Page 46 of Twin Warriors

“We all come as a full package; you get that right?”

He frowned, “what do you mean, a full package?”

“They all go where I go. If you want me to live with you at the compound, then they go with me. Emi and Tope as well. I will never leave them to live alone in the woods without the rest of us.”

Cane took in a long breath, meeting Iron’s eyes. Even though Amy had whispered the words to him, Iron would have heard them.

He watched his friend and commander for long seconds as the male thought about what she had said.

“Iron?” He prompted when he didn’t say anything.

“There are children at the compound, Cane. Females that came to us for protection. How can I risk all their lives by bringing two night beasts onto the grounds?”

“Oh, Emi and Tope are great with kids. You should have seen them at the orphanage. The kids loved them. It took a while for them to understand that they wouldn't hunt them, but once they did, they were all over them. They were patient and playful-”

“You are the one that broke into the orphanage?” Iron asked with wide eyes.

“Uhh…”

“I received word from the house mother that a stranger had broken in and taught the children to play a strange game of jumping in squares painted on the ground. The children had squares painted in the halls, in their rooms, in the garden. She said she had never seen it before.”

Amy chuckled, “Yeah. Hopscotch. They loved it. I also taught them thumb war, and skip rope and hide and seek.”

Iron just shook his head.

“And the beasts went with you?” Cane asked, shifting so Amy could sit up more.

“They didn’t go into the orphanage. They stayed outside, on the other side of the fence. I went in.”

“Why?”

She shrugged, “I was bored. I had seen them all playing in the gardens from the forest and wanted to go play with them. Living in a cave means a lot of time to get bored, you know.”

Cane chuckled. His mate was full of surprises.

“What did I miss?” Cole asked, coming over to them from the shadows. His body was still covered by the thick black symbiote, and his face looked pale, but he was awake and moving.

Amy shot to her feet, rushing over to him. Before she could fret over his wounds, Cole pulled her into his arms and placed a long, deep kiss to her lips.

“You save my life, Sila,” He whispered.

“You’re mine, Cole. You both are. And no one messes with either of you but me.”

He smiled, swaying a little as he tried to get his balance on the loose sand.

Cane rose, hurrying to aid his brother to the fire. He waited to see how Cole would react at the sight of two huge night beasts laying curled up only a few feet away, but Cole gave them a small nod, and lowered himself to the sand.

“I heard everything you said, Amy. Kisma let me listen to you all speak while I healed. I’m sorry. I never want you to think that I do not see my whole world when I look at you.”

Amy lowered to the sand beside him, leaning over to kiss him again. Cole groaned with pain, making Amy shift back.

“Amy, my beautiful little Sila. I want nothing more than to hold you in my arms right now, but I am barely conscious from the pain. Go to Cane for now. I promise, I will make it up to you later.”

She nodded, pressing a soft, careful kiss to his lips, before she rose and came back to Cane’s side.

He reached out to Cole, needing to know that his brother was really alright.

I will live, brother.