He may drive her crazy, but at the end of the day, Greydon Riley was everything to her.

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“The lake we fell into connects their settlements through cool underwater tunnels. That gigantic snake you dealt with is the only predatory species in the tunnel system. Those winged creatures we fought on the surface fear sunlight. I love coming here. Relax and take it all in.”

“I guess you don’t go swimming much here,” Lexy mumbled, stroking a tree’s outstretched branches as she passed by. This was amazing.

“There are failsafe sensors in the tunnel. Third-Tier genetics dose the pool with antagonising pheromones. We override it for visitors from other colonies. It didn’t occur to me to rig it for a simulated visit.” Picking a flower, roots extended from where it had been torn from soil, coiling around Benji’s wrist to secure it’s hold.

Awestruck, Lexy whispered, “Did it feel any pain when you picked it?”

“I’ve never heard complaints. Everything moves here. It’s never in the same place you left it. Picking anything stimulates its reproductive cycle,” he replied, placing it on the ground. “It’s fun to watch.”

Unwinding from his wrist, with reaching root legs it moved to a chosen spot. Burgundy petals opened, threadlike pale violet veiny strands, simulated rhythmic breathing. Fascinated as it solidified, expanded into a dome, and puffed seeds into the air, Lexy whispered, “Wow,” as intoxicating fragrance filled her with glee. It would be easy to lose yourself in this world of unusual beauty.

Virtual Adventures in Other Realms

Lexy, The Dragon Of Clan Ankh In All Her Glory

Winged assailants rained from the sky as energy gathered in her chest. It shivered down her limbs, sealing her throat, healing imperfections. With her heart thudding like a kick drum, she noticed her skinless deceased friends. Whoops. She forgot they were here. They flickered and vanished. Where did they go? Her brain imploded. Clutching her head, Lexy dropped to the ground writhing until agony subsided. Gasping, as she regained her bearings, she peered up. Lovely. It had been forty years since her last brain expansion. At least it happened after the fight.

Amar solidified, frantically checking himself for wounds, he gasped, “I have skin again, that’s a relief.”

Out of nowhere, Amadeus appeared on all fours, coughing. He glanced up, mumbling, “No more letting Lexy pick the venue.”

“I didn’t pick this one,” she decreed, thoroughly entertained by the visual reset. Not a winged creature in sight. That was fun.

Nervously, Amar probed, “You’re perky for someone who just had their throat ripped out by a lizard hyena pterodactyl. Didn’t you die?”

The predatory being twitched. More were enroute on the horizon. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

The Prince sighed, “Can we skip being skinned alive again?”

“It’s too late. Round two,” Amar declared, staring at the ghoulish tornado.

With excess energy from her hyena pterodactyl lizard snack, Lexy raised her hands preparing to stop time long enough for her friends to flee. A glaring light blinded the trio, switching her plans as monsters scattered.

Handlers and Dragons

Temp Handler Fun

Clutching controls, Amar muttered, “Bring him back from the dead if you must. I’ll correct him after we’ve landed.”

Placing her hands on the pilot’s chest, heat gathered and tingled down her limbs. Startled, the pilot opened his eyes.

Shutting down the urge to throttle her, Amar softened his magical Siren gaze and locked on the pilot’s eyes, probing, “How many recording devices on this plane and where are they located?” The pilot robotically listed them. “There was an unexpected wind shear. You saved us. We were in the cargo bay the whole time.”

That was a lame excuse. Lexy snickered as he shoved her towards the hatch.

Frazzled to his core, Amar hissed, “What did you do? Explain before the new guy wakes up.”

“I was bored. I wanted to see how easy it would be to open the pod,” she whispered.

Wide-eyed, Amar scolded, “Manipulating energy crashes planes. Do you understand why you need to stay in a pod now?”

Sheepishly, she whispered, “Of course, I see it now.”

“If you fried the circuit board, we’ll suffocate repeatedly for the next seventeen hours,” he decreed. Checking the panel, he said, “Mine’s fine.”

Hers was fried. She shrugged and got in. Whatever.

Stopping her, Amar offered, “Trade me places. I’ll stay dead. You won’t.”

“It might be fun,” Lexy replied. “Shut it. I’m good.”

Shaking his head, he chuckled, “You might be insane.”

Might?

Kim Cormack Biography

Universe Lingo Cheat List

• Correction: The scheduled assassination of all partially immortal offspring and their genetic line.
• First-Tier: Mortal.
• Second-Tier: Half-Breed.
• Third-Tier: Both parents are immortal.
• Guardian: Three Guardians created each Clan of immortals. Beings from the in-between. They may grant you a second chance as a sacrificial lamb for the greater good. You must join Tri-Clan for protection.
• Tri-Clan: Ankh, Trinity and Triad are the three Clans of Immortals on Earth. Your Clan will brand you, prohibiting entry to the hall of souls. Each time you die, you return to the clean slate desert of the In-between to await your resurrection.
• Crypts: Homebase for each Clan, scattered all over the world.
• Sealed: At eighteen, you become sealed to your Clan forever.
• Attaching a Testing Group: All of the newest members of each Clan train for Testing. After reaching the age of eighteen, they enter a hellscape challenge in another world. They may lose one to trauma if they haven't formed solid attachments, trapping everyone's souls in endless torment.
• Immortal Testing: A floating Crypt the size of New York City, containing your worst nightmares where you must die thousands of times to prove your partially mortal brain can withstand the trials of immortality. Three Clans enter and race for the Amber room. Only the first two will be set free. The third remains lost in their worst nightmares.
• Tombs: If you survive the Testing, you have earned your own healing tomb generated from your Clan's stone. For example, Clan Ankh is rose quartz, Triad is jade, and Trinity is sapphire.
• Dragons: There are green scaly Dragons in this series, but in most cases, the word Dragon refers to the ability to turn off emotions. Lexy is the Dragon of Clan Ankh. A Dragon is used as an assassin.
• Handler: A spiritual connection used to pull a Dragon out of the darkness.
• Enlightening: A brain expansion. It's excruciating and usually at an inopportune time, but you gain abilities afterwards.