Alex speed-burst by all the guards, too upset to worry that she was escaping. he could hear the guards shouting after her, but she was already too far away. She didn't stop until she reached the Anolis embassy building and slammed into the door, her small fists pounding on the wooden surface.

"Let me in! I challenge you, Cla!" she bellowed, her voice echoing off the walls of the surrounding buildings. "Come out, you fire truck female! Come and get me! The mammal is challenging you! Stop hiding behind that door! Are you afraid of an overgrown chitterer? Come out, Cla!" Alex shouted.

After a few minutes of pounding and insults, the door opened. A grave-looking Anolis male led Alex to a courtyard. The courtyard was beautiful, with a center fountain that threw sparkling droplets into the air. Cla leaned against one of several tall columns, her hide shimmering in the sunlight like freshly polished metal. She didn't seem nervous in front of the crowd of all Anolis females that had gathered for the occasion. The brothers are nowhere in sight, Alex noticed.

Alex felt claustrophobic as the crowd of females stepped closer, forming a circle in the courtyard. Cla pulled a dagger from her belt and pointed it at Alex, her voice commanding and fierce. "I accept your challenge. Now, mammal, come forward and fight. Mina, give the mammal a weapon."

Mina handed Alex a simple dagger. It was utilitarian steel, without decoration. Alex grasped the handle and it was too thick for her hand. Cla smirked at her unease.

Okay, it's time now for knife fighting techniques! Alex tried her best to lower the mental barriers against her past to access that training.

Cla stepped forward, her feet leaving shallow dents in the dust. She motored around Alex, who pivoted on one foot, making a full rotation every few seconds. Cla's sword glinted under the moonlight as she made a fraction of a second slash towards Alex's forearm. Alex felt the fire of pain spread from her arm to her shoulder and knew that it was only reflex that had saved her from greater injury.

With a growl, Alex changed their roles and paced around Cla. Alex toyed with her dagger, poking its point toward Cla in a menacing dance. Seeing an opening, Alex lunged forward and kicked out at Cla's midsection. Despite the power of her leg muscles behind the kick, there was no satisfying thud of impact; instead, Alex felt as though she were kicking metal as the armor absorbed all energy from the blow. Her foot throbbed in pain, as if protesting against the strength of such armor, while Cla merely smiled and showed no sign of discomfort.

Kickboxing was not meant to be used against Roman type armor.

Cla lept forward, her claws slashing fiercely through the air. Alex could feel the heat of the blade as it sliced along her chest. Reacting quickly, Alex threw herself to the side and managed to dodge Cla's attack. She cursed internally for not training harder with Cale and Rile; she should have known that hand-to-hand combat was necessary in a fight like this one.

Taking a steadying breath, Alex darted back in and tried a foot sweep to trip Cla up, but it wasn't enough to bring down the larger reptile. Instead, Cla brought her dagger crashing down on Alex's shoulder, and a cry of pain escaped her lips as she slumped to the ground. Gasping for breath, Alex scrambled away from Cla and faced her opponent again.

If only I dared blast the witch openly. But not yet. I'm not beaten yet. I don't see Gabe or the others. I must find them.

Alex assessed how best to deliver a surreptitious blast to Cla. Cla was armored and armed, unlike the Gila. Alex concentrated too much on Cla's knife hand and didn't see her other fist until it slammed into her mouth.

Then Alex saw the flash of the blade. The shock of the impact made her see stars, and when she stumbled backwards, she saw the familiar flash of metal slicing through the air. She managed to turn just enough for the blade to graze her side instead of sinking deep into her abdomen as she crumpled onto the ground.

As blackness began to close in around her edges, Alex heard a voice calling out her name. She knew that voice and instinctively curled away from it.

"Oh, hi Gabe." Alex tried to sound nonchalant. Bleeding ruined the effect.

Gabe gently brushed her hair off her forehead with one hand and cradled her head in his other arm. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched across his face.

"Sure," Alex replied, trying to joke but failing miserably. "How can a pregnant reptile hit so hard?"

"Alex." Gabe said, sounding both annoyed and worried. "Stop that. What are you trying to prove? I thought I explained that to you—"

"Step away from her." Cla's voice was wintry cold. "I claim that the mammal sleep-mate is a continued threat." She was addressing their audience. "Is it agreed?"

The Anolis females muttered among themselves in agreement.

"No, I won't have it!" Gabe shouted angrily. His words punctured the air like a sharp stone. "She will stay at the Institute, where she belongs."

"Gabe," Alex said, her voice soft yet firm. "There's something I must tell you."

Cla stood and declared in a booming voice that echoed through the courtyard, "Her presence here shows that your assurance means nothing! Therefore, I declare her an enemy of the state and claim the death right!"

Cla looked at the audience for support. When Mina leaned close, Cla whispered, "While I have the Kuni's orders to kill the mammal, it's better politically if I kill her from death right for threatened sleep-mate."

Mina nodded and stood upright.

"Forget it, Cla. She'll go back and stay back," Gabe said.

"Your cooperation is not required." Cla's frigid voice turned on Gabe.

"That's what I have to tell you," Alex whispered. "This regime, it's female dominated. You're not her boyfriend, you're her property. You can't pull off your coup if you are locked up like a slave. That's why I came. They use some ancient code that allows them to fight over mates. I can free you, just like Razz."

"I can take care of myself," Gabe said, almost as coldly as Cla. "You're useless here, lying on the ground, wounded. That's why I ordered you to stay at the Institute. Go back now. I won't see you slaughtered like," he stopped himself.

"I'm not your family to be slaughtered," Alex said. "I'm a Guardian, like you."

"Not like me," Gabe said. "I've trained my entire life. I order you back to the Institute until further instructions. Obey me like you should, if you're truly a Guardian."

"Guards." Cla motioned toward the two.

"I'll show you who's a Guardian. But since I'm useless here, play along with them. I'll make a break for it. They still don't know I can fly. Go on," Alex urged.

Gabe helped Alex to her knees before the guards grabbed his arms. He was about to throw them off, but remembered himself, and let them pull him back. Instead of flying off, Alex wobbled unsteadily. Cla was at her throat in an instant.

"Stupid mammal, I should kill you slowly."

It wasn't Gabe's hand that sent Cla's knife spinning through the air. It was Zilik's. He threw Cla off and pulled Alex to his side.

"Pest," Alex greeted him.

Zilik took a deep breath before continuing. His voice echoed throughout the open square as he pleaded his case, "A sleep-mate cannot be a threat if she is claimed by another after relinquishing her right to her first mate." He paused to let the words sink in, and scanned the faces of those who had agreed that Alex deserved execution. He went on, "It's in your own code."

There was a pregnant silence until, finally, consenting grunts filled the air.

"No. She has not been with you." Cla picked up her dagger.

"She has. Right, Alex?" Zilik asked

"Forget it."

I'm in no mood to be saved.

"Does that hurt?" he whispered as his claws dug into her bloody side.

"Yes!" Alex yelped.

"She agrees," Zilik shouted.

Zilik's fingers dug into Alex's upper arm as he yanked her towards his wooden carriage. Its faded yellow paint was peeling off, and the wheels screeched against the cobblestone ground. Cla was shouting something from the doorway, but it was lost in the sound of thundering hooves as the carriage shot away.

**

The carriage trip was silent at first. Alex felt the pressure and white noise building in her head that meant a short circuit in her brain was coming. Every passing second seemed to increase the pressure inside her head until it felt like white noise. Suddenly, Morgan burst out shouting in her head and Alex cradled her head in her hands.

"Normally I expect a little gratitude for saving someone's life—" Zilik began, interrupting Alex's mounting panic.

"You'll be disappointed," Alex cut him off and massaged her temples. "Sorry, I have a habit of disappointing others."

"How about a simple, 'I don't hate you for saving me'?"

Alex looked away, pressing her lips together in a tight line. She let out a shuddering breath before replying, her voice barely above a whisper. "I deserved to die. I was beaten by a pregnant female." She shifted her weight slightly and winced.

"Cla may be female, and she may be pregnant, but she is not ordinary. She's part of the Kuni's elite security corps. Her second in command, I believe."

"To top it off, I made things worse for the guys. Oh, I'm stupid. Not to mention slow, useless, inept—"

Zilik's voice filled the car, like a wave carrying her out of the depths of despair. He carefully offered her a white medical bandage, his eyes twinkling with genuine concern. "I hate to interrupt your self-pity," he said, "but press this firmly to stop the bleeding."

Alex could feel his kindness and understanding through the warmth of his hands as he gently secured the bandage around her side.

"You're bleeding all over the seat," Zilik smiled, even though his words were stern. "I prefer your blood inside you."

The pressure in Alex's head suddenly seemed less overwhelming.

Zilik's face became a mask of grave concern. "Dr. Glick will have a fit," he warned.

Alex felt her heart sink as the dread returned, pressing against her temples like an invisible vice. But then a sparkle of mischief glinted in Zilik's eyes

"Cheer up. You don't really have to sleep with me," he joked, lightening the atmosphere in an instant.

Alex rolled her eyes at his contagious grin and slumped back into her chair with relief as the tension eased from her brain.

**

Back at the Institute, Razz was waiting. It irritated Alex that he had bandages ready because he knew she would be defeated. She was sullen as he dressed her wounds.

Razz gazed at Alex with admiration. "These are only superficial wounds, mistress. You must be a very good warrior." He gestured to the table behind him, where he had laid out dressings and medicines in anticipation.

"So good that you had dressings and medicines waiting for me." Alex didn't bother keeping the bitterness from her voice. "Like the loser I am."

Razz carefully bandaged Alex's wounds, offering gentle words of comfort. "You are no loser. I know Cla; no one battles her without a mark. You did well if this is all you received."

Zilik watched for a moment before disappearing. A few moments later he returned with a long thin box in hand. He kneeled in front of Alex and presented the box to him with a warm smile. "Alex, I have a present for you."

"A present? For me?" Alex's sullenness dissipated, as well as the residual pressure in her head. She ripped open the decorative paper and opened the box. Nestled inside were two long, curved, pieces of silver overlying bronze ornately decorated with Chameleons. "They're gorgeous," she breathed, taking one out and turning it around and around. "Though they seem a bit big for bracelets."

"They're forearm shields. I had them custom made for you. I noticed that in a knife fight, you use your forearms to block," Zilik said.

"Doesn't everyone?" Alex pushed up her sleeves to reveal arms crisscrossed with reddened and healing slashes besides the freshly bandaged wounds. She slipped one of the silver shields on. "Beautiful and functional." Alex admired her arms. "Chameleons?"

"For good luck." Zilik's color turned embarrassed orange. "It's a traditional symbol."

"I was teasing." Alex rubbed his arm in thanks. "They're wonderful. Thank you for thinking of me. This will help in my next fight with," Alex stopped and took a breath. "With whoever next has the urge to beat on me."

"You don't have to accept every challenge," Zilik said.

"Yes, I do and I will. I will free every Anolis male I have a chance to." The steel in her voice brooked no argument, and they both stared each other down for a few long seconds, before Alex felt weary in mind and body. "I'm off to bed," she said firmly as she turned away.

Razz shot a concerned look at Zilik. He jerked his head in the direction Alex had gone and without a word, they both stepped into the bedroom.

"What?" she asked, ungracious with fatigue and defeat. She moved slowly and deliberately to place the forearm shields on the nightstand next to her bed,

"Are we bedding down now?" Razz asked.

"We?" Alex arched an eyebrow at him.

Razz met her gaze, his eyes wide with worry. He ran a hand lightly over his neck wound, and then let it drop to his side. His shoulders sagged and he laced his fingers together in a gesture of dejection. "If you refuse me in your bed," he said softly, "it will be taken as refusing me as a gift. Then Cla can reclaim me. Is that what you want?"

Alex's chest tightened as she watched the fear twist the little one's face. "Never," she vowed, her voice thick with emotion. "I'd rather die than let her hurt you. But can we just sleep? You said your people have a group bed concept."

What did I get myself into? But no one is taking Razz back to a life of torture. No one. I'm the Guardian here to prevent it.

Razz slowly lowered himself to the floor, his eyes never leaving hers. His voice was soft and resigned. "As you wish." He shook his head. "You didn't take me because you wanted me. You took me so I wouldn't die."

Alex murmured softly, her voice tight with emotion. She slipped off the bed and knelt beside him, her slender hands cupping his face. "Cla's torture was more than just physical," she murmured. "You're so smart and strong. Brave enough to stand up to Gabe even when I couldn't. I want you to be safe and happy. To have the freedom to choose your own destiny."

Razz embraced Alex in a vise-like grip, his body shaking violently. Alex ran her shimmering hand soothingly over his back until the tremors stopped. He leaned into her shoulder while peppering her skin with tiny, reverent kisses. Alex stepped away and returned to the bed, and Razz followed. Zilik stood motionless, watching the tender moment unfolding before him.

"I'll return later to check on you. I'll make any needed explanations," Zilik said.

"Don't bother. There's no one to explain to anymore." Alex buried her head into the pillow and put a fist to her eyes to stop any tears.

Razz snuggled closer to her side, and his dark eyes were now filled with sadness and worry.azz tucked himself close to her, his face now full of worry and concern.

***

I hope my edits are up to par for my amazing author Wayfarers partner

IanReeve216

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