gently, she leaned forward and kissed him.

Pulling back, she felt the tears running down her face now. She prayed he wouldn’t hate her for what she had done.

“Josh,” she whispered. “When your Life Power has always become unstable, almost violent, and…and blue, then I always came to you. Touched you. And your Power turned back to gold…it turned back to gold.”

Not being able to go on, she could do nothing but stand in his arms while she watched the knowledge come to him. “No…it can’t be. I can’t be…” He swallowed hard and then the dreaded word escaped him, “…dionic?”

Suddenly such hopelessness ripped through their connection as everything he believed about himself cracked at the core. She felt him process the rest of what she had told him so quickly and she felt him trying to deny the truth at the same time and then the understanding of what she had given for him. Fury exploded over their connection and Alexandria flinched at the snap. As soon as it touched her, he slammed their Link down and let go of her, turning away and staggering over to the bed.

“Joshua, I’m so sorry. Please don’t hate me. I couldn’t bear to be without you. I didn’t want to live without you.” She begged with everything in her not expecting him even to want to speak to her again.

Sitting on the bed among the different shades of brown blankets, he covered his face for a moment and then ran his hands through his hair. Alexandria couldn’t move and only watched him with trepidation for several minutes while he looked lost, angry, 121

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and then accepting. He looked at his hands now in his lap, they were shaking slightly.

He slowly looked up at her, heartbreak in his eyes.

“How could I hate you Alexandria? You should hate me. You’ve given everything up for me, your childhood, your Life Power, your health. You should have chosen someone stronger, healthier, but instead you chose a broken man like me.”

If Alexandria thought her Sphinx was still within her, this would have been the time that part of her would have hissed in anger at him. Instead, all was silent, but she still had her human voice. She marched right up in front of him and got good and up in his face.

“Warrior Joshua, how dare you tell me you’re anything but worthy? You’re good, you’re strong, you’re incredible. You have the gift of the Power Burst, the gift of weaponry including your skills with the young Sefu Elements, you’ve kept my ass out of trouble forever quite literally, and you save the world from the Wraith. How in the hell does that make you broken and unworthy of my love? If anything, I’m unworthy of your love. I can’t even Join with you as a Power Mate because I am…part Wraith.” She choked on the last. The thought of never being able to Join with him especially since they both knew they had deep love for each other was almost unthinkable.

Joshua’s arm suddenly shot out and he pulled her to him. He held her close rubbing his hand up under the t-shirt along her hip.

“There has to be hope for us, Lexi,” he croaked. “We love each other too much. We’ll work it out. I’ll protect you and you can make me whole.” He laughed roughly. “It seems like a fair deal.”

In her heart, she prayed there was hope for them. There had to be in all the chaos. Others had been Joined to their Power Mate and she had been lucky enough to have always had him by her side. Joshua’s sudden indrawn breath had her looking down into his handsome bluish silver eyes.

“What is it?”

Leaning over to the hip he had been rubbing, Joshua lifted the hem of the t-shirt so he could look directly at her skin. Alexandria 122

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followed his gaze best she could since it was her hip and what she saw did give her hope. There on her hip in all its glory was her Power Keeper mark. Most of her long life the mark had been faded from her overuse of her abilities as a young woman, the tiny crystalline pyramid now stood out in stark relief against her tan skin glittering in the dim nightlights.

Leaning down, Joshua placed a gentle kiss over the mark and then pulled her back down on his lap. He cupped her face and Alexandria’s heart picked up in pace at the look of passion and love in his eyes.

“By the Ancients, Alexandria, there is hope. We’ll find a way one way or another to make all of this right.”

He opened their Link and kissed her with all the powerful emotions that burned in him. Even with the heat burning in him again, she felt him grab control of his needs and stamp them down. He pulled her back into the bed with him embracing her in his arms.

She relaxed when he brushed his hands through her hair again and before she slipped into a semi-restful sleep she heard him whisper, “You’re worthy of all my love, Lexi. We’ll find a way and I will make you my Power Mate.”

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Chapter Eight

“Son of a…” Joshua doubled over from the overtaxing of his abilities. He had been at it non-stop for three days now using his skills as a master Power Forger. The newly formed blade he had just completed still glowed bright white from the unique energies he had impregnated in the steel.

“Man, you gotta slow down and take a breather. You’re gonna short circuit your Powers.” Hunter took the sword from Joshua’s grip and placed it into one of the partially empty weapon racks.

“I’m glad you accepted my help in the forging, but not all the swords need strength re-enforcement.”

“Damn it, Hunter. I appreciate your help and I sure as hell would like a break, but whatever Turin’s doing on the other side of the Gate is giving the Wraith an edge. Somehow he’s developed a new metallurgy giving their weapons more strength. The Guardians Elite are going through more swords than I can keep up with. I need to enhance the metal to put them on equal footing, otherwise we’re going to get our asses handed to us even more than it’s already occurring.”

Joshua took a deep breath and slowly stood taller stretching out his back and arms. He was starting to feel fatigue creeping in, but not like it was before Alexandria had adjusted his dionic Power.

How long the balance would last before she had to adjust his Power again, he didn’t know.

“Yeah. It hasn’t been a good couple of days all the way around.

Khenti Michael’s going out of his mind with the fact the Gate is opening up faster again and suspects more of Turin’s meddling there too. Plus Stormy isn’t doing very good.”

Joshua ran a hand over his face. “Our Power Keeper is trying to Transfer Power to us too quickly. She’s keeping up but it’s slowly overwhelming her. We’re going to end up burning her out and then we’ll be royally fucked.” Inside he cringed thinking of the discovery of Alexandria’s Power Keeper mark having come back 124

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and the implication she would be in the same spot as Stormy if she managed to find a genetic fix for her condition.

Alexandria would want to help Stormy, and knowing her, she would end up burning herself out again like she had when she was young. She had already done that for him to keep him alive all these years and exchanged a normal life for his life. Damn the Gate and the battles. He needed to spend time with her and work all this out. He just wanted to be with her and touch her, not just feel her from time to time through their Link.

A hand on his shoulder brought him back out of his dark thoughts. Hunter looked at him with concern.

“Why don’t you catch five? I’ll keep working the forge. I may not have the Power you have to bond with the steel, but I can form a mean blade. I’ll mount and rack them up and you can finish strengthening the blades tomorrow.”

Joshua glanced at Hunter closely. The man was wound up tight, needing to release some of his pent-up energy. Like the rest of the Sphinx, Hunter would be pinging from the dark energy coming from the Dimensional Gate. At least the energy had stayed relatively level indicating they had a few more hours of reprieve.

“So what you’re really telling me is I need to conserve the rest of my energy for when the fucking Gate opens back up.”

Hunter shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, the dark energy doesn’t lie and Ethan has his computer bank up and running again. He’s been bouncing around all over the place, gathering data points. It looks like we might have eight hours tops before we go back to the staging cavern to pound steel on the Wraith again.”

Joshua sighed, “Just fucking great.”

He would have continued on with his cursing against the Gate but was interrupted by a very pissed female voice yelling out in frustration.

“I don’t care what you say, Guardian. I have every right to help and fight against the Wraith. The Warriors need me.”

Joshua glanced over just in time to see a harassed-looking Ashlyn with Guardian Arik hot on her heals. What she was doing in the weapons section and not with Elder Chloe he didn’t know.

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The young female rarely left the Elder’s side and acted as a protector and assistant to Chloe.

Ashlyn stomped right up to Joshua her auburn hair in disarray and her unique gold eyes flashing with fury. She braced her hands on her blue clad hips in an outfit suspiciously similar in design to the Warrior’s battle uniform. Hers, though, consisted of dark blue boots, military fatigue pants, and t-shirt instead of the standard black.

Guardian Arik stepped up right next to her, frustration clearly written on his bandaged face. “Ashlyn, be reasonable. You’re needed elsewhere and you’re not ready to join the battles. You need training and your…umm.” Joshua waited expectantly for what Arik was talking about but he recognized the closed lip expression on the Guardian’s face. The expression indicating he wasn’t allowed to say any more on a particular subject.

Shoving her hand directly in front of Joshua’s face, she blurted out, “What the great Guardian can’t or won’t tell you is that the Sefu Element I have won’t cooperate with me. And I need you to fix it.”

Joshua was surprised at the revelation and Hunter barged his way into the group grabbing Ashlyn’s arm. “What do you mean you have a Sefu? You’re not Sphinx.”

Jerking her arm out of Hunter’s grasp, she hissed out, “Hell, if I’m not. I’ve kept my mouth closed long enough and am tired of being treated like a child.”

Ashlyn turned her blue-gloved hand over undoing the hidden Velcro straps and yanked the glove off. Shoving her hand back out she muttered, “See! Tell me I’m lying.”

Rubbing at his chin Joshua just looked at Ashlyn’s hand and wrist. She definitely wasn’t lying to be sure. There wrapped around her hand and wrist was a Sefu Element. The color was unique. One Joshua had never seen before and was an unusual copper color.

He turned to Arik who was rubbing at his eyes.

“Arik, you may as well spill the beans or we can come up with our own versions which I can guarantee will probably be a hell of a lot more colorful than the truth.”

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Arik dropped his hand and cast a disgruntled look at Ashlyn.

“Fine! Elder Chloe found Ashlyn a few months back running wild in the streets if you must know.”

When Joshua would have asked how, Arik held up his hand. “I don’t know how. You know the Elder. She has her own agenda and secrets goings on all the damn time. Annoying if you ask me, but then it’s not my place to judge, I suppose. Anyway, the Elder has been working with the Guardians to do her initial training. I’m not sure what the Elder’s final plans are for her.”

“And the Element? It didn’t come from my collection and you know how protective I am of the Elements. What’s the deal?”

Joshua didn’t like any of the Elements coming up missing or being given to someone who wasn’t responsible with them. The Sefu Elements died very easily if they were discarded after bonding to a Sphinx. He would string anyone up who was irresponsible with one.

“Once again, I don’t know. Elder Chloe performed the bonding with no one around and refuses to reveal where the Element came from. I can tell you this, Elder Chloe became very emotional when I tried to inquire about it.”

“Hello!” Ashlyn shouted. “I’m still here. Tell me what to do with my Sefu. I’ve tried everything.” Her voice waivered slightly, her frustration showing.

“Alright.” Joshua reached out to her. “If you would let me see it.

I can check the Elements health and see what the issue is. If you’ll allow me.”

Hesitantly, she reached out to him, and he could tell she had very little faith in anyone. Her trust would be difficult to win. Her life had to have been incredibly rough if she had lived the majority of her Sphinx life outside the complex. How long she had lived he didn’t know, especially if she wasn’t pure blood and he doubted the information would come from anyone in this room even if they knew.

Carefully, so he wouldn’t startle Ashlyn, Joshua grasped her arm and placed his hand over the Element. To better concentrate, he closed his eyes and pushed his energy out just enough to brush 127

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along the copper Element. He stood there a moment just reading the patterns and then withdrew his energy. Before he released Ashlyn’s arm he looked at the section of the Sefu above her wrist.

It was smooth and flat but didn’t bare any Power Signature.

“Ashlyn, the Element isn’t ready yet. It’s doing fine and has bonded with you, but…and I do say this with all honesty…your Sefu has the same personality and energy rhythms as you. Putting it bluntly, you’re both stubborn headed and until you learn to work together, the Element will not reveal your Power Signature or respond to you. You have to work together, not make harsh demands of each other. I’m sorry. Until that is learned, you won’t be able to form a Power Sword and fight.”

Joshua felt sorry for the young woman. With all of her fiery bluster when she heard his findings, she cradled her arms against her chest and looked like she was ready to cry.

When she noticed she was being watched, though, she yanked her blue glove back on and gritted out. “Fine.”

The slamming of the weapons section door captured everyone’s attention. Glancing over Ashlyn’s head, Joshua watched while Raven stomped past all of the weapon’s storage sections until he stood over Ashlyn. His blue eyes glittered ominously but Ashlyn stood her ground before him.

“What do you think you’re doing here?” Raven’s voice was level, but ice dripped from the words. “One of the Gatherer’s showed up at the Warriors’ master quarters demanding to know where you were. Evidently, Elder Chloe needed you and when you couldn’t be found, she locked herself in her rooms and won’t answer to anyone. I would suggest that you get your little ass back to her and if anything has happened to her, I’ll personally see to a punishment for you myself.”

Joshua would have told Raven to back down, but he was obviously beyond upset about something even after heavy drinking. He could smell the alcohol all over the Warrior, but even drunk, Raven was still irate. Partly amused, Joshua watched Ashlyn stand firm and lift her chin. After a moment though, when Raven growled at her, she yelped and sprinted out of the weapons 128

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section.

Raven watched her hasty departure, flexing his arms until his shoulders popped. He glanced at Arik, “Fucking hard-headed females. The whole lot of them.” Joshua couldn’t agree more with him.

Hard headed, but soft hearted. That was Joshua’s Alexandria and he missed her. One way or another he would find time in this battle crazy life of his to spend time with her. He needed to touch her physically and through their Link to reassure himself she was doing okay.

****

“Oh, Arik, I’m so sorry.” Alexandria was horrified at the realization of the damage she had done to Arik when he had tried to restrain her before the suppression. The bandage he was gingerly pulling off his cheek was soaked in blood and the long gouges underneath were red and inflamed. The injury looked infected to her. The healer in her cried out to help him any way she could.

Just when Alexandria would have approached him, Jenny stepped between them moving to provide care, but Guardian Arik held up a hand, stopping Jenny in her tracks.

“Alexandria, it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do the damage, the Wraith within you did, and I should have known better than to grab you like I did. It was an idiot move and if anything it’s my fault.”

Warren handed Arik a clean gauze which he pressed to his face before continuing. “The wounds had actually stopped bleeding but chasing Ashlyn around during one of her temper tantrums raised my blood pressure enough, the injuries started bleeding again.”

Alexandria heard Warren laugh from the far corner of the lab area. “Ashlyn can be quite the challenge, that’s for sure. Her fiery auburn hair suits her to a T.”

Jenny interrupted the conversation trying to inspect Arik’s wounds again. “Arik, will you stop avoiding and let me clean your 129

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wounds again.”

“Jenny, no offense to your skills, but I want our healer to see what she can do. We all know the gashes won’t heal with the Wraith’s poisoned energy imbedded in it.”

Arik focused on Alexandria, and as soon as she realized what he wanted, her nerves got the best of her.

She backed up from him even as the impulse to heal him screamed in her veins. “Arik, I’m too unpredictable. I could harm you even worse. You can’t be serious. I could come up with some type of pharmaceutical to draw the poison out.”

Guardian Arik shook his head. “You know there is no medicine that will cure this. The poison will just continue to eat at the flesh.

Only you can heal me. Alexandria. I trust you.”

Alexandria looked at the hand Arik held out to her awaiting her decision to help him or not.

Fear of her own Powers swirled within her. She was terrified to try and heal him and didn’t want to cause more damage to an honored Guardian who had always stood by the Sphinx no matter what odds were against them. But on the other side of the coin she knew if she did nothing the damage would continue until it was quite possible he could die either from infection or the poisoned energy.

Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she warily moved over until she stood right in front of him. Carefully, she took the new gauze away from the injury and wanted to cry out at the deep slashes covering his face from eye through his crystalline Guardian ankh on his cheek and ending at his jaw. Her hand shook as she lifted it to cover his cheek. Arik grimaced when her hand rested directly on the wound even though she had been as gentle as possible.

She didn’t have a choice but needed the direct contact to read the injuries and push her Power directly into him. Her Life Power ramped up and swirled into the wounds immediately upon detection of the pain Arik was experiencing. Alexandria was amazed at the strength Arik had in not showing how much pain he actually had been in. Visibly, she could see his muscles relax, but that was the only give away of his true discomfort.

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Closing her eyes, she allowed her energy to flow into the gouges and assess the damage. There was a lot. Pushing onward she realized she wouldn’t be able to heal the flesh until she purged the poison. Diving into the matrix of the dark energy, she aligned her own healing energy with it. Without her Sphinx side, she wasn’t sure how successful she would be, but she had to try. Alexandria weaved into the dark energy and began pulling it apart and out of Arik. The process was slow and tasking, her heart rate increased, her breathing became labored, and she started to perspire, but she continued on.

So focused she was on the task of healing, it took Alexandria a moment to pick up on her own internal darkness. Just as before when her dark side sensed the possibility of an energy meal, it turned its interest on what she was doing. She hissed at the inner Wraith pushing it back down into her subconscious. Don’t fuck with me right now, damn it. She couldn’t risk her dark side surfacing while she was so entwined in healing Arik.

Just in case, though, she directed, “Warren, make sure you’re ready just in case I have any detected Wraith surfacing. Zap me if you have to.”

Several minutes passed while she continued to remove the poison. Her body began to shake from the effort and she almost jumped out of her skin when Arik placed his hand over hers.

“Alexandria, if this is too much you can stop. I don’t want to risk you.”

“No. I can do this.” She growled. “I caused this damage. I’ll fix it.” Deep breaths in, deep breaths out. The last of the poison fell away from his system and Alexandria finished breaking it down and shedding energy back out into her surroundings in its neutral form. Switching over to the healing of the flesh was easier because she could work with her own pure Power as well as Arik’s energy.

However, it was also more compelling to the suppressed Wraith within her.

The dark inner Wraith suddenly fought against the barriers containing it within her mind and body. The creature pushed at 131

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her consciousness whispering into her mind, Life Power. Give us the Life Power. Now!!!

Keeping her focus on the healing and fighting back the Wraith was almost more than she could take. She pushed her Power harder to speed up the healing fearing she was going to lose control. She bit at her lip hard using her own pain to focus. If only Joshua was here, his very presence calmed her and gave her the resolve and strength.

She had not meant to open the Link between Joshua and herself, especially since Joshua had been so overwhelmed with his responsibilities. But there he was. His deep voice floated within her mind soothing her. Alexandria, what is it? I feel your distress.

I’ll be right there. His warmth and strength suffused through her calming her enough so she could continue. She wanted to answer him and tell him everything was okay but she just didn’t have the focus beyond the healing and holding back the beast.

Finally, she felt the last of the wounds seal and the skin beneath her hand was now smooth. She knew there would not even be a scar on Arik’s face which was exactly the way she had wanted it.

The life energy within him was evened out and so smooth.

Alexandria just wanted to bask in its sparkling light for just a few minutes more and perhaps taste a bit of it.

Her eyes snapped open realizing where her thoughts were headed. The dark side of her had quietly surfaced while she had been focused on the healing. She noted that Arik slowly and cautiously slid his hand away from hers dropping it to his side in a non-threatening manner. The expression on his face made her suspect her eyes had reverted back to the blackness of the Wraith.

In the periphery of her vision, she detected Warren fiddling with the Collar remote in indecision. Her breath rushed in and out faster and faster while she fought to remove her hand from Arik and disengage from his energy. The Wraith within her urged her to pull just a taste for it and all she could do was stay frozen fighting with all her might but she was losing the battle.

“Lexi, you’re stronger than the darkness. Let go of Arik and come back to me.” Hope bloomed in her. Joshua was so near she 132

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could feel his breath against her ear and the internal screeching of the Wraith told her she could win against it even in her weakened state.

With every bit of concentration she could muster, Alexandria slowly extricated her Power from Arik’s energy and pulled her hand away from his cheek. She fisted her hands, and afraid to touch anyone else, she crossed her arms over her chest. Shaking from head to toe, she tried to move away from Joshua, not wanting to turn against him, but he refused to let her go and instead encircled her in his arms.

The contact instantly calmed her and the Wraith faded partially into her subconscious. She could still hear it whining in frustration for the missed opportunity for a meal, but at least, it was mostly suppressed. Covering her face, she just wanted to hide from everyone. What an evil animal they must think her to be.

Joshua wouldn’t let her stew in her self-abuse, though. He gently grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away from her face.

“Look, Alexandria. Your healing is extraordinary. Guardian Arik has his old smirking mug back again. Perhaps you should have at least left a scar or two on him to knock down his over confidence a notch or two.”

Bless Josh. He was trying to make her feel better. And she did when she glanced at Arik. The side of his face was perfectly unmarred and the Guardian marking of the crystalline ankh on his cheek was flawless. Guardian Arik was giving Joshua a scowl too at his comment. It almost made her feel light enough to laugh, but not quite.

She whispered, “He looks the way he should. Not scarred by a Wraith.”

No sooner had she said the hated word, the Wraith shrieked within her and she slumped in Joshua’s arms grabbing at her head.

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it probably wouldn’t have been possible to stand anyway.

Through her degrading concentration, she head Joshua growl,

“Warren, I know healing can take a lot out of her, but what the fuck is going on with the Wraith suppression? I thought you were going to give her the suppression injections while I was dealing with the battles and weapons issue.”

“I did. The Wraith genetics appears to be building up a resistance to the injections.” Warren came over and placed two syringes on a nearby surgical tray pulling it up to the gurney. “It’s still early but with the healing she’s weakened her ability to fight the inner Wraith off even more. I have to go ahead and give the suppressant to her.”

Warren placed a hand on her arm. “Alexandria, I think it’s for the best.”

“Y…yes.” She stammered. “D...do it.”

She could tell Joshua was stressed from the way he ran his hands over her hair and the fact he was broadcasting his upset over her condition through their Link. He had never closed the connection but she couldn’t let him go through what she was about to go through. Reaching up, she brushed her fingertips over his cheek.

“I’m s…sorry, Josh. I can’t let you experience this.” With effort, Alexandria closed the connection and was saddened by the sudden loss she not only felt but in the way Joshua looked also.

Arik stepped up to the gurney. Alexandria saw him glance at Joshua for approval.

“I owe her for this healing. Let me help with her.”

Joshua nodded and she took a deep breath knowing what was coming.

Joshua held her head while Arik held her arms. Probably a good idea, she thought hysterically. In between the inner Wraith surfacing fast and her own irrational fear of needles coming at her, thanks to Turin, she was sure she would have fought if her strength had been there. Warren swabbed the side of her neck and quick as to not prolong the procedure, he injected her with both syringes at the same time.

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Every muscle in her body tensed in the brief moment of expectation before the suppressant took hold. Just when she couldn’t stand it any longer, the burning heat lit her up from the inside. Who was louder in the agonizing scream she wasn’t sure, if it was her or the Wraith, but either way she prayed for unconsciousness which just wouldn’t come. She tossed and thrashed against Joshua and Arik’s hold. Somewhere in the depths of the madness, she thought she heard Joshua desperately call to her through their Link, Hold on, Lexi. I’ll make it stop. Just reach for me.

His wonderful deep voice vibrated through her body and into her very Life Force. Alexandria didn’t know if she actually was able to reach out to Joshua or not, but one moment she was in agony and chaos and the next she was in a warm embrace floating into peaceful nothingness.

Alexandria stayed in the peaceful darkness and warmth for some time and didn’t want to leave it, but slowly she surfaced from the deepest of sleeps she had had in a long time. Stretching, she winced, feeling like she had been run over by a bus. Every muscle and joint hurt in her body but at least she couldn’t detect the inner Wraith. That, in and of itself, was a miracle. She was surprised to find she was back in Joshua’s bed and not in medical and at the same time disappointed to find she was by herself. She rolled over grabbing Joshua’s pillow and tucked it under her chin.

Laying there in the dark in the comfortable bed, she heard Joshua’s voice in the distance.

“Sssh. You’ll wake her up and then I’ll have to kick your ass even if you are my Khenti and her brother.”

He sounded a bit peeved to Alexandria, but she really didn’t care at the moment. Yawning, she pulled the cover over her head.

She really didn’t want to get up anyway and had no idea what time it was.

Alexandria smiled when she heard Michael fire right back,

“Joshua if you weren’t my second in command and basically family to me, I would have performed a major attitude adjustment on you a long time ago.” Michael sighed and continued, “How is 135

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she doing?”

“It was rough, but I was able to push her into unconsciousness through our Link”. Alexandria held her breath waiting for Michael’s response to the disclosure. She wasn’t sure if she should get up and stand between the two men or not.

Uncomfortable silence went on forever, but finally Michael spoke. Alexandria could hear the control in his voice.

“You have Mated with her?” And there it was.

Joshua cleared his throat. “Aaah, no Khenti. I wouldn’t take advantage of her in that way. We did, um… She is too important to me and it must be her decision! I would never… and it would have to be with your blessing.”

More drawn out silence. Alexandria bit at her nail holding her breath again and trying not to move under the satin blankets.

When her brother finally spoke, she tried not to let out her breath harshly.

“I see. Trust me, I do understand. She is a grown woman and if she chooses you as her Mate, then she has chosen wisely. Now, I need you, the other Warriors, and the Guardians Elite down in the planning room in ten. We’ll be battling tonight. I’m hoping it goes better between the extra rest we’ve had and the new weapons you’ve created.”

“I’ll be there with the others, Khenti.” Alexandria heard the door open and then close with Michael’s departure. Joshua let out a pent up breath he had been holding and she felt for him. She knew exactly what it felt like to have to disclose to her brother. On too many occasions.

“Lexi, I know you’re awake. I can feel you through our connection.” Joshua was suddenly in the bed next to her pulling the covers down. He rolled her over onto her back and brushed her hair out of his way. He lay down next to her bracing himself on one elbow. Leaning down, he captured her lips with his and tantalized her with an entrancing kiss. Sighing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and opened to his exploration.

Even though she wanted more and felt he wanted it too, he pulled away. Regret coursed through their Link. Joshua kissed her 136

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forehead.

“I wish we had more time this morning, Alexandria, but the damn Gate calls again.”

Startled, she looked over at the bedside clock. “By the Ancients, I’ve slept at least ten hours. Joshua, why didn’t you wake me?”

“You needed the sleep.” When she tried to argue, he kissed her again, running his tongue along the edges of her lips and then nipping at the corners to silence her. He pushed back a bit smiling at her.

“I know, I know. You have your research to figure out how in the hell to fix your genetics, but if you don’t rest, you’re not going to be effective anyway. You tasked yourself too much yesterday and paid for it. Warren said if you get more rest then the resistance to the suppressant should slow down. Please, Lexi. For me.”

Alexandria hugged Joshua while he ran his hands down her back to her waist. She shivered at the sensation and whispered, “I wish I had time to rest, Josh. Rest with you. But neither of us really has that option.”

Joshua growled in her ear and she could tell he wasn’t happy with her answer so she added, “I promise, I’ll do my best to add more rest sessions to the day. For us.”

Michael’s call across the Warrior’s Link interrupted their discussion and Joshua’s wandering hands. You’re down to five Warrior. Move it.

Joshua rested his forehead against hers for a moment so she took advantage and checked on his Life Power. The dionic energy was only a trace so she was satisfied she wouldn’t have to convert any of it for the moment.

He gave her a dark look and said, “I felt that. I’m fine and if I have any issues I’ll let you know.”

He ran his hands over her hair and more gently said, “I know you love me and need to take care of me, but promise me you’ll take care of you too. Even if I wasn’t challenged by my Life Power, I still couldn’t live without you.”

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promise, Joshua. For you, I promise anything.”

He smiled at her then, his sexy dimple making an appearance.

“Good. I’ll hold you to it. Now let me get ready and get my ass down to the meeting before Michael rains punishment on my head for being late. I can only stand so many of his lectures in a week.

And no matter what is going on, reach out to me if you need me.

Okay?”

“Okay.” She watched him get up from the bed, grab his clothes and gear, and disappear from her view into the bathroom.

Lying there, she just listened to the sound of the shower while he got ready. The whole time her medical mind spun up the new techniques and combinations she planned on doing that day in the lab to find a way to fix her genetics. If possible, she needed to develop a virus at the same time to destroy the genetically mutated Wraith Turin was creating on the other side of the Gate. She was careful with her thoughts, because she didn’t want Joshua to know she was going to use herself as the guinea pig.

Before she could even get out of the bed, Joshua was done and heading for the door. On the way by her, he stopped long enough to give her a tender kiss.

“See you in a few hours.”

He slipped away from her and was out the door in a flash before she could whisper, “Be safe, Josh.”

Sixty minutes later, Alexandria was literally up to her elbows in blood-filled test tubes, chemicals, flasks, beakers, and hand held computers. Warren was hanging over her shoulder trying to assist in what she was doing, but he was just throwing off her concentration. The closer he got, the more the Wraith inside of her started sniffing around whispering for her to reach out and take his energy. Not to mention the dark Power from the soon to open Gate swirling around the complex wasn’t helping her any either.

All of it was slowly driving her crazy.

Finally, she slammed down the hand held so hard it cracked the screen.

“Ancients be damned! Warren, you have to back off or I’m going to suck the life right out of you.” She growled with all the 138

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frustration she felt and even heard the overlay of the Wraith’s voice as it broke through her control for a moment.

Warren backed away throwing up his hands. “Fine. I’m sorry. I was just trying to help since your focus keeps slipping. We’ve got to find a genetic cure or eventually the injections aren’t going to work anymore.”

Alexandria realized Warren was just as frustrated and now she had taken her frustration out on him.

Reaching to place a hand on his shoulder in apology, she stopped herself just in time. Touching anyone right now wouldn’t be a good idea. Joshua was pre-occupied so she didn’t want to reach out to him through the Link. The connection gave her a bit of balance from the dual chaos in her mind.

“Look, I’m sorry. It’s just…I need to find the correct combination for the anti-gene against the modified Wraith genetics. I’ll only have one try on testing it.” Alexandria swallowed roughly. “If it doesn’t work then no one will have to worry about me being a danger anymore, but we need it to destroy whatever abominations Turin is creating in the Drake dimension. He had to have made a hybrid Wraith with the Sphinx genes he stole from me and using his new creation to open the Gate. But I can stop him and his plans with the anti-gene because it will work against any modified Wraith genes.”

Sighing, Warren walked over to one of the chairs and sat down heavily. “Don’t sweat it, Alexandria. There’s just a crap load of pressure on all of us and your condition makes it even worse for you.”

He rubbed at his eyes, his shoulders slumping. “I wish there was a way to pick up the process, but you’re the expert with all of this. We may have to increase the dosage again so you can stay focused. Fuck!”

Alexandria pulled up a chair as well and sat down, feeling the inevitable breathing heavily down her neck. An increased dosage would keep the Wraith down longer but would also be worse on her own system. She didn’t know how much more she could take before her body gave out or her mind snapped from the pure pain.

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“We’ll find a way, Warren. One way or another we have to find a way.”

She pushed aside the hand-held computer which now sported a cracked screen and grabbed her back-up. Trying for one more round of concentration, she ran her finger across the touch screen and carefully examined the spiraling matrix of the DNA. Each strand was normal except for the very center where the alteration had been made and where her unique Sphinx DNA should have been intricately connected. The biggest breakthrough was the fact the Sphinx DNA wasn’t destroyed but disjointed from the rest of the spiral and hanging precariously to the side of the structure.

The Wraith DNA had been inserted into the space and was taking over. If she could just get the right anti-gene combination down, then she could dislodge and destroy the bad DNA like a virus, and hopefully, the Sphinx strands would re-associate.

For the altered Wraith on the other side of the Gate in Drake hell, they wouldn’t be so lucky. Their DNA strands would be weakened and the anti-gene would attack the altered DNA. Even with the Sphinx DNA, there would be no hope for them as their genetic strands would completely disassociate. Unfortunately, the anti-gene wouldn’t work on the unaltered Wraith because their genetics were intact with no weak links.

Looking at her formulas, again, she thought one more change in the combination would complete the anti-gene and then it would be time to bite the bullet, test the mixture on herself, and hope for the best. Before she could start making additional notations, the outer door of the medical clinic crashed open. Alexandria glanced up quickly coming to her feet to assess the problem and saw the new arrival was Eleina.

Out of breath and with a panicked look on her face she blurted out, “The men are being stubborn asses as usual. I told them even in your condition you would want to help. I hope I was right because Stormy needs you. She collapsed during the Power Transference.”

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Hearing Eleina’s desperate plea for help, Alexandria shot up so quickly, the stool fell over and slid across the floor. She was across the room and out the door in such a blur, she left Warren and Eleina in the dust. They both called for her, but there was no way Alexandria planned on slowing down. Her friend needed her and her brother and Joshua would both get an earful about not calling her as soon as Stormy had collapsed. In the back of her mind, she understood her own condition was unstable and could only cause harm and the two Warriors she loved were trying to protect all of them, but hell. She wanted at least to have a chance to help her family before the suppression wore off again.

As soon as she reached the elevator, she jammed her thumb on the button and nothing happened.

“Son of a bitch,” she growled.

“Forgot you’ve been restricted?” Warren reached past her and pushed the call button. “By the way, I grabbed a medical bag just in case.”

“Yeah, damn it, I forgot. And thanks, but I don’t think what is going on with Stormy will be fixed with anything in the bag.”

Alexandria crossed her arms over her chest sulking a bit over the restriction. She had forgotten, but she understood.

Eleina caught up with them just as the doors to the elevator opened up. Alexandria led the way into the elevator and Warren and Eleina piled in after her. Eleina reached over and hit the button to the Garden Dome before letting Alexandria know.

“I told Jenny what was going on and she’s sending someone up from the Trauma Cell. They’re already down there setting up for medical when the Gate opens so she couldn’t come back up, but she’s having one of her assistants take over in medical.”

Alexandria nodded already focused on getting to Stormy once the doors opened. She wasn’t sure what she planned to do and probably shouldn’t even touch Stormy to assess what was going on 141

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but what choice did she have.

“Warren, I’m going to have to find out what’s up with Stormy’s system. I expect you to put me out of commission at the smallest indication of the Wraith surfacing.”

She turned a demanding glare at Warren. “No more working out your issues with hitting the remote button. Do you understand? Nothing can happen to her even if it means taking me out.”

Warren looked at her with indecision, but then steel entered his gaze. “I will but you’re stronger than you think Alexandria. Don’t make me make that decision.”

A stand-off was what it felt like with Warren. She demanded his action and he turned the tables on her demanding she take control. Since when was she ever in that kind of control even as a normal Sphinx? She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind but the opening of the elevator doors brought her back to the urgency at hand.

Out the doors she ran and up to the Garden Dome frosted double doors. Unlocked, they opened with the push of her hands.

She passed through the small alcove and onto the next set of clear doors. Caleb had created the setup to keep the animals and creatures of the gardens inside where they belonged much like a bird aviary setup accomplished with feathered animals.

Pushing through the second set of doors, Alexandria picked up her pace and ran quickly down the dirt and rock pathway into the Garden. She pressed her speed faster wanting to get to the grass field where the Transference took place. The Garden was so large, close to eight football fields across that it seemed to take forever on a lazy walk.

Any other day, Alexandria loved to relax in the gardens but today she barely had time to notice the scenery of the foliage with shades of dark green to evergreen and the lightest lime. Water-oak, maple, palm, fruit and even fern trees were but a blur in her peripheral vision. Her quickly moving legs brushed against pink flowering shrubs causing the tiny blooms to explode up around her. Tiny orange birds flitted away from her, interrupted in their 142

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feeding from bird–of-paradise blooms and butterflies of blue and yellow tried to avoid being overtaken by her flying form. When she sprinted through the deeper vegetation with small areas cleared for hammocks and multi colored garden chairs and tables, she startled a dappled deer. It danced and sprinted away from her in a panic, never looking back.

Time was of the essence and she kicked into a higher tempo not even thinking about where she was pulling the energy or skills from. She knew she just had to get to Stormy. Warren was left way behind but Eleina kept pace behind her with no problem. The Priestess had strength, and thankfully, didn’t fear her altered genetic makeup.

Finally, Alexandria cleared the line of trees breaking onto the grass field. It would have been peaceful to stretch out and lay on it, but there would be no time for peace for a long time to come.

Slowing her pace, she jogged the rest of the way across the field to the center where Stormy lay on the ground. She was hard to make out with all the hovering Warriors and Guardians. Michael had her in his arms and Joshua was beside him. Everyone had fear and uncertainty written across their faces. Joshua was running his hand through his hair in agitation.

“We should get Alexandria, Khenti.”

Giving them a pre-warning, Alexandria shouted out, “Yes, you should have gotten me.” Before she reached the circle, she was closed off from entering. A wall of Warriors and Guardians blocked her way. The distrust and rejection stung but they were only protecting their Power Keeper and Khenti from a deadly enemy. Still, among the many faces of Warrior and Guardian there was a true apology in their expressions. It lightened her heart a little that they still cared for her even though they had to block her way. In the end, she was glad they were on guard around her. She knew she didn’t trust herself as the whispering Wraith inside her was in glee over the nearness of its target. Her beloved brother.

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“You idiots get the fuck out of my way!” Joshua was beyond furious while he pushed his way out of the tight protecting circle.

Before the ranks had closed, he had seen a beautifully flushed Alexandria trying to get to Stormy to help and her heartbroken expression when the Warriors and Guardians closed her out.

Inside he knew she was tender hearted and the actions would hurt her. The doctor in her would be just as upset with being rejected to help a member of her family and in front of everyone.

Pushing past the wall of hardened men and planting a hand to the back of the last one blocking his way moving him quite effectively, Joshua finally stood by Alexandria. He grasped her hand pulling her into his side and positioned himself so he was mostly blocking her from the other men. Taking note of Eleina standing by Alexandria and Warren finally catching up with a medical kit in tow, he nodded to both of them in appreciation of standing by her.

Joshua turned a dark look at the Warriors he called brothers and the Guardians Elite.

“Stormy needs help. Do you think anyone else is going to be able to find out what the fuck is going on with her?”

“Dude. What would you have us do? She’s part, um, Wraith, and out for Michael’s blood.” Ethan pulled at his shirt and rubbed at his wrist where the Sefu resided in obvious discomfort.

Alexandria squeezed Joshua’s hand and he looked into her thankfully deep blue eyes. She spoke to him through their Link.

They’re right in what they’re doing. I’m unpredictable even to myself, Joshua. Please don’t be angry with them.

He knew she was right but it still ticked him off her family would consider her the enemy. Directing his anger at them anyway, he barked, “Do we want Alexandria’s help or not? Or should we just leave Stormy on the ground half unconscious and in discomfort?”

When everyone still stood in defense mode, Khenti Michael ordered, “Let my sister through now. Joshua’s right.” The circle parted instantly and Joshua led Alexandria through the wary men into the center.

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The closer Joshua pulled her toward Michael and Stormy, the more Alexandria clung to him. Their Link was still slightly open and he could feel the swirling chaos in her. She shook in his arms and her breathing and heart rate was labored. He stopped gently grasping her face and tilting it up so he could see. Alexandria’s eyes were tightly closed and she grabbed his shirt in a death grip.

“Alexandria what is it? Talk to me.” He brushed several midnight black strands of her hair behind her ear that had come lose during her quick flight to reach them.

She visibly swallowed with difficulty and her voice came out raspy, the Wraith’s voice overlaying making it sound dual leveled.

“Michael. Having him near is agitating the damn Wraith. The creature scents its target. “

He quickly held Alexandria closer in case she tried to attack or bolt. “Michael, you’re going to have to step back. Alexandria is struggling with the influence of the Wraith and may attack you.”

Michael growled, “Like hell I will. Stormy needs me.”

Joshua was at a loss. How was Alexandria going to help Stormy when Michael wouldn’t stand down? What if they lost their Power Keeper because her Power Mate couldn’t let her go and Alexandria couldn’t help her with Michael present?

Joshua was second in command and should have been able to do something to help his Khenti but he was stuck between a rock and hard place. As he became uncertain and desperate to help his Khenti, Stormy stirred and Joshua watched as she weakly placed her hand on Michael’s cheek.

“Michael,” she whispered. “You have to let me go. Just for a little bit. Alexandria won’t hurt me. She’s my friend and your sister. Even with the Wraith trying to take over her, she’s fighting for us.”

Words from a true angel. Joshua could see the entire group of Warriors and Guardians visibly relax. Michael appeared to want to for Stormy’s sake, but he was clearly conflicted between letting her go and wanting her to be healed. Finally, with a growl, he gently laid her on the ground and backed away. Guardian Arik and Hunter flanked him, positioning themselves protectively between 145

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their Khenti and Alexandria in case she did go off the deep end.

The farther away Michael got, the less Alexandria shook. Her breathing evened out and she finally opened her eyes looking up at Joshua. Joshua noted her eyes were still dark blue.

“Thank the Ancients.” He breathed. Gently he ran his hand over her hair to soothe her but more to soothe himself. “Are you ready?”

Alexandria smiled tremulously up at him but her eyes started to glitter with her healer determination.

“Yeah. I’m ready to tackle this one. I have to help Stormy.”

Joshua had faith in her and knew she would come through as their “Doc” again.

She stepped out from the embrace of his arms and slowly approached Stormy. Joshua hated the feeling of loss as soon as her warmth left him. Turning to Warren, he held his hand out.

“The Collar activator. Give it to me.”

Warren crossed his arms across his chest and Joshua just knew the man was going to make an issue out of his demand.

“Damn it, Warren. Don’t argue about this with me right now. If ever I wasn’t in the mood, it’s definitely now. Trust me when I say I’m perfectly capable of activating it.”

Warren’s look clearly indicated he didn’t believe Joshua would activate the Collar if something happened.

“Yeah, right Joshua. I’ll give it to you but it’s on your head if something happens and your involvement with her gets in the way.”

Joshua snarled, his Powers spinning up in agitation. Luckily, Warren thought better of challenging his demand and slapped the activator in Joshua’s hand. Turning back to Alexandria, Joshua slipped the device into one of the many pockets of his fatigue pants.

Already squatted down and leaning over Stormy, she was examining her patient in healer style checking for pulse, consciousness, and all the things someone with her medical expertise did. Once she was satisfied with the findings of the physical exam, Alexandria glanced up to Joshua.

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“Josh, I need you to monitor me while I check her Life Power levels and see what damage is internal.”

To Joshua, Alexandria appeared uncertain of herself and the ability to control the dark beast inside. Even her hands shook slightly when she brushed a couple of stray strands of hair behind her ear. Everything in him wanted to help her.

“I’ll stay connected with you, Lexi. Would it help if I monitored you similar to what Michael does during the Transference?”

“Yes, that would be perfect.” His heart lifted a bit when she gifted him with a breathtaking smile at his suggestion.

Kneeling down beside her, he reached up under her hair and rested his hand on the back of her neck. Opening his connection with her, Joshua could instantly sense her inner concerns for Stormy’s condition and the contact with Life Power which could set her inner Wraith off. Wanting to reassure her, he reached around her waist and pulled her back against him.

He placed a kiss behind her delicate ear and whispered just for her, “You can do it, Alexandria. I’m right here for you.”

Taking a deep breath, Alexandria leaned back over Stormy and began to reach toward her chest to make contact for her examination. Joshua felt her cringe when Michael growled on the other side of the field. She moved not a muscle, but he felt tension running through her.

Michael cursed under his breath. “I’m sorry, Alexandria. This is hard for me. Please…please continue.”

Joshua saw her give Michael an impatient look and then she placed her hand over Stormy’s heart.

“Stormy, I’m going to check on your Life Power like I’ve done in the past.” Stormy nodded and Alexandria closed her eyes.

The moment Alexandria’s energy passed into Stormy’s body, Joshua was amazed at the feedback he was getting through their shared Link. He could detect Alexandria traveling along the part of Stormy’s nervous system which drew, stored, and transferred Life Power. The damage even to his inexperienced senses indicated Stormy had been over-tasking herself to the point the special cells were raw and inflamed. It was no wonder Stormy had passed out.

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As their Power Keeper, the pain of drawing Life Power through her swollen system had to have been more than excruciating.

Joshua shook his head in awe. To him, the women of the Sphinx were amazing. Sometimes they put the Warriors to shame with the amount of giving and agony they went through to support them, save their asses, and yes, put up with them and love them. He realized he hadn’t committed enough of himself to the extraordinary woman he had in his arms.

He glanced up at his brothers in arms and realized perhaps they felt the same way, because their expressions showed concern and fear for the two women on the ground before them battling to recover to fight another day with the Warriors. Even those Warriors without Mates had a suspicious sparkle in their eyes.

Joshua wasn’t surprised the hardcore Raven even appeared to be stressed over the condition of the women.

Alexandria brought his attention back when she sighed heavily shaking her head. “The good news is Stormy’s not losing her abilities from burnout.” Comments of Thank the Ancients whispered around them at the news, but Alexandria had more to share. “The bad news is Stormy’s system is raw and inflamed.”

“Damn it, Stormy. I shouldn’t have let you Transfer to us when I knew you were struggling. I’m so sorry, angel.” Michael was obviously beside himself pacing back and forth behind Guardian Arik and Hunter.

Weakly, Stormy responded, “Michael it’s not your fault. I would have demanded to do it anyway. You know how stubborn I am.”

Stormy grabbed Alexandria’s arm fixing her with a determined stare. “Alexandria, can you fix me? The Gate’s opening and I need to perform the Transference for the Warriors. Their levels are too low for this battle, especially if it goes south.”

“I know. I’ll do as much as I can.” Joshua sensed the strong need Alexandria had burning through her to help Stormy. She was already ramping her Power up to heal her.

“Joshua, stay with me.” And with a squeeze of her unoccupied hand on his arm, Alexandria dove back into Stormy’s system. Her energy coated the inflamed cells of Stormy’s body providing 148

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instant relief. Stormy sighed heavily, her body relaxing back onto the grass. After the anti-inflammatory adjustments to the cells, Alexandria continued to heal the cell structure, smooth out the jagged energy patterns, and strengthen the cells with much needed energy. Joshua detected Stormy had been in such pain and pushing Power to others, her own cells hadn’t been receiving the energy they needed.

Within minutes, Stormy’s color had improved, her energy levels were almost back to normal, and she was sitting up on the grass.

Her eyes glittered again with strength and challenge. Watching Alexandria work her magic still held him captivated. When he detected she was finally satisfied with her healing, she slowly pulled her Power from Stormy’s system and withdrew her hand.

Stormy, of course, wouldn’t let her get away, grabbing Alexandria in a big hug and almost pulling Joshua down on top of both of them.

“Thank you, Alexandria.” Stormy was so exuberant in her recovery she bounced back to her feet like a rabbit and grabbed Alexandria in a hug. The movement was such a surprise Alexandria almost fell over. Joshua encircled her with both arms and stood up stabilizing both of them.

With Alexandria now firmly pressed against his body, he watched his Power Keeper run back over to Michael. Stormy dove around both of Michael’s guards and grabbed him in a hug. Joshua could feel Alexandria’s happiness over being able to help the two Power Mates. She snuggled back into Joshua and he detected her thoughts of hoping she could be with him in that way. You will be, Alexandria. I promise if I have to find Turin and strangle him myself to find the fix for you.

Alexandria looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I know you would, Joshua. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Stormy, you can’t, damn it.”

Joshua glanced over to see Michael beside himself again. He paced in front of his Mate, running his hands through his hair, and growling deep and low. Everyone stood in silence not daring to say a thing while the Khenti worked whatever new issue was up with 149

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Stormy. Michael stomped right up to her in obvious frustration,

“My sister just risked everyone to heal you and now you want to undo her work? Have you lost your mind?”

Crossing her arms across her chest, Stormy walked away from Michael until she stood in front of Joshua and Alexandria. Joshua didn’t like the look in Stormy’s eyes either. It boded ill for someone and he had a suspicion it would be Alexandria. He pulled her closer in his arms giving Stormy a back-off look.

Stormy put her hands on her hips. “Don’t even try it, Warrior. I know Alexandria will agree with me.”

Joshua almost laughed if the situation hadn’t been so dire when Stormy pointedly ignored him and the other Warriors and focused on Alexandria.

“Look, the Warriors won’t admit it, but they need Life Power. I was already able to juice up Raven and Hunter and Eleina already took care of Jacob, so that just leaves four Warriors left.” Stormy paused taking a deep breath and continued before Michael could interrupt her.

“Alexandria, remember before when Caleb was injured, you pulled Life Power from me, changed it to healing energy, and then pushed the Power to Caleb. We know you can pull energy from your surroundings now and could heal any additional damage I inflict on myself. We’ve worked together before as a team, I think we can do that now.”

Alexandria bit at her lip and Joshua knew her sign of agitation and indecision. She wouldn’t commit to helping in that way unless Michael supported the idea. The entire plan was dangerous for everyone. Stormy could end up causing more damage and overwhelming Alexandria’s healing ability, or Alexandria could lose control and injure someone, or worse Alexandria could be lost forever to the control of the Wraith inside of her. Every exposure to excess Life Power was making the Wraith stronger, and the thought scared the hell out of Joshua that he could lose her forever.

Everyone looked at Michael, awaiting their leader’s decision.

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yeah, but he wouldn’t go against his Khenti’s declaration. They all waited while Michael paced back and forth staying on the other side of the grassy clearing in order not to agitate Alexandria’s condition. Finally, he stopped and looked to Alexandria with a rough acceptance in his expression. “Sis, do you think you can do this? I can’t lie that we don’t need the Life Power, but I won’t risk Stormy and you, even if it costs us…lives.”

The ensuing chaos of Warriors, Guardians, Eleina, and Stormy denying anyone’s inevitable death when it could be prevented wasn’t a surprise to Joshua. Stormy freaked at the mention of losing any of her Warriors, but before she got spun up, Alexandria replied loudly over the heated discussion.

“Stormy’s right. The Warriors need Life Power for the battles.

I’ve been able to tell you all have been extremely low since I got back. You have been denying yourselves in order to protect Stormy but if you continue, you won’t recover and possibly not survive the upcoming battles. I can do this…if Joshua will help me?”

A bit taken back by the fact she thought he might leave her in her moment of need, he cupped her face making her meet his eyes.

Connecting with her through her Link, he let Alexandria see exactly how committed to her he was, no matter what happened even if it was his death.

“Know this, Alexandria, I will not leave you no matter what the consequences. And everyone else knows this.” Joshua pinned all of them with a steely gaze. “I will never give up Alexandria even it costs me expulsion from the Sphinx Warriors or the darkest, most agonizing death ever. She’s mine.”

Even if Alexandria looked shocked at his declaration before all of his brothers, the other Warriors didn’t look surprised at all. It figured to him they could read him like a book. Everyone knew when Michael was Mated even before he was willing to admit it. So why wouldn’t they know Joshua was basically already Joined to Alexandria before he had actually done it.

Stormy tackled Alexandria again in another round of hugging.

“Oh, thank you, Alexandria. I owe you anything you want. So what do we do?”

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Stormy stepped away trying to look all Power Keeper again and Joshua just wanted to roll his eyes.

“So what do we do?”

“Well, never having done this myself, I would guess we need to have contact similar to a Transference hold. I’ll definitely need to be monitored by Joshua in case I have any issues. I know you normally are monitored by Michael, but I don’t know if that’s wise at this point having him that close to me. Lastly, we’ll need a volunteer willing to risk themselves with me.”

Joshua almost lost his mind with the thought of one of the other Warriors being anywhere near Alexandria.

Before anyone had the chance, Joshua growled, “No one is going before me.” When Raven started laughing behind him and commenting about whipped Warriors, Joshua cleared his throat and started again.

“Not because of the Life Power but I want to make sure you’ll be alright during the Transference and I can pull you out if you have issues. Plus, I’m perfectly capable of monitoring you at the same time.”

Erin suddenly chimed in, “Whatever you’re going to do, you better hurry up. We’re almost out of time, dudes. The Gates getting ready to open.”

Just that quick, Joshua moved Alexandria into position. He ran one hand back under her hair massaging her neck for a moment before settling at the nape of her neck to monitor her. Stormy stepped up joining them to complete the mini-circle. Joshua slid his hand over Stormy’s arm and gripped her arm before he reached her elbow. She in turn overlaid her arm with his and grasped him mid-forearm in the Transference grip. Joshua drew Alexandria closer to him putting his arm around her and she placed her hand over his heart. Everything was deathly quiet except for the occasional light growling from Khenti Michael.

Joshua knew Michael still wasn’t used to others touching his Mate and couldn’t blame him. He felt the same way about Alexandria.

“Ready?” When both women nodded to him he began the ancient pledge, “Power Keeper, I Joshua, marked by the Wolf and 152

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called in the old tongue, Khel, do ask for the gift of Life Power.

May the Transference make me whole and give me the strength for the battle to come.”

With the completion of the pledge, Stormy began to pull Life Power from the living things around her. Joshua watched the glittering energy flow toward her and pool beneath her feet. Right when the Power touched her, she started to flinch but stopped when Alexandria’s Power wove with the incoming energy, slowing it down, evening the energy out. Alexandria’s own energy flowed with the natural form and entered into Stormy. At the same time, Alexandria pulled Life Power into her body from the living things around her. The two women exchanged a pleased glance and Joshua opened the Link with Alexandria to check how it was going.

No Wraith was detected even with the extra Life Power at the moment which was a relief to Joshua. The process was fascinating to him while he hovered within the energy exchange and saw it first hand as the Power increased inside his Power Keeper. With Alexandria’s intervention, Stormy easily stored the Power to the level necessary for the Transference and in no time her skin glittered and her eyes glowed. When Stormy had enough, she nodded to Joshua and pushed the energy through their joined arms.

The Life Power was incredible flowing through his body. He leaned his head back closing his eyes and shuddered. The Transference of Life Power from the Power Keeper was an aphrodisiac even if it wasn’t the Warrior’s Mate. All the energy and blood in his system wanted to rush to his groin and he felt bad he would react this way when Alexandria was with him. What would she think of his lack of control?

Her beautiful voice whispered through his mind. Josh, this is not new to me. I understand the body’s reaction to Life Power which is needed. It’s a part of creation, of love, of passion, of you, and of me. He leaned his forehead against hers just letting the energy flow through him. When the levels had built to a certain point Alexandria pushed her Power into him too. The sensation 153

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was incredible with two conduits of powerful energy flowing into him. Stormy raised his Life Power level and any energy his body couldn’t convert which turned into the bluish dionic form, Alexandria stepped in and converted it for him with her Power.

Stormy finally disengaged the Life Power she was pushing to him and let go of his arm. Joshua encircled Alexandria with both of his arms pulling her in closer. He shuddered against her and whispered for her ears alone. “One day, I’ll push my Life Power into you and make you come apart in my arms. This I swear and promise.” He smiled as her inexperience made her gasp and blush in front of the other Warriors.

Once Joshua’s Life Power was adjusted to the golden sparkling form, Alexandria regretfully disengaged her Power from him too.

He could tell she didn’t want to and that she feared repeating the process with the other Warriors but he would stay with her no matter what.

With Joshua’s Transference completed, he turned to Stormy and completed the ancient pledge. “Power Keeper, I Joshua, thank thee with the utmost gratitude for the gift of the Life Power that you have bestowed upon me. I pledge my Life and Power Sword in the defense of my Power Keeper, my people, and this world from the evil of the Wraith.”

Michael interrupted in the process with a quick command, “I know this goes against ceremony, but skip the pledges. We don’t have time. Ethan indicated we have maybe ten minutes at the most.”

Alexandria checked over Stormy quickly. “You’re doing good.

This process is working. Now that Joshua’s done, you can be up front. I’ll monitor from the back and Joshua can monitor me.”

Stormy giggled. “Sounds kind of kinky to me, but whatever works.”

A groan and muttered, “Stormy, please, “ from Michael had everyone picking up the pace. Alexandria stepped behind to Stormy’s side, resting one hand over her heart and the other on the center of her back. Joshua pressed himself against Alexandria’s back and put one hand on the back of her neck again 154

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and the other around her waist. Ethan stepped up to Stormy forming the Transference grip and the same process was completed with Stormy pulling in Life Power, Alexandria controlling, converting the Power, and healing any additional damage, and the quick push and transfer of energy to the Warrior.

As Joshua had been, Ethan was left breathless and stimulated by the Transference. Quickly thanking Stormy for the Life Power, Ethan disengaged and made room for the next Warrior.

Caleb stepped up looking more than ready for his turn. He was pale from lack of Life Power but his eyes glittered in anticipation of the Transference and the energy. During the two Transferences, Joshua closely monitored Alexandria both through their Link and through his touch. Joshua’s Transference had been completed without incident, but with the following two Warriors and the stress of picking up the pace, Alexandria’s focus was slipping. He felt the stirrings of the Wraith against the suppression and the creature’s fascination over the Life Power passing around it and yet it couldn’t get a taste. The inner Wraith began to shriek in the back of Alexandria’s mind demanding the Power from her.

Tempting her with how good the energy would feel. How powerful she would become.

Joshua tightened his grip when she shook her head against the monster inside of her. The moment the Transference with Caleb was complete, she removed her hands from Stormy. Joshua ran his hand through her hair.

“Alexandria you can stop.”

He was concerned when she continued to stare blankly into the distance. Mumbling more to herself than anyone she argued, “No.

The Khenti must be protected. Above all else the Khenti must be protected.”

Alexandria blinked rapidly and shook her head finally acknowledging him. “I can do this. One more time. Michael is even lower than the others. He’ll collapse if he goes to battle.”

Stormy jerked around facing Michael. “You promised you were okay. I should have known when you continued to keep our Joined connection to a minimum.”

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Guardian Arik stepped in at this point. “Khenti, you must go through the Transference. If this is true and you’re that weak, then you jeopardize yourself and the Warrior’s Link. We’ll make sure Alexandria doesn’t get to you…”

“Fuck!” Khenti Michael marched right up to Arik getting in his grill. “Don’t you see I’m not worried about my ass. I don’t want Stormy over-extending herself more and I don’t want my sister pushing herself more than she already has, especially with her constant fight with the beast inside of her. I won’t have others hurting themselves for me.”

Yeah, no one dared demand anything of their Khenti, Joshua thought. He was a force to be reckoned with.

“Please Michael. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you. It would kill me.” Stormy sounded near tears. She looked back at Alexandria and Joshua felt her nod in support.

Everyone knew when a man was backed into a corner and had no choice but to choke on a decision that ultimately was out of his control. Joshua felt sorry for his Khenti, knowing how he felt as he slowly approached Stormy with defeat in his eyes. When Michael would’ve spoken his special pledge to Stormy, she placed a finger over his lips.

“I know.” Was all she said and then she grasped Michael’s arms in the Transference grip.

With Joshua holding on tight to Alexandria, he moved both of them forward to approach the couple. Alexandria growled in her throat but maintained control. Once by Stormy’s side, Alexandria replaced her hands on the two key locations for monitoring and helping with the Life Power. Joshua held her against him and massaged her neck. The Link with her had dwindled down and he couldn’t re-establish it with her as before. A sure sign she was losing the internal battle. He prayed to the Ancients this didn’t end badly. Even Arik and Hunter must have detected the changes as they flanked each side of her.

Stormy must have known Alexandria was about out of time because she quickly called to the Life Power firing the energy up through her system. Once again, her skin began to glitter and her 156

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eyes to glow. Joshua was proud of Alexandria. She was incredible with her monitoring and adjustment of the energy so Stormy wouldn’t suffer but she was obviously lost to the surfacing Wraith.

Even though Joshua couldn’t see her eyes, he knew they would be black, especially the way Hunter was staring at her and moving even closer. When Alexandria let out an ear-piercing shriek and jerked against his hold, he yanked her away from Stormy and Michael. She struggled in his arms and Guardian Arik and Hunter followed closely behind him.

Joshua snarled at both of them. “I have her. Now back the fuck off and give her some breathing room.” He cocked his head towards Stormy. “Have you checked on our Power Keeper?”

Stormy called over to him, “I’m fine. Alexandria held in there until I had the Power. Don’t need her for the Transference.”

With at least some good news, Joshua half walked, half dragged Alexandria away from the group. She was moaning and occasionally a high-pitched sound escaped her lips. He spun her around so she was facing him keeping one arm around her and grabbing her chin with the other. Pushing her face up so he could look into her face, he noted her eyes were tightly shut.

“Alexandria, talk to me. Damn it, woman, let me know what’s going on in there. Let me help you.”

He felt helpless and wanted nothing more than to make everything bad go away for her. To make her the gentle caring woman she once was. Even without the Link open, he could tell she was fighting one hell of an internal battle. Alexandria stood in his arms shaking violently, panting like crazy, and when tears tracked down her face, he felt his own heart break.

Not expecting it, she completely relaxed in his arms. Her face became peaceful and her grip relaxed on his arms where she had been digging in her nails.

“Lexi, are you okay?”

Alexandria’s eyes snapped open and they were as black as the deepest pools of hell. She hissed, “Lexi, mine.”

Before he could react, she shoved at him with a strength beyond her petite size and spun away. Unbalanced he landed on the 157

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ground but was up in less than a second. She was damn fast and with her small head start, Alexandria disappeared into the woods at the edge of the clearing.

Joshua kicked in his Sphinx speed with nothing but a thought.

He had to catch her before she got injured or worse completely taken over by the Wraith. Sending out a warning to his Khenti that he had this, not to interfere, and keep the other Warriors and Guardians at bay…please…he dove into the dense green undergrowth in hot pursuit. He didn’t think he could take it if something happened to her.

“Alexandria, please don’t do this to me.”

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Joshua careened wildly through the tangled greenery. Vines clung to him, broken branches tried to trip him up, and random wildlife was startled out of his path. He tried to open the shared connection with Alexandria but all he got was blank silence.

Frustration warred in his mind and the fear she was too long gone for him to bring her back tore at his heart. Somehow he had to bring her back from the brink of destructiveness the Wraith inside of her would demand.

Realizing he wasn’t getting anywhere closer to finding her with his wild rampage through the underbrush he stopped and took in a calming breath. He listened closely to the sounds around him but all was quiet. Even the wildlife wasn’t making a sound because either it was all startled away or was hiding from the predator they all detected in their midst.

Joshua scanned the area around him slowly and methodically using his incredibly keen Sphinx sense of sight. After a couple of passes, he finally detected something white several yards ahead.

Quickly but with care, he made his way over to the object on the ground. Stooping down, he grabbed the white material and as he suspected it was Alexandria’s lab coat. Her stethoscope and other medical instruments were still in her pockets and his Alexandria never went anywhere without her healing tools.

He stood and stared at the ground deciding he was going to have to get Jacob and have him track the Wraith part of her.

Tracking Wraith was a unique skill of Jacob’s Power. Before he could turn to back track, he was slammed into so hard he was thrown off his feet and propelled several yards backward. Joshua impacted the ground and the breath was knocked out of him. His momentum didn’t stop until he had slid several feet across the ground. Debris and leaves scattered in every direction and twigs and rocks dug into his back.

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and realize he was being held down by a very pissed Alexandria.

Or at least a Wraith in Alexandria’s body. With the Wraith in control, she had incredible strength similar to when their inner Sphinx took over in rare moments of need. Of course, he had no intention of fighting her at this point and waited to see what the altered Alexandria had in mind.

He didn’t have to wait long. Slowly Alexandria sniffed at him while she held him down with her nails imbedded in his shoulders.

She was straddled over top of him but not completely sitting on his hips. The Wraith persona inside of her was young and inexperienced in hand to hand combat even if it was strong which could give him the edge and control later. He watched her and just lay beneath her with a sort of breathless anticipation. Alexandria leaned down closer to him and he wasn’t sure what she was going to do next. He jumped when she licked the pulse point of his neck causing a fire to light in his system.

A dark laugh whispered at his ear and Alexandria sat back with a wicked smile on her face. She appeared to be examining him like a bug on a slide and trying to decide what to do with him. Joshua didn’t move or say anything to her which seemed to aggravate the Wraith entity. She reached up yanking at the black stoned Collar around her neck and hissed. “Take off, Warrior. Alexandria mine.”

The fire burning in him grew hotter and his inner Sphinx started to prowl. He growled back, “Like hell I will. I’ll never let you take my Lexi. She’s mine!”

Alexandria’s eyes glittered even blacker than before.

“No! Alexandria mine! You all mine!”

She dug her nails into the side of his face and pushed his head to the side. Joshua imagined Arik had to have felt the burning sting of her nails when she had scratched him the way it was burning him now. He heard the tear of fabric and the warm air across his shoulder right before the sharp sting of her teeth and the warmth of his blood flowed down his shoulder and chest.

For himself, he wouldn’t have fought back, but he knew his Alexandria trapped within would have been horrified at treating him this way. He would fight and try not to injure the body which 160

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held his beloved. Yet, he was beyond pissed, hadn’t even put the claiming mark on Alexandria, and this creature dared to mark him again with the Claiming Mark.

As soon as she released her teeth from his shoulder, Joshua grabbed her throat tightly, braced his legs under him, and with one mighty shove and roll, had Alexandria pinned on the ground.

She fought like a wild cat but he managed to hold her down with his strength and his weight on top of her.

He got good and close to her face and ground out, “That’s where you’re wrong. Alexandria is mine and I claim her now and forever.

You, Wraith, will be no one’s. Lost forever.”

With grim determination, he released one of her arms long enough to rip the fabric of her black t-shirt. The Wraith took advantage of the moment and raked his already tattered back with Alexandria’s nails. Muttering a “Fuck!” under his breath, he grabbed the arm and pinned both her hands above her head in one of his. Pushing her head to the side so she wouldn’t bite him again, he paused a moment over her smooth unmarred shoulder. One part of him hated to have to mark her because the action was an old and archaic custom, but the other Sphinx portion of him rejoiced at the thought of his Lexi having his Claiming Mark.

Whispering his oath to the woman trapped inside of the screeching creature in his arms he vowed, “Lexi, I claim you as mine, now and forever. I pray this brings you back.”

Joshua kissed her shoulder and then bit down into her tender flesh until he tasted blood in his mouth. Her sweet decadent blood that tasted like sweet cinnamon.

Holding her down with his teeth, hand, and body, he retrieved the back-up syringe in his side fatigue pants pocket with his other hand. He had started to carry it around with him when he found out she was becoming resistant to the dosage of the suppressant.

Quickly popping the cap off the needle, he jabbed the syringe into the side of her neck and depressed the plunger. Joshua hoped he had injected it where the fluid needed to go because he couldn’t see a damn thing. Once the suppressant was in, he jerked out the needle and stabbed the syringe into the ground out of the way.

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Alexandria thrashed under him screeching and trying to buck him off. He released her shoulder from his bite and licked the blood from his lips while the Wraith side of her could still see him.

Its dark eyes promised retribution and then faded with the demands of the suppression. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the Wraith fade but steeled himself against the torture Alexandria would undergo as she surfaced. Luckily, he had only used the single back up dosage versus a full dose.

When the shrieking changed into Alexandria’s screams and the vicious thrashing changed to shaking and twitching, Joshua gathered her into his arms. He sat up on the ground balancing her on his lap and scooted back across the rough ground until his back hit the tree. Propped up against the trunk, he just sat there holding his Alexandria and brushing his hand through her hair while she twitched and shook against him. He hated seeing her suffer through the suppression.

All he could do was wait until she came back to herself and watch the branches of the trees and low vegetation sway in the artificially created breezes. His hands shook from the adrenaline rush he was coming down off of and even more the thought of the damage he might have done to her while fighting the Wraith inside her. It killed him to see her this way and he prayed to the Ancients there was a cure for her. If not, he didn’t see how either one of them would survive. She would be forever caged or killed and he would die just from the loss of the woman he loved more than life itself, if the dionic weakness didn’t kill him first.

Hugging her to him, he kissed her soft hair. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back against the tree trunk. At least Michael and the others weren’t here to see them like this. He could just imagine his Khenti popping a vein seeing his sister covered in blood and him not in much better shape. Plus he needed the time to regroup.

Luckily, he wasn’t needed at the battle when the Gate opened.

Michael was keeping him updated through the Warrior’s Link. The battle was short lived because the Gate ended up destabilizing and the new weapons Joshua had provided the Guardians Elite had more than stood up to the test.

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So, he stayed where he was just breathing and holding Alexandria. The wait seemed forever until Alexandria stopped shaking and she finally opened her eyes to look up at him.

Beautiful dark blue eyes the color of the upper atmosphere of the Earth meeting the darkness of space. His Alexandria’s eyes.

Her hand shook when she reached up to touch his face and he could still feel tiny tremors in her fingertips. Sadness was like a permanent scar written in her expression.

Grief dripped from her words when she said, “I’m so sorry, Joshua. I’ll always be yours, but the cure to fight this is going to cost more than what I may have to give. I want to be yours, but…”

Joshua crushed her tightly against him. He couldn’t even think about the unspeakable. Didn’t want even to speak of it.

“I know, Lexi. There just has to be a way.”

****

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!” Alexandria shoved the microscope away from her in frustration and gut-wrenching fear. She shakily stood up and stepped away from the lab counter turning her back on the latest failed experiment with the anti-gene. One hand on her hip and the other against her temple rubbing, she just kept circling back to the Sphinx DNA and how to re-associate it. Several days later and a forced sabbatical from Joshua, she was still no closer to the answer.

The whole cure revolved on what was left of the Sphinx DNA and how to re-associate it. Every combination ended up with the Wraith DNA being destroyed but the Sphinx DNA was lost in the process too. The Wraith DNA bonds were different from the Sphinx bonds and to date, no one could pin point what kept the Sphinx DNA in its powerful configuration. Hell, it had taken Turin forever to figure out how to break the bonds of the Sphinx DNA in his torturous ignorance. Alexandria had no idea how to figure out how to put it back together.

The fact her concentration was shot too didn’t help the situation. Her suppression dosage was up to five vials a day now, 163

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she couldn’t keep anything down, and fearing she would harm Joshua again, she refused to stay in his rooms anymore. She had imposed a self-banning from those she loved for fear of killing them. Utilizing the cell she had originally been caged in, she slept there in lock down at night. At least she tried to sleep, mostly being in a semi nightmare state. When she was awake, she stayed in there for most of the day reviewing results and creating matrixes for the next try. The few precious hours she allowed herself to be out were strictly with Warren guarding her so she could mix the genetic materials and anti-gene mixtures.

Brushing at a stray tear, she realized it didn’t matter anyway.

Joshua wasn’t around most of the time because of his unending duties to help fight the Wraith. The Gate was constantly opening so he was either fighting or making new weapons or resting. The times he did come to see her she would heal any dionic changes in him and he would watch her in silence while she struggled with the experiments or her inner beast. She would become angry and frustrated and chase him out.

Everyone was exhausted and short tempered. The complex was becoming hell versus home. Poor Stormy was barely keeping up with keeping the Warriors powered up and Alexandria couldn’t even help her with that now. The only thing she could do was heal the damage after each of the Transference rounds.

“We’re helping you and we won’t take no for an answer.”

Alexandria spun around almost jumping out of her skin, save for the fact she recognized Stormy’s voice. Standing next to her was Eleina, her white blond hair pulled back and her arms crossed over her chest in a I’m-not-taking-no for an answer pose.

Alexandria sighed deeply, “You both must be out of your mind.

Just being near me could get you killed and you want to work side by side under stressful conditions. You really are sisters to my self-torture.”

Noting Warren was moving up next to her quickly, she pointed at her eyes.

“I’m fine right now. See. I didn’t even throw another hand held computer today.”

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With a determined expression, Stormy stepped up and said,

“Alexandria, you have done so much for us, healing us, helping the Warriors, being healer to everyone even though you’re suffering.

We understand it’s risky and we can keep our presence to your lucid periods, but together we’ve discovered a lot of the mysteries of the ancient scrolls, so surely we can work out a DNA sequence and how to alter it to the appropriate form.”

Stormy smiled impishly, “Besides, I’ve already thrown my attitude with Michael when he said no and he gave in grudgingly, so if you say no, I just pissed him off for nothing.”

Eleina put an arm around Stormy in commiseration. “Yeah, me too. You should have seen Jacob go off the deep end. He understands we want to help you, and he wants nothing more than to see you well again. But, like all Sphinx, he’s so overprotective any thought of a threat to me puts him in a conniption fit.”

Stormy chimed back in, “So you see, Alexandria, you’re stuck with us whether you or your Wraith wants it or not.”

Stormy raised an eyebrow in challenge.

The amusing image of the two women arm-in-arm throwing a united female front made Alexandria smile. The small bit of lightening in her heart lifted her spirit. She put up her hands in surrender.

“Okay, okay. You win. Just remember, I warned you.” As an after-thought she demanded, “Warren, you better be on your toes.”

Alexandria shook her head. “Come on over then. I’ll let you read through my notes.”

She waved the two women over directing them to two chairs by the lab bench. After they sat down, she powered up two hand held computers linked to the main database and handed them one each.

“You’ll see the notations, experiments, and changes I’ve made over the past few days. The matrix is almost there but there’s that something…”

Alexandria held up her hands in frustration. “I don’t know. A something I can’t define. All I can see is a couple more tweaks to 165

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the “anti” portion to disassociate the Wraith DNA and destroy it.

After that, I’ve put everything into the repair proteins I can think of but it just isn’t working in the experiments. After the Wraith DNA is removed and destroyed, the repair protein goes in and correctly produces the partial links for the Sphinx DNA, but after that, the connections just don’t occur and the cells die.”

Alexandria could see the grave concern in Stormy’s expression when she looked up from the hand held.

When Stormy spoke, it was in a hushed voice, “Which means the person being injected would die.”

Biting at her lip, Alexandria delivered the honest answer, “Yes.”

“Wait one damn minute, “Eleina interjected. “Whether you find the solution or not, you plan on using yourself as a guinea pig to test the effectiveness of an anti-gene that will be used to destroy the abominations Turin is making.”

Stormy gasped and Alexandria slowly nodded. “I have to. Either way we have to destroy the genetically altered Wraith. They’re more dangerous than the original and I already know the lethality of the anti-gene will work, even if the repair protein doesn’t.”

Jumping up from her chair, Stormy threw herself at Alexandria, hugging her tightly. Alexandria could barely breathe, and Warren appeared to be beside himself with Stormy’s proximity to an unpredictable healer.

“Stormy, you have to let go of me. Warren is going to zap me.”

Pushing away quickly, Stormy returned to her seat. “Warren, she’s fine. I promise I’ll keep my distance. Sheesh.” Rolling her eyes, she returned to scanning the hand held.

Throughout the day, Stormy and Eleina offered Alexandria suggestions and ideas for the matrix’s adjustments. Alexandria took additional notes and incorporated those items which scientifically made sense into the formulas. As the evening got near and the dark presence of the Gate’s approach to opening came nearer, Alexandria put down the hand-held and stretched.

“That’s enough for the day. My concentration is going and I’m going to have to get my medicine and go back to my cage here shortly.”

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Alexandria commented sarcastically. “Not to mention the dark energy is aggravating the inner Wraith. I’m sure you two have to get ready for the battle too and don’t need me taking up all your time.”

“It’s okay, Alexandria.” Eleina stood up and stretched too. “The guys are busy in planning and getting some more weapons ready.

Joshua’s really doing a great job with the new configurations on the swords for the Guardians Elite.”

Alexandria smiled at the thought of Joshua working at his kiln, hammering out the steel into strong blades, and then his glowing Power strengthening the molecules of the steel into something even stronger than what the Wraith were using for weapons. If only there were a way so everyone could have a break from the battles again. Which brought back to mind the eScrolls.

“Stormy, you had mentioned you made some more headway with the ancient scrolls?” Alexandria inquired.

Excitedly Stormy dove into the new discussion. “Yeah, if you remember, Eleina was helping us with the pages that we did have.

Which of course was only three, but she remembered they were from the Pages of Seven and she had studied the first three. The Power Signatures were of the female Priestesses from ancient times and not the Warriors as first thought. Those pages discussed the way to Jump not only between Gates, which Eleina had been doing for years, but of actually Jumping a Gate into oblivion.

Which was how she originally got trapped in the fractured Gate.

Anyway, when she got her memory back, she realized she had to Jump the partial second Gate.”

Stormy looked at Eleina, “Even though she knew perfectly well the action would have cost her life.”

Alexandria felt like her jaw had dropped. “You didn’t.”

Eleina shrugged her shoulders. “I was going to try, no matter what. I couldn’t have Jacob or anyone else lost to the Gates.

Having two Gates, even if the second was only partial, had become too much for the Warriors.”

“Like now, with the increased opening of the one Gate.”

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started this with her special skills Turin had toyed with and evidently inserted in one or more of his Wraith. She would be the one to destroy the creatures causing this nightmare one way or another.

“Yeah, like now.” Eleina answered softly. With more strength to her tone she continued, “Luckily, Elder Chloe decided to show up and present Jacob with the Fourth Page of the Seven. From the page, Jacob was able to figure out the person Jumping the Gate needed an Anchor, which was him. Even though he was my Anchor, it was still close. We could have both died, so we know there is more to destroying the Gates than Drawing the Power or Jumping the Power.”

Slowly, what needed to be done dawned on Alexandria.

“We have to find the rest of the Pages of Seven and the knowledge they hold of how to destroy the Gate and any new ones which form.”

“You’re more correct than you know, child.”

Alexandria turned to face the newcomer in the medical clinic.

Like Stormy and Eleina, Alexandria was surprised to see Elder Chloe who was once again shadowed by Ashlyn. Elder Chloe with her long white hair and strange silver eyes was hunched over in her robes of royal blue. She ambled slowly forward, leaning on her silver handled cane and maintaining a tight grip on the crystal stone handle. Ashlyn was decked out in her dark blue Warrior’s uniform, her right hand and wrist covered with a long blue glove that she kept fiddling with.

Standing up, Alexandria took a couple of steps forward but stopped before she got too close to the Elder. Bowing her head briefly, she greeted, “Elder Chloe, it’s an unexpected pleasure to have you here.”

Elder Chloe ambled closer to her and Alexandria had the strongest urge to step back to protect the woman, but the Elder grasped her hand.

“Child, you’ll not harm me. Never fear. The Wraith within you has no Power over me. My energy would burn it to a crisp, I assure you.”

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Alexandria was concerned when the Elder giggled hysterically over the comment but then she calmed and continued. “Yes, you already know where the Fifth Page of Seven is and you must retrieve it.”

Stormy gasped, “Going back there would be suicide. Even a team of Warrior’s would fall on the other side of the Gate. There are too many of them. Besides, Khenti Michael and the other Warriors would never allow anyone to take that kind of risk.”

Letting go of Alexandria’s hand and standing to her full frail height, Elder Chloe slammed her cane on the floor and sternly declared, “Power Keeper, there is no choice in this. Alexandria has been to the far side of darkness and knows where the Page is and how to get there. She will be successful in this quest. There will be no team and only she will go. You powerful female Sphinx will find a way.”

“But Elder. Turin had me so drugged and tortured, I can’t even remember half of what went on in that dimension. And I would really prefer to keep it that way.” Alexandria swallowed, shivering at the thought of recalling her time in hell.

“Plus I still need to find the proper matrix to fix my genetics and…the injection could potentially kill me.”

Alexandria became light-headed with all of the demands being made on her. She grabbed a chair and sat down heavily and had the strongest urge to reach out to Joshua for comfort. Not wanting to disturb him or have him see her degrade again in an hour or so, she refused to allow herself the connection. Her heart broke at the emptiness of not having Joshua’s presence in her, but her actions were for his protection.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she looked up to see Elder Chloe standing right next to her. “Then time is of the essence, child. You will have to take the plunge and trust in your skills as a healer, as a Warrior, and most importantly as the love of a great Sphinx Warrior. Trust in yourself. Trust in Joshua. All will be revealed…in time.”

Patting her on the shoulder, Elder Chloe turned and slowly tapped her way across medical with a still silent Ashlyn in tow.

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The elder paused at the door which Ashlyn held open for her. “As far as your memory, Healer, you must go to someone who can find the knowledge for you. Go to Raven.”

Alexandria stood up taking several steps toward the door. She called out, “But Elder…”

“Go to Raven!” The Elder shouted one more time before the door closed behind her and Ashlyn.

The room was deathly silent with the departure of the Elder.

Alexandria wished the thoughts in her head would be just as silent, but each one was like a death knell pushing her closer to her own demise. How she was going to survive would have to be a great miracle of the Ancients. First, she had to survive the anti-gene removing the Wraith DNA within her system and get through a probably mind damaging extraction of the knowledge she needed by Raven. If by some miracle she made it through the Truth Finding in one piece, then she would have to cross into the Wraith realm to try and recover the Fifth Page of Seven. So easy.

Yeah, right.

Stormy and Eleina must have been going through the same thoughts because they were just as silent behind her. Alexandria turned around facing them. She placed her hands in her lab coat pockets hiding the evidence of her shaking.

“Well, I guess we need to dive back into the experiments. Time is of the essence and there isn’t much of it.”

Quietly, her two friends accompanied her back to the lab bench and the many hand held computers and beakers. Together they worked the matrix for the remaining hours of the day and Alexandria combined and recombined the proteins until there wasn’t anything else left to refine. In her mind, any further experiments wouldn’t make any difference. It was time to try it on herself but she wouldn’t tell this to Stormy or Eleina. She didn’t want them worrying about her, trying to stop her, or end up telling their Mates and Joshua. Alexandria was sure the entire process of her genetic make-up being destroyed and re-wired, if she was lucky, would be catastrophic and she didn’t want anyone she cared about around when she went through it.

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Looking at the time, she realized there was only about an hour left before her next set of suppressive injections, so whatever she was going to do she needed to do now. Alexandria wanted to inject herself when the inner Wraith was on the verge of surfacing but before Warren had a chance to give her the suppressant.

Hating to lie to them, Alexandria bit her lip and proceeded anyway.

“Well, ladies, I hate to kick you all out, but I need to clean up and then I have to get my suppressant. I’m sure you’ll understand if don’t ask you to stay and witness my… discomfort. Tomorrow we can continue with the experiment portion.”

Stormy and Eleina both came at her at once and hugged her with a strength which took her breath away. Stormy whispered,

“Be safe, Alexandria. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Slowly they released her and Eleina added, “Yeah, promise us we’ll see you tomorrow.”

Alexandria smiled sadly knowing there were tears in her eyes ready to spill over. She was sure both of the women knew something was up but wouldn’t task her for the omission. Not knowing what to say, she simply responded, “Ancients willing.”

Missing her friends already, Alexandria watched them walk out of the clinic arm-in-arm, comforting each other. When the door shut behind them, she removed her lab coat, setting it on the counter and thinking this might be the last time she ever wore it and practiced as a healer to the Sphinx. Wiping a tear from her eye, she stood staring over all of her equipment she loved to use to help cure those injured and sick. Deep in her heart, she prayed the Ancients would be willing to let her succeed in becoming a Sphinx again, if nothing else for Joshua. Joshua who would perish without her healing touch.

Nearly jumping out of her skin when Warren touched her back, Alexandria spun around facing him. He focused on her with his own intense stare.

In a voice which revealed none of his inner thoughts, he said,

“You’re going to test the latest batch on yourself, aren’t you?”

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ferret out a lie like nobody.

“Yes. Yes, I am.” Sighing heavily, she paced away from him rubbing her hands over her suddenly chilled arms.

She stopped and faced him head on. “Warren, please understand, time’s up. The suppressant isn’t working and Elder Chloe is right, we need to get the Fifth page. Only I can do that.

I’m continuing to weaken, so if I don’t take the anti-gene now it may be too late. Then what will Joshua do. I know I could die. A good probability, I will die.”

With a bit of a sarcasm she finished, “If you have another suggestion, I promise, I’m all ears.”

Warren ran his good hand through his dark tangled hair. “I’m sorry Alexandria. I just don’t have anything. I wish I did. No matter what happens, I’ll be here for you.”

If she could have, she would have hugged him, but she could feel the Wraith begin to stir from the suppression.

“We don’t have much time. I want to go to my room and clean up before we try the anti-gene. If I’m going to die here, I want to at least be clean.”

“Always the doc, concerned about others to the very end. Come on.”

He held out his hand giving her the lead, and Alexandria tiredly trudged to her room. Warren shadowed her the entire way, giving her access to the elevator and the Warriors’ master quarters once they reached the fifth floor.

Alexandria emotionally couldn’t take entering Joshua’s rooms, so entered her own. Warren remained out in the hallway and she figured he was giving her some personal space and time alone since it might be her last. Closing the door, she quickly grabbed a spare black set of Warrior styled fatigues and moved across her bedroom away from the blinding colors she still couldn’t take with her Wraith altered eyes. Once inside the bathroom, her eyes no longer stung since she had decorated the bathroom in soft shades of blue. Once she had enjoyed the color reminding of her of the ocean, but now it was just another reminder of what she could very possibly lose.

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Cranking on the water, she undressed while she waited for the temperature to warm up. Her muscles were tense and a nice steamy level to relax her muscles for a few quick moments was just what she needed. She didn’t have to wait long for the hot water which was good since her hour was dwindling rapidly. Stepping into the shower stall big enough for two, she untangled her long mane of hair and leaned back into the pulsating jets of steamy water. The pressure hitting her head and back, the heat, and the sound of the water temporarily relaxed her mind, letting her forget what she had to do.

The avoidance of reality didn’t last long though with a renewed twitching of her muscles. The damn Wraith wasn’t wasting any time coming back. Speeding up the process, she washed her hair and body and rinsed off in record time. Turning off the water, Alexandria grabbed a matching light blue towel and dried off as much as possible. She really didn’t have time to dry her hair so she twisted the thick length up to the nape of her neck securing it with a hair clasp.

She pulled on the fresh pair of black military fatigue pants, t-shirt, and then sat down on a silver cushioned stool at the vanity to pull on her socks and boots. To others it might seem a bit morose, but she didn’t bother with underwear because she figured she would either be stripped down for the intensive critical care unit if she survived or for the ritual cleansing and ceremony if she didn’t make it.

Turning to the mirror, she looked into the reflective surface one more time at her image. She had become pale and gaunt over the past few days. Thin with the lack of keeping food down. It was no wonder she had no energy; she looked like she had already died.

Successful or not, she would be in a better place.

Alexandria stood up stiffening her spine and blanking her mind.

There was no turning back. With every intention of getting to medical as soon as possible, she headed for her outer chambers.

The last person she expected to see standing in her room was there blocking her way. Her Joshua, with all his masculine breathtaking handsomeness and an expression of such loneliness it tore a 173

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jagged line right through her heart.

Stopping in her tracks, the breath left her, and she put a hand over her mouth capturing the sob which would have escaped. Her entire body shook, not just from the demanding Wraith swiftly overtaking her, but the torrential emotions ripping her up inside.

“Joshua,” she whispered in agony.

“Lexi.” Joshua tried to move to her, but she panicked and backed away from him holding up a hand. He stopped his forward progress looking for all the world like a man with his heart torn out.

“Don’t do this, Lexi. Don’t push me away. I’m not afraid of the Wraith and know you weren’t the one to hurt me.”

He tried to lighten the mood. “Besides I heal quickly. See?” He pulled down his collar enough so she could see his shoulder.

Alexandria choked back another sob when she saw the tiny silver scars from the claiming bites on his shoulder. Damn it, she hadn’t even really claimed him, the Wraith had. The creature had even taken an archaic practice from her forcing it on Joshua.

Joshua who had protected her forever and she had given him nothing. The violent emotions were too much for her. She shook her head in denial and tried to move around him and escape the room.

Joshua instantly blocked her and held out his hand. “Damn it, woman. You know how much I love you. I know how much you love me. We can get through this.”

When she didn’t answer him, he dropped his hand and quietly said, “If you still love me. I know we’ve been through a lot, and even if you are cured, you’ll have to deal with my constant need of healing, but…if you don’t want me anymore, then you can just let me die from the dionic weakness.”

She gasped in shock. “No! You don’t understand. This has nothing to do with your preconceived idea that you‘re broken and not worthy. You’re the most worthy and strong Sphinx here and you know this. You’re Michael’s second, a skilled Warrior and weapon’s expert, not to mention you have stood by my side through the ages looking after me in my weakness.”

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Tears flowed freely down her cheeks now and she refused to give in and wipe them away.

“Joshua, don’t you understand, I love you more than anything.

But unless I can destroy the Wraith inside of me and the abominations Turin has made, there’ll be no life for you and me.

Not for us, not for the other Warriors, and not for their Power Mates. I will turn and become truly one of them and they’ll destroy the Sphinx and this wonderful planet.”

Joshua stood before her, his hands in fists while he appeared to struggle to hold himself back from her. She knew he wouldn’t be able to resist much longer. Every muscle in his body was tensed while he forced himself to remain still. Even though he couldn’t physically touch her, Alexandria felt him trying to connect to her through their shared Link. She couldn’t let him do that not only because he would know the truth of what she was going to do, but she would shut down if his raging emotions touched hers.

When she kept him shut out, he finally growled deep and low and made a move toward her. Alexandria had been expecting his need to touch her and tapped into the portion of the Wraith genetics which gave her strength and speed. Quicker than lightening, she spun away from him, hit the bed running, launched into the air flipping, and landed behind him. With no time to spare, she slammed through her own doors leaving them in splinters on the hinges. She didn’t stop to see if Joshua pursued her, hoping Warren would find a way to stop him. How, she didn’t know in his damaged state. Hitting the top of the stairs, she bounded down them two at a time.

Luck or the gift of the Ancients gave her the presence of Raven coming up the stairs. Time seemed to slow down for just a moment and as she streaked by him she grabbed his hand and stared directly into his light blue eyes and opened her mind to him. She prayed it was enough to show the Truth Finder in him what she had to do. Letting go of him, time spun up. She shot through the doors and out of the Warriors' quarters.

Having no choice, she had to stop at the elevators and waited, shaking from head to toe, and hoping she could grab someone and 175

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convince them to take her to medical. In her current state, the convincing would be easy since they would think she was succumbing to the beast inside.

Before the doors she had just burst through completely closed, she saw Raven tackle Joshua to the floor and the flurry of punches and curses that resulted. She hoped Joshua would forgive her for her machinations, but in the scheme of her life right now it really didn’t matter.

Jumping a foot when one of the doors swung back open, she was relieved when Warren came through the door. He skid to a stop next to her and punched the elevator button in with his thumb. As soon as the elevator doors opened, he grabbed her and pushed her in before him. He hit the control panel and the doors closed but the elevator didn’t move.

Warren glared up at the surveillance camera in the corner of the elevator. “Ethan, don’t mess with this. You owe me and I’ll explain later. Just know if I don’t get Alexandria to medical now, she won’t be with us tomorrow.”

The elevator started moving. Alexandria’s heart resumed a normal beat from the relief. Warren was probably right, if not tomorrow, then soon, the part which was truly her wouldn’t be around much longer anyway.

Softly she said, “Thank you, Warren.”

He looked down at her. “Don’t thank me. Just make it through this anti-gene treatment and that will be the best thank-you you can give me.”

Once the elevator doors opened, they both sprinted down the hallway. Crashing through the clinic doors, Warren shouted,

“Everyone out now!”

The changes in her eyes and beginnings of Wraith shrieks coming from Alexandria was enough to scatter anyone even considering staying. With everyone out of her way, she made a beeline for the lab bench and grabbed the special syringe gun and the anti-gene vial. Her hands were shaking so badly, she couldn’t get the gun loaded. Her eyes wouldn’t focus and she panicked feeling the Wraith sweeping over what was left of her 176

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consciousness.

“Let me have it, Alexandria.” Warren took the syringe gun and anti-gene from her and loaded the vial with a swift click. “I’ll inject you, but I’d appreciate it if you held on long enough so I don’t end up decorated with your claws like Guardian Arik.”

Alexandria hissed at him but held the Wraith back for the moment. She grabbed the edge of the counter and nodded her readiness. Keeping plenty of arm distance, he quickly pressed the syringe gun to the side of her neck and pressed the trigger. She heard a hiss and then a quick sting.

The memory and panic made her swing out and knock Warren away. Spinning to try and make sure she hadn’t really harmed him, she vaguely registered he was on the ground but getting up unscathed.

The effects of the anti-gene didn’t take long. Her head began to pound and then every inch of her body felt like razor sharp glass penetrated each and every cell. Before her screams started, she vaguely wondered if this was what Stormy had felt during her genetic Transformation. Every bone and muscle stretched and popped from the genetic breakdown, and she hit the ground when her body could no longer support her.

Her screaming went from the Wraith screeching to her voice and back again and between the two voices, she could hear a growling and hissing right before she faded. Finally, it was all too much for her and darkness started to take over. She lost control and with one final scream reached out to Joshua through their shared Link. Joshua!!!

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Alexandria!!! Joshua tried to find her through the now wide open Link, but all he was encountering was a violent swirling energy. An energy consisting of a combination of extreme darkness and extreme light. What terrorized him the most was he couldn’t detect her Life Force at all. He snarled with impatience at the elevator and slammed his fist into the door putting a satisfying dent in it. If anything happened to his Lexi because of Raven’s meddling delaying him, he would finish breaking the rest of his bones. The satisfying crack of his jaw wouldn’t be the end of it.

As soon as he arrived on the medical floor and the elevator doors started to open, he reached between them and slammed them the rest of the way open with brute force. A sparking and electrical hum was left behind as he sprinted down the hallways to medical. Yeah, Michael would make him pay for damaging equipment but he didn’t care. He only cared about Alexandria and getting to her. He could barely breathe to run with the way his heart still pounded with outright panic from the agonized scream she had sent to him through their shared connection.

Shoving the clinic doors out of his way, he stopped just inside the door, his eyes rapidly scanning to find Alexandria and the threat to her. When he finally found her on the floor next to the lab bench, the site of her truly scared the living hell out of him.

“No!” he shouted and ran towards her.

“Joshua stop! You’ll kill her!” Warren shouted at him blocking his way. “Listen to me, Joshua. I know you want to go to her, but she’s in phase and any contact will be the end of her.”

Shaking badly, Joshua approached Alexandria carefully. He kneeled down on the floor as close as he could without being a danger to her.

“What the fuck.” His eyes couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing.

Alexandria was there, but not there. Her body shifted from a 178

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half humanoid, half Wraith form, to her normal form, and then to the form of a large Sphinx feline. During the entire shifting, her body glittered and glowed with golden and rainbow streams of energy. Underneath the energy, her skin mutated back and forth, lines of blood forming where she dug her nails into her skin and then disappearing in a rapid healing process. Even the Collar around her neck from the excess energy overloaded and exploded.

The black stones shattered and scattered across the floor like tiny sharp daggers.

Joshua jumped back avoiding the glittering shards, praying the sharp debris hadn’t caused Alexandria more damage. He couldn’t take much more of not being able to do anything for her and snapped at Warren.

“Can’t you fucking cover her up? She doesn’t need to be seen by every male in the area.”

When she violently thrashed on the floor and changed again, he freaked. His energy level shot up and his Power started to glow around him.

“What the hell is happening to her?”

Warren reached for him but stopped. Joshua had no doubt it was the heated glare he was giving him or maybe his agitated Power.

“Joshua, listen to me. You can’t touch her with anything including your Life Power. You’ll kill her.”

Taking a deep breath, Joshua forced his Power to recede down to a lower level. Warren appeared to take a deep breath as well.

“I couldn’t cover her because of the same reason. I’m sorry. Give me a break. And to answer your question, the phasing is caused by her Life Power and the different genetic changes occurring in her.”

Before Warren could react, Joshua reached out grabbing him by the shirt and dragging him up into a standing position with him.

He wanted to shake the man in his fear and frustration but managed to control himself. The situation was bad enough without injuring the one medical technician who might be able to help Alexandria.

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was working on? You knew damn well it would kill her.”

Joshua cooled down a bit when Warren tried to defend himself with his one good arm. He realized he was harassing a man who couldn’t even fully fight back. He loosened his grip slightly and Warren jerked away.

“You asshole,” Warren bit out at him. “She was going to do it anyway. I stepped in so I could monitor her and now you’re interfering with that. “

Squatting back down, Joshua inched a bit closer. Every cell in him needed to reach out and touch her. Not being able to was slowly killing him. What if she didn’t recover and he never got to hold his Lexi? Never got to see her smiling courageous deep blue eyes? Never got to run his hands through her long midnight black hair? Most of all, never got to Join with her in a life-long connection and bask in the love and essence that was purely her?

“I’m sorry.” He growled. “Talk to me.”

Sighing roughly, Warren squatted down next to him. Taking a small medical monitor out of his coat pocket, he held the device as close to Alexandria as he could. Joshua watched him tap on the screen for a moment and then draw the device back so he could read it.

“Alexandria knew she didn’t have much time so worked night and day to perfect the anti-gene. Even when she was completed with it, she knew there was something missing, but she didn’t have time to figure that out. From what I’m seeing here, the missing ingredient was the Life Power linked to her Life Force. Her genetics are phasing back and forth trying to find stability while the Wraith genetics are being stripped and destroyed. Her Life Power is purifying her system of the dead Wraith genes and healing her at the same time.”

“But?” Joshua asked hearing the undertones of Warren’s concern.

Warren glanced at the monitor one more time. “Even though her genetics are stabilizing, there has been a change. I would have to do more testing to figure what the change is, but the Sphinx genes appear to have stabilized even stronger than what is 180

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normally within a modern day Sphinx. It appears genetically she has reversed into a purer form of Sphinx from ancient times.”

Joshua wanted to pummel the man. All the scientific talk was driving him insane.

“Damn it man, spit it out. Stop talking in medical riddles.”

“Fuck, Joshua. Just watch. Seeing the process happen will show you more than anything I can tell you.”

Watching in dread and fascination, Joshua could only wait and observe. His impatience rode him hard but all he could do was sit there waiting for Alexandria to come back to him. The wait didn’t take long as she slowly settled from the thrashing and her body slowed in its phasing. The glittering golden and rainbow colors of her Life Power slowly settled back into her body and finally the phasing stopped.

Joshua’s heart felt like it stopped in his chest as his world dropped out from under his feet. The Alexandria he knew was no longer there before him and in her place laid a sleek Sphinx feline resembling a medium sized black panther. Slowly the feline raised her head and opened her eyes.

“Lexi.” Joshua whispered when he met the cat’s dark blue eyes.

Feeling light headed, he sat down heavily the rest of the way onto the floor. He didn’t know what he had expected. But it wasn’t this. His thoughts spun around and around the fact she was a feline. Would she be this way forever? The idea was incomprehensible to him. He sat there just watching while she looked around, her whiskers twitching taking in the scents of the room. Eventually she yawned, her sharp teeth making an appearance and then she licked at the Sefu Element which was still entwined around her paw.

Hoping Alexandria was still in there somewhere, he reached out to her through their Link. His Power surged for the connection and flowed around her. He felt her open to him but right before he was able to connect, the door to medical slammed open. The sudden sound startled Alexandria and Joshua was instantly cut off. Alexandria stood arching her back and hissing at whoever had entered.

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Joshua came to his feet, pissed at the newcomers. Seeing who the new arrivals were, he calmed down a bit. Khenti Michael stood just inside the door with Stormy pressed up against his back. She was trying to see around him even though Michael was protectively holding her back. She gasped when she saw Alexandria.

“Oh my God, she used the anti-gene. Raven came and got us. Is she okay?” Stormy continued to try and work her way around Michael.

Shaking his head, Joshua would have been amused by her antics if not for the situation. The fact Raven had interfered again ticked him off. He wanted to firmly plant his fist up side Raven’s head.

Michael had no choice but to advance farther into the clinic since Stormy had dived around him. He looked shaky, seeing his sister in the condition she was in.

Clearing his throat he asked, “Warren, please tell me Alexandria is going to be okay.”

Joshua could tell Warren was delaying when he looked at the medical device. Warren knew perfectly well what it said already.

Inevitably, Warren had to answer Michael’s question.

“Khenti, it appears she’ll be alright, but I’m not sure how to get her back into the form we know as Alexandria. I’m not even sure she’s all there mentally.”

Looking over to the now silent Alexandria, Joshua was glad to see she was settling back down. Another large yawn came from her and she rested her feline head on her crossed paws. Still, she continued to watch them with interest. Joshua prayed that meant she was in there and comprehending what was going on.

Warren pocketed the monitor and rubbed at his weak arm.

“Khenti, I was telling Joshua the anti-gene appeared to have worked. On the positive side there isn’t any remaining Wraith DNA in her. On the negative, her DNA has changed so that she has a purified form of Sphinx DNA.”

“Damn it. I knew she would be stubborn and try something like this. Is she now going to be in this form…forever?” Stormy held 182

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Michael’s hand tightly and brushed her fingertips over his cheek.

Joshua could see she was trying to calm Michael.

Joshua was still shaking from the shock of seeing Alexandria’s phasing and would have liked a bit of calming.

He looked back to Alexandria so quiet on the floor and stated with conviction, “No, this has to be a protective reaction from the pain and near death experience. I almost had reached her before you came in and I think if I can touch her Life Force, I can guide her back.”

A new deep voice with a touch of attitude spoke up, “I agree. I remember the lessons taught of the ancient Sphinx and their ability to shape change when in danger.” Raven had joined them and Joshua turned acknowledging his presence with a snarl.

Fury overcame him. Having no one else to take his anger out on for Alexandria’s condition and that Raven had helped her evade him in her room, Joshua snarled at him. Crossing the room in the blink of an eye, he had Raven pinned up against the wall. He drew back his hand to pummel the man and Raven just looked at him.

His brother in arms really wasn’t going to defend himself. The thought had Joshua pausing in his actions.

“What the hell is going on, Raven?” Joshua asked sensing there was more here to be revealed. Raven wasn’t saying a word though and Joshua pulled his arm back again. Michael stopped him this time and Joshua turned on him with a warning glance.

Before everything went to hell, Joshua heard Alexandria yowl in her feline voice. The sound was so forlorn, the anger instantly left him. He let go of Raven and walked away from all of them, his only concern was Alexandria. Slowly, he worked his way back until he was right next to her. He sat down on the floor waiting to see what she would do. There was no fear in him whatsoever, only the need to make everything right for her.

Alexandria inched forward until she could rest her head on his lap and then closed her eyes. Joshua gently placed his hand on her feline head. Her fur was such a luxurious glowing black and was incredibly soft to the touch. It was amazing. He ran his hand back and forth through the fur until she let out a long contented purr.

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Even closer, she moved to him putting her paws on his leg and more of her weight in his lap. Joshua ran his hand down her side, enjoying the feel of the soft fur.

Lost to her presence and the vibrations of her purring, he almost forgot the others present in medical. A hand on his shoulder brought him back to his surroundings. He realized it was Michael who quietly spoke to him.

“Joshua, stay with her. We’ll keep medical clear while you work with her. If anyone can bring her back, it’s you. She trusts you. She loves you.”

Joshua nodded and continued to run his hand over her sleek feline form. Everyone cleared the room and before the door closed, Warren called back, “We’ll use the Trauma Cell if anything comes up. Don’t worry about being disturbed. There’s no patients right now and I’ll keep everyone out. Good luck, Warrior.”

The door closed and Joshua was finally able to concentrate fully on Alexandria. Her body was relaxed across his lap and her purring continued. She seemed content and he feared she wouldn’t have a reason to come back to him or if he had the strength to bring her back. He feared his dionic energy was increasing again with his use and Alexandria had been pre-occupied with saving her own life. Not wanting to focus on his health but to save hers, he had refused to let her know about his need.

He ran a hand through his hair and knew it was time to try and connect with her again. Spiraling up his sluggish Power, he pushed his energy outward and widened their Link. Confusion met him when he touched her energy and slid down their shared connection until he neared her Life Force. The Force which was purely hers always amazed him. She was both beautiful inside and out, no matter what form she was in.

Feeling Alexandria stir within, he called out to her gently. Lexi, it’s just me, Josh. I won’t hurt you. I promise. Come back to me.

I’m right here waiting for you. I miss you and love you so much.

He sat there with his hands in her dark fur and waited breathlessly for any response from her. When the response finally 184

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came, he was light headed and realized he had literally been holding his breath waiting for any kind of recognition from her.

Josh? Her soft voice surfaced up through the layers of confusion. It is you and I know you would never hurt me. You’re my protector and you watch over me. See, you even found me here. Wherever am I? What happened to me? He could hear her panic begin to surface.

Easy, Lexi. You’re safe. You used the anti-gene on yourself and it was successful. Thank the Ancients, you’re still with me. She moved restlessly on his lap trying to see herself and he grabbed her feline head until her catlike eyes met his. Listen to me, Alexandria. I need you to focus with your healer’s mind not your emotional one right now. I don’t know what to do and I can’t lose you. Do you understand? Without you, I am nothing. Please.

She stilled and he was sure Alexandria would have nodded if she was able. He reached through the Link and soothed her Power with his. She purred against him, closing her eyes in ecstasy for a moment and allowing her energy to flow back around his giving him the strength he needed.

His Alexandria was such a clever healer and her love poured into him. Only she would know what to do and what he needed.

Her energy flowed from her body even though she was still a feline. Instantly, he felt better and hadn’t even been asking her to take care of him, but being selfless, that was exactly the first thing she did. She hunted down the blue dionic energy within his body and had the Power changed to his normal glittering gold within moments.

Adjusting her position in his lap, her focus turned inward. He kept a close link to her soothing her with his normalized Power while she worked on her own condition. Internally she appeared to be closely examining her newly formed cells. Her mind was so quick and she was completely entranced with the physical implications of it all. He wanted to be nearer to her thoughts and how she was working out the intricacies of changing back but for some reason she held him at arm’s length. Yes, she basked in his energy but when he wanted to delve even closer, she avoided him.

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The actions made him suspicious, but he left it alone for now.

Finally, she turned away from her self-examination and focused inward to her Life Force. Her energy flowed to the center and the Power which began to glow from it grew brighter and brighter.

Spinning started at the center and circled faster and faster.

Cascading out, the intensity of all her cells lighting up was so bright, he had to back out of the connection.

Still, watching her physical form and the change was astonishing. The Power inside of her slowly began to surface until her entire body was lit with the glowing energy. Gold permeated her body with underlying glittering rainbow colors. Her feline body blurred for a moment and the intensity became a white hot glow. The glow lasted a few seconds and then slowly faded away until her energy was back inside her and all that was left was a subtle glittering on her skin. Yes, skin and not fur.

Alexandria looked up from his lap smiling at him and he looked at her gorgeous form. Her long hair cascaded over all the right places so he only caught glimpses of her smooth bottom. When she sat up and held her hands up to examine them, her bare breasts teased him, peeking out from the curtain of her shining midnight hair. By the Ancients, she was more beautiful than a goddess. His goddess that he was going to claim.

She must have sensed the heat in his glance because she dropped her hands and met his eyes with the same heat and love he felt for her. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, Lexi. My heart would have been torn to shreds. We need to get you covered or I can’t be responsible for what I want to do to you right now. And my inner Sphinx isn’t helping because he knows there’s nothing holding us back now from Joining.” His hands shook from the incredible need to touch her and make sure she was really okay. But he didn’t dare. The heat in him was rising so fast it was an inferno and would burn both of them alive with the desire it contained.

When Alexandria didn’t seem to be inclined to cover herself and the heat in her eyes bloomed to match his, he swore every bit of the blood in his body went straight to his cock. Now he was the 186

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one needing to shed his clothes for the uncomfortable pressure against his engorged erection.

Breathing heavy, he huskily said, “Be sure about this, Alexandria. There’s no going back.”

Coming up on her knees she carefully moved closer to him. He pushed up from the floor so he was on his knees as well but didn’t reach out to her. This decision was hers. She stopped so close to him barely a whisper of air could have passed between then but she didn’t touch him yet.

Her eyes glittered and she whispered, “I’ve been to places which have tortured me, mutated me, made me insane, and left me for dead. Do you think there’s even the slightest chance I would back down and not allow myself be taken to the place with you where I can be surrounded by your touch, your desire, your need, your love. To be Joined with you and be protected forever. I’d understand if you changed your mind about loving me and Joining with me but otherwise you have to be out of your Sphinx mind if you think I wouldn’t dive into the chance of being with you forever.”

“Lexi, I’ve always loved you. I was an idiot denying what we have always had between us. I want to be with you, to Join with you.”

Just when the words passed his lips, she closed the gap wrapping her arms around him and crushing her mouth to his.

The heat in her body combined with his creating their own personal inferno of Power. His erection throbbed in time to the frantic beat of his heart and the need to be deep inside her. He wanted to go slow with her since this was her first time but the play of her hands down his chest and stomach to the source of his need was killing him. Her hands were nimble while her tongue and teeth played with his lips coaxing him to give in to the desire.

Still, he held back fearing he would hurt her and wanting to make sure she knew exactly what she was getting herself into with him. He grasped her shoulders pushing her away just enough so she had to look at him.

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to take you to heights of passion so you’ll scream my name. You said it yourself, you’ve been through so much and should really think about Joining with me. I’m broken, Alexandria. Dionic.”

He brushed his hands through her hair making her sigh and lean into him. She kissed the side of his throat and whispered,

“Josh, this is the perfect place. The heart of my existence. Healing people and taking care of them means everything to me. It gives me great pleasure to make them whole again. More than anything, I love to touch you and flow through your Power healing you.

You’re not broken to me, Josh. You’re amazing every time I flow through your energy becoming one with it. If I couldn’t do that anymore, I think I would die. I need the interaction just as much, if not more, than you.”

Her words lit him up inside and he knew the decision was already made. In his heart and in hers. Knowing the truth and accepting it was incredibly freeing and he smiled at her. He knew she loved it when he gave her his smile and this time she leaned forward and kissed his dimple.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, gave him a sexy smile back, and purred, “Now Josh, make me scream your name.”

Alexandria’s purring and the brush of her nude body against his finished breaking the walls down of the remaining resistance he had. Wrapping her long hair around his fist, he pulled her head back and kissed down the column of her throat. She smelled incredible with the sweet scent of cinnamon and he knew she tasted just as good. Just to prove it to himself, he licked the spot over her pulse point. The action must have been more than agreeable to her because she moaned against him.

The sound fired him up and he was desperate to hear more from her precious lips. But first, he wanted to taste them too.

Repositioning her head, he captured her lips in a demanding kiss and she answered back with just as much enthusiasm. Her tongue dueled with his and she nipped and licked as if she was trying to drink him in. By the Ancients, the woman really had a wild Sphinx within her.

When her hands began to roam, the breath left him in a rush.

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She didn’t seem to be able to get enough running her hands through his hair, over his shoulders and down his chest. When she reached the bottom of his shirt, she yanked it upward.

“Off, Joshua. Please.” She panted.

More than willing to oblige her, he ripped the shirt off and immediately renewed the steamy kiss. He delved into the warm depths of her mouth, tasting sweet cinnamon while she renewed her exploration. He felt the smoothness of her fingers when she ran them over the muscles of his chest and around his nipples.

Smiling against her mouth, he thought two could play, and brushed his hands down her back and to her bottom. Joshua cupped her firm bottom and pushed her up against his manhood.

The pressure felt so fucking good, he thought he would come right then.

Wanting to know everything she liked and how to make her come undone, he started with a slight friction of his erection against her and was rewarded with a half whimper, half purr.

“That’s it, Lexi. Tell me what you want.”

She smiled against his lips and he licked her. “I want you, Josh.”

She nipped at his lips and ran her hands down over his stomach. The sensations she was stirring in him made him feel alive and on fire. But she didn’t stop with touching his stomach.

Oh, no. His sweet Lexi wanted more. Her hands were nimble having his fatigues undone and her wandering hand inside them before he could slow her down.

When she grasped him, tightening her small hand around his manhood, every thought scattered from his brain like leaves in the wind. He shivered, grabbed her hair again, and kissed her over and over. The slide of her hand up and down his cock drove him closer and closer to losing every bit of what little control he had.

“Fuck, woman. You’re driving me crazy.”

She smiled against his lips and purred for him. The vibrations spread through his body from the top of his head down to his toes and centered in his groin. He moaned and crushed her harder against him. He couldn’t keep his own hands still and let himself go. Needing to touch her everywhere, he ran his hands all over her 189

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smooth skin. Across her smooth back, across her bottom, up her sides. Everywhere. He could feel each delicate rib under her skin and then brushed the underside of her breast. Not stopping there, he caressed the sides, gently over the top, and then over her nipples.

Alexandria arched against his body losing the rhythm of stroking him. He didn’t want her to stop but when she grabbed his hips and yanked him hard up against her, he didn’t care anymore.

If she had kept stroking, he would have been done before they had even gotten started. He was just revved up by the gasps and mewing sounds she made.

Continuing in his exploration, he circled her areolas and her nipples peaked under his touch. Intrigued with the response of her body, he leaned down and drew a tight nipple into his mouth, suckling and circling it with his tongue. Her hands gripped his hair and pulled against him. He obliged her supporting her with his hands on her back and arching her so he could appropriately lave attention on her.

He nipped and licked one breast and then transferred his attention to the other one. Oh yeah, his Alexandria was enjoying this. She mewed and gasped and purred. Every time she purred, the sound ran through his body making him want to come so bad it hurt. He pulled back and looked at her beautifully passion flushed face.

Pulling her tight against him, he ran his fingers through her soft hair. “Alexandria, will you do something for me? I want to touch you and when I enter you, I want you to purr. Hard.”

“O-okay.” Was all she could get out which was fine because he kissed her deeply again.

Grasping her leg, he lifted and wrapped it around his hip. Once he got her in position, he released his hold and his Alexandria caught on quickly keeping herself balanced against him in the new position. Slowly, to build up her anticipation, he ran his fingertips down the side of her leg until he reached her bottom. He massaged her a moment and then brushed around the side of her hip until he was back in front between their bodies. The first touch of her 190

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stomach made him shiver in anticipation, and he slid his fingers down through her womanly curls.

Not able to slow down even if he wanted to, he searched out her clit. When he touched her, she gasped and dug her nails into his shoulders. The sting cranked him up a little higher. His body ran hotter and his Power began to leak out of his body making his skin glitter. Playing in her curls, Joshua teased closer to his goal until he brushed against her wetness.

“By the Ancients, you’re so ready for me. Fuck, I want to be in you now.”

Not yet. He demanded of himself. First Lexi. He played along her wet channel, teasing and tempting both her and him. She mewed and kissed him harder, trying to thrust her hips against his.

“Aaah, yeah, Lexi. I know what you need. Are you ready to purr for me?”

Clawing at his shoulders, she threw her head back.

“Yes, Josh. Please!”

“Then purr for me, Lexi.” He gently thrust his finger into her hot fiery depths, and damn if she didn’t shatter him with her purring. The vibrations went through his entire body to his center.

His cock throbbed harder and he felt on the edge of coming. The sensation felt so fucking good but he didn’t want to come yet. He bit at the inside of his cheek trying to distract himself with a bit of pain and focusing on the thrust of his finger inside of her wet channel.

In and out, he thrust while her purring became harder and harder. The vibrations were tearing him up in the most incredible of ways. Not being able to take the pressure of his fatigues anymore, he hooked one thumb in the waistband and yanked them down. His erection sprang free and he couldn’t resist rubbing it against her inner thigh of the leg she was balanced on.

She opened her eyes looking at him with those sexy dark blue eyes of hers. He was all about the not resisting at the moment and kissed her hard, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. His finger thrust in time to his tongue and his hips started to follow the 191

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rhythm. The wetness of her against his finger and the purring was driving him crazy. Trying to control the movement of his hips against her just wasn’t going to happen. The slide of the head of his cock was almost perfect. Right at the junction of the inside of her leg and her bottom, but he wanted to be inside of her. The temptation to remove his finger, shift just a bit, and thrust up inside her with his hardness beat over and over in his head.

Yeah, he needed to take it to the next level for her before he came undone all over her. Moving his hand just a bit, he put pressure on her clit and just inside her tight hot core. Alexandria’s purring sank into the very center of him and he had to close his eyes from the sheer ecstasy of the vibrations running through his shaft. Thrusting his tongue into her mouth in time to his finger thrusts, he returned her purr and felt her shatter.

Alexandria gasped and she shouted, “Josh!”

Her orgasm was incredible; her core tightening so damn hard and tight around his finger over and over. At the same time, Alexandria’s Life Power exploded out from her and across their shared connection. Joshua grabbed onto her and held her tight to him. Over and over, he felt her come and all he wanted was to do it to her again and again.

She grasped at his hair, continuing the kiss and his Alexandria almost finished taking him over the edge with her. Joshua had not expected it when she had reached down grabbing his cock and rubbing the head against her inner thigh. He grabbed her hand just in time before he would have lost it right then and there, but he couldn’t stop the Life Power from exploding out of him. The Life Power circled and entwined with their bodies, brushing up against her energy and sparkling in its myriad of glittering golds.

The sight of them both covered in Life Power was breathtaking.

Joshua’s body still hummed with the need to be inside of her but he wanted to let her recover before he pressed her to the next level. She surprised him when she pulled his head down, kissed him, and huskily demanded, “I want more, Josh. I want all of it. I want to Join with you.”

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thought. He wanted her to be sure.

“Yes, Josh. Forever yours.” Words the Ancients would be proud of, he thought.

Grabbing her under the bottom, he stood up taking her weight.

She smoothly wrapped her legs around his waist. The position took his breath away with her open and wet to him and he knew he could take her right there. But he wanted her lying on her back so he could see her Joining with him.

A bit awkwardly he shuffled into one of the side patient rooms.

His fatigues were just high enough on his body he didn’t trip and fall over. That would have killed the mood just a bit. Alexandria caught the stray thought and she giggled in his ear. “Oh, Josh. Yes, that would be a sight.”

The sound of her laughter was enchanting and he hadn’t been able to hear it all that often as of late. He would make sure her laughter happened a whole lot more. Bumping up against the wide medical cot, he laid her back on it. She was still laughing and the sight of her hair spread out around her and the glittering Life Power caressing her skin was absolutely gorgeous. His inner Sphinx pushed at him and he knew there was no more holding back on taking her.

Joshua stepped back just long enough to pull off his boots and fatigues and then moved back between her legs. She wrapped them tightly around his waist, hooking her heels at the base of his back and, pulling him close to her core.

“Now, Josh, now. Please. I’m burning up again.” Burning up was an understatement. The heat coming from her matched his own and he wondered if they both wouldn’t catch flame. He really didn’t care though.

He brushed his fingers along her wet sex. She arched against him, thrusting her hips telling him she was ready to go again. He grabbed her hips, pulling her to the very edge of the bed. Taking his engorged cock in his hand, he rubbed it along the opening of her core. The slickness and heat felt so good against him. All he wanted to do was plunge deep into her heat but he had to be gentle.

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With a control he didn’t think he had, he pushed against her and slowly slid in until he was just inside. She was hot and tight and he was afraid he was going to come right then. Staying completely still and taking a few deep breaths, he watched as Alexandria bit at her lip and her eyes dilated from the stimulation.

“Hang on. This first part might hurt a bit. I’m sorry.” He didn’t wait for her response but thrust quickly into her. She didn’t even flinch and wrapped her legs tighter around him.

Trying to let her adjust to the stretching sensation she had to be feeling and not move was one hell of a fight. All he wanted to do was slide in and out of her and bring them both to heaven. His Alexandria must have had the same idea because she arched her back and began thrusting her own hips. Her need to build the fire higher was all too clear through their shared Link.

Joshua wanted his precious Alexandria to have whatever she needed and he was more than obliged to give it to her. He grabbed her hips and started a slow, even thrusting. The slide was exquisite and it didn’t take him long to be lost to the wet tightness of her heat surrounding him. He needed closer contact and leaned down over her. She wound her arms around his neck and watched him.

The amazement in her gaze told him she was enjoying what he was doing to her. When she groaned he was certain of it.

“Alexandria, I’m not going to last much longer. Are you ready?”

“Yes, Josh. I’m more than ready.” She ground against him a little harder, making her demand of him. “Make me yours, forever.”

Joshua continued with his thrusting and kissed at her lips. Just a bit more for her, for him. He tunneled his fingers in her hair and reached down, pulling her leg up higher so he could thrust deeper.

She answered with a sweet whimper and moan. The sensations were incredible and he needed to be closer to her.

Expanding their connection to as wide as he had ever had it before, he pushed his energy down along hers. With each thrust inside of her, he moved closer and closer to her Life Force, his energy spinning and surrounding her both inside and out. Her energy responded, twining with his and caressing him both inside 194

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and out. He gasped and lifted his head meeting her eyes. He was ready to explode and couldn’t last any longer.

“My Lexi. I am yours, you are mine. Joined as One. Forever.”

Her eyes glowed with such intense happiness, he couldn’t help it and stopped for just a moment to kiss her gently. Alexandria wouldn’t have any more gentleness though and grabbed at his hips, arching her pelvis to pick up the deep thrusting again. He liked the fact she wasn’t afraid to be demanding with him. He closed his eyes trying to hold back but his body was spiraling up, his Power was spiraling up, and Alexandria’s was mirroring his.

“I can’t hold back anymore, Lexi.”

“I’m beyond ready, Josh. I am yours, you are mine. Joined as One. Forever.” The last she screamed when the surge of her Power and the answer of his exploded around them, over them, and through them.

His Life Force Joined with hers in an intense bright light. The breath left him and he arched hard over her. The orgasms shot through her small frame with such intensity Joshua hoped he wasn’t hurting her. His own hurtled down his spine, focused at his center, and then he was shouting Alexandria’s name as he came again and again inside of her.

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Sparkling, swirling Life Power settled on Alexandria and Joshua’s skin. The sight reminded her of the pictures she had seen on the internet of winter nights where snowflakes falling from the sky sparkled in the moonlight. Skimming her hands down the strong muscled arms on either side of her, she giggled at the sensation of the energy when it tickled her fingertips. Suddenly feeling shy, Alexandria glanced up at Joshua’s handsome face. His expression took her breath away. So much love in his eyes just for her and the smile on his face letting her know he truly had wanted to Join with her.

“Your eyes are beautiful, Alexandria. Seeing the silver of mine sparkling in the depths of your dark blue honors me. We really Joined, Lexi.”

He captured her lips in an incredibly gentle kiss and she gave herself up to his cherishing emotions as they rolled through their now Joined Link. A connection that would be even stronger and unbreakable now that they were Power Mates.

The softly teasing kiss went on and on while he nibbled at her lips. Finally, he leaned back so she could look into his eyes. She reached up and brushed his hair back so she could see both of them clearer. Losing herself in their depths, she too could see her dark blue sparkling in his bluish silver. Evidence of their Joining.

There would be no hiding it from anyone now and of what they felt for each other.

She continued to stroke her hand through his hair and he closed his eyes. Joshua shifted just slightly and Alexandria gasped from the sensation of him still being inside of her. She couldn’t believe how hard he was even after all of their love making and the Joining. Not being able to resist, she flexed her pelvis just slightly and was rewarded with a groan from Joshua. Just that quick, she had him thrusting in and out of her again.

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Mate was doing to her body. Knowing what her purring could do, she pulled him down so her lips were near his ear and smiling purred just for him. Joshua gasped, grabbing at her to still the mirrored thrusting of her hips against his.

“That’s just not fair, Lexi. How am I supposed to make you come when you take me over the edge so quickly.”

Nipping at his ear, she asked, “How did you know about the purring, Joshua?”

Joshua chuckled. “My sweet Lexi, it’s an old man’s tale handed down from generation to generation. In the days of the Ancients, secrets passed down revealed the ancient female Sphinx had the sexual talent that when they purred during love making, the sensation would take their males right over the edge. I can definitely say I’m more than happy the tale is true.”

“We’ll have to try my purr out on you more.”

Alexandria wanted to purr for Joshua and feel him come in her over and over but the sensual pleasure wasn’t to be at the moment.

Joshua suddenly stiffened above her and the sensual thoughts she sensed through their Link dissipated. Killing the mood was her brother barking in Joshua’s mind and even she cringed.

Joshua! What the hell is going on with my sister? I’m going out of my mind with worry and all I’m getting is silence on the line.

Talk to me now or I’m coming back up. Yeah, Michael had definitely worked himself into a froth. She couldn’t blame his mental yelling though, her brother really did care and hovered over her just like a true older brother. If it wasn’t for Joshua, Michael would have constantly been babysitting her.

Joshua sighed and slowly pulled out of her still humming body.

He stood back up and grabbed his pants. Without him pressed up against her and his body joined with hers, she felt chilled and suddenly alone.

“Oh no you don’t, Alexandria. I’m right here.” He had sensed her uncertainty and instantly pulled her from the bed surrounding her with his arms and the love he spread across their connection warmed her in and out.

He pressed his forehead to hers. “I would stay in this sanctuary 197

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with you forever, but your brother is worried. He needs to see you’re alright and I ‘m sure the others are going crazy with worry for you too. So let me grab you some scrubs and we’ll get out of here.”

Releasing her, he pulled on his pants and boots. Before leaving the room, he gave her a quick kiss and dove out of the door but was back in an instant with a set of blue scrubs and a pair of surgical slippers. She saw while he was out getting the scrubs he had put his shirt back on. Too bad. She liked looking at his naked, hard-muscled body. Shaking her head at the thoughts, Alexandria slipped into the scrubs with haste not wanting to keep Michael waiting any longer than necessary. She knew he would go through with the threat of coming back up and didn’t want Joshua to take the fall for keeping him waiting. As it was, she was terrified what he would do about the Joining.

When she was ready, Joshua grabbed her hand threading his fingers with hers. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand closing his eyes as if savoring the feel of her skin.

When he opened them back up, she could see the pure need burning but he just pulled her next to his side.

“Come on, Alexandria, we better go see your brother and the others.”

Leaving medical, they made their way to the elevators and Joshua had them on board and down one level to the Warrior’s quarters too fast in her opinion. Stepping out into the elevator bank, Alexandria took a deep breath looking at the double doors to the inner sanctum of the quarters.

Joshua brushed his hand through her hair easing her tension.

“Are you ready, my little feline?”

The endearment had her smiling and she nodded.

Without delay, Joshua opened the door and held it open for her so she could pass through. Still, he kept her hand in his to keep her close. He pulled her to his side and Alexandria felt protected in his arms. She knew he wouldn’t let anything happen to her even though she knew her brother would never do anything to her.

Although, he might decide to throw a punch or two at Joshua.

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Barely making their presence known inside the threshold, Alexandria was tackled and hugged to death by an enthusiastic Stormy and Eleina.

“You made it. We knew you would, Alexandria.” Stormy grabbed her face, turning her this way and that and squealed, “I knew it. I knew you would Join with Joshua, although personally, I tell you, you should have both done that a long time ago. You’re both so stubborn.”

A low growl echoed through the entrance way. Not good, Michael would have heard everything and Alexandria expected him to come flying across the marble floor attacking Joshua.

Alexandria yelled out, “Michael, I wanted to. My Sphinx wanted too. Don’t be angry.”

She heard Michael sigh while he approached them.

“I’m not angry. I’m just being overprotective of my sister. I know you both love each other. It’s been fucking obvious for years, but old habits of hovering over you die hard. Joshua kept you safe for years. Now I expect him to protect you as his Mate, otherwise I’ll kick his ass. Besides, Stormy is an armful for me in the protection zone and keeps me busy enough.” He held his hand out to Joshua and they shook in mutual agreement of being two tortured men having to watch over their women.

Looking over his shoulder at her, Joshua winked. Alexandria rolled her eyes thinking all men were horn dogs, but she loved all of them anyway. All of the other Warriors were present to see how she was doing as well. Their response warmed her heart, this family of hers who stood together no matter what. She wouldn’t give this life up for anything.

Stormy touched her arm getting her attention. “Alexandria, there’s something slightly different. You seem more…I’m not sure what. Did your abilities come back?”

“Yes, plus some. I’m not even sure of what all my abilities are at this point because of losing my Powers early.” Nervously she bit at her lip. “Also, the Wraith genetics are destroyed but my own Sphinx genetics have changed, been enhanced to the point the re-association regressed me back to the purer form of the Sphinx.”

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“What does that mean specifically?” Michael demanded. “Is there still a danger to you?” Her older brother ready to do battle for her again.

Alexandria touched Michael’s clenched fist. “I’m fine, other than the fact when I’m threatened, I change into a Sphinx feline.”

“No fucking way. Can we see?” Caleb spoke up with way too much enthusiasm.

Joshua grabbed Alexandria and she was suddenly surrounded by his protective embrace again. He growled over her head, “No, you can’t fucking see. What’s wrong with you?”

Caleb shoved his hands in his pockets scowling at everyone.

Alexandria knew he hadn’t meant anything by his curiosity but she swore every one of Joshua’s muscles were twitching against her.

“It’s okay. Let me learn to control the change and maybe someday I’ll show all of you. I have to study myself, so to speak, both physically and Power wise. With the new skills and Powers, I may be of additional help battle wise versus just healing. I’m sure a cat with claws and teeth could do a little damage to some Wraith.”

Joshua’s arms tightened around her pulling her in even closer.

“There’s no way in hell you’re going anywhere near anymore Wraith. Ever.”

Stormy placed her hands on her hips and blew the hair out of her face. “And here we go again, ladies, with the macho crap.”

Alexandria and Eleina laughed while the males in the room all growled. Little did anyone know how close they were to hitting on an upcoming truth. Alexandria was already mapping out her next encounter with the evil Wraith right under Joshua’s nose.

“Well, all I know is I’m glad you’re alive and feisty as ever, Alexandria.” Michael approached her and Joshua. “Now let go of my sister, Joshua, so I can give her a hug.”

Slowly, Joshua released her and she knew he was reluctant to have her beyond his reach. Out of one set of arms and engulfed in another. Her brother hugged her hard and kissed her on the forehead. The outright obviousness of his affection showed just how much he had been worried about her recovery.

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“I really am glad you’re back with us. Just make sure the next time you want to go off and stubbornly try something on your own you at least discuss the subject with one of us.”

Alexandria felt close to tears and hugged her brother back resting her head on his shoulder. Mentally, she crossed her fingers.

“I will.” She had put her family through so much and hated she would have to put them through even more. “And I’m sorry I tried to kill you.”

“It wasn’t your fault. Turin is to blame for all of this and he’ll pay. One way or another, he’ll pay.”

Alexandria didn’t like it when her brother said things like that.

His words made her wonder what kind of sacrifice he was considering again. She didn’t get to respond though when he pushed her away and back into Joshua’s arms.

Michael positioned himself so he could face all of them and turned his Khenti mode back on. “Now, it’s way past everyone’s bedtime. I would suggest getting some rest. I’ll need all Warriors in the planning room tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, with Turin busy with his machinations, we’ll probably be busy again tomorrow night.”

With Michael’s direction and the Warriors too tired to argue anyway, they all made their way up the majestically curved staircase. Joshua put his arm around Alexandria’s shoulders and led her up to their rooms following up behind the others. No one said anything, just turned left or right at the top of the stairs where the mahogany handrail curved along the second floor. Joshua paused at the top of the stairs, though, and touched the head of the golden Sphinx statue. Alexandria placed her hand on top of his and he smiled gently down at her.

“Now that you’re better, maybe you want to go back to your rooms?” He sounded uncertain and she wondered if he thought she would prefer separate rooms like the practices of the old days when a couple was Joined.

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to be with them? Besides, now was modern day and she was a modern woman and could do whatever she wanted. She wrapped her arms around Joshua tilting her head back to look up at him.

“The only place I want to be is with you. If you wouldn’t mind, I think I would prefer your rooms. I’m not sure about going back to all the bright colors, my eyes just aren’t the same anymore even with the presence of my Sphinx. We may have to rethink the whole decorative thing. If you don’t mind?”

“Mind? Having you with me is all I need, all I want. In all this chaos of our life, the one thing I know for certain is the pleasure of waking up the rest of my life and seeing your sweet face next to me. You can decorate any way you want as long as I can have you.”

Waking up to Joshua lying next to her every day of her life was what Alexandria had craved for ages. Now that she had him, she wasn’t sure how long it would last. The Gate was a nightmare, taking the Warriors closer and closer to an exhaustion of their Powers where they wouldn’t be able to recover. They needed more than anything to recover the rest of the Pages of Seven to find out how to destroy the remaining Gate. And the only way to do that was for her to go back to the Drake Dimension.

Joshua brushed his thumb across her forehead. “Are you okay, Alexandria? You have quite the frown going.”

She started realizing the direction of her thoughts. Thank goodness, their connection had been closed at that moment; otherwise he would have known her plans. He would try to stop her or end up getting himself killed trying to protect her. She had to learn to be more careful with her inner planning.

“I’m fine.” She cuddled up to him, hugging him hard. “Just a bit tired. One heck of a day.”

Alexandria felt the rumble of his gentle laughter under her ear.

“Lexi, that’s one hell of an understatement. Come on, let’s go get some rest.”

Tucking her under his shoulder, they walked slowly together back to their rooms. Joshua opened the door and held it while she entered. She stopped at the threshold and looked around the bedroom, small compared to the other compartments, but the 202

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rooms suited Joshua and it suited her now.

Before she could turn around, Joshua brushed up behind her wrapping his strong arms around her. His Power encircled her glittering in the air and settling on her skin. The energy tingled warming up her insides and driving her own energy to the juncture of her legs. She leaned back and felt the evidence of his arousal hard against her bottom.

“Joshua” she gasped his name, knowing she would be doing more than sleeping even though sleep was exactly what he had said.

“I know you’re tired, Lexi, but I need you. I’ve needed you so long and built this desire up forever that I’m going to explode if I don’t have you.”

Not waiting for her answer, not that she would have refused him anyway, Joshua pushed her quickly over to the bed until her knees bumped up against the mattress.

“Do you trust me?” Joshua whispered in her ear.

“Always.” She leaned back against him and he captured her lips.

His hands slid slowly under her scrub shirt and across her stomach. His touch felt incredible and she wanted more. She thought he must have been reading her mind because he stripped off his shirt and then hers. Once he had her upper half bare, he slid his hands down inside of her scrub bottoms and slid them off.

The heat in Joshua’s expression left no doubt to Alexandria that he wanted her. He reached around her from behind and pulled her back against him again. Grabbing her hair with his hand, he positioned her head until he could kiss her. Alexandria gasped into his mouth when the fingers of his other hand parted her sex and slid into her wetness. The man was a master as he played her until she was moaning and barely able to stand on her own two feet.

Joshua broke the kiss and pushed her further forward. “Get on the bed for me, Lexi. On all fours. My Sphinx wants you just as bad as I do and is putting ideas into my head.”

Trusting Joshua not to hurt her, she did as he asked crawling up to the center of the bed. He removed the bottoms of his scrubs and followed behind her grabbing her hips and spreading her stance.

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She looked over her shoulder at him. Joshua was magnificent. His eyes glowed slightly with his Power all revved up and his cock was standing proud and erect in front of him. He closed the distance between them and she could feel him rub the head of his erection between her legs.

Closing her eyes, she leaned back wanting him to be inside her.

He didn’t disappoint, entering her in one smooth thrust until he was up to the hilt inside of her. She heard him groan, his fingers digging into her hips. Not moving an inch, he appeared to be trying to master his control but she smiled. She knew she wasn’t going to last long and had every intention of taking him over the edge of ecstasy with her.

Arching her hips just slightly so his shaft was rubbing in just the right angle, Alexandria began to rock against him. The friction was exquisite and even when she heard him draw in a deep breath, she didn’t stop. His Sphinx may have had the idea, but her Sphinx fully recognized the dominance game.

Joshua gripped her hips tighter, but in the end she knew he really wasn’t going to try and stop her motion. The thrust of his hips slapping against her told the story of his loss of control. His Power exploded around her and hers answered in return. She looked over her shoulder again and the image of his expression of being lost to the passion was her own undoing.

Not being able to help herself and needing to feel Joshua, she opened her Joining Link fully between them and Joshua’s energy moved down inside her. The more they entwined in body and Life Power, the closer he got his Life Force to hers, the closer she came to exploding. She called out his name and he covered her with his body leaning on one arm and wrapping his other under her stomach. The position was intense and he brought it to the next level when he licked her shoulder and then gently held her in place with his teeth while he continued to pump harder and faster into her.

The heat built, centering in her and spreading through the inner muscles surrounding Joshua’s cock. He thrust into her and the heat and their energy spiraled together. When he reached down 204

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between her legs and rubbed against her clit, she screamed and bucked against him. His Life Force aligned over hers and all she could see was blinding white energy. Her fists desperately fisted the covers under her and she teetered on the edge. Again, Joshua rubbed at her clit and the orgasmic wave hit her with stunning intensity.

Alexandria screamed his name again as the orgasm washed over her, but he kept thrusting into her faster and deeper, kept holding her against him with his teeth and hands, kept stroking her with his fingers. When the first one began to subside, another orgasmic wave crashed over her. The orgasms came and she moaned and gasped and cried his name. When she felt an incredible surge of energy vibrate through both of them, she knew Joshua couldn’t hold out any longer. It was time for her dominating Mate to join her…so she purred.

The reaction was immediate. Joshua finally let go of her shoulder and leaned his head against her. His body tensed, held for a moment, and then he thrust deep into her, shouting her name. His shaft pulsed inside of her while her own orgasms continued to wash over her. One more time he thrust into her and his Power burst out around them, swirling and spiraling in myriads of golden energy and light. She thought the intense pleasure would never end but finally Joshua shuddered over her breathing deeply and the waves broke.

Beyond exhausted and yet alive at the same time, she rested her head on the bed. Joshua carefully pulled out of her and rolled both of them over to their sides. He flipped the blankets over them and encircled her closely with both his body and arms. It was as if he couldn’t get close enough to her and she felt the same way. She needed more of him, to be one with him on so many levels. Closing her eyes, she felt time catching up with them and scooted even tighter up against him.

“I love you, Lexi. I’ll always be here for you.” She smiled sadly when she felt his lips in her hair and the brush of his hands trying to soothe her. Trying to keep her darker thoughts from him, she knew he still sensed something was upsetting her but he didn’t 205

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pry. He just continued to try to soothe her, his love showering over her.

“I love you too, Joshua.” Alexandria pushed her own love back to him, warming him. She didn’t want him to worry. Not after the incredible love making. She sent those thoughts to him through their Link and felt his answering enjoyment. Closing her eyes, she held on to those images and drifted off to sleep.

****

One thing Alexandria knew was her brother always knew when hell was about to hit the fan. The good thing was everyone did get a good night’s rest. The bad thing was everyone awoke to the inky black oozing evil Power of the Gate. The Gate was going to open and it was going to open big if the vibrations throughout the complex were any indication.

Joshua had shot off the bed with Michael’s call through the Warrior’s Link still ringing in his ears. Alexandria thought he had set a record for showering and getting dressed. Still, he paused long enough to gather her into his arms holding her tightly and giving her a kiss which dripped with both heat and desperation.

When he finally came up for air, he didn’t seem to want to let her go and she felt the same way clinging to his shoulders.

“I want you to know the only thing I want is to be with you and hold you the rest of the day, but…” Joshua looked torn and rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

“I know Josh. I feel the same way.” She shook her head in agitation. “We’ll deal with this just like we always have and then when we have our time together it will be even more precious.”

He smiled at her, and as always, she was mesmerized by the dimple which made its appearance. Hugging her one more time, he sighed, “You’re right. Our time together will be precious.”

Slowly, he released her and she could still see his reluctance. “If you need me, just reach out, otherwise I’ll be in the planning room and then all of our asses will be battling again. If you’re up to it, we’ll probably need your healing skills again.”

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“The dark energy does feel like it’s going to be a bad one. I’ve been absent enough when you’ve needed me. I’ll be there.” She stood on her tiptoes and gave him one more kiss. He gripped her arms tightly putting his very Life Force into the kiss and when he finally let her go she was a bit light-headed.

Joshua ran his fingers over her cheek and then turned and left without another word although she heard his parting thoughts.

Yeah, it’s going to be a real bad one.

Grabbing her own shower, she was dried and dressed in Warriors’ gear in ten minutes. If Joshua saw her, he probably wouldn’t be too happy she had decided to dress in the battle clothes again but her days of being just the healer in the rear were over. Turin had made sure of that when he had taught her how to kill, and she was more than willing to utilize those skills to help in the fight and protect her family.

Not bothering with a full meal, she settled for a couple of apples and nut bars. She munched on them and made her way over to the elevators. Just as she suspected when she hit the button, the elevator responded to her. If nothing else, Ethan was efficient on resetting the security for her. Sometimes it freaked her out of how much he knew about everyone with all his security and surveillance equipment. Naughtily, she wondered if Ethan played the voyeur from time to time. How could he not with all the watching he did and the coupling occurring in the complex.

By the time she made it to medical, she had eaten pretty much all of one of the apples and decided to save the rest. Jenny and Warren were predictably already in medical gathering extra equipment to take to the Trauma Cell. Both of them turned looking surprised to see her already up and about but appeared pleased she was there anyway.

“Please tell me you’ve come to help.” Jenny looked absolutely hopeful and completely harassed with the preparation. “I don’t know how we made this work without you.”

“Excuse me. I’ve been busting my ass around here.” Warren sounded like he was strangling for a moment.

Jenny gave him a glare. “Yeah, but you’re still not a Power 207

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Healer. Now stop acting like a holier-than-though male.

Alexandria held up her hands. “Whoa. Hold on, guys. I know everyone’s stressed, but come on. And yes, I’m here to help.

There’s no way in hell you would have kept me away. I can tell by the Gate’s energy that Turin’s been meddling again and it’s going to be bad. You’re going to need me. Now, tell me what’s left to be done.”

Jenny quickly laid out what they had completed so far and Alexandria dived in to help finish with the preparation. In between all three of them and the other medical aids, they had the gear on carts and ready to go in less than thirty minutes. Looking like a train with all of the carts being pulled or pushed by the staff, they made their way to the largest of the elevators. Alexandria made sure she grabbed her medical coat and an extra stethoscope before she followed behind the group.

In a way, it felt like old times but at the same time there was something different as though she was slightly phased from what her life had been. She rubbed at her neck, the tension running through her and tried to ignore the sensation. When the group was all cramped in the elevator bank area, she turned to Warren.

“You get the group down to Trauma. I’m going to take one of the smaller elevators.” Alexandria rubbed at her neck again and a hiss escaped her. She covered her mouth in surprise.

“Jenny. Take the group down. I’ll be right behind you.” Warren shouted. Alexandria wanted to tell him even to worry but he gave a look which said he was staying with her.

As soon as the elevator doors shut, he pulled out a small hand held monitor and scanned her. He shook his head putting the monitor in his pocket. “You appear to be just fine other than the fact your Sphinx is very near the surface. Are you sure you want to dive into this craziness already? What happens if you change into the feline in the middle of all this?”

Alexandria sighed heavily, “Warren, you all need me. I have to learn how to balance and control the Sphinx in me. I demand it of myself just because I can’t let Turin win with what he did to me
with the changes he caused. I’m going to make what I’ve become a 208

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positive thing. My improved genetics is even more sensitive to the Gate and the dark energy. That has to mean something. Right?

And if I do change, then I know the feline can do a lot of damage against the Wraith with her teeth and claws.”

Warren placed a hand on her arm. “Let’s hope you don’t change. Joshua’s going to freak if you end up in the middle of a fight and we’re going to need you more for healing. Save your fury for another day. I would bet you’ll find a way to make Turin pay, but not now. Okay?”

The Sphinx in Alexandria roared, but she took a deep breath pushing the feline back down.

“Yes. You’re right. Sometimes all I want is to be able to find the man and kill him for what he did to me, what he planned on me doing to Michael, and all the other crap he’s caused. But it’s selfish of me and you all need me more for my healing than my killing right now.”

Another surge of dark energy spread throughout the area. She grabbed Warren’s arm pulling him into the next elevator. “We better hurry or we won’t even make it into the Trauma Cell.”

The whole trip down to the staging cavern seemed to take forever with surges of energy flowing up and through Alexandria.

She felt dirty and violated by the darkness and the sensations were worse for her because of the improved sensitivities of her Sphinx.

“By the Ancients, I feel like I need a shower already,” she whispered right before the doors opened. Shuddering, she wished the doors would close back up, but she needed to learn how to deal. Stiffening her spine, she stepped out into the entryway of the Cavern and forced herself over to the opening.

Taking a deep breath, she stared straight over to the double doors of the Trauma Cell ignoring the dark vibrating energy coming from the left side of her. Her legs fought her every step of the way, but she forced herself to keep moving forward and was making pretty good progress to the Cell when an unexpected nasty surge of the Gate emanated around her.

Half way across the Cavern, her muscles locked instantly.

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opening Gate. The wind generated from the imbalance of the pressure in the cave buffeted at her. Every cell in her body was focused on the hated swirling entitya blood red and white circle spinning black hole in space.

Her Sefu Element which had been silent for so long started to shift and her arm itched from the rush of Life Power. Before she even registered what had happened, she was standing with a deadly black Power Sword in her hand. Holding her Sword up in front of her she looked at the deadly weapon wishing it was still silver like her brother’s Sefu and Joshua’s, but no, Turin had fucked that up for her too. The Sword would be forever black shiny metal with a black crystal center but at least her Power Signature of a silver moon eclipsing a gold sun was still purely hers. And the control, yes, the control of the Sword was hers and if she got the chance she would shove the blade right up Turin’s ass.

Dropping her arm back into a defensive stance, she snarled again. Alexandria, was ready to attack, ready to fight with her every last breath. She marched forward with the Guardians Elite who even now desperately lined up to ward off the incoming enemy while the Warriors rushed down from the planning room due to the unexpected change in the time line.

So lost in her own fury, she didn’t hear the calling of her name at first, but then a strong arm encircled her and pulled her away from the beginnings of the battle. She growled at the person who denied her the goal of tearing the Wraith from limb to limb. An amused chuckle flowed down the Joined connection and Joshua’s thoughts brought her back from her crazed fury.

My Alexandria, you’re quite the little furious feline. We all know how you feel my love, but I need you to be safe and help us on the healing side. I won’t be able to concentrate, making this more dangerous for everyone if you stay out here. Please, Lexi.

He kissed her neck and sat her firmly down in front of the Trauma Cell.

A high-pitched screech cut through the air and Alexandria looked back seeing the gray-skinned, clawed sons of bitches who had tortured her at every turn at Turin’s command. The battle had 210

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begun in earnest. Baring her teeth, she hissed at the sight but Joshua grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. It was clear he was upset and the fact she was the cause was like cold water being thrown at her.

Snapping out of her fixation with killing Wraith, she reflexed her Sefu back into its bracelet form. “I’m sorry Joshua. Go fight.

Be careful. I’ll be waiting here for you.” She grabbed him kissing him with the force of energy she still felt swirling within her. He kissed her brushing his Power through her one more time before diving into the fight and then spun her around pushing her through the doors. With finality, he closed them behind her. As the doors closed, Alexandria felt her connection narrow to almost nothing. She realized Joshua must have thought it was going to be one of the worst battles ever if he was shutting her out.

Everyone in the trauma cell stopped and just stared at her.

“Umm. Yeah. Sorry about that. What do you need me to do?”

She was happy to hear her voice was back to normal and without any more snarls or growls emerging.

The medical team jumped back to work and Jenny ran over to her and grabbed her.

“Come on. We’re getting scrubbed up. I’m sure it won’t be long before the first injuries start rolling in.”

Jenny wasn’t wrong in her prediction either. Right on cue, Guardian Arik and Caleb dragged in an injured Guardian Elite.

The man’s chest was torn open, blood pouring in clotted pools all over the floor. He was already gray and Alexandria couldn’t detect if the man was breathing or not.

“Arik, get him over here now.” Alexandria called. They brought the unconscious man over hefting him up on the surgical table.

Everyone tackled the process of trying to stop the bleeding, starting IVs, and gathering supplies to stitch him back up. After only a few minutes Alexandria waved them off.

Frustration already kicking in, she cried. “Stop! That’s not going to work for him. He’s too damaged.” She looked at Arik for a moment and saw the grief in the man’s eyes. Every loss of his Guardians dug another blade into his heart. “I guess there’s only 211

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one way to save him. We’ll have to see how much of my abilities are back.”

212

Chapter Thirteen

Praying to the Ancients, Alexandria placed her hands on the man. Blood and tissue stuck to her bare hands but skin-to-skin contact was the only way she could connect with the patient’s energy. Closing her eyes, she opened her abilities and set free her Power. The rush was instantaneous and she could see how much damage the Wraith had done. Fury spun up in her again and it took her a moment to calm while she talked herself through fury.

Breathe Alexandria. This man needs you.

The pep talk worked her back down and she began to examine the broken energy and tissue within the man. Muscle, cartilage, bone, arteries, everything was ripped to hell. She was going to need a lot of Life Power for this one, if she could even draw enough for all the damage she needed to repair. Focusing deeper still, she found his barely beating heart and surrounded it with her healing energy keeping the muscle beating and feeding the needed oxygen.

At the same time, she called to the Life Power and the energy responded for the first time in ages now that she was fully healed.

Immediately the energy flowed to her, coming from the walls, the floor, the living, the inanimate. Faster and faster, it flowed until her skin glowed with the Power and then her body changed the energy into a healing Power that quickly spun through the young Guardian’s body. His heart beat stronger, the tissue mended, his blood reformed, the color came back to his skin, and the horrendous gouges closed until his chest was almost perfect. Only pink scars remained on his chest. The only indication he had been mauled during the battle. Finally, his eyes fluttered open.

Even with all of the healing, the Guardian still grimaced and grabbed at his chest. Alexandria stepped back leaning against a stool and Arik grabbed at her arm steadying her. She looked up at him and said, “He’ll still need pain meds, fluids, and rest. I’ve done all I can do.”

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Arik squeezed her arm. “I don’t know how to thank you. We’ve lost so many. It’s good to have you back.”

“It’s good to be back.” In the back of her mind was the ever present knowledge she would have to return to the other side of the Gate.

Arik and the other Guardian Elite left and returned to the battle shortly after they were sure the injured Guardian was going to survive. Alexandria continued with the healings and the patching using her conventional medical skills. One after another came into the Trauma Cell. Gouged, stabbed, clawed, bitten, all of the injuries became a blur before her eyes after a while. Even one of the Warriors, Ethan, who had intervened to save Michael, had been grabbed by one of the Wraith. He had made it out of the confrontation alive but his Power had been dangerously ripped from him. Jacob had brought him in and Michael had followed up by commanding the women to stay in the Trauma Cell because the battle was getting to a higher danger level then they had experienced before.

Eleina sulked after being restricted, but Stormy helped stabilize Ethan. Even after Alexandria recommended Ethan stay in the Cell to finish recovering, he refused, as she knew he would, and he staggered back out into the chaos. Alexandria worked through all of the never-ending injuries, wearing herself out and constantly reaching out to check on Joshua. Always, he reached back for a moment, reassuring her. All she knew was the nightmare just wouldn’t end and she needed to touch Joshua to make sure he really was okay and to be held by him.

Day turned into early evening and evening turned into night.

Finally, around daybreak, the Gate snapped closed with a final thunder and the last of the Wraith were dispatched back to hell.

Shakily, Alexandria sat on an empty stool feeling just as haggard as everyone else looked. Too many of the cots were taken up by injured Guardians Elite and at least two of the Warriors needed to be on bed rest for a day or two, but she knew they wouldn’t. Not with the Gate probably opening again tonight.

Rubbing a hand across her eyes, she felt a deep despair. She had 214

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no choice but to go through with her plan immediately. She knew in her gut that Turin had created at least one creature which could open the Gate at his commandthe same way she had been able to and hopefully still could. Turin had to have used her genetic makeup to create something with her ability, which meant there would be no more rest for any of themunless she took her anti-gene to the other side to destroy the altered Wraith and she tried to retrieve the Fifth Page of the Seven. She swallowed, fear crushing down on her. If she did this, there would be a high possibility she would die. If she didn’t go to the other side, then it was probable they would lose the war and die anyway.

Joshua suddenly appeared before her, pulling her to her feet and drawing her deep into his embrace. His Power was low and he was shaking but his hold was strong and the grip he had on her felt like he would never let her go again. He brushed his fingers through her hair and kissed her with a need she reflected right back. When he reached through their Joined Link to be even closer to her, she gathered as much Life Power she could in her tired state and pushed into his weakened system making sure it didn’t turn dionic. He breathed a big sigh of relief and she smiled against his lips. Still even with his Life Power level closer to normal he had to break the kiss when a huge yawn hit him.

“I need to lie down or fall down as soon as Michael has his after action. Everyone’s going to gather in here. The clean-up crew is going to end up taking all day to clean up the gore out there. Even your doc eyes would be traumatized.” Joshua continued to run his hands through her hair, over her arms, and kiss her while they waited for the meeting. He might have been worried about her being traumatized but she could tell he was haunted by what he had just gone through.

Even tired, Joshua jumped about a foot when Michael bellowed,

“Everybody in the Trauma Cell now, damn it!” Alexandria had to hold on tight when Joshua pulled her farther into the room with such speed her balance was thrown off.

It didn’t take long and the Trauma Cell was packed to the eaves with battle weary men and women. A sound of cursing and shouts 215

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of Warrior coordination echoed off the walls of the staging cavern and into the cell but was abruptly cut-off with the slam of the double doors.

Raven glanced up barring anyone from leaving. “We have an unexpected last minute problem. Right before the Gate closed, Turin evidently rolled out a couple of explosive devices which didn’t work as he had planned. Luckily they didn’t go off and Ethan pretty much has them neutralized.”

Stormy yelled, “What do you mean almost has them neutralized? Is Michael insane? I should be out there so I can put up a shield in case they do go off?” Alexandria watched as Stormy took a deep breath to continue her tirade, but before she could go on, one of the doors opened up and Michael and Ethan walked back in.”

Khenti Michael was obviously wound up too but Alexandria was relieved to see he was unharmed. He took a deep calming breath and updated the group, “The explosives have been disarmed but it appears they were more of a distraction than anything. Hunter spotted a Wraith on the outer periphery of the cave, or at least what he thought was a Wraith. The creature was overlooked initially because it had more humanoid features than normal and was covered up pretty good.” Michael glanced over to Alexandria,

“The only things giving the Wraith away were the gray color of its skin and the black eyes. So it looks like Turin’s been creative with the genetic altering again.”

He paused for a moment running his hand over his face and then continued, “Jacob’s out tracking the thing right now in the complex, so I ask all of you to make haste and go straight to your quarters. Those areas should be secure since anyone going there has to have clearance. For the Warriors and Guardian Arik, we’ll meet up in the planning room in about five hours. Sorry about the short rest period, but I suspect we’ll be back at this again tonight.”

Alexandria felt the final nail hammered into her coffin. Her fate was sealed by the verification of the altered Wraith and the fact the Warriors and Elite really couldn’t take another round of fighting like this one. She rested her head against Joshua and just listened 216

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to his heartbeata heart that would cease to beat without her if she didn’t succeed in her fated mission. Joshua’s arms tightened around her. He would be able to feel her disquiet through their Link but she kept the connection narrowed down far enough so he wouldn’t perceive her plan. She hoped he would see the action as exhaustion on her part and not as her pushing him away, but it couldn’t be helped.

Quickly the room emptied. Those uninjured or ambulatory went to their rooms. Those who couldn’t were quickly moved by the medical staff upstairs to the medical clinic. The last to leave were the Warriors, single or arm in arm with their Power Mate. Joshua pulled her along with him not letting up on his contact with her even a mere inch. She needed to speak with Raven but it wasn’t to be at that point, so when they passed by him, Alexandria cast him a look. He would know what her stare meant. She would need him later even if he didn’t want any part of what she planned. The rest of the way back to their quarters was uneventful and in silence.

Even when they were inside their haven, the silence continued.

Joshua disappeared into the bathroom for a few minutes cleansing the blood and gore from his body. Alexandria knew he hated to expose her to the evidence of the violence he had to go through, but she had lived it first hand in Turin’s clutches. Now she had to go back into that world and perhaps never come back.

Looking down at herself, she realized she looked almost as bad with blood on her clothes from trying to save men taken down by the Wraith. Her entire body began to shake and she had to sit down quickly in one of the brown leather chairs at the side of the bed. She covered her face blocking out the sight of her bloodied clothes and rocked back and forth just trying to make all of the thoughts spinning in her head stop.

Once again, Joshua was there for her. Still wet and dripping from his shower, he showed up like her own personal savior and pulled her up and into his arms. His hands felt so good running over her back and through her hair. Sobbing, she wrapped her arms around him and held on for dear life. She didn’t want to leave him, didn’t want to go back to the Drake Dimension.

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Shifting her to his side, he led her into the bathroom, constantly keeping contact with her. Even he seemed to need the physical connection. She vaguely noted the shower was still on and realized Joshua planned on bathing her when he kneeled down before her and started to remove her boots. First one, then the other, he gently removed from her tired feet. With the boots out of the way, Joshua reached up from his kneeling position and unhooked her belt buckle. He loosened her fatigue pants and then slid them and her underwear off her hips. Standing, he grabbed the bottom of her t-shirt pulling it up and over her head. The t-shirt was tossed and his nimble fingers removed her bra adding the black fabric to the top of the pile.

Joshua glanced down at her nude body and Alexandria actually blushed. Every time he looked at her with that adoring expression in his eyes, she felt like a young schoolgirl again. He entwined his fingers with hers and brought her knuckles to his mouth brushing a kiss across them. Pulling her across the tan tiled floor, he helped her into the glass walled shower. The warm water instantly loosened her muscles and what tension remained Joshua worked out with the soap-filled washcloth. His touch was magic and he knew just how to touch every inch of her.

When he seemed to be satisfied with the cleansing, he pushed her back into the water and ran his hands over every bit of her skin making the water and soap rush off her. He paused for a moment with his hand over her heart. “Alexandria, I know there’s something bothering you and I want to help you. The Ancients know I do with every bit of my love for you. I don’t know why you’re holding whatever’s bothering you back from me, but I’m here for you when you’re ready.”

She crumbled before him, her heart splintering to pieces from the sheer kindness of her chosen Mate. If only she could tell him, but he would try to stop her, and she just couldn’t allow that to happen. If she made it to the other side of the nightmare mission, she would make this up to him. “Josh, I…”

When she couldn’t go on, he pulled her into his arms anyway.

“It’s okay, Lexi. I’ll wait for you as long as you need.” And then he 218

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kissed her. A soul touching, Life Force confirming, Power inducing kiss that melted her to the very core. She would never be the same and would forever belong to him no matter if it was in life or in death. He gave her strength, he gave her hope, he gave her love.

With ultimate gentleness, he took her to his bed and placed her on the soft blankets. His body covered hers and the next couple of hours he made love to her, bringing her to orgasm again and again. Not wanting to come undone without him, she rewarded him with every bit of her love and used her special purr to make him explode within her and call out her name in ecstasy.

When he connected with her through their Link sharing his Power with her, she answered back touching him with the energy which was purely hers. The loving was incredible, and for a few moments, she forgot the dark mission she had to commit to, but eventually reality set in. He would probably hate her later, but it couldn’t be helped. She shifted her energy just enough to knock him out for a couple of hours.

****

Dressed in her black Warrior’s clothes, Alexandria stood at the foot of the bed just admiring her Josh. The man was incredible, with his hard muscles and his tan skin, but most of all, with the incredible love he gifted her. She brushed a tear away, feeling her heart break a little bit more. Perhaps this was goodbye, perhaps it wasn’t. Either way he might not ever forgive her for what she had done, using her gift to make him sleep while she committed herself to a death mission.

Reaching down, she picked up the bag filled with a fine black chainmail vest and arm gauntlets of the same. She had also borrowed a weapons belt with daggers and throwing stars but would rely mostly on her Sefu Element and the deadly Power Sword it would become.

Looking upon Joshua one more time, she whispered, “Goodbye Josh. I really do love you more than life.”

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jerked open the door passing through and swiftly closing it behind her before she changed her mind. Every step she took away from Joshua felt like another heartbeat being taken away from her lifeline. But she knew there was no choice. This was her sacrifice or it would end up being everyone else’s.

Luckily, most of the Warriors were sleeping other than perhaps Raven. Hopefully, he had understood the glance from the Trauma Cell earlier, because she really needed his ability to pull the truth of her time on the other side out of the depths of her mind. Either way, she was going but without the knowledge she figured she was pretty much out of luck. The other factor was finding Stormy and Eleina. She figured they probably wouldn’t be sleeping since they would be wound up and not as exhausted as the Warriors who had expended such huge amounts of Life Power.

Deciding to start with the entertainment room, she breathed a sigh of relief when she approached the doorway and looked in. The Ancients were with her and all three of the people she desperately needed were present and accounted for. Stormy and Eleina were at the large rose wood bar. Stormy was leaning against one of the intricately carved posts which held up the overhead section that had several crystal glasses hanging from it. The light reflecting off the mirrors on the wall behind the bar shined on the glasses causing bright shimmers.

Eleina reached up capturing one of the artistically cut glasses.

She flipped the glass in midair so the bottom was facing down and then daintily placed it on the bar. Grabbing a diamond cut decanter filled with some type of alcohol, she poured herself a hefty amount and slammed the drink down before Alexandria made it halfway across the room. The woman could out drink any man if she wanted to put her mind to it.

Almost immediately her approaching presence was noted and both women turned toward her. Eleina poured a second glass of alcohol and after taking a sip, said, “I can see time’s up. You’re going.”

Stepping up to the bar, Alexandria dropped her bag of gear on the floor, grabbed a glass, and poured a glass full to boost her 220

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determination. She gulped down half of the contents not really knowing how the alcohol would affect her with her changed genetics. Setting the glass carefully on the bar next to Eleina’s she looked at both women head on.

“I have to. The decision was made long ago when Turin took my genetic material and injected it into those monsters. He’s made a creature on the other side that can open the Gate. That’s why it’s so easy for them to activate and hold the Gate open. And they can hold it open as long as they want. We got lucky they ran out of gas the last time. The reprieve might not happen again and the Warriors can’t take much more. I don’t care what they say.”

Stormy ran her fingers across the rose wood post near her nervously playing with the carvings.

“The Elder knew this would happen I think. That’s why she revealed you needing to retrieve the Fifth Page of the Seven. I wish she would just spit her secrets out sometimes. Why she doesn’t, I don’t know. She keeps too many secrets which are becoming a detriment to our lives. I think I’ll talk to Michael about that.”

She stopped, picking at the rose wood and approached Alexandria. “What do you need from us?”

Alexandria bit at her lip. This was so dangerous and she didn’t want to get anyone else killed in her suicide mission. But she needed these women.

“It would be better if you didn’t help me as this is craziness I’m getting into, but I’m positive I can still open the Gate. My sudden presence will be a surprise and if the Wraith are as exhausted as the Warriors there should be very little resistance. I should be able to sneak in, find the Wraith created from my DNA, destroy the creature and any other abominations with altered genetics, and grab the Fifth Page on the way out.”

A dark laugh came from one of the high backed leather chairs near the big screen TV.

“Sounds like a marvelous plan. Wham, bang, and you’ll be right back out of there. Great plan there, Alexandria.”

Choosing to ignore Raven for the moment, Alexandria continued, “Anyway, Stormy I need you to hold the Gate open just 221

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enough so I can get my ass back and I need Eleina to watch your right in case any unexpected Wraith shows up. If the worst happens and they realize the Gate is open, you’ll close it. Do you understand?”

“But you’d be trapped.” Stormy whispered in shock.

Alexandria stood there a moment letting those words sink in.

Trapped but not for long. She would go down taking out as many Wraith as she could. Genetically altered or otherwise.

“Yes, I would.” She let the words hang which would clearly tell the women if that happened she wouldn’t be ever coming back.

Stormy grabbed Alexandria in a bear hug effectively cutting off her air. “No! We can’t lose you, Alexandria. What about Joshua?

You just Joined with him and losing you would kill him. How can you succeed in this when you don’t even remember all the details of your abduction and whatever else Turin did over there to you.?

Alexandria extricated herself from Stormy’s death grip, but held onto her hands trying to comfort her Power Keeper.

“Listen to me. If I don’t go through with this then we’re all going to die eventually anyway. We can’t keep going on like this. You know I’m right.”

She paused for a moment until Stormy nodded to her and then she continued. “Besides, Raven is going to help me with the recall.

Aren’t you?”

Her question was more of a demand and she knew he would rise to the challenge from her tone alone.

Raven’s tall muscular form rose from the chair like a deadly panther rising to hunt its meal. His long black hair was loose around his shoulders and he looked like he hadn’t shaved in several hours. Dark circles crescented under his light blue eyes, giving indication he was just as exhausted as the rest of the Warriors. He stalked over to the bar with his own drink in hand until he stood directly in front of Alexandria.

“There’s no way in hell I’m helping you. Joshua already has me on his hit list, and helping you commit suicide will mean he guts me right before he dies without you. You can go to hell if you think I’m volunteering. No amount of “we could die if you don’t go” will 222

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convince me either.”

Crossing her arms across her chest, she gave him a dark smile.

“Then perhaps this will, Warrior. I happen to know that every time you have to use your little Truth Finder skill it hurts you just as much as the person you use it on. Having experienced this myself under your hands, I also know when you force the person to open up to your Power you leave yourself exposed.”

Raven stepped closer to her. He growled and gritted out, “What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Healer?”

She almost had him and she knew he could feel the trap closing in. “You’re exactly right, Raven. I am a Healer, and even in my altered form the other day, I could feel your pain when you were searching out the knowledge in my mind. My natural healing inclination, even when I couldn’t, was to reach out and stop your pain. A mind trying to heal another mind will see all sorts of things even when she didn’t intentionally want to.” Alexandria paused for affect. She could see Raven’s wheels turning connecting the dots and the expression on his face was changing to a mix of fear and fury. She had the hook in now all she had to do was yank. “Raven, I have two words to say to you. Elder Chloe.”

Yes, hooked him she did, and her fish fought in fury. The glass in his hand shattered, fragments scattering to the floor along with the remaining alcohol and the blood oozing from the gash he now bore.

“Son of a bitch!” Raven snarled, stomping away to the nearest wall and slamming his fist into it, leaving a hole. He breathed heavily for several seconds, ignoring everyone.

Eventually, he calmed or at least as much as Raven ever calmed.

He turned to her and stared her straight in the eye. If Alexandria hadn’t known Raven would never harm her, she would have turned and run for her life.

“Fine. But you owe me big. And you’ll never speak of what was revealed.” He pointed to Stormy and Eleina. “And that includes these two,” he barked.

“Fine. Agreed.” Alexandria should have felt relieved he was going to tap into the memories she would need to even approach 223

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being successful and perhaps come out of the mission intact. Deep down, though, she really didn’t want to remember. The mind was incredible in how it protected a person from trauma and tragedy to save the sanity. Opening up Pandora’s box could destroy her but she had no choice.

Raven turned away from her again and walked behind the bar.

“Give me a moment to prepare and then I’ll help you.”

Retrieving a new glass, he set it on the bar top and upended an opened Jack Daniels bottle over it. The glass was more of a cocktail glass but Raven used it like a large shot glass. He filled his version of a shot glass to the rim and then slammed the whole thing back. Stormy and Eleina just shook their heads and the look they gave Alexandria spoke clearly of their uncertainty.

Wiping his mouth, he pointed to the reading area. “Pick a seat and let’s get this over with.”

He poured another drink and followed her over to the seating area.

Alexandria worked her way around the dark wooden seats cushioned with pillows of gold and orange. They were arranged neatly in the middle of the room here and there next to small coffee tables of matching dark wood. Raven, already agitated, grabbed some of the free hanging gold and orange fabric that had come loose from the nearest wall and shoved it out of his way. The grab was so rough the fabric came undone from the holder attached to the ceiling and the whole streamer fluttered to the floor in a tangled pile.

“Nicely done, Raven.” Eleina snapped at him, and Alexandria rolled her eyes when Raven flipped her off.

Sitting down heavily in the nearest chair, she sighed, “Enough guys. I agree with Raven. Let’s get this over with.”

Raven swigged back the rest of his drink and set the empty glass down on one of the coffee tables. He moved up behind Alexandria but before he placed his palms against her head, Alexandria looked up at him.

“We don’t have time for gentleness Raven. Dive in quick and make it happen. If my brain fries, it was going to happen anyway.”

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He gave her a crooked grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “Your command is my desire, my lady.”

Even in a dire situation, Raven had to be a smart ass.

Alexandria would never understand what made the Warrior tick.

Settling back in the seat, she grabbed the arms of the chair with a death grip. This was going to hurt. A lot. While Raven placed his hands on either side of her head and prepared his Truth Finder Power, Alexandria spun up her own Healer gift and hoped she could focus in case she needed to repair any neural damage to herself or Raven.

Right before he dove into her mind, she swore she heard him whisper, “I’m sorry”, but she couldn’t be sure. One minute she was sitting there tense under his hands and the next razor blades ripped through her mind. Raven was nothing but thorough. Half conscience, she was thrown into the memory of her abduction and torture under Turin’s hands.

Half of the images she remembered, the others stripped her raw but she had to drag through them. The knowledge was crucial.

Images flashed of her abduction by the Wraith. Black eyes staring at her, the creature’s fetid breath gagging her, and its cold hands freezing her skin, sucking the Life Power out of her. How she had survived that she didn’t know, but it was either her healing ability or Turin had enough control over the Wraith to prevent her being drained dry.

The next images blurred by. Her presentation to Turin, his evil enjoyment of beating her to near death, the injections of the burning fluid, and his allowing the Wraith to beat her and steal her Life Power. Day in and out this would happen, and every time he moved her from the dark dank cell, he kept her in to his private domain, she began to memorize the layout of the Wraith stronghold. Every detail she carved into her memory for escape, for revenge, or for her own suicide. This treatment continued repeatedly until he grew tired of her fighting against him and went in for the mental kill.

Turin beat her again and then stripped her down tying her spread eagle on a platform in what she could only call a room of 225

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sacrifice. Weapons hung everywhere, torturous instruments surrounded her, Wraith stood by drooling, breathing heavily on her, and in the center of it all was a case with the Fifth Page of Seven. Just out of her reach. Another symbol of freedom she couldn’t quite touch and was denied day after day.

Strapped to the platform, Alexandria experienced real agony and near death every day from there. Turin, determined to see her healing capability as she mutated into her new form would slice into her, cut her abdomen open, and let the Wraith take her Life Power all the way down to her Life Force. Turin would fondle her and touch her in ways that were not pleasant but hurtful. He had never penetrated her, whispering she was for other purposes and would never bear children. She had screamed and begged for him to stop but he continued. One day he had taken a long serrated dagger and stabbed her over and over again in her lower abdomen where her womb was. He didn’t stop until she lay open and dripping blood all over the ground

Trapped in Raven’s Truth Finder Power, Alexandria vaguely heard her own screams accompanied by Raven’s anguished roar.

She felt him try and pull his hands away to stop, but she grabbed his wrists holding them tightly against her head. She had to finish this. Needed the knowledge or they would die. She couldn’t lose Joshua, damn it.

The image of her slowly healing body revealed itself, but her mind was broken. When she was physically whole again, she had finally finished her genetic transformation and was ready to become the deadly weapon Turin needed to kill Michael. She had been thrown in with the wild Wraith and they had taught her through more pain and torment how to fight them, how to steal their energy, and how to cruelly kill them. She had learned well and she had come out on top as a master killer and Power hungry genetic mutation. She was allowed free rein of the stronghold and knew every inch of it including the room where the experiments were conducted and the Fifth Page resided.

Before Turin released her upon the world, she was given one last test to be sure he could know she would kill her own brother.

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Even though he couldn’t destroy her body and her ability to bear children, he wanted to warp her another way. He brought to her a small Wraith child, its natural abilities to take life just blooming and set the small creature before her. Turin had evilly smiled and called upon her to destroy it. Without feeling, without second thought, without anything, she had reached out and sucked the child dry. Turin’s hold on her was complete while her spirit shriveled up and died and the last of her hope of ever returning home was destroyed.

“No!” Alexandria screamed throwing Raven’s grip off her.

She fell to the floor crawling along in agony, sobs ripping from her chest. Stormy and Eleina tried to approach her but she snarled wildly forcing them back.

“Don’t touch me. I’m a killer.”

Raven carefully approached her kneeling on the floor.

“I’m sorry, Alexandria. I didn’t know. Damn it, who could have known my fucking half-brother could be that depraved. We knew he was insane, but…”

“It doesn’t matter.” Alexandria cut him off, panting to catch her breath. “It is what it is and I needed the knowledge. Leave me alone for a minute.”

Backing off, Raven sat on the floor with his head in his hands.

Alexandria realized he was in just as much pain as she was. Her memories now a part of him forever. He really was the one who got the shaft on this one.

Shakily, she crawled over to him, sitting down and placing a hand on his knee.

“No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you to pull the truth from me.” She shuddered reliving her treatment and final mental breakage under Turin’s hands. “I do owe you.”

Raven looked at her then. “You’re damn straight you do.” He brushed off her touch and stood up.

“Fucking women,” he cursed while he grabbed his empty glass and went to retrieve another drink.

Alexandria slowly stood as well. She stared after Raven knowing the Warrior was still hurting from what he saw in her dark truths.

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A darkness re-awakened swirled within her mind with the knowledge of how evil she had really become. This time it was her Sphinx rising to the surface bent on enacting revenge. Yes, it was time for her to take out a bit of revenge on Turin, and when she ran into him she would slit him from sternum to scrotum and glory in it.

Feeling the fury rising quickly in her, Alexandria stormed over to her bag slinging it over her shoulder. She cast a glance to Stormy and Eleina, and when they took a step back, she knew her eyes were glowing from her anger.

“Ladies, the time for me to take care of some unfinished business and try and save our asses has come. I’m going to hit medical and retrieve the anti-gene and then to the staging cavern.

Join me or not. Either way, I’m going even if I don’t come back.”

Stormy and Eleina cut her off before she could take off. Stormy stepped up to her putting a hand on her shoulder.

“You’re not going anywhere without us. You’re family and we’re sticking to you like glue. Whether you want us to or not.”

Taking the biggest breath of her life, Alexandria held it for a moment, and then blew it out.

“I wouldn’t think of pushing my family away. I do need your help and need something good in life to redeem my wicked Life Force.”

Stormy shook her head. “You do have something good in your life. You have Joshua.”

Alexandria bit her lip. “We’ll see about that when he wakes up. I knocked him out with my abilities. Power equivalent of a sedative.”

Both women looked shocked and Alexandria heard Raven choking in the background on his drink and his mumbled,

“Fucking women.”

She rolled her eyes, stepped around Stormy, and headed for the door.

“Ladies, I’m not as sweet as you think I am. Time has run out. If you’re helping me grab your gear. I’m crashing the Wraith party in five.”

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Striding for the door, Alexandria already felt the fury rising in her again from what Turin had made her do. How could Joshua stand her once he found out what she had done to him and to the Wraith child? Not that those actions mattered since this mission could be the death of her. Either way, she was screwed but if she could save the Sphinx then her sacrifice was worth it.

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The minute she was in the hallway, Alexandria broke into a dead run. She had wasted precious time retrieving the truth from her battered mind and describing her plan to Stormy and Eleina.

Skidding to halt in front of the elevators, she punched in the button pacing back and forth while she waited. When the door opened, she dove in and again paced back and forth in the restricted space. Her nerves were riding her hard but even more, her anger continued to grow. The images she had recovered flashed painfully behind her eyes. The expression of a child, even if the child was an evil Wraith at heart, was one of fear while she drained its life away.

Curling her hand into a fist, she dug her nails deep into the palm of her hand using the pain to focus her thoughts away from what she had done to the young creature. She was damned but couldn’t think about it anymore. What was done was done and when the doors slid open, she ran to the medical clinic, determined to block the memory forever.

Alexandria quietly opened the door just enough to peek inside and see if she was going to have to explain her presence and what she was doing. Luck was in her favor and the medical staff were in the patient rooms taking care of the Guardians who had been injured in the last battle. With the room being clear, she swiftly moved over to the lab bench where she had been working on the anti-gene.

Under the center section of the bench was a small refrigerator and inside were the vials she needed. To get inside she pressed her finger to a small round scanner. The scanner took only a second to read, verify her print, and unlock the door, but the time seemed to drag out for Alexandria. As soon as she heard the click of the door unlocking, she pulled it open and grabbed one of the small boxes of vials and an injection gun.

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in the stronghold. The water there was one of the only pure sources that bubbled from the depths of the stronghold which could actually be consumed in the Drake Dimension. The other vial she would insert into the injection gun to take out the altered Wraith causing the Gate to open. She was positive there was only one. She had seen first-hand Turin could only fawn over one creation at a time.

Quickly, she closed the refrigerator so there wouldn’t be evidence of her visit. Next, she placed the box of vials in her pack and headed back out into the hallway. Running back to the elevator bank, there just didn’t seem enough time left to get done what she needed to do. She was becoming more and more agitated from the need to get going with the mission. Alexandria suspected the images of what happened to her at Turin’s hands had released a suppressed fury which wasn’t helping and she hoped the emotions wouldn’t interfere. All she knew was as soon as she got down to the staging cavern she was opening the Gate, with or without her support team.

Not soon enough, she arrived at the staging cavern level. She stepped out into the main area of the Cavern to find Stormy and Eleina already waiting for her. Both of them were just as jumpy as she was with the dark aftereffects still in the air from the recent battle. Looking around, Alexandria noted the clean-up crew had done one hell of a job. Nothing was left indicating there had been a battle. Even the stains from the blood were gone. It felt surreal to her all of the death which had surrounded her just a few hours ago.

“Alexandria, are you okay? Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Eleina touched her arm softly. Alexandria suspected she didn’t want to set her off but she was in control. She had to be for the success of the mission.

“Yeah. Just a little disoriented still from Raven’s digging around in my head. But at least he didn’t fry my brains.”

Refocusing on her dangerous task, she unslung the bag off her shoulder and opened it removing the battle gear. Swiftly she donned the small linked vest and attached the gauntlets to her 231

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lower arms making sure her Sefu Element was clear for when she reflexed the bracelet form into her Power Sword.

Satisfied she was ready, Alexandria picked up the bag, positioning it back on her shoulder and making sure the pack hung across her back out of the way.

“Alright ladies. It’s now or never.” Stormy looked like she was going to hug her, but Alexandria shook her head at her. Letting the anger and steel of her determination flood her eyes, she saw the understanding in Stormy’s eyes. Alexandria couldn’t take the emotional gentleness at that moment otherwise she would crumble and fail.

Keeping in mind what she had done to the Wraith child and more recently to Joshua by keeping him unconscious, she let the boiling anger take over. An anger at herself, anger at Turin, anger at the Gate and the constant struggle for her people to stay alive, and most of all, anger at having to give up the life she had dreamed of for so long and the love she had finally found in Joshua’s arms. Alexandria’s entire body twitched for a moment making her think she might end up changing into the feline again, but slowly her breathing and heart rate settled out and her muscles stopped twitching.

The atmosphere was oppressive in so many ways and she knew if she waited much longer she could possibly change her mind about all of this. But no, she had to go and meet up with the destiny awaiting her.

“Stormy, I’m going to open the Gate. I need you to stabilize it for as long as you can. If all goes well, I’ll be back in the next few minutes. If not or if the Wraith start showing up, then close it.”

Stormy suddenly cried, “Alexandria, I can’t leave you there…”

“You will!” Alexandria growled at her. “If I don’t come back out then I’m dead anyway even if it’s by my own hand. Turin will never have me again. You will do this, if not for me, then for our people.

I’m sorry asking this of you, but what else can I do?”

Shaking her head in agreement finally, Alexandria watched Stormy square her shoulders, take a deep breath, and face the Gate.

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“I’m ready,” was all she said.

If Alexandria made it back, she swore she would make this up to everyone she was hurting by going back to the other side. She bit her lip and shared a silent exchange with Eleina for a moment.

Both were Warriors at heart, used to the violence and agony, but still this mission would take a lot out of them.

“Take care of Stormy, Eleina. Please don’t let anything happen to her and you keep yourself alive too.”

Eleina stepped forward offering her hand and Alexandria grabbed the offering of kinship in a firm Warrior’s shake.

Before Eleina let go, she demanded, “Be safe, Alexandria. Come back to us. We need you and Joshua needs you.”

Both of them let go and stepped back taking their places at the center of the Cavern. Alexandria took a deep breath and reflexed her hand back against her Sefu Element. The Life Power in her system rushed to the bracelet and instantly the Element glowed, its black metal sliding from her wrist and hand to her palm forming the hilt. In the next instant, the long deadly black crystalline blade shot out forming the full Sword. She raised her other hand out in front of her towards the hidden energy of the Gate.

Concentrating every bit of her Life Power into her hand, she reached out to the Gates dark energy. For a moment, Alexandria wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to make contact but when she did the Power snapped out at her. She grabbed onto the violent dark energy holding on and concentrating it. The Gate began to spin near the center, a dark foggy gray presence oozing for release while ghostly fingers reached out expanding the circle of energy. A slight breeze started as the atmosphere of the Cave destabilized but shortly the gentleness was a roaring tornado of storming wind beating at them.

The Gate continued to open wider, the dark center changing to shades of blood red and white hot energy. The wind and energy whipped and stung Alexandria’s face but she ignored the discomfort demanding the Gate’s presence. The Gate owed her for the life it helped take time and time again by letting the Wraith 233

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loose in her world. Finally, the Gate was open far enough she could see into the red sanded world of the Drake Dimension. The wind whipping back and forth stirred and blew the sand out at them and the dry hot air rushing into the coolness of the Cave felt like the inside of an oven.

Alexandria stood a few minutes just observing the area where she would be entering for signs of Wraith. Just as she suspected, none of the creatures were outside the stronghold and she was certain most of them would be unconscious, either healing from the battle or resting in preparation for the soon to come follow on.

A bonus which would allow her a few extra seconds to get inside and do what she needed to do.

Turning to Stormy, she shouted over top of the cacophony of violent winds and the roaring of the Gate, “Stormy! Can you stabilize it?”

Keeping her Power engaged, she held the Gate open while Stormy called up her own Power to brace the Dimensional Gate open. Alexandria thought watching her Power Keeper in action was amazing as the energy glittered over Stormy’s skin and through her fingertips, her eyes glowing from within, and the shear grit and determination in her expression. And Eleina, Power Sword formed and ready to defend, her stance locked and aggressive to whatever came across the threshold. Damn, if they weren’t going to win this war with the women alone.

Standing there engaged with the Gate, Alexandria felt the change when Stormy locked the Gate open for her.

“I’ve got it!” Stormy cried back over the still swirling winds.

Alexandria released her hold on the Dimensional Gate and strode directly up to the opening. Turning back to her two friends one more time, she gave them a cocky grin, saluted, and then faced off to the swirling entrance. Fate awaited and she couldn’t delay any longer. She knew she was doing this for her family, the Warriors, this World, but most of all for her love, Joshua. Even though she knew he would still be under the influence of her Power induced sleep, Alexandria still reached out through their Joined Link. For you, Joshua. I’ll love you forever, no matter 234

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where I am.

With the last vow she might ever make, she glared into the dry, heated, sandy dimension and strode straight through the Gate.

Pausing for a moment with her boots firmly planted in the gritty sand, she scanned her surroundings. Still there was no sign of the Wraith but they were here. She could sense them. They had to be just inside the door of the stronghold only a few feet away and she was ready to face them head on.

Swiftly, she rushed to the side of the tall fortress and plastered her back against the stone. She leaned against it taking a breath to steady herself and could feel the heat from the stone searing into her back even through the layer of metal protection. She carefully reached out and grabbed the handle to test if the mechanism was unsecure or not. Even though she found it locked, Alexandria smiled. The tingling in her fingertips told her she still had access to the building. So like him to believe she would return and give herself back to his cause. He was an arrogant fool or perhaps she was the fool because she had returned.

The images of what the hated man had done to her flashed before her eyes. Unable to hold the truths back any longer, the image of the Wraith child and its death by her hand assaulted her.

Fury exploded in her head. Her Sphinx roared its hatred and promised retribution as she rushed through the door.

The Wraith on the other side didn’t have a chance. Alexandria ran the creature through with her Power Sword before it could even make a sound of alarm. She watched the Wraith drop to the floor in its own blood and entrails and still felt nothing but boiling hatred. Turning her back on the dying creature, Alexandria continued further into the stronghold slinking down the hall. She couldn’t believe Turin had only one guard at the door. To her, it felt like a trap, but how could he know anyone would try and invade their world.

Edging up to the end of the hall, she paused and her heart fell.

“Damn it,” she cursed to herself.

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doubted it and suspected they would be a bit slow from lack of sleep. She would have to make a run for the next area and a Power Sword wouldn’t be of use in this situation. At least for the moment. She reflexed her Element back into the bracelet form. As soon as it settled on her wrist and hand, she reached down to her weapons belt and removed a set of throwing daggers gripping them with deadly intent in each hand.

In her head, Alexandria counted down to one and then shot through the opening into the cavern sized room. In a flash, she was past the groggy Wraith and headed at a furious pace to the next interconnecting tunnel. The map of the stronghold flashed before her eyes from all the times she had traversed each and every inch of the damn place trying to escape the Power sucking Wraith during her cat and mouse training. Although she was well in the lead to her destinations, she could hear the screeching warnings the Wraith made to each other. She shivered in expectation of their tracking her in their hot pursuit for fresh Power.

Tapping into her Sphinx and pushing herself to the maximum speed possible, Alexandria was a blur shooting through one hallway, dodging around the next corner, flying across a cross junction of zigzagging tunnels, and dropping down through a gap in the broken stone flooring. She had remembered her secret shortcut which she had used to escape the Wraith when they had hunted her before. Only she could fit being small even after her genetic change. Now the shortcut worked in Alexandria’s favor allowing her to lose the creatures in the catacombs and placing her even closer to her first goal, the Fifth Page of Seven.

Even with her feline vision, she still had to slow down slightly due to the vastly decreased amount of light reaching into the lower level. What little light there was made the perceived space misleading and confusing. As she maneuvered down the halls, several times she bumped into corners and scraped against the rough stone walls. If not for her protective gear she would have sustained some nasty cuts and suspected there would be some pretty good bruises left anyway.

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Approaching the next junction, she stopped just inside the opening. A quick peek told her she had remembered well and had found the underground water source. The dark water bubbled up from a cistern near the back wall from the back pressure and cascaded up like a fountain. Once the water reached its maximum peak it fell back into the surrounding bowel shaped trough. The water hitting the stone bowel roared like the ocean rushing up on the shore and then flowed in opposite directions along straight sections of additional troughs.

Alexandria needed to get to the water but in her way were two more Wraith. Slurping disgustingly, they were fully engaged in quenching their thirst. Slinking up behind them, she let the fury of her Sphinx rise further releasing adrenaline in her system and sharpening her reflexes. Gritting her teeth, she stood over the first one pausing for only a moment, and then with one powerful downward thrust, drove the first of her daggers deep into the base of the skull severing the spinal column and hitting the base of the brain.

The Wraith dropped like a stone alerting the second creature of her presence. The second Wraith shrieked and rushed at her, its hands reaching for her with wicked claws ready to tear her to shreds she was sure. With a quick flick of her hand, the second dagger shot through the air striking true and sinking to the hilt into the Wraith’s throat. Clutching at its throat, the Wraith gurgled and sank to the ground twitching at her feet and breathing its last breath.

Alexandria stared transfixed at the dead creature for a moment, but then her focus snapped back into place when she heard the distant shrieking of the hunting Wraith. She feared the pack was increasing in size as their hunger for her Life Power drove them into a frenzy. With very little time left, she spun around to the only water source the Dimension had. Shifting the bag forward on her shoulder, she pulled out the box of vials.

Carefully placing the box on the edge of the trough, she opened the lid. One after another, she pulled out the slim cylindrical glass vials of clear anti-gene fluid and snapped off the top with her bare 237

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hand. After upending each one, she dropped the empty vials into the water. From her estimates, not only would the water be contaminated for several hours, but the anti-gene would sink into the stone of the trough and be present for weeks guaranteeing the demise of the genetically altered Wraith.

However, one creature would be stronger than the rest and needed the direct dosage. Two vials were left and she loaded one into the injector, the other she wrapped in a section of fabric she had ripped from the bottom hem of her shirt. Stuffing the extra vial in her pocket, she hoped the wad of fabric would keep it from getting broken. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need the second vial and the first one would work, but just in case she had the back up.

Making sure the injector was ready to go, she secured the cap on the needle and slid it into the back of her waistband pulling the bottom of her t-shirt up and over, covering any visible evidence of its presence.

Goal one complete, the time had come for her to retrieve the Fifth Page. Alexandria started to jog over to the far hallway but froze when the eerily familiar voice echoed around her.

“Alexandria…a…a. We know you are here…here…here…”

Her breath caught in her throat and panic hit her square in the chest. Turin. It was him. The half Sphinx, half Wraith who had tortured her for days, violated her body, destroyed her mind. She couldn’t move, couldn’t focus, only felt the blood drain from her face and the shaking spread throughout her body.

“Alexandria…a…a. You are one of us…us…us.”

Closing her eyes tightly, she tried to block his evil voice and focused on her Sphinx. Taking the image of the child of the past dying by her hands, she shoved the memory right in her inner Sphinx’s sensitive face. The feline reared its head back and an infuriated snarl rose from Alexandria’s throat.

With the overlay of her inner Sphinx near the surface, Alexandria was able to break the temporary spell Turin had on her

psychological only but still effective. Spinning away from the sound of Turin’s and the other Wraith’s approach she sprinted to the next hallway, and in a blinding streak, zigzagged through the 238

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catacomb like tunnels again outwitting her pursuers for several minutes.

Down through broken cracks in the massive stones, across vast open cavern like rooms, and back up winding stone stairs, Alexandria finally made it back to the level where she needed to be. The level where she had been stretched out on a stone platform and injected, tortured, and cut to pieces over and over again.

Arriving in the torture room, she skidded to a halt and almost hit the floor when she saw the platform. She became light-headed from the smells of old blood, both hers and other Wraith who had been tortured here. Shaking her head violently to clear her vision, she approached the freestanding display case. Inside the display, glowing in the dim light was the ancient document which could help save her people and her world. The parchment was indeed old and delicate with many Power Signatures scrolled on it including her silver moon eclipsing the gold sun.

She didn’t have time to be delicate about retrieving the page.

Curling her hand into a fist, she brought it down sharply on the glass. Splinters exploded everywhere and dug into her skin.

Ignoring the discomfort, she reached in picking up the parchment.

Her heart fell when she saw the damage that had occurred to the ancient scroll. Only half of the Fifth Page was intact, the rest missing. “Fuck,” she whispered but there was nothing to be done at this point. Rolling it quickly she inserted the parchment into the gold tube shaped holder and inserted the old cork into the end which had been lying next to the ancient page in the display.

Slipping the Fifth Page into the side pocket of her fatigue pants, Alexandria started to run towards the far exit, but at least five or six Wraith blocked her way. They grinned at her with their sharp teeth-filled jaws and drool ran out of their mouths. Her heart pounding, she spun away and sprinted to the alternate exit but immediately slid to a stop in the middle of the floor. Turin, his new abomination, and several more Wraith blocked her way from escape in that direction as well.

Inside she was quaking, but on the outside, she maintained a calm even her Sphinx didn’t feel. “Turin,” she greeted him and was 239

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pleased to hear her voice was fairly level.

Turin bowed his head just slightly and pinned her with his one good solid black soulless eye. The other was covered in a patch from the damage Jacob had done earlier to him. He was almost as gray skinned as the other Wraith now and bone thin. From experience though, she knew those hands had hidden strength.

Strength that could tear her apart.

Turin smiled at her and he hissed, “Alexandria. I told you, you would come back to us. It was inevitable. I must say, though, I’m disappointed you destroyed all the hard work I put into you.”

Slowly he moved over to where she stood but she didn’t back away, didn’t flinch an inch. She couldn’t. Her ultimate goal needed to get closer within her striking distance. Her ultimate goal was the genetically enhanced Wraith with her DNA, and only Turin could make the creature follow him closer.

The creature looked at her with undisguised interest and the sight of the Wraith truly chilled her to the bone. Instead of the usual elongated jaw, the upper jaw was pushed in but the lower jaw stuck out. Because of the disjointed alignment the Wraith had literally chewed into its own upper lip and was oozing blood and infected pus. The skin was still gray but cracked and dry and the eyes were soulless but with a depth of devious intelligence. Getting the beast near her and not having her natural disgust and hatred of the creature set her off, so she could inject it with the anti-gene, was going to be almost impossible. But she had no choice.

To control her mounting need to destroy or run, she wasn’t sure which, Alexandria thought of her strong Warrior and the kind loving glances he gave her. She thought of the care and gentleness of Joshua’s touches and his deep voice when he whispered passionate secrets to her. Even though he wasn’t with her physically, the connection they shared gave her strength.

Turin finally stopped his advance just outside her reach. Of course, he wouldn’t risk himself. The fact he had come this close surprised her but he would need to gloat, to be able to watch her be tortured or die at the hand of his new protégé would be too much of a temptation for him.

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Sighing deeply he said in a bored tone, “Oh, well. Your conversion back can’t be helped. No matter, though, you’ll still make an excellent mate for Andrius. We can revert you back from being mated to whatever Sphinx male you rutted with.”

Alexandria wanted to lash out at him and the lurid term he had used. Joshua was beyond extraordinary in the lovemaking he had given to her and the way he had treated her as if she was the most important thing in the world to him. She didn’t dare make a threatening move, though. The mutated Wraith was an arm’s distance away from her and its claws were even sharper and more dangerous than the others.

“Mmmmm. Mine.” The Wraith called Andrius hissed. The creature reached out putting its clawed hand on her chest.

Alexandria wanted to run, wanted to call out to Joshua, but she couldn’t. Standing there letting the Wraith touch her was the hardest thing she had ever done, but the action gave her time.

Closing her eyes, she blocked out everything and let her energy flow outward just enough so she could see beyond her physical eyes. Her Power reached to the floor, the walls, and towards the ceiling searching for her escape. Just when she had given up, she found the gap in the stones. The location couldn’t be better and she rejoiced just a bit. Above her and slightly to the right was a gap just big enough for her to fit through and she was sure her Sphinx abilities would allow her to jump high enough to pull up and through.

Even though she had only allowed a small amount of her Power to release, so the Wraith surrounding her wouldn’t detect it, the mutation before her must have been more sensitive. Andrius grabbed her by the throat, his nails digging in deeply. Pain streaked through her and the pressure he suddenly placed on her neck cut off her air supply. She grabbed his wrist trying to pull out of his grip, but the creature was beyond strong. Without oxygen and the blood pooling in her head, the world started to get fuzzy.

The panic which had been at a low level spiked rapidly, and Alexandria finally realized she was even in more over her head than her headstrong inner Sphinx had allowed her to estimate.

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Andrius leaned in and sniffed at her. Mucus and drool dripped from his malformed mouth and his other hand attempted to paw at her breasts. If not for the vest, Alexandria figured she would have had gouges running the length of her chest by now.

“Yumm. Much Power in her. Mine.”

The smell of the Wraith’s breath made her gag but the worst of his abuse was yet to come. Andrius reached up under the vest and her t-shirt digging his claws into her stomach.

The scream was torn from Alexandria’s already raw throat and she expected to be gutted right then and there. Instead Andrius toyed with her, reaching into her system and pulling Life Power from her. She fought and struggled against the creature to no avail, and couldn’t even reflex her Sword because her Power was being ripped from her. Closing her eyes, she thought of Joshua, the Warrior she loved with all her heart and the Warrior who would die without her if she perished like this. At the hand of a hated creature they had fought against all their lives.

She couldn’t fail. No! Deep inside her inner Sphinx fought back and rose closer to the surface. Focus Alexandria. Fight, damn it, she demanded of herself. Her eyes snapped open and she was more determined than ever. Her next goal was right there trying to suck her dry and all she had to do was reach to her lower back.

Weak but still with enough strength to raise her arm, she reached behind her back and pulled the auto injector out from her waistband. With the help of her Sphinx, she was lightning-fast and flicked the cap off the needle, spun the syringe around so the dripping needle was aimed effectively, and then with her remaining strength plunged the needle deep in the Wraith’s neck.

The instant the needle was in, she pressed the injector button and the anti-gene shot home.

Andrius screeched in agony, throwing Alexandria to the side and pulling the needle out. The creature held a hand to the side of its neck suddenly unsteady. Weaving precariously, the mutated creature tried to get to her but fell to its knees, a sickening gurgling coming from its mouth. Alexandria slowly got to her feet just watching in horrific fascination while the creature continued 242

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to fight against the hold of the anti-gene. For a moment, the Wraith just froze there staring at her with its empty black eyes and then in slow motion toppled to the ground.

“Nooo!” Turin rushed to his now dead creation. There was nothing for him to do but grab his hair and roar in fury. He turned his hateful glare towards her and pointing a long thin finger at her screamed, “Destroy her!”

Those were her key words for action. Flexing down at the knees she fired what Power she had left to her Sphinx and utilizing her feline strength jumped upward. The leap had to have been a new record for her but she made the distance just enough to get a handhold on the edges of the gap in the ceiling. Gritting her teeth she pulled with all her might until her upper body was through the opening. A small outcropping of rock near her was enough to grab onto and pull the rest of the way into the upper level.

Exhausted and out of breath, Alexandria rolled away from the opening and onto her back on what was now the floor for her. Her heart felt like it was pounding right out of her chest and her muscles were shaking with weakness. Lack of Life Power and loss of blood was making her weak.

“Don’t let her get away or you’ll all pay!” Turin screeched and cursed from below. She didn’t think the Wraith would be able to get through the small gap but she didn’t want to wait around to find out. She needed to get the hell out of the stronghold. Her mission was done and she had to get back and face the music from Joshua and her brother.

Rolling over and standing up she was a bit unsteady on her feet, but she lurched ahead anyway. As she unsteadily ran across the open area, Alexandria also reached out to find Life Power. There really wasn’t much in the desolate dimension but there were traces here and there in the stone. Just enough to bolster her energy level to get her going. Her speed slowly picked up and eventually she was near a sprint.

Down hallways, across cave-like rooms, through gaps with sharp stone which further tore at her protection and exposed skin, she pushed on. Occasionally she surprised unsuspecting Wraith 243

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searching for her and she utilized daggers and throwing stars with extreme efficiency bringing them down with barely a thought. On and on she went through the catacomb stronghold, keeping Joshua in the forefront of her mind, a beacon of hope and love to get her safely home.

When she almost got to the point of not knowing if she would actually find her way out, the stairs she needed loomed before her.

Pushing herself to the max of her speed, she flew down the last long hallway, shot up the debris-filled stairs, and slammed the outer door open with an explosion of her Power. Alexandria dove out of the door expecting to be home free, instead she was confronted with Turin and a wall of the few Wraith he could assemble to stop her and the one hope of escape was no longer there. The Gate was closed to her forever.

The despair was crushing and tore her up from the inside out.

She couldn’t stop the sob which escaped and the hope of ever being with Joshua again slipped through her fingers like the sand under her feet. She had been successful at destroying the mutated Wraith and the super creature which had her ability of opening the Gate, but in the end she had failed. Her family would never have the Fifth Page of Seven to find a way to destroy the Gate and she had effectively doomed Joshua to dying from the dionic energy, which would build in him without her healing touch.

Turin smiled evilly capturing her attention. “Oh, yes, my sweet Alexandria. I’ve changed my mind. We’ll start again and make you what you were. My evil temptress and Gate master.”

“Never!” She screamed at him. “You’ll never have me again. I’ll die first.” As quickly as she could Alexandria reflexed her Element to Power Sword with what little Life Power she had left. Her entire body shook from head to toe and she didn’t know how long she could last, but she would go down fighting. There was no way in hell she would let Turin mutate her again and would make sure she died here and now to prevent any chance of him getting a hold of her.

With dark intent, Turin sneered at her.

“So be it then.”

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Spreading out his arms, he then violently closed them in front causing the sand to fly up around them and beat against Alexandria’s already battered body.

“Destroy her!” Was the last thing he shouted before the Wraith attacked.

Using every skill she had learned from Hunter in training when she was young and all the dirty tricks in her training while under Turin’s command, she fought against the Wraith. Her Sword sang true slicing and beheading many an evil creature. She spun and sliced overhead, across, down, killing or causing major damage to the Wraith around her. Her energy spiked with the presence of her feline just below the surface moving with her in the deadly dance.

If it had not been for the ability of the Wraith to pull her Power from her as they found ways to touch her before she spun away she would have won. At least before the next round of Wraith made it to the scene. Instead, she slowly lost her momentum and the Wraith began to get the upper hand slicing her, stabbing her, and sucking the Power out of her. Moment by moment she became weaker and weaker until finally her arm dropped and her Sword could not sustain anymore without her Power. Sword became bracelet form again and Alexandria just stood there in the middle of the ring of Wraith left standing that had escaped her deadly skills.

Alexandria knew she was a mess with her hair tangled, her clothes ripped to shreds, and blood dripping down her arms and legs to pool at her feet. Her breathing was ragged and she could barely stand on her feet, but she still growled at all of them. If she had to die, she was going down with honor like a Sphinx should.

Circling in the center of the Wraith ring glaring at each and every one, she finally snarled, “Come and get me, you bastards.”

With tremendous screeching, the remaining Wraith jumped on her, their vicious claws raking at her skin and then her fur as the Sphinx feline took over her physical form. Alexandria’s battle cry and then her roar could be heard throughout the stronghold area.

She fought strongly until she was subdued from the lack of blood and Life Power. Right before she blacked out, she reached through 245

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the Joined Link to Joshua one more time. She knew he wouldn’t be able to hear her, but she needed to call out anyway. Fading fast, she sent to him, Joshua please forgive me. I will love you always!

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Chapter Fifteen

All he wanted to do was stay in his bed and remain in the depths of slumber not surfacing for days, but some asshole kept shaking him and yelling his name. Day after day he had had to forego sleep and fight the damn Wraith. Couldn’t they just leave him be for a few hours?

“Joshua. Wake the fuck up! What the hell’s wrong with him?”

Joshua swore that was Raven’s voice but the man knew if he entered his quarters uninvited it would be a beat down.

More shaking and now Michael’s voice crossed the barrier of his unconsciousness. His Khenti sounded panicked, and his Khenti never panicked.

“Joshua. You have to fight your way out of the Power induced sleep. Alexandria needs you.”

Alexandria. His Mate. He smiled to himself feeling the bed beside him where she should have been. His fingers met cold sheets and the realization sunk in that she wasn’t beside him and hadn’t been for some time. He struggled against the tempting slumber and sensed for the first time the Power threads weaving him into sleep. The woman had sleep induced him, and though he appreciated he had needed the rest, she should have asked first.

Joshua quickly unraveled the energy, dissipating it from his system, but Raven evidently didn’t have the patience since he yelled, “Damn it, Joshua. Alexandria may already be dying. Fuck!”

Instantly Joshua was awake and sitting straight up in bed. He looked next to him touching the empty space and groggily looked at Raven. His brain started to fire up when he saw not only Raven in full battle gear standing in his room, but Khenti Michael as well.

Both of them looked like someone had died.

“Dying? What? Alexandria?” His voice was still rough from waking up. “What the fuck is going on?”

Michael, cutting straight to the point barked out, “Our women decided to take it upon themselves to retrieve the Fifth Page of 247

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Seven. We have to go now, so get your ass up and…”

Joshua instantly lost any further focus on what Michael had to say. His connection with Alexandria exploded open and he grabbed at his temples. Sheering echoes of pain ripped through him and her voice screamed his name. From there her communication was reduced to snarls until the furious sounds even began to fade. The precious shared Link began to narrow and he could feel her slipping away.

“No!” He roared flinging himself out of the bed. He didn’t even slow to dress but grabbed the fatigue pants lying on the floor by the end of the bed before he sprinted for the door. Vaguely he heard his name called again, but he didn’t have time to acknowledge. Rushing with all the speed his inner Sphinx could manage, he jerked open the door and stumbled down the hall yanking his pants on as he went. Luckily, by the time he was at the stairs, he had the pants pulled up to his waist. Not slowing down, he flew down the stairs buttoning them up and left it at that.

Barefoot and shirtless he flew by the other Warriors who were gathered in the entry hall evidently waiting on Michael, Raven, and him. But he wasn’t waiting for anyone. Alexandria didn’t have time and he knew it. Deep inside him their shared connection was dwindling away and his heart pounded in panic of sensing he was losing her.

“Hang on, Alexandria, damn it.” He choked sliding to a stop by the elevators. He jabbed at the call button with enough force to break it and desperation rose while he waited for the elevator to arrive. “Fuck! I don’t have time for this!”

In a sudden reflex, he formed his Power Sword and focused all of his Power into it. He had been able to generate enough energy before in his fury when Alexandria had been abducted to jump his body to the staging cavern. The action was extremely dangerous and could kill him but if Alexandria died he figured he was dead anyway. Not caring of his fate without her, he forced the energy to build and build until the Power Sword was a bright white glowing blade.

Right before Joshua engaged the transport, Khenti Michael and 248

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the other Warriors caught up with him.

“Joshua, no!” Michael yelled.

Giving his leader an apologetic look and sending a quick prayer to the Ancients, he focused his thoughts on the Gate and expanded the energy in his Sword around him so he was encircled by a white sphere of energy. Right before he fully engaged the Power for the rough ride he knew it would be, he felt Alexandria’s tenuous connection disappear.

“No!” he roared and slammed his Power into motion. One moment he was standing in front of the elevator bank, the next he was in the staging cavern.

Joshua promptly fell onto the ground winded and dizzy. His Power Sword converted back into the bracelet form. He shook his head to clear his fuzzy brain and forced himself to stand up. Eleina was there in an instant stabilizing his balance.

“Alexandria, where is she?” He croaked out.

Eleina’s eyes were red and he knew the answer wouldn’t be good. She confirmed his suspicions when she blurted,

“Other side of the Gate. I’m sorry Joshua. Stormy had to close it. There were just too many Wraith.”

Grabbing Eleina by the front of her shirt, he jerked her forward until he was nose to nose with her. Gritting his teeth he growled, “I don’t give a fuck how many Wraith are over there. Get the Gate back open now!”

“Joshua stop! Look! Eleina anchored the Gate’s energy and I’m holding it. She can Jump you in.” Stormy shouted from the center of the Cave.

Joshua took a deep breath realizing he was taking his rage out on Eleina who didn’t deserve his fury. If anything she might have saved both Alexandria and his life. He released his hold bowing his head and stepping back.

“I’m sorry, Priestess. I…”

Eleina touched his shoulder. “No. Really I probably deserved that. We were all reckless and stupid trying to pull this off.”

Putting a hand over Eleina’s he said, “I can’t ask you to put your life at risk any more than you have.”

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“You don’t have to. I’m not giving you a choice,” Eleina whispered.

“No one is Jumping anywhere without back-up.” The harsh demand was spoken by Khenti Michael who was just entering the Cavern with the rest of the Warriors. The whole group didn’t seem too pleased of being left out of the dangerous plans.

Michael was just straight out pissed as he growled, “Besides, you’re not even properly geared up to protect your own hide from the Wraith.”

“We don’t have time.” Joshua squared off to his Khenti. “I can’t feel Alexandria anymore through our Link and Eleina can only Jump a limited number of men.”

Michael’s face fell and Joshua knew he would be feeling the same heart crushing loss he was. His Khenti quickly turned to the other Warriors. Whatever decision he had made was going to be revealed but Joshua was leaving now.

“Jacob, you’ll come with us since I know you won’t allow your Mate out of your site anyway. The rest stay here and keep an eye on things. If needed, get Guardian Arik and the rest of the Elite here.”

The group as a whole nodded and Joshua gathered with Michael, Jacob, and Eleina in a small circle by what was left of the Gate. The blood red and white glittering energy hovered about five feet in the air. The only conduit left to reach Alexandria. Joshua, along with his inner Sphinx, was snarling ready to get to Alexandria. Eleina was lucky it didn’t take her any longer in the preparation to Jump.

Eleina nodded. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Joshua grabbed on to one of Eleina’s arms while Michael grabbed onto the other one and Jacob encircled her waist from behind. One moment Joshua was standing with the rest of them in the staging cavern and the next, after a quick feeling of being nothing but corporeal energy, he was solidly standing bare foot in the hot red sand of the Drake Dimension.

The first thing he saw was a mound of Wraith fighting over something on the ground. When he realized the something was 250

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Alexandria, her long dark hair peeking out of one side of the pile and her delicate pale foot exposed on the other, he lost it. Roaring in fury, he let go of Eleina, not bothering to see what she or any of the others ended up doing. They were big Warriors and could take care of themselves and watch his ass if needed.

Jumping into the pile, he grabbed Wraith flinging them into the air in every direction. So concentrated on getting to Alexandria, he didn’t even consider the possibility the Wraith could have very easily reached out and taken his Power. The creatures were disoriented momentarily by the surprise attack. With their focus so concentrated on Alexandria and her Life Power this gave Joshua the advantage to clear the pile off her.

With most of the Wraith sprawled on the ground or scrambling to get away from Joshua’s fury, he was able to position himself standing straddled over Alexandria. Quickly, he reflexed his Element bracelet into his deadly Power Sword gripping it with both hands in a defensive stance. Everything in him needed to check Alexandria for life signs but right now he had to hold back the newly approaching Wraith. Their determination to get back to a meal was obvious as they drooled all over themselves and screeched in challenge.

Joshua glanced around to see the status of the others and what other enemies could complicate matters. Jacob was hacking away at several other Wraith trying to get at Turin who was making a hasty escape. Turin was promising retribution while he skittered away. Khenti Michael was holding his own slicing and cutting his way over to Joshua’s position as quickly as he could. Eleina was nowhere to be seen and Joshua prayed it was because she had gone back for re-enforcements and not that she had been taken down.

The odds didn’t look good to him even bringing all of his brothers in arms to where he was encircled and trapped. There were just too many Wraith and he was certain Turin was going to announce the alarm. They would be swarmed with no escape. The creatures around him must have sensed his unease because they began to advance.

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“Shit. Alexandria, can you hear me? Come on. I need you to wake up.” No response from her didn’t bode well. Even when he tried to reach through their Link, there was nothing from her, only silence.

Taking stock of the positions of the Wraith, Joshua realized he was now in the very center of a circle and the first of the Wraith dived at him. He swung his deadly weapon in an arc, cutting a neat slice through the center of the creature. It shrieked doubling over and hit the ground in an oozing pile of Wraith entrails. The next Wraith advanced upon him and he dispatched this one just as easily, severing its head. Two Wraith came at him with evidently Power lust in mind when he saw them reaching out with their clawed hands smacking their lips. Not good. Joshua felt his Powers begin to spiral up to protect Alexandria and the Wraith would pick up on it too.

The circle of creatures started shrieking and coming at him all at once. Joshua could hear Michael’s cursing and his efforts to reach him and Alexandria. The Wraith were so transfixed on his energy now that Michael was just an annoyance to them. Where Jacob had gone, he didn’t know, but none of the Warriors were going to be able to get him out of this jam in one piece anyway.

A Wraith finally got past the blurred movements of his Sword and his defensive blocks to sink claws into his back.

“Son of a bitch!” He roared, spinning around slamming his fist into the Wraith’s jaw and sending the creature flying back into several others.

The domino effect of Wraith flying everywhere was satisfying to him but short lived. Another Wraith grabbed his arm, this one latching its teeth into him, and a second clawed at his chest. He was losing momentum in the fight and he could feel the Wraith taking his Life Power now. Without his Power, Joshua was doomed, but he continued slamming his fist into creatures and slicing with his Sword. As soon as he disengaged one Wraith, two more took its place. He could feel his energy depleting rapidly and for a moment felt despair that he was going to fail Alexandria.

A shout from his Khenti brought his head around in time to see 252

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two Wraith grabbing onto Alexandria. They were attempting to pull her away from him, both of them fighting over her which slowed them down.

“Get your fucking hands off her.” Joshua growled at them.

He tried to disengage the Wraith clawing and biting at him but they held him back. He saw Michael trying to reach her but just that quickly the Wraith had a hold on Michael too, pulling him down into their masses.

Joshua couldn’t breathe, his heart pounded out a furious beat, and his inner Power was depleted. He couldn’t accept this fate, not for his Khenti, not for himself, but definitely not for his Mate.

Looking over to Alexandria’s bloody body, he tried to reach out to her but was held back. When the Wraith near her grinned wickedly and drew its razor sharp claw across her shoulder opening up her skin Joshua was blinded by his own energy.

He had always fought these dionic episodes in the past not knowing what they were. When his Life Power boiled to the surface during a time when he was highly upset or in extreme danger, the reaction it produced could be explosive. He had always held back knowing he could potentially harm someone. This time he held nothing back. He didn’t care and would embrace the destruction for Alexandria, for Khenti Michael, for his family.

Focusing the building, converting Power, Joshua sent the energy straight to his Sword letting it build and build. The Wraith continued to try and take his energy but it was building so quickly the creatures were letting go of him. Free of their sharp claws, he renewed his grip on his Sword. There was no stopping the incredible rush of Power and Joshua couldn’t see a damn thing.

He prayed the force of the exploding energy didn’t inadvertently take out those he was trying to save, but there was no other choice.

Dragging in a lungful of air, he paused for a moment allowing the Power to crescendo and then…let it all go. The explosion outward was concussive. Joshua was knocked to the ground and the sand, debris, and his deadly glowing bluish-gold Power blew up in a swirling dust cloud of stinging destruction. All of it swirled around him and he couldn’t see much but he could hear the 253

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shrieking of Wraith being torn apart and the distant cursing of Khenti Michael. By the Ancients, Joshua hoped he just hadn’t taken out his leader in all of this.

The spinning force continued for several seconds while the sound of the surrounding enemies slowly diminished. When Joshua could hear nothing else but the sound of the energy, he closed his eyes focusing for control and roared, “Enough!”

Instantly, the energy, the sand, the swirling stopped. Everything in the air fell to the ground and the only thing left was a reddish haze floating around Joshua. He glanced down at his body seeing he was fairly in one piece, covered in blood and reddish sand, but alive. Coming up to his knees, he desperately scanned the area for Alexandria. Finding her a few feet away, he crawled over to her, and as soon as she was within reach, he pulled her up into his arms sitting back on the ground. Only then did he check to make sure his Sefu Element had transformed back onto his wrist and see what kind of damage he had caused.

Rubbing at his eyes to get the grit out, he took stock of the damage he had caused. Wraith bodies were everywhere in the circumference of his destruction torn to shreds right down to the bone. A movement off to his left had him preparing to reflex his Sword but Khenti Michael sat up shaking his head and sending more red sand flying.

“Fuck, Joshua. At least we know now you won’t do damage to us. Our own Life Power must negate whatever the fuck you just did.” A final sneeze and Michael was on his feet brushing off more of the red sand. “Jacob!” He shouted out.

A muffled, “I’m over here. A little help getting these dead assholes off of me would be fucking appreciated.”

Joshua heard the distinct aggravation in Jacob’s demand. He figured Michael and Jacob were going to be kicking his ass for this one later just for fun.

Michael disappeared in the haze for a moment. More cursing reached Joshua as he waited and clutched Alexandria’s still body against him. He looked down at her brushing the tangled matted hair out of her face. She was pale white and he still couldn’t detect 254

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anything from her, not a touch in their shared connection, not her gentle breath.

“Come on, Lexi. I need you, damn it. Don’t leave me.” Brushing his fingers through her hair, he felt his heart being crushed with each passing moment when no response came from her.

A sudden presence above him brought him back to the reality of his surroundings. Looking up he realized Khenti Michael was standing over him holding Jacob up. Both of them looked like shit.

Blood, sand, and Wraith gore covered them. This battle had taken more out of all of them than had ever happened before. It had taken Power, trust, faith, and perhaps a life.

Michael sighed heavily. “My sister doesn’t look good. Can you detect anything?”

Joshua shook his head and barely choked out, “No. Nothing.”

For several seconds Michael stood there in silence. Joshua thought his leader was going to collapse right there before him but after a moment his leader’s expression hardened with determination.

“Alexandria appears to have accomplished her mission, and you’re going to bring her back to us, if nothing else so I can fucking yell at her for doing this.”

Evidently, his Khenti hadn’t lost faith in them after all. No matter what, through hell and back, Michael would bring his Warriors home. Joshua had even more respect for his Power Mate’s brother and his leader.

Joshua sighed heavily, his exhaustion beating at him and his Power at an all-time low. He didn’t know if he could make it up off the ground but for Alexandria he gritted his teeth and stood up adjusting her in his arms so she would be secure. When he moved her closer, something shoved into his side. Gently moving her arm to the side, he saw the gold tube shaped container.

“The Fifth Page of Seven. I’ll be damned. She did it.”

Michael smiled sadly. “Yeah. Only my sister would risk her neck to this level without some sort of back-up.”

He reached over dislodging the tube from Alexandria’s unconscious death grip and secured it into his fatigue pants.

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The screeching of more incoming Wraith in the distance had Joshua backing away from the stronghold, the fresh rush of adrenaline giving him a small amount of renewed strength.

Michael dragged Jacob along with him keeping pace with Joshua’s quick retreat. Before they could get more than a few steps a bright flash before them had Joshua instantly stopping and shifting Alexandria in his arms to offer what protection he could. To the side of him, Michael reflexed his Sword.

Jacob grabbed Michael’s arm pushing the Sword down. “Whoa there, Khenti. Your sister isn’t the only one who has a tendency to risk her neck without back-up.”

Joshua breathed a huge sigh of relief when he noted it was Eleina with Hunter accompanying her and appearing more than ready to do battle. She looked at the group of them and the mess of dead Wraith in shock. More shrieking from the next round of incoming Wraith had her shooting a panicked glance over their heads.

“We’ve got to go now. Stormy’s out of energy to hold the connection with the Gate any longer and I see we’re about to have more company than we can handle.” Eleina held both of her arms out in a sign for them to grab on.

Joshua balanced Alexandria in his arms and grabbed on to Eleina. He was more than ready to get back home. Time was of the essence and they needed to get to the Trauma Cell so he could bring Alexandria back. And he would bring her back or he wouldn’t have the strength to carry on without her.

In a flash of blinding light and a moment of corporeal imbalance, Joshua and the rest of the team flashed back into the staging cavern. Once he regained his balance, Joshua didn’t wait to greet the other waiting Warriors, Guardians Elite, or his Power Keeper, but quickly carried Alexandria into the Trauma Cell. He could hear the others following and calling his name but he ignored them all and shoved the doors open with a well-placed shoulder.

His unannounced entry startled the medical staff and they scattered out of his way. Making a beeline to the nearest cot, he 256

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gently laid Alexandria down on it. Jenny was beside him in an instant with Warren right behind her. Both of them tried to push him out of the way but he growled loudly and they shifted their positions to accommodate his presence.

Jenny grabbed a scanner and started examining Alexandria while Warren grabbed a warm blanket and covered her cold body.

Joshua could only watch in numb shock while they poked and prodded at her. They stripped the rest of her ripped and shredded clothing off her and started scrubbing off the blood and gore to check the damage underneath.

For a moment, the floor felt like it was dropping out from underneath Joshua’s feet and the next thing he knew he was sitting in a chair which Jacob had pushed him into. Joshua leaned forward putting his head in his hands and drew in deep breaths to steady his shaky energy. All he could think about was seeing Alexandria buried under the mound of vicious Wraith, their hands and claws all over her. Pushing back out of the chair, he snarled in fury causing the nearest medical staff to scatter away from him.

A hand on his shoulder had him ready to attack.

“Easy, Joshua. It’s just me, Jacob. Alexandria’s safe. You’re safe.

No Wraith. See?”

Jacob pointed around the room and Joshua calmed down realizing he was just causing more issues than they needed at the moment. Alexandria needed to be the focus, not him and his unruly inner Sphinx.

All Joshua knew was that he needed to be near her more than he needed to breathe. Shoving his way back over to her side, he gently placed a hand on her now clean shoulder. In just that short amount of time, Jenny and Warren had her cleaned up and bandaged. Where before she was white as a sheet and there was no detectable respiration, now Joshua could see the slight rise and fall of her chest and her skin had a slight pinkness. It was obvious she was still in trouble with dark circles under her eyes and not a bit of evidence of sparkling energy at all to her skin.

“How is she?” He asked. His dry throat and lack of energy made his voice rough.

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Jenny shook her head. “Not good. The readings are all over the place. Just when I think her Life Force is going to stabilize then it dives off the charts again. I just don’t think she has the strength to come back to us.”

The entire room broke out in cries and denials of losing Alexandria. Joshua just stood there, his hands in fists and his vision blurring.

“Like hell she’s leaving me. Everyone get away from her.”

He pushed Jenny and anyone else standing near Alexandria away. Someone grabbed his shoulder, but he heard Michael yell,

“Leave him be! If she can be saved, he’s the only one who can do it.

Everyone out, now!” The last was barked with the authority that Joshua had seen Michael carry for centuries.

Within moments, the entire Trauma Cell was empty except for Michael. Joshua turned to him and simply said, “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me. Just bring her back.” With him saying his piece, he turned and left.

Dead silence was left behind. Not even the sounds of the medical equipment throughout the Cell seemed to want to fill the air with electronic sound. All Joshua could hear was the steady in and out breaths softly coming from Alexandria. With his hand shaking, he reached under the sheets covering her and placed his palm over her heart. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the beat thumping under his hand and the rise and fall of her chest. If the simple life actions he was feeling stopped within her, he would gladly perish himself.

“Lexi, I need you. Come back to me. I love you, “he whispered, his voice breaking with the heart wrenching emotions hammering at him. He leaned over her and kissed her with the gentleness and love he had such a hard time conveying to her at times. Joshua didn’t know if she would even be able to feel his presence but he had to try. By the Ancients, he had to try.

Slowly he brushed his hand through her soft hair and leaned his forehead against hers. He opened the Joined Link they had shared so briefly and pushed his Power and Life Force along the connection. As weak as he was, Joshua knew this was dangerous 258

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and could sense the change in his own heart rhythm but he didn’t care. Down into her physical form, he pushed searching for some sign of the Alexandria he loved with everything in him. On and on he floated down the connection, his breathing becoming labored with each passing moment.

Just being inside of her was incredible, and if this was the last thing he did, at least he would be close to her. Deep inside Alexandria’s body, he moved closer to her Life Force until the bright glow of her essence surrounded him. Still he didn’t feel her conscious mind stir, and the pain of the possible truth of her loss cut him painfully. His physical body gasped for air while his Life Force connected with hers. The contact was incredible and he held onto the moment as long as he could.

Joshua wanted the contact to last forever but his energy was depleting at an increasing rate. There was very little of his gold Power left in his system, leaving only the blue dionic Power which would only cause increasing damage to his body. He realized the moment he had let loose with his Power Burst while trying to protect her he had severely shortened the amount of time he could survive without Alexandria’s healing touch.

Brushing against her Life Force one last time, he sent to her, I love you Alexandria. All I ever wanted to do was to love you and protect you with every breath. I hope you can forgive me for my failure. Wanting to give her something before his own system failed, he released the remaining gold Power he held and surged the energy straight into her Life Force.

The resulting flash of light blinded him and rendered him numb. He couldn’t move either physically or in the depths of the connection. All he could do was be engulfed with the resulting expansion of Power from the center of Alexandria’s Life Force. An image of a sleek black feline flashed before his eyes, her dark blue eyes focused on his. A warmth surrounded his Life Force embracing him and protecting him.

Alexandria? He sent to her weakly but still there was no response. Still, he swore he could feel her presence and an incredible concentration emanating from her. Floating within her 259

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embrace, he couldn’t do anything else, his energy spent and his desire to even try and return to his physical form not even an option. Joshua just floated there lost in the warmth waiting for the darkness to take him.

Several moments passed and when he didn’t vanish but held steady through the connection with Alexandria’s Life Force, he thought perhaps he wouldn’t die. Instead, he started to detect an increasing flow of energy from outside of Alexandria’s body. At first, it was very little, weak at best, but the Power was there. A thin stream floated along the connection and straight into the heart of Alexandria’s Life Force. As her light became brighter, thicker and thicker bands of rainbow energy shimmered into her system. Faster and faster, the energy spiraled in, brushing past him until another bright expansion of light and energy surrounded him and suddenly she was there with him.

Joshua? Can you hear me? I feel you. Hang on. Please. The sound of her precious voice in his mind sent shivers through his system. Her presence became stronger and then she was sending Life Power straight into him.

The sensation was beyond stimulating and he was sure if he could still feel his body he would have had the hardest erection ever. In his current state, he didn’t even know if he had a body to go back to. His beloved Power Healer was surrounding him in love and life, not only filling him with Life Power, but taking the dionic energy away. His energy returned with a vengeance, and just that quickly, he reconnected with the physical world.

“Lexi.” He whispered as his Life Force reestablished itself in his ever-strengthening body. Taking in a deep breath, he brushed his lips across Alexandria’s, and he could have sung praise to the Ancients when he felt her return his kiss. Leaning back, he looked into her beautiful eyes and cupped her face in his hands. “I thought I had lost you. If you ever try and play heroine again, I’ll throw you in the restriction cell in medical and never ever let you out again.”

Laughing and crying at the same time, Alexandria threw her arms around him and pulled him down burying her face against 260

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his chest. He had to brace himself otherwise he would have fallen over on top of her. Her strength had definitely returned.

“Oh, Joshua. I almost lost you because of my stupidity. I know you probably can’t ever forgive and hate me for what I did to you, what I’ve done, but…”She began to sob hysterically, something Alexandria never did. Crying yes, but never hysterics.

“Lexi, I understand why you had to go after the genetically altered Wraith and destroy them. They were dangerous but the Pages of Seven could have waited. Your life wasn’t worth the risk.

Don’t you know I love you more than life itself? I could never hate you. Why would you say that?”

Joshua felt Alexandria shake her head against his chest as if she was fighting herself and whatever horrible thing she thought she had done. He pushed up away from her and forced her to look at him. “Alexandria, please. Don’t shut me out, damn it.”

Breaking the hold he had on her, she sat up quicker than lightening and was off the cot in the next instant. Dragging the sheets with her, she paced several feet away from him and wrapped the sheets tighter around her body. She stopped then her head down, her shoulders shaking, while she silently sobbed in her anguish.

Joshua was broken up inside watching Alexandria try and suffer on her own. Anger sparked in him and he grabbed her arm spinning her around and forcing her to look at him.

“Alexandria, whatever you think you’ve done to wrong me can be fixed. I assure you, there’s nothing that will hurt me more than you turning away from me and not trusting in the strength of our Joined love.”

She gasped truly taken aback by his words. “It’s not that. I…”

He watched her close her eyes and struggle with whatever was eating her up inside. Just a moment ago, he was basking in her light and love and he wanted the feeling back.

“Alexandria, look at me. Let me in. I promise you no matter what, I won’t leave you. I swear it upon the life you have given back to me so many times.”

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eyelashes and rolling down her soft cheeks. He brushed the tears away with his fingertips and then kissed her. Slowly, gently, with the love he felt bubbling up from his depths.

Finally, she haltingly whispered, “Alright, Joshua. For you, anything.” And in an instant, she opened their Joined link to him.

He dived in without any reservation or doubt that what she had to show him wouldn’t make him think any less of her or make him hate her.

At first, she simply brushed against him in their connected state. He could feel her uncertainty but he sent her encouragement. Then the images began flooding his mind and he gasped with the intensity of all of the truths previously released by Raven. One after the other they slammed into him, the abduction, the torture, the genetic injections and experiments, the surgical defamation, the breaking of her spirit, the training which went against her very nature. And finally, her killing of a Wraith child.

In Alexandria’s mind, she saw her actions as the worst possible thing a healer could ever doto kill a child. The most depraved thing ever and she had committed it and standing over her watching—no commanding the kill was Turin and another Wraith Joshua had never seen before. A deformed Wraith with the essence of Alexandria’s DNA and a Power to control the Gate. The very reason for their current situation and the battle weary Sphinx they had all become.

Slowly the images faded and Joshua stood there holding onto Alexandria as if she were his life line. How she had survived all of her torture and deadly lessons, not to mention keeping her sanity, he didn’t know. She was shaking like a leaf against him and the very thought of her in Turin and the other creatures clutches brought his beast suddenly to the surface.

Joshua snarled in fury, his grip tightening on her. Alexandria suddenly started fighting against him. She tried to escape from his grasp but he held on tight not letting her go.

Crying out she sobbed, “See? I knew it. You hate me. I’m so sorry, Joshua, I don’t blame you if you hate me forever. If I could, I would release you from our Joining.”

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Release him from their Joining? The breath was knocked right out of him and his Sphinx instantly quieted. Pushing Alexandria back he looked straight into her eyes. “Alexandria, stop. Feel me through our Link. I’m not angry at you. I’m livid at Turin and that animal he made, and when I get the chance, they’ll both die agonizingly at my hands. No mercy, no kindness.”

Her struggling stopped as the meaning of his words sank in.

Joshua brushed the tears from her cheek and then began running his hands through her hair. The action seemed to soothe her and helped him out too.

“Lexi, I could never hate you. You must know that.” He pushed his love through their connection showering her in his glowing presence.

She closed her eyes seemingly in ecstasy for a moment but then opened them again. Sadness showed and new tears pooled in their depths. “But I killed a child,” she sadly mumbled.

“Alexandria, listen to me. Look closer at the truth. It might look like a Wraith child, but you were misled by Turin. Look at the image through my eyes.” He sent her the scene back and knew she wanted to turn away, but he held her, made her watch. Her eyes widened in shock as the image clarified.

Joshua knew the moment he saw the memory that Turin had brain washed Alexandria into thinking she was evil. Demented, hateful. Someone who would kill her own brother. Before her, Joshua laid out the truth showing her the creature was not a child, although younger than the others. It, too, was ancient and evil waiting to take her life. The whole experiment had been one of the tests to see if she would give into the pull of taking energy and taking life.

“Don’t you see, Alexandria. You weren’t evil. You were starving and fighting for your life. The child-like Wraith would have killed you if you hadn’t fought back.”

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Holding his breath, Joshua waited to see if what he showed Alexandria would bring her back to her strength and the belief in herself. He prayed she could get past what she thought she had done and to the real truth that even Raven couldn’t reveal for her.

Slowly, he watched her expressions change. Shame for what she thought she had done, then the curiosity and courage that was always a part of her pushing her to look closely for the truth, and then finally the dawning shock of what the truth really was. She looked at him in awe and then flung her arms around him.

“Oh, Josh. You’ve set me free.” She covered his face with kisses, smothering him in her embrace and love that flowed through their Link. Too soon, she released him and grabbed onto the falling sheet, re-securing it around her naked body. Joshua thought he wouldn’t have minded if the sheet had hit the floor but now wasn’t the time.

Standing there, Alexandria peeked up beneath her lashes and bit at her lip. She had something else to reveal and evidently wasn’t sure how to broach the subject.

Joshua sighed, tired of the barricades which kept being thrown up between them. “Spit it out, Alexandria.”

“Um. Well, I kind of used my ability and knocked you out. But lucky for me, you were able to easily throw it off.”

Finding that was the reason why she was still uncertain of his forgiveness, his heart lightened substantially. Putting on a daunting expression, he crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, about that. If you ever try and do a stunt to my system like that again, I’ll personally tie you down and spank your ass until I have to kiss away the pain.”

Alexandria instantly blushed. A beautiful pink which spread over her chest, up her throat, and across her cheeks. She didn’t blush easily, but when she did, it took his breath away. Not being able to resist, Joshua reached out and grabbed her. Crushing her against him, he captured her mouth with his kissing her deeply and running his hands under the sheet and across her back to her bare bottom. He pressed with his hands so she could feel the evidence of his desire for her.

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Coming up for air, he murmured against her lips. “Don’t ever leave me again like that. I love you too much to survive losing you.”

“I won’t. I promise. The only thing I want is to be in your arms forever.” She kissed him back, and for a moment, he considered making love to her right where they stood. If they waited any longer to reveal themselves to Khenti Michael and the rest of the group, they’d end up with an unhappy audience.

Gently pushing her back, he sighed. “I would love to ravish your delectable body but we have a lecture coming from our Khenti, among other things. Let’s get some scrubs on you and a pair for me and let the others know how you’re doing. But I promise you this, I have a rain check with your name on it and plan on making you wet.”

****

Alexandria shivered with the thought of Joshua’s hands all over her bringing her to the level of need his fingers could magically create. She still couldn’t believe the Power he had to bring her back and his ability to clarify the truths which had been crushing her that even Raven hadn’t been able to reveal. Joshua even had forgiven her for meddling with his sleep patterns and she had to make it up to him somehow. To her, what she had done was still unforgivable. Joshua was a Warrior of incredible ability no matter what insecurities he had about his dionic Power. But like he said, now was definitely not the time to want or dwell on it anymore.

They had to go see what her brother had to say. She had a lot of information both the good and the badshe had to let the others know about.

Joshua quickly turned away when she dropped the sheet covering her body. She smiled when she saw him try and cover the evidence of his desire for her. She slipped into the scrubs quickly since being around him was almost too much of a temptation for her too. With everything that had happened in the last few hours, her system was too wound up and the sight of him now, his skin 265

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glowing again with health was driving her crazy. All she wanted to do was grab him and let him claim her endlessly with his gentleness and passion.

Instead, she crossed her arms across her body and just watched him grab a towel from the medical supplies. He scrubbed as much of the dried blood from his body as he could and slipped into his own pair of scrubs. Once he was finished, Alexandria couldn’t resist any longer and brushed up against him. He put his arms around her, kissing the top of her head, and it felt like coming home to her just touching him.

“Come on, let’s get this over with,” he said and tucked her firmly against his side. Joshua led the way out of the Trauma Cell and into the Cavern. As they stepped out of the Trauma Cell, Alexandria was surprised to see everyone was still waiting in the Cavern. Several chairs and a couple of older couches from storage had been pulled out and positioned in a circle. Warriors, their Mates, and even Guardian Arik with his team of Elites were sprawled in the furniture or on the floor.

The first person to notice them was Stormy and she was up and out of Michael’s arms in a blink.

“Thank God. You’re okay.” Stormy wove through the group and tackled Alexandria, grabbing her in one of her bear hugs.

Alexandria laughed at her antics. “Yes, I’m much better now.

Thanks to Joshua. He saved me once again.”

“And I owe him for saving my sister.” Alexandria was engulfed by Michael’s embrace with Stormy sandwiched between them.

Stormy didn’t appear to be willing to detach herself yet. Soon both Alexandria and Joshua were surrounded by Warriors and Guardians. They all reached out and touched Alexandria gently conveying their gladness she was recovered and congratulations on her Joining with Joshua. She watched as Joshua was slapped on the back, punched in the shoulder, and embraced by his fellow Warriors.

Once everyone appeared to be satisfied with her well-being, they returned to their seats or the floor. One of the Guardians gave up his leather chair and Joshua sat down in it. No sooner had he 266

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sat down, he grabbed her hand and pulled her onto his lap.

Blushing furiously from all of the attention, Alexandria leaned back into his embrace and tried to relax wondering what her brother had to say. Joshua must have sensed her nervousness because he started running his hands through her hair.

Glancing around at the others, Alexandria could tell she wasn’t the only one still wound up. The tension throughout the Cave was palpable with everyone still keyed up and aggravated. Over the past few hours, the series of unplanned, uncoordinated events had left everyone shaken. And others angry, including Michael.

Yes, her brother was still on edge. He paced back and forth on one side of the circle of chairs running his hands through his hair obviously in agitation. Finally, he stopped his pacing and glared at Alexandria for a moment but then she saw him let go of his anger at what she had done and directed his gaze at the rest of the occupants of the Cave. One after another, he paused making eye contact with every single person present.

Once he appeared satisfied that he had the undivided attention of everyone, the leader in him came to the surface and he fiercely commanded, “I will say this once and only once. There will be no more heroics and trying to save the world by anyone on their own.

Too many times, we have almost lost an important part of this family but we’re running out of luck. We have to work as a team supporting each other as equals. If we don’t, we will fail. And our failure will not only cost this family but it’ll cost this world its very existence.”

Alexandria caught her breath when Michael returned to looking directly at her.

“Please know I understand the desire to exact revenge, to save those we love, and find a way to destroy the Gate and stop the Wraith. I don’t begrudge anyone from wanting these things. I myself have foolishly tried to act on my own and still have to be reminded by my Mate that I can’t do this by myself. But losing any of you is slowly killing the rest of us, killing me.”

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those who had passed on. She felt it in the way Joshua hugged her closer to him, in the way her brother’s fear and love reached out to her, and the way she had felt when Joshua reached inside of her and had almost died bringing her back.

Alexandria slid her hands over Joshua’s arms and finding his hands threaded her fingers with his. She met Michael’s intense look and whispered, “I swear on the oath made so long ago by the ancient Sphinx Warrior’s and to my Khenti and brother, I will abide by his command. May others do the same.”

Instantly the tension broke and oaths flowed from each and every person in the Cave. Alexandria saw Stormy bound from a chair near Michael and throw her arms around him. He embraced his Mate, kissed her soundly, and carefully tucked her into his side keeping her close.

Appearing to be satisfied his command would be taken seriously, he completed the oath. “The oath is noted and returned.

I would suggest not breaking it or the next person to step over the boundaries will have my foot up their ass and a month of kitchen duty or worse.”

A wave of grumbling spread throughout the Cave but a glare from Michael silenced it immediately. Before continuing, he led Stormy back to her seat and eased her down into it. She still looked a bit pale to Alexandria. She would need to check on Stormy later but now Michael commanded all of their attention again as he started the after action.

“Alexandria, if you could please regale us of your activities in the other dimension so we know what the hell happened.” Khenti Michael wasn’t pulling any punches and cut straight to the chase.

Glancing at her audience, Alexandria cleared her throat. “Well, after I realized the extent of Turin’s experiments on the other side, I knew I had to go back and deliver the anti-gene to wipe out the mutated Wraith. He had mutated them using genetic material he had taken from me before he genetically altered me.”

Alexandria had to pause for a moment, shivering, when she recalled her treatment at Turin’s hands. Joshua instantly started running his hands over her hair to soothe her. Since he had 268

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rescued her, he had stayed closely connected to her. His protective actions and strength gave her courage to continue.

“Those Wraith were more dangerous and stronger than the others having traces of Sphinx integrated into their DNA. So I took the anti-gene in with me and delivered it into the water system.

They have only one source of water and guarantees the anti-gene will destroy the mutations.”

Michael sighed heavily. “But Alexandria, any one of us could have done that.”

“No.” She spoke up. “I had to go. The reason the Gate kept opening was because Turin had gotten lucky with one of the mutations. The creature was strong and developed the ability to open the Gate like I could. When I was brought back here, Turin trained it as my replacement and so that is why the frequency of the Gate opening increased. I remembered the super-mutated Wraith’s existence when Raven helped me uncover the rest of the truth.”

Joshua growled under her and she turned to him. Alexandria kissed him soundly on the mouth redirecting his attention.

Lovingly, she touched him though their Link. It’s okay Joshua, I forced him into the Truth finding. He didn’t want to help me, but he had no choice. Don’t be angry with him for that, it was all me.

I promise to explain to you later. He gripped her shoulders and deepened the kiss in front of everyone not caring and she knew he was staking his claim. Sphinx Warriors definitely didn’t react well to other males touching their Mates.

A clearing of throats had Alexandria jerking back from Joshua.

He just smirked at the rest of them but she couldn’t believe her behavior in front of the others. Blushing, she adjusted herself in Joshua’s lap and continued with her report.

“Umm. Well, I knew the only way Turin was going to reveal his newest weapon was to go and reveal myself. The plan worked, the creature showed up, and I delivered a fatal dose of the anti-gene.

Without the super mutated Wraith, the Gate should return to its normal pattern and maybe give us a break.” Alexandria glanced over at Ethan hoping he would confirm her theory.

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Excited, Ethan flipped open his hand held micro-computer and tapped quickly on the phone sized keypad.

“Dudes. You’re not going to believe this, but right now there’s almost zip on the Gate energy level. Sweet. I can finally check my fucking social network.” He looked up a moment with an appalled expression.

“Fuck.” He muttered. Alexandria knew he preferred to be known as the computer brain and not a tweeter because the Warriors harassed him mercilessly when they caught him.

On key, the other Warriors tossed out comments like, “Pussy.”

“Geek.” “Loser.”

“All right! Enough, gentleman.” Khenti Michael shouted.

Silence settled again.

“Continue, Alexandria.”

Alexandria bit at her lip and realized she had to reveal her failure in the mission.

“Well, right before I took out the super mutation, I found the Fifth Page of Seven.”

Agitated, she rubbed at her forehead. “Unfortunately, I think when I mutated as the Wraith attacked me and I transformed into the Sphinx feline in an effort to save myself, I lost the Page.”

“No, Alexandria. Somehow, you held onto it even in the shape you were in, “Joshua growled.

She felt his muscles tense under her legs and saw the images flow through his mind from their Link as he relived seeing her crushed under the weight of Wraith while they sucked the Life Power out of her. He rubbed his cheek against her hair and then tunneled under the strands to kiss the side of her neck.

Distracted, she barely heard Michael.

“Damn it. I almost forgot I have the scroll page.” Alexandria’s attention was recaptured by her brother’s words. In relief, she watched as he pulled the gold tube shaped container from the side pocket of his fatigue pants.

Stormy was instantly on her feet grabbing for the Page. “Let me see, Michael. Please.”

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choice but to hand the container over to his Power Mate. Eleina quickly joined Stormy in opening the tube and carefully pulled the Fifth Page out. Delicately unrolling it, the women’s expressions fell when they saw there was only half of the Page left.

“No, no, no. How are we supposed to know how to interpret this without the full Page? It’s missing too much of the document.”

Stormy started to freak out and Eleina had to extricate the scroll from her hands before she caused any damage to it.

“We’ll find a way, Stormy. We have to.” Alexandria tried to reassure her. “It has to mean something that my Power Signature is on the scroll Page. I’m not sure what, but we can decode the part we have and go from there.”

“I might have a suggestion.” Caleb spoke up and suddenly he had everyone’s full attention. This was rare the youngest of the Warriors spoke up in a meeting. Alexandria was curious as to what he had in mind.

“Caleb, don’t you fucking dare!” Ethan shouted aggressively.

Usually mild mannered, he sprang up from the couch he was just a moment ago relaxed in. He was so instantly on the defense the hand held micro-computer he had been holding hit the ground with an ominous crack and skittered several feet away from him.

“Yeah, but if it will help.” Caleb also stood up crossing his arms across his chest.

Ethan angrily strode right up to him getting in his face and poking a finger in his chest.

“Dude, you fucking promised.”

Tension in the room escalated again and Alexandria suddenly found herself on the chair alone with Joshua blocking her from a perceived fight getting ready to break out.

“By the Ancients. Enough.” Khenti Michael pushed his way between the two Warriors, grabbed a hand full of their shirts, and shoved them away from each other. Alexandria was sure Michael was going to kick someone’s butt before the end of the night but all he did was shout.

“One of you will explain now!”

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written all over their faces. The stand-off didn’t last long, though, when Ethan relaxed his stance and ran his hand through his spiked short black hair. “Fine. I may have found a Seer.”

Alexandria was on her feet instantly pushing around Joshua just as Eleina stepped up closer to Ethan. Power Seers had disappeared even before the Priestesses vanished and Alexandria blurted out, “A Seer? There hasn’t been a Seer in centuries. I think the last one was back on our home planet Athenia. How can that be? Agitated, Ethan snarled, “I don’t know.” When Joshua growled at him, Ethan calmed down. “Sorry. Give me a minute.”

Pacing away, Ethan strode a few feet into the center of the Cavern retrieving his obviously no longer functioning hand held.

Turning back to the group, he brushed his fingers over the cracked screen and sighing looked up. “Yes, I’ve been going out on the social networks. And no, I didn’t reveal anything about us. I just monitored the airwaves like I’m supposed to making sure nothing about Complex 46 got out there. There really wasn’t anything other than the usual stories the humans like to make up to entertain themselves about mysterious places or happenings.

Nothing significant until about a month ago.”

Ethan had Alexandria’s undivided attention now and everyone else’s in the Cavern. She wrapped her arms around Joshua and he encircled her with one arm. Together they watched Ethan begin to pace back and forth while he messed his spiked hair up even more.

To Alexandria’s relief, Ethan stopped the back and forth and went back to his spot on the couch collapsing heavily down in it.

He continued with his revelation.

“Anyway, a conversation on one of the sites led me to a website.

On the site were images of paintings and short story entries. I looked and read through them and…well, putting it bluntly it was like seeing and reading about our lives but as if the person was seeing the images through a clouded glass. The paintings and descriptions were close enough I had no doubt the contents were about us, but anyone else wouldn’t know the truth but simply see fiction of someone’s mind.”

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Raven spoke up having to put in his two cents. “You’re fucking crazy. If that’s true then we’re all fucked and the humans would be on our back door any time now. There’s no way there’s a real life Seer out there.”

“Are you so sure?” Stormy interjected. “I’m living proof your genetic descendants are still living out in Earth society. Perhaps he or she is like me and doesn’t realize it. Can you imagine the difficulty the person’s having with these visions invading their lives all the time?”

“I didn’t even think of that? Dude.” Ethan pulled at his hair again. “And it’s a she. Her name is Skye.” The name left his lips as if it was precious.

“By the Ancients.” Raven rolled his eyes before downing his drink. “Women.”

Jacob drew Alexandria’s attention when he was the next one to come up off his chair. “If that’s the case and this Skye is a Seer, then she’s in danger. I’ve already let Michael and Hunter know I had trouble tracking the Wraith that escaped the staging cavern and the complex. I suspect the creature was a mutation of Turin’s and if he’s on the hunt for another victim for his madness then she might be next on the list, especially if she has any form of Life Power or a Life Force similar to ours. Ethan’s already examined the readings on the altered energy pattern of the Wraith and I aligned my Tracking ability with it. I think I can track the beast down now.”

“I’m going with Jacob then. I’ve written to Skye on her website and she’ll know me once I introduce myself.” Ethan reassured his leader and Alexandria thought perhaps the Warrior wasn’t going to be able to take a denial.

“Besides the Gate isn’t going to be able to open with the over-tasking of its energy Turin forced upon it. Caleb is well-versed in my equipment and since he broke his promise, he owes me anyway.”

Alexandria felt sorry for the Warrior. He looked beside himself and ready to come unglued waiting for his Khenti’s decision.

Finally, Michael nodded.

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“Agreed but not until tomorrow. We all need rest and having you out there, depleted both physically and Power wise, isn’t a good idea. The Wraith will be just as bad off from the recent battle and won’t blend in with humans so will have to hide until it can reach Skye. If she is a Seer, she’ll be mostly human and not register high on the energy readings anyway. I don’t know how Skye can be found and may be near impossible. First thing tomorrow, Ethan, you and Jacob will start tracking the Wraith and woman if needed. But remember, the woman will only be contacted if it becomes necessary. Do you understand?”

Ethan nodded silently but there was something in his eyes which looked too much like excitement to Alexandria. Ethan was on a mission above and beyond tracking down a Wraith and saving a mere woman. Alexandria suspected Ethan wanted the opportunity to meet Skye in person, but who was she to point that out to her brother. She knew the feeling of finally being with the person who moved the world for her, and if that was Ethan’s plan, then more power to him.

Joshua must have picked up on her thoughts through their Joined Link because he glanced over at Ethan. His eyes narrowed for a moment and then he smiled, his mesmerizing dimple making an appearance. Alexandria stood up on her tiptoes leaning against Joshua so she could place a kiss on his dimpled cheek.

Under her hands, she felt Joshua draw in a quick breath and his entire focus centered on her. His hands were around her waist and pulling her against him before she could even catch her own breath. Vaguely she heard Michael say something about having had enough for the night and ordering everyone back to their quarters. The very thought of being alone with Joshua made her heart rate pick up and her head spin.

Leaning down until he was but a whisper away, he murmured,

“Let’s get out of here. I need to have you to myself.”

The next thing Alexandria knew Joshua swept her off her feet and cuddled her close to his chest. Even in the scrub foot covers he put on earlier because of an absence of his boots, his stride was long and sure. He pushed his way through the crowd and had 274

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them on the elevator quickly. Who was in there with them she couldn’t have said because her focus was completely on admiring Joshua’s bluish silver eyes with background glitters of her dark blue. The sign of their Joining.

Not able to resist, she ran her hands through his loose strawberry blond hair and kissed him. The spark of energy in their connection was the only indication she had fired up the Sphinx in him. In front of his men, he was trying to keep his composure but she knew the truth. Inside he was burning up, needing her, wanting to be deep inside her.

As the elevator doors opened, Alexandria heard Raven complain. “Get a room.”

Joshua leaned his head against hers and she smiled when he said, “Oh yeah, luckily I already have one.” Not wasting a moment, Joshua carried Alexandria out of the elevator, across the entry way of the Warriors quarters, up the staircase, and past the Sphinx statue to his room.

No, their room, Alexandria thought. Once inside, Joshua kicked the door shut and slowly slid her down his body until she was on her feet. Using the excuse of being unsteady, she clung to him. He didn’t seem to mind and actually appeared to enjoy it as he grabbed her hips and pressed her harder against his. Through the thin scrubs, she could feel his erection and instantly she was hot and wet with need.

She wasn’t sure why her mind went to the Sphinx statue and the fact Joshua hadn’t rubbed it for luck. He always did that when he passed by it and so she asked him. “Josh, why didn’t you rub your good luck charm?”

Rubbing his hands over her bottom and nipping at her lips, he murmured, “Because I have my own live Sphinx now with black fur and dark blue eyes who brings me luck and makes me whole.”

Stilling in his arms, she pushed back away from him and bit at her lip. “Yes, you do. A Sphinx feline who may over-rule the level-headed doctor. Someone who still has to make amends for using her skills to keep you entrapped in sleep.” Unable to continue meeting his eyes, she looked down at his chest and whispered, 275

Christine Murphy

“I’m so sorry, Josh.”

Joshua wouldn’t let her avoid him, and she had no choice but to see the forgiveness and love in his expression when he forced her chin up with his hand.

“Alexandria, I saw what you went through, what was done to you, and the motivations that pushed you. Your actions weren’t to hurt me, but to protect me from the danger you knew you were going into. Yes, I was upset, but as soon as I started to wake up on my own, I sensed your energy and simply unwove the Power.

We’re Joined, and even though you tried to keep me tuned out, I could still feel you. The only thing I was angry about was Turin’s abuse of you and not being there. Just promise me you won’t shut me out again. You’ve saved me time and again by healing me, let me always be there for you to protect you and save you. If anything happened to you, even if I wasn’t dionic, I would die.”

Alexandria threw her arms around him and cried, “Oh Josh, I promise. Just promise me you won’t leave me. I couldn’t bear the thought of you dying.”

She felt Joshua tunnel his hands through her hair and the sensation felt so good. He grabbed a handful and pulled her head back while his eyes were transfixed on her mouth.

“I’ll never leave you Alexandria. I am yours, you are mine.

Joined as One. Forever. I’ll love you forever.”

Desperately needing to feel his lips against hers, Alexandria sent her needs and images of their entangled bodies through their Joined Link. Joshua’s eyes closed and he groaned. She knew he could do nothing but give in to her. He ravished her lips with his tasting, teasing, nipping, and she felt his hands roam under the scrub shirt and brush against the bottom of her breasts. When he kneaded gently, working his thumbs up to her nipples and then circling each one, she pressed her hips against his in invitation.

Alexandria gasped into his mouth and needed to feel his skin against hers. She managed to grab the bottom of his scrub shirt before he captured her hands. She looked at him in confusion thinking she had done something wrong but the passion, love, and fire was still in his eyes.

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“I just can’t believe you’re really mine. All these years I kept myself from you while you waited with such patience, and when my stubborn ass finally figured out how long and how much I loved you, I almost lost you. Never again. I’ll never again be such an idiot. You’ve transformed my life so completely.”

Letting go of her hands, he reached up and touched her cheeks in wonder. “Say it again, Lexi. Tell me you really want to keep me, to love me.”

Pure delight and love burst inside of her. As if she would ever deny him. Placing one hand over her heart and the other over his she quietly pledged, “I am yours, you are mine. Joined as One.

Forever. I love you, Josh, more than life itself.”

Joshua’s smile was incredible, his amazing dimple making an appearance and tempting her again.

“By the Ancients, you are a miracle,” he murmured.

He encircled her in his strong embrace, pressing his body against hers. She felt every bit of his love in the renewed kiss and through their connection.

When he finally allowed her to come up for air he simply said,

“Now, I believe I owe you that rain check.”

He then picked her up so quickly all she could manage was to wrap her legs around his waist. He had her across the room in lightning speed and sprawled out on the bed, his strong body covering hers. Nowhere else did she feel so alive and completely loved than in his arms. Her Josh took her to new heights not only bringing the lightning of his swirling Power to fall around them but his thunder to take her over the edge.

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About The Author

Traveling throughout the United States and locations throughout the world, I finally found the perfect place to call home and settled down in a small town outside the Tampa Bay area in Florida. Looking out my back lanai, there is a small pond where the wild-life will gather and the flowers bloom in exotic pinks and purples. This is my place of peace and freedom that I have searched for and where my husband and crazy African Gray Parrot, Raider, hang out with me. It’s the place where my creativity runs wild as I spin tales of adventure and passion. I have been writing in my head since I was a teenager and I finally realized I needed to capture these unique characters, civilizations, conflict, passion, and love in writing. To capture the strong, spirited, and powerfully attracted characters and all of their adventures and share it with others who are searching for that very thing to make their lives more exciting. If I accomplish nothing else in life, I hope to share the romantically magical worlds and the lovers that I see with all of the passionate readers out there.

Red Sage Publishing

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Featuring the best in women’s ultra sensual and spicy fiction, satisfying your desire for more.

Visit our website and discover delicious temptations and spicy fantasies!

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Document Outline

- Sphinx Transformed

- Prologue
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen

- About The Author

- Red Sage Publishing

Table of Contents

- Sphinx Transformed

- Prologue
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen

- About The Author

- Red Sage Publishing