Page 19 of Twins for the Barbarians

“Your friend?” another man asks.

“Cynthia.”

“Ah, the doctor. I’ve heard stories about her. I’m told she’s given birth to a healthy hybrid girl,” the first mercenary says, then gives me a slimy smirk. “You’re going to make healthy hybrids for us, too. Sturdy, strapping, bouncing boys. We’ll bring glory to our tribe with your womb.”

“Keep dreaming,” I mutter.

Another engine roars behind us, one that isn’t part of this convoy and sounds particularly familiar, so I look over my shoulder and gasp at the sight of our buggy catching up. Kingo is behind the wheel while Helios and Kharo sit on the passenger sides with their laser weapons pointed at us.

“Alicia, jump!” Helios shouts.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” the driver snaps.

“They can’t be this stupid,” the ringleader grumbles, then shifts in his seat so he can take out his own laser weapon and fire his shots.

But my instincts kick into motion, and everything that follows is a rapidly unfolding blur as I snatch the knife from his belt, slash his arm, and then quickly wiggle out of my seat. We’re moving fast, but there’s nothing but dry dirt and sand out here. They try to grab me, and I’ve only got a split-second left to follow Helios’s command.

So, I jump.

I jump, drop, and roll. Never mind the scratches and the sand burns, never mind the pain shooting through my shoulder and the scrapes on my knees. I’ve gotten myself far enough away to land on my belly and watch as laser shots are fired.

“Oh, God,” I whisper as I watch the massacre unfold.

I’ve never seen Helios and Kharo like this before. They’ve come prepared, and they’re not taking any prisoners.

They shoot the tires first, prompting one of the three Sky Tribe buggies to flip and roll across the dirt road. It turns into a mangled mess, blood and bodies flying out of it until it comes to a grim halt. The other two manage to pull over, the mercenaries firing their laser guns at my men.

Helios is an excellent marksman, and Kharo isn’t bad, either.

One by one, they take out the marauders. One by one, my attackers die and fall to the ground until none are left to threaten me with the awful things they were going to do to me. Kingo stops the buggy, panting and wide-eyed as he tries to ascertain the scene before him, while I manage to pull myself up into a seated position, my wrists and ankles still bound, my knees and elbows bleeding. I dropped the knife somewhere along the way.

All I see is the Sky Tribe leader trying to get up. He’s not dead yet.

Helios jumps out of the buggy and calmly walks over to him, laser weapon in his hands, boots thudding on the ground, and a cold, deadly look in his eye. I’d be scared if I were his enemy. I’m finally seeing the Helios I’ve only heard about. Prior to this incident, he’s been holding back on the battlefield. It’s clear now. They crossed him when they took me, and they’re paying the heaviest price of all.

“No, no…please,” the surviving marauder whimpers as Helios comes closer. “I’ll do anything.”

“Then die,” Helios replies and executes him with a single shot to the head.

I can almost smell the burnt flesh as a heavy silence falls over this troubled land. Kingo is frozen behind the wheel, unable to move or say anything. Kharo rushes to my side and cuts the ropes, freeing me. I jump into his arms and bask in his scent, crying my heart out as relief washes over me.

“We were never going to let them take you,” he says, holding me tight.

“I know…I know…I just didn’t know how you’d get to me before they—”

“Nobody takes our woman, Alicia,” Helios replies as he slowly approaches me. “You are our soulmate, whether you’re ready to embrace that fact or not.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“You have nothing to thank us for,” Kharo says, gently cupping my face.

He kisses me on the lips, and I soften in his embrace. The adrenaline quickly wears off as my whole body starts shaking. Exhaustion sets in. I fear I’m no good for what’s left of our journey to Red Rock, yet I know we cannot stay here, either.

“Come,” Helios says, nodding back at our buggy. “I’ll gather whatever I can from these fuckers, and we’ll leave.”

“I’ll get you some water, and we’ll clean your wounds in the meantime,” Kharo says.

I mumble another thank you and let him escort me to the buggy, where Kingo has already kicked back into his helpful self, rummaging through the first aid kit for bandages and one of Cynthia’s proprietary disinfectants. Before long, I’m melting in the back seat again, resting in Kharo’s arms, while Kingo drives us farther away from the dead marauders with Helios riding shotgun.

---