4. Tyler

Not even a fucking tank could've kept the two of us from each other at that moment. We run to each other and I throw myself onto him like an octopus, wrapping my arms and legs around his body. I can't keep myself from making the most ugly, embarrassing squeal ever heard. I don't care if he breaks my ribs all over again, the pain is worth feeling the tightness of his embrace.

The absolute relief I feel having him in my arms might be better than sex. He touches my cheek and then squeezes the nape of my neck as he pulls my face into his chest. His other hand grips my ass, and I clamp my thighs even tighter around his waist. I just want to be sure he's real.

"Hey!" I hear a voice shout over the intercom. "Brief hug and kiss!"

I peel myself off of Kalistratos, then take his face in my hands and kiss him.

"We have to behave," I say. "Or else they'll take me away from you."

"You're hurt," he says, touching my side. "Tyler… The baby?"

I squeeze his arm. "When I found myself back here, I wasn't pregnant anymore. It's like I'd never left. Don't worry. I'm hurt, but it's not bad. You should've seen me yesterday. Are you okay?"

He nods slightly. "This is your world?"

"Yup," I sigh. "I guess someone didn't want me sticking around Circeana, just when I was starting to like the place."

"I know, it's very inconvenient," he replies.

"Do you have any idea who or what it could've been? The soul reaver?"

"No. A reaver has no such powers. But it was under the command of something that does."

"Alyx and Airos are in danger," I say.

"They can take care of themselves. We have us to worry about. Why am I imprisoned here?"

"Well, Kalistratos, on Earth, you can't really just beat the shit out of anyone you please. Even if they are dressed like a frog."

He shakes his head with disgust. "Your world is bizarre."

"Yeah, it is. And the police really don't like it when they have a guy they can't identify in custody. They almost refused to let me see you because I couldn't say who you are or where you came from. They think you're here illegally, or something. I mean, I guess you kind of are."

"Speak plainly, Tyler," Kalistratos grunts. "Some sorcery has attuned my ear and tongue to your speech, but there's still so many words that are nonsense to me."

"It just means you're not allowed to be here. And that's not good. We need to figure out how to get you out of here."

"Can you pick the lock?"

I can't help but laugh. "This isn't like the swamp cage you found me in. We have…well, magic. Strong magic. Some of these doors open remotely, like, from far away. And…" I lower my voice. "They have eyes everywhere."

Kalistratos looks around. "Can they hear us?"

"I think so."

"There is nothing to worry about," he announces loudly. "I will wait patiently in the cell. There will be no attempted escape."

I give him a funny look.

He smiles at me. "Don't worry, Tyler. I have a plan, but I need to be at my full strength."

I realize he's talking about his powers and remember how they failed to work in the moments before I was pulled back to Earth.

A phoenix's powers come from one place…and from that place, they can be regenerated.

I know that we won't have much time before we're split apart. I'll have to make this count.

I slip my arms around his neck and kiss him with everything I have. Our tongues rock together and I suck his bottom lip into my mouth as I push against his bulge with my thigh.

"Alright, that's enough," a voice says over the intercom.

I'm not finished with him yet. I thrust my hand down and grab a handful of him through the jail uniform. He exhales against my lips and I feel him swell up in my palm.

The door buzzes and three officers burst into the room.

"Sir, get off of him," one of them says, grabbing my arm.

"You jealous?" I say.

The other two men pin Kalistratos's arms behind his back and cuff him. I take one more look back at him before they hustle me out of the room. His little smile and wink says it all.

See you soon.

I'm ushered out to the lobby of the building. As I'm standing there, I suddenly realize I have no idea what I'm waiting for. It was a good thing that Kalistratos hadn't announced his plan for the cops to overhear, but now I can't help but wonder how he could possibly know what to do. He doesn't know how this world works at all.

If he gets caught, we're done for.

I walk outside, sit on a bench nearby and stew in my intrusive thoughts. It's not more than a few minutes before a window explodes from the police station behind me, throwing glass all across the lawn. An alarm bell clangs.

Oh, shit.