The sleeping figure began to thrash under the covers of the opulent California King. Indecipherable mumbling escaping clenched teeth as hands clutched sheets. Abruptly, the thrashing body arched its back off the bed and a scream ripped from their throat. Pounding feet and a door being slammed opened as another scream erupted from the figure on the bed.

A woman in her late thirties ran to the bed and its occupant. Her normally braided dirty blonde hair wild from sleep. Hazel eyes filled with worry and determination as she wrapped the figure in her arms. Soothing words stumbled passed her lips as she contained the still thrashing figure hoping to ground them in reality. Her muscles strained and sweat began to slide down her back but she refused to loosen her hold.

After what felt like hours, the figure began to stop its thrashing and the screams fell to whimpers. The woman gathered the figure in a more comforting embrace and that sent them to sob uncontrollably and clutching the woman closer. The woman continued to speak soothingly into their hair as she rubbed soothing circles across their back.

The sobbing finally eased. Breathing and heart rate returned to normal. The woman released her hold only long enough to reach for a glass of water that was always kept on the nightstand next to the bed. She brought it to her ward's hands and with a mumbled thanks, it was soon drained.

"Mochof, Onya," a strained voice cracked.

Anya only hummed in reciprocation as she set the glass back on the nightstand.

"It was the same," the voice whispered, careful of their now sore throat. "Nothing but the memory of pain."

Anya brushed the wild chestnut hair away and laid a gentle kiss on their forehead, "We may never get those memories back, striksis. It's been seven years, Lexa."

Lexa sighed and leaned more into Anya, accepting the truth of her statement, "You are most likely right. Loathe that I am to admit it."

"Hey," she scoffed. "You don't have to make it sound like a burden to admit I am right."

Lexa fought the eye roll and decided to focus on something else, "You're wearing a nightgown. Can I presume you remained alone in your bed tonight?"

Anya rolled her eyes and shoved the slightly smaller woman away. Lexa chuckled even though it made her head hurt from the sound.

"I am not some fuckboy, Lex," Anya argued and settled herself under the covers beside Lexa.

"No, of course not," she replied sarcastically. "Just a bed partner every other night. My bad."

Anya shook her head, "Not all of us are capable of turning a beautiful woman away. I don't know why you're adamant about refusing your body's natural carnal inclinations. It's criminal. Sacrilegious even."

Lexa looked at her incredulously, "Sacrilegious? Really? You're comparing sex to a religious experience."

Anya just shrugged and looked smug, "What can I say? When you're that good it's a crime to deny others of such a talent."

"Shof op, Onya," Lexa said, shoving Anya away. "You're horrible."

"Hey, you brought up my sex life. Not me," she argued with a pointed look.

"Ugh," she groaned and flopped back on the bed. "What time is it?"

"Just past four," Anya replied after looking at the clock on the nightstand. "You're not going back to sleep, are you?"

"No. You know I can't sleep after waking up like that," she huffed as she slid her hand over her face and wiping the remnants of tears away.

Anya sighed heavily, knowing the truth of that statement, "Gym in ten minutes?"

Lexa nodded against the pillow, "Sha."

Anya crawled out from under the covers, "Prepare to have your ass handed to you, Lexa."

Lexa huffed out a laugh, "In your dreams, Onya."

Anya just lifted a finger in the air as she walked out of the bedroom, leaving Lexa to get ready by herself.

Two hours later, both women were in the dining room as the staff served them breakfast. Lexa reading the through business reports as Anya read through the news. Both absently eating and drinking as their eyes scanned the words in front of them.

"Jok," Anya spat into the silence.

Lexa looked up at her with a quirked brow, "What is it?"

"Remember that explosion that happened in Arcadia Friday night," Anya asked instead and Lexa nodded. "They just released the names of the victims. One of them was Jake Griffin."

"Jok," Lexa bit out and ignored the papers in front of her to focus on her sister. "He was our only in."

Anya nodded grimly in agreement before taking a swallow of her coffee, "What do you want to do?"

Lexa steepled her fingers underneath her chin as she thought about the problem, "Is there anyone we can send in to suss out the climate?"

"That won't scream Trikru as soon as they step within city limits," Anya questioned. "Short answer, no."

Lexa narrowed her eyes in thought, "Long answer?"

Anya sighed and leaned forward on her arms, "I don't have one yet."

Lexa leaned back, feeling frustrated, "Look into it."

"Sha, Heda," she replied.

Lexa nodded in acceptance and returned to her reports. Being the head of Trikru and the CEO of a prosperous investment firm was not a responsibility that was easily juggled. She didn't know how she did it some days. It was always meant to be but hadn't been easy to accomplish. The words in front of her blurred as she fell into her memories.

A childhood filled with education and physical training under the guidance of her father, Gustus Woods. He had been grooming both his daughters to eventually take over Trikru. One of the oldest and largest crime syndicates in the nation. Though, in her youth she hadn't realized what he was doing or that her future had been set. Then one day it had all disappeared.

Lexa and Anya had been taken when they were in they were barely teens. Without warning. One day they were there and the next gone. Only to show up a dozen years later, broken, bloody, and no memory. After spending months recovering in a hospital, their father had been relentless in his questioning. Searching for answers that they couldn't provide. Even calling in favors with Delfikru and utilizing their holistic approaches to unlocking the mind. Nothing worked and the only outcome were the incessant nightmares that left both women weak for a time.

They'd had to earn back their father's trust and prove their loyalty. It had been backbreaking but it had been done. Both women had risen through the ranks quickly and earned the respect from their people. They gained a reputation for ruthlessness but not heartlessness. Which was a good thing because barely a year after their return, Gustus Woods had been assassinated by an Azgeda assassin.

Lexa had personally hunted the assassin down and delivered the death blow in front of her father's generals. With that one act, she had cemented her rightful claim to take control of Trikru. She became Heda, Commander, and Anya became her closest advisor and general. Then she began her quest to bring all the syndicates under one flag with Trikru leading. Six years later, there were only four remaining outside her Coalition. Azgeda, Boudalankru, Ouskejon kru, and Skaikru. Three of the most ruthless out of all the syndicates and one that had remained isolated since its inception.

Lexa would have let Skaikru remain isolated but there was a new threat in her city and she did not have the means to combat it. Her people were being taken by an unknown threat. If any returned, they came back drugged out of their mind and extremely violent. The police and her gonas were fighting these drugged creatures trying to contain the chaos, but it was a losing battle. Skaikru were the only ones who had the knowledge and technology that might give her a way to combat this threat and win. Jake Griffin, one of the top members of Skaikru, had been the only one Lexa had deemed open enough to hear her proposal.

She didn't know what she was going to do now.

A ding drew her out of her thoughts and her eyes snapped to Anya. Anya lifted her phone from the table to read the message that had made the sound. Her brow creased in concentration as she read the message. She quickly typed a reply before turning her attention to Lexa.

"Lincoln's coming home," Anya said with a frown.

Lexa frowned as well, "Why? He still has three months on his deployment and there's no reason for him to come."

Another ding sounded and Anya looked down at the phone. She read it, confused, "His CO is making him take leave. Something about a rough mission and needing to regroup."

"Well, whatever the reason, it'll be good to have him home," Lexa replied, leaning back in her chair. "I've missed the teddy bear."

Anya smiled as she replied, "Ain't that the truth. Uncle Nyko will be ecstatic to have him home."

"True," she sighed and gathered up her papers. "We've lounged long enough. Work awaits, Anya."

Anya nodded and reluctantly stood up, "What do you say about lunch at Grounder's?"

Lexa nodded in return, "It's been a while since we've eaten there. I could stand to eat some venison."

"I'll make reservations then," she said as they headed to their bedrooms.

With that, they got ready for the day before heading to their home away from home. Polis Tower.