Page 51 of Twin Warriors
“Yeah. I had to make my own out of a stick and torn up material. It wasn’t perfect but it did the job. This is so much better. I wish I had known about this when I was lightening the load in your storeroom.”
Cane chuckled, “If you had come and asked for help…”
“I couldn’t, Cane,” She said, her smile falling, “You know that.”
He reached over and placed his hand on her cheek, “I know. But from now, you will let Cole and I provide you with whatever your heart desires.”
A chime ran out from Cole’s arm, making him pull his wandering hand off her breast. He looked at it, then up at Cane.
“Iron wants to get going.”
“The sun isn’t up yet,” Amy said, looking over at the small gap in the door to their tent.
“No. He must have heard we are awake. I do not blame him for wanting to rush. I would not be so patient if it were you lost out there.”
A deep, dark blush filled her cheeks. Iron must have heard her screaming a few minutes ago.
Cane leaned in closer and placed a soft kiss to her lips. “It’s alright. It’s only natural for mates.”
“So you say,” She mumbled, getting up off the bed and reaching for her bag.
Once she was dressed and had her out of control hair in a tight ponytail, they exited the tent to find Iron standing on top of the dune with Emi and Tope on either side of him.
She watched as Cane and Cole made quick work of collapsing the bed and tent, packing it into the bags they carried and went to join Iron.
He turned, pinning them with a hard, furious look.
“Kisma said that Ice is hurt. That the ones holding her beat her last night when she tried to escape.”
The air shifted as anger exploded from all of them. Even Emi and Tope rumbled with rage at the news.
Amy gripped her wrists, calling on her symbiotes.
“Take us to them.” She said, turning to see the thick black mist rise from around Tope’s neck. It swayed for a moment, before it formed into a small bird that shot up into the sky. It moved forward, heading in the direction the sky was beginning to change to a soft, glowing blue.
“Let's go,” Amy said, giving Emi a soft caress. They all nodded and began their walk down the dune.
Chapter Seventeen
Cane glanced up at the small black bird that flew overhead. They had been marching through the desert for hours, not slowing or stopping at all. Amy, who had gotten tired about an hour ago, now sat comfortable on top of Tope’s back as he casually strode alongside them.
“There!” Iron called, running up a dune and crouching down once he reached the top. Cane ran forward, keeping low as he approached Iron.
“What is that?” He asked, noticing the small structures dotted around a tiny oasis of water. A few small trees poked out over the roofs of the flat buildings huddled together around the shimmering pond of dark brown water.
Cole came over, kneeling next to Cane and stared out at the settlement.
“Desert pirates?” he asked, frowning at Iron.
He shook his head, “I don’t think so. Desert pirates do not build homes. They move over the sands in their convoys.”
Tope rumbled from behind them, making them all turn to see him glaring at them with what Cane thought looked a lot like exasperation.
Then he saw that Amy was gone.
“Where is Amy?” He asked, scanning the sand around them. Emi stood just behind her mate, sniffing the air, but there was no sign of Amy.
“She has gone to take a look,” Tope sighed with a shake of his huge head.