Page 35 of Twin Warriors

“We will. We will stay close in case you need us.” Emi replied, purring as she rubbed her face into Amy’s hand.

Running her fingers over the thick collar around her neck, she sent out a wave of concern to Kisma, asking her to take care of them. A rush of warmth came as a reply, making Amy smile.

“Go. I’ll see you tonight.”

With a final nod, Amy watched as the two beasts bounded through the trees on silent paws with a speed and agility that shocked Amy. Even now, after all this time with them, they still managed to surprise her.

Grinning, she turned in the direction of the clearing and slowly made her way back to the transport. It would take her at least an hour to reach it, giving the others enough time to get a good head start.

Nerves began to tumble in her gut at seeing Cane and Cole again. She felt so bad for how she had run away from them in the garden, but at the time, she had been too overwhelmed with everything that was happening and filled with worry about what would become of her family.

Now that she had a better understanding of what she felt, she couldn’t wait to see them again. To apologize to them, and hopefully make it up to them later, when they made camp for the night.

Smiling to herself, Amy ran through all the ways she could apologize to the two men. Even though she knew nothing about them, she was excited to spend the next few hours with them, learning everything she could.

Maybe this would work, she thought as she climbed over a large fallen tree trunk, maybe Kisma is right. Maybe Cane and Cole would understand and accept all of them.

Chapter Twelve

Cole watched his brother pace Iron’s office. They were waiting for Lace to return with Amy so they could prepare and leave for the sands.

Iron had said that she would be back in two hours from the time she left, but they were almost half an hour late already.

Worry ate at Cole that she wouldn’t come back. That Lace would return only to tell them that she had run away. Dozens of horrible scenarios had flashed in his mind over the last two hours as they waited for her to return. Cane was trying very hard to control his anger and worry, but Cole could feel it vibrating off him in heavy, unsettling waves.

He had to believe that she would return. That whatever Gods were out there couldn’t be so cruel as to give them the one thing they both craved the most in life, only to tear it away from them.

A loud hum from outside had both brothers rushing to the window to watch the black transport lowering onto the landing pad. Cole held his breath, waiting to see who would step out.

Lace exited first, stretching his big body with his hands over his head. Then, Amy stepped out. Cole released the breath he had been holding and smiled at his brother.

She had come back to them, and once again, everything was right in their world.

They both watched her as she walked beside Lace, speaking to him with a serious frown on her face, until they entered the building and moved out of sight.

Cole followed her approach by listening to her delicate, soft footsteps on the hard stone floor.

Cane opened the door for her just as she approached. She greeted them with a bright, beautiful smile that had his heart stuttering in his chest.

Trak, does this female know how stunning she is?

“Hi,” she said with a smile, her cheeks growing pink at the intense looks they were both giving her.

Without a word, Cane stepped closer to her and pulled her into his arms, drawing her into his big body. Cole felt the tension fade away when he probed his brother's mind, bringing a relieved grin to his lips.

“I’m sorry,” Amy whispered as she held Cane. Lace gave them a nod, then backed out of the room and closed the door.

Cole went over to them, moving to stand behind her. When Cane let her go, Amy spun and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a hug as well. Never before had he felt so calm, so at peace, so focused as he did in that moment.

When Iron cleared his throat, Amy stepped away from him and turned to look at their commander.

“I am glad to see you have returned.” Iron said, smiling at her.

“I promised I would.”

Iron stood, moving towards the door, “I will give you three a few minutes to speak, then we must get ready. The longer we wait, the more sunlight we waste.”

With that, he stepped out and left them alone. Amy turned to them, the bag on her shoulder slipping to the floor.