Page 61 of Twin Warriors

Kisma and Maku were able to save Emi and Tope from the effects of the poison, but their race was too tainted, too savage to allow their kind to bond to.

So, they had waited for another to come. For years, Emi and Tope stayed in the cave with the symbiotes, hunting for food close to their home. The bond between them helped Kisma and Maku gain their strength again, but if their kind was to thrive once more, they needed a race that was noble, kind and would not abuse their ability. When Amy fell into their cave, Kisma knew that she could lead them to the warriors in the city. That the cyborgs would kill the night beasts if they were seen, but they would not hurt Amy. So, Kisma and Maku had bonded to Amy as well. Once bonded, a symbiote was joined for life. The only thing that could break that bond was if the host died.

In order for them all to survive, they needed Amy, and she needed them.

“Iron?” Amy asked, snapping him out of the vivid images that raced through his head. He glanced over at Cane, who also had a look of understanding in his eyes.

“I…” He shook his head.

“Iron,” Amy said again, waiting until he met her eyes, “They won’t hurt you. They won't hurt Ice. They need us to live, and so does she. They make you stronger in more ways than one. Let them save her. Let them save Steel.”

He lowered his gaze to Ice, another tear slipping from his lashes. Finally, he closed his eyes and nodded. “Do it. Save them both.”

From beside him, the flowing stream of Maku came into the room, joining the small female on top of Ice. As it got close, Kisma melted into a liquid mass, swirling with Maku as they shimmered and began to vibrate.

A moment later, two thick, long streams of black liquid shot out from the twisting mass. One stream went into Iron’s nose, making his head fly back and his eyes go wide. The other stream flowed into Ice, her body twitching as the liquid disappeared inside her.

They all watched with breaths held as Iron’s entire body tensed, his arms thrown back and his eyes wide. His mouth hung open in a silent scream, before thick, dark markings began to etch themselves around his neck.

Cole glanced over at Ice, who had the same marking appearing on her neck. A moment later, Iron fell back, his eyes closed and his body limp. Ice stilled on the bed, her breathing instantly growing calm and steady.

He was almost afraid to go to Iron. Cane didn’t seem to have that issue. He rushed past him, dropping to his knees beside their friend.

“Iron?” Cane called, reaching out to him.

Iron groaned, his head rolling to the side.

“Iron!” Cane called again, gently slapping at his cheek.

When Iron opened his eyes, Cole sucked in a breath. The male’s eyes were completely black. He stared at Cole for a long second, before the black receded and his usual red eyes gazed back at him. A moment later, thick black ooze began to push out of his skin, falling to the floor around him before it pooled together into a small mass next to Iron. A thin tentacle reached out, gently stroking Iron’s cheek, before it reformed and flowed over to Ice. It covered her chest, pulsing the way Kisma had when she healed him.

Iron rose slowly, Cane helping him to sit, and blinked.

“Are you alright?” Cane asked.

Iron nodded, “Yes. Did it work? Will Ice live?”

“Yes,” Kisma said in their heads, “You are now bonded to your own symbiote, as is Ice. They are both working to save her. Maku and I are helping the warrior. Be kind to our spawn, Iron. Its life is tied to yours. I only ask that you do not betray our trust… We will not allow our kind to be abused like that again.”

The voice faded away, sending a shiver down his back. There was so much pain, so much despair in her words.

He met Iron’s eyes and smiled when the male nodded in understanding.

Chapter Twenty

It took almost two days to walk back to the transport they had left in the sand. When they got there, Amy was pleased to see Lace already waiting with medics, water, and food at the ready.

He gave them a grim nod, before turning to watch as Ice and Steel were loaded into the medical tubes.

“Ash?” Lace asked, turning back to them.

Iron shook his head, “We need to retrieve his body. He deserves a warrior's burial.”

“Trak! What were the Korok scum doing out there?”

“Testing a new weapon to use on us. It looks like our interference with Grom and the gangs in the city has risen to a new level. We brought the weapon that traking vermin used on us,” Iron gestured to the bound Korok being surrounded by armed warriors and loaded onto the transport, “We need to test it and see how it works. I want every warrior made aware that such a weapon exists and protected from it somehow.”

Lace nodded, before a frown creased his brow, “What is that”? He asked Iron, pointing to his neck.