Chapter 9

AT THE END OF EVERY workday, one of her tasks was to take out the trash to the bins out back. Someone else did the medical waste, thank goodness. She worked at a clinic but didn't have to deal with blood and needles, thankfully. If that came with the job, she'd probably still be serving up mystery meat in brown gravy over lumpy potatoes for Milt.

Usually, she would throw the bags into the dumpster and be back inside in two shakes, except this time someone had shut it. Muttering in annoyance, she dropped the bags at her feet because she needed both hands to lift the heavy metal lid. Amy struggled, heaving it twice and grunting with effort, until it finally swung open with a loud bang. As she leaned down to grab the bags and toss them in, she suddenly froze, hearing a snort behind her.

Amy had a hunch about what it was. Reluctantly, she glanced over her shoulder to confirm her suspicions. Sure enough, a huge red boar, even larger than a grizzly, stood just ten yards away, eyeing her like she was a juicy, plump truffle.

"Nice boar," she murmured softly, as she slowly stood up and inched away.

Fear consumed her as the boar kept pace, its snout twitching with anticipation. He pawed at the ground as if preparing to charge, and she made a run for it. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it would come out of her chest, and she screamed as a loud roar echoed through the air.

When she realized it was a human roar, she darted behind the trash bin and took a quick peek back. Remus and Tarus had burst onto the scene, their powerful presence causing the boar to hesitate.

"Stay back, Amy," Remus commanded, his eyes never leaving the massive, snarling beast in front of them.

Tarus stepped in front of her, acting as a shield. If the boar charged, it would have to go through him to get to her. She could see the tension in his back and shoulders and sensed his anger. "What were you thinking coming out here alone? You should have known better than to take such a risk. If you were my mate, I'd turn you over my knee for putting yourself in danger like this."

Amy swallowed hard. "I didn't think I'd run into problems taking out the trash."

Remus cut them off with a slicing motion of his hand. "Placing blame and excuses can wait. We need to focus on the big scary boar first, don't you think?"

"Of course," Tarus uttered. "I'll draw him away. You protect Amy and get her inside."

"I'm closer," Remus insisted. "I'll draw him away."

"Can't we do something else so neither of you is in the sights of a mammoth boar?"

"Too late for that," Remus uttered as the boar tossed his head and charged.

While he confronted him with a wickedly sharp-looking blade that appeared in his hand out of nowhere, Tarus spun, slammed the heavy dumpster lid with one hand, and scooped her up with the other. He then threw her—or close to it—onto the top, safely out of the way.

He joined his brother, swords drawn as together they battled the furious animal. They grunted at the jarring force as they deflected its horns and thrust when they had an opening. The boar suffered injuries, but its thick coarse fur protected it from a lethal blow. Oozing blood from several wounds, it fought as if possessed, while the warriors stood strong against it, ready to protect her at all costs.

Breathing hard and sick with fear for them, Amy watched the dangerous scene unfold. That's when she realized there was much more to these warrior twins than handsome faces and rock-hard bodies. They were brave, with impressive strength and skill, and fiercely determined to protect her at all costs. The spark of desire inside her that had been kindling for them both burst into a blazing flame. How could she want them both so badly her teeth ached?And how would she live with herself if one or both of them were injured, perhaps fatally, because of her?

THE BOAR PUT UP A GOOD fight, but in the end, they emerged victorious from the fierce battle, panting and covered in sweat.

But that wasn't ever in doubt.

As their eyes met and their serious expressions turned into grins, Tarus couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. "It has been too long since we have stood shoulder to shoulder and faced down a boar together. "

His joy was short-lived as he heard Amy's astonished voice from atop the trash receptacle.

"Is that how you usually hunt a boar?"

Remus held up his bloody sword. "Which is why we're armed with boar-carving blades instead of blasters. That wouldn't be sporting." He then wiped the green gore on his pant leg, and, with the push of a button, the uladite-enhanced blade retracted into its sheath small enough to slip inside his pocket. Tarus did the same.

"Are you telling me you face down half-ton, snarling beasts for fun?" Amy screeched in disbelief. "Are you out of your minds?"

He suppressed a smile at her outrage while Remus expanded on his explanation. "It is merciful to keep the boar population down. Otherwise, the predators would overrun the prey, and they would all perish."

She nodded as though she understood. But when she glanced at the boar, unmoving on the ground, it was as though she forgot what he said. "Was killing it really necessary?"

"Better it than you, don't you think?"

"Oh yes. Of course."

"Females," Tarus muttered under his breath, earning a grunt of agreement from Remus. Then he strode toward her and raised his hands to help her down. She recoiled, understandably so, since they were stained green with the boar's blood.

"It will wash off," he told her. "Would you prefer to stay up there until we shower and change? "

After a last look at the once-dangerous, now-defeated predator, she shook her head and scooted to the edge, motioning for him to let her down.

"Now," he uttered low once her feet were on the ground, "about your recklessness—"

"What were you thinking?" Remus' booming voice drowned him out, echoing Tarus' earlier question only at much greater volume. Gone was his victor's elation of moments before, as he roared, "You could be the one bleeding out into the dirt—"

"Remus—" Tarus cautioned, but his brother spoke over him again.

"She heard our words of caution to the townsfolk, and she was well aware of our insistence she have an escort while the beast posed a threat, yet she defiantly disregarded our orders!"

"No! It wasn't like that," Amy exclaimed. "Taking out the trash is a task I do every day." She added in a whisper, "I'm sorry. I guess I didn't think."

"Sorry isn't good enough when you're dead," Remus stated sharply, absolutely fuming and not giving an inch. "Mate or not, I'm sorely tempted to turn you over my knee and spank some sense into you!"

Amy backed up from the force of his anger, jumping when she bumped into his chest. Tarus' fingers curled around her shoulders, steadying then releasing her. He didn't want to undermine his brother's authority, but knew fear fueled his fury because he already thought of her as his mate. But even if they had breached her and she had transformed, he could never discipline her in such an agitated state .

"Let's all take a deep breath," he suggested, hoping to diffuse the volatile situation. "After what she witnessed, I'm sure Amy has learned her lesson not to be careless with carmine boars and her safety again."

"I have," she insisted. "I was terrified, not only for myself but for both of you."

His brother closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them a moment later, his gaze locked on Amy's. "We cannot have a repeat of this."

"Agreed. But... If I may ask... How often can we expect one of those things to run loose through the town, terrorizing everyone?"

"The colony is expanding quickly. Although Beck and his crews take pains to relocate the wildlife, they can't capture them all," Tarus told her, allowing his brother more time to calm down.

Remus had already found his composure and picked up where he left off. "It isn't easy on the animals left behind. The disruption in their world confuses them, and they often become more aggressive, especially when they struggle to find shelter and alternative sources of food. It's an unfortunate result of expansion."

Amy's eyebrows went up sharply at this clear, well-informed explanation on the heels of his towering rage. She probably hadn't seen that side of him before, or the quick shift to normal, so it probably left her head spinning.

People saw his laughing, joking, good-natured brother and took him at face value. That was a mistake. He had many layers, and Amy would be wise to understand and avoid the one that had emerged when he thought he might lose his mate to a charging giant boar.

After escorting Amy inside, she urged them to wash off what they could. There was no hope for their bloodstained clothes, but their hands were no longer dripping green gore when they emerged.

"What about the, uh, carcass?" she asked, wrinkling her nose as she waved toward the back of the building.

"I called to have someone remove it," Tarus assured her. "If Milt gets wind of it, our friend out back is likely to end up as the dinner special tonight." His poorly timed, off-color joke was met with silence from Amy and his brother. He cleared his throat before continuing in a more somber tone, "Are you going to be all right? I'm sure you've seen nothing like that before."

"I haven't, and I never imagined a creature with green blood. But I have to remember this isn't exactly Kansas." When he frowned in confusion, she waved it off. "You'd think I'd be used to being constantly surprised in this alien world by now."

"Which is why you must always be cautious." He raised her hand to his lips and, after kissing her satiny skin, stated softly but with conviction, "Nothing is more important than your safety, koria dral ."

"Thank you for coming to my rescue, Tarus."

He moved to the door, and Remus took his place. He didn't kiss her hand but gently stroked her cheek and left her with a bow. Before he followed his brother out, Tarus reminded her, "One of us will be here at quitting time to see you safely home."

"But the boar is dead. "

"Yes, assuming he was the one who broke into the shed at the diner. There may be more."

Her frown and delicate shudder spoke volumes. "I hadn't even considered that. I grew up in the city and am proving every day how much I'm out of my element in a frontier town."

"You'll learn with our help." He winked at her, flashing a grin at her surprised expression, then walked out.

In a burst of speed, he chased after Remus, who had a head start and was striding briskly down the street.

"What's the rush?" he asked, coming alongside him. Receiving no response, he caught his arm and was startled to see the deep anguish etched on his face. "By the Maker, what is wrong? Were you injured?"

"I shouldn't have exploded at her in anger."

"Amy needs to understand the gravity of her actions."

"Yes, but after that, I've as good as handed her over to you."

"Do you truly believe she's your mate?"

"I do," he replied with conviction.

"As do I. Which means, you haven't handed her over to anyone. With time, she'll figure out she was meant to be with both of us."

"You think so?"

"I don't think. I know. Because I feel it right here," he declared, tapping his chest over his heart. "And about two feet lower every time I'm around her."

Remus raised his hand. "Enough with the gestures, please. I get what you're saying."

They walked in silence, each consumed with his own thoughts. In minutes, they reached the transport station, a busy hub of activity that also served as a command center for the warriors assigned to protect the colony. Once inside, privacy for a discussion on personal matters became nonexistent.

Aware of this too, Remus slowed his pace. "Perhaps we should simply tell her who we are to her and see how she reacts," he suggested.

Tarus wasn't convinced that was wise. "We have waited this long to find our mate. Waiting a little longer to claim her won't hurt. Besides, given what she has been through, she is in a fragile state right now. I don't want to scare her away or cause further damage by informing her she is the destined mate of not one but two aliens she barely knows."

"I agree," his brother conceded.

"We will continue to take things slowly while also keeping a watchful eye on her and being there for her whenever she needs us."

Remus raised an eyebrow and asked skeptically, "Stalking her is your idea of taking things slow?"

"Not stalking her. Wooing."

He tapped his temple. "What language is that? It doesn't translate."

Tarus gripped his brother's forearm, and meeting his gaze, explained the core of his plan. "We will win her heart through romance and our natural charm."

"Ah, that kind of wooing," Remus acknowledged with heavy sarcasm.

"Are you saying you're incapable?" Tarus challenged.

"Certainly not!" he said, clearly affronted. "Should we do this wooing together or separately? "

Tarus pondered for a moment before responding, "What do you suggest? A good strategy, as you know, is to divide and conquer."

"As is fighting from a unified position of strength," Remus suggested with a grin. "We should do both. Once she feels comfortable with us individually, we can join forces."

"Agreed, but we should keep our strategizing to ourselves. She may not appreciate being discussed like a military operation."

"May not?" Remus quipped. "More like, absolutely would not."

Tarus glanced at his brother. Through their unspoken bond, developed over a lifetime, he knew exactly what he was thinking. Earlier, they had confronted and conquered a formidable beast together. Why did the prospect of earning the trust and affection of one small human female seem so much more daunting?