Page 27 of Twin Warriors

Cane smiled, “No, little Sila. The fact that you want us both is… incredible. You will forever be ours to protect, to love and to provide for. It is the way of the Arusian male.”

Cole felt the shift in her emotions. Cane must have felt it too because he frowned up at Cole.

“Amy?” Cole asked, “What is it?”

She stood abruptly, stepping away from them and keeping her back to them. He looked over at Cane, concern clouding his features, and rose.

“Amy?” Cane asked. They both stood back, giving her time to gather the thoughts that had upset her. When she turned to face them, the sadness he saw in her eyes almost crippled him.

“I need to go,” she said, her eyes wide.

“What? Why?” Cole asked, taking a step closer to her.

She backed away from him, raising her hand to stop him.

“Please, I need to go back to my cave. I can’t be here. I can’t do this.”

“Amy-”

“No. Please, Cole, don’t. Just… take me back to the forest.”

Cole lowered his head, turning to lock eyes with Cane. There was something she wasn’t telling them, and it was causing her to feel like she needed to flee.

“You are safe here, Amy, I swear it to you. Cane and I will give our lives to protect you. You have nothing to fear.”

She shook her head more vigorously now, “No. You don’t understand. I need to go. I can’t stay here.”

“We can’t let you go back to the cave Amy,” Cane said, stepping closer to her. “It’s not safe out there.”

She stumbled back a step, tears filling her eyes. Her gaze darted between them both, before she shot to the left and sprinted back down the path.

“Trak!” Cane cursed, spinning to follow her.

As they turned the corner, Amy ran into the solid form of Lace, almost falling to the ground from the impact. Lace caught her before she could fall, a surprised look in his pale grey eyes before he frowned up at them.

“I need to see Iron,” Amy said in a breathless plea. “Please, take me to Iron.”

Lace glanced down at Amy, then nodded and turned her towards the housing complex.

“No!” Cane roared, marching towards Lace.

Lace shifted Amy behind him and turned to face Cane.

“Easy, Cane. The female wants to see Iron, and I will take her to him.”

“She is ours!” Cane shot back, the anger and despair of losing Amy pouring off his brother in hot, painful waves.

Cole stepped forward, grabbing Cane’s arm, “Easy, brother. You are frightening Amy.” He whispered, seeing Amy’s wide, scared eyes.

“I cannot let her go,” Cane said. “I cannot let her leave us, Cole.”

“I know. Neither can I. But we cannot force her to stay if she does not want to.”

Cane spun to glare at Cole. “I will give her one night. One night to get her thoughts in order. Then…” He turned to pin Amy with a hard look. “Then I will find her, no matter where she goes.”

With that, Cane stormed back into the garden, leaving Lace frowning back at Cole.

“Take her to Iron,” Cole said, pushing down every instinct inside him that screamed to not let her go.

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