Chapter 10

MOVING BLINDLY IN THE darkness wasn't a smart idea, but the suffocating presence relentlessly pursuing her left her with little alternative. She stumbled into water-filled holes, scraping her arms and shoulders against the rocky walls. It was a mystery how she avoided face-planting on the uneven, slimy floor or twisting her ankle.

Suddenly, the tunnel opened into a cavern illuminated by a bright blue light. It brought on a stark sense of déjà vu, and a feeling of impending doom weighed heavily on her chest. The cavern had only one exit, which meant she would have to retrace her steps and confront the entity in order to escape.

She turned with her back against the wall, ready for what came next. A handsome warrior strode out of the darkness. A step behind him was an identical figure in the same short pleated red skirts, reminiscent of the gladiators from ancient Rome. Sweat beaded on their bare chests, glistening against bronzed skin. Standing shoulder to shoulder, they each extended an arm and, as if by magic, gleaming, green-tinted swords emerged from their hands as they prepared to battle and protect her with their lives.

The warriors moved forward as the entity, shrouded by an ominous fog, appeared from the tunnel. As they attacked, their swords slicing through the dark cloud, their movements resembled a dance, synchronized and precise. Amy watched in horrified amazement as they worked together, a formidable force to be reckoned with for sure.

As the battled raged on, sparks flashing as metal clanged, the cloud advancing and the warriors beating it back, they seemed evenly matched. She could only hope good would prevail over evil.

With a final, simultaneous strike, the warriors vanquished the enemy, sending it retreating into the shadows yet again. When they turned and approached her, despite their battle-fierce expressions, she recognized them instantly as her warrior twins.

"We're here now, mate. You're safe," Remus said, his voice gentle yet firm.

"Its evil cannot hurt you. We would never allow it," Tarus reassured, a tender smile on his face.

Supporting her every step, they gripped her hands and led her out of the cave.

When her alarm went off this time, she didn't startle and jump like she usually did. She was already awake, replaying the ending of the dream—pleasant for a change. She savored the sense of security that lingered. Tarus and Remus were her guardians, shielding her from the enemy threat and allaying her fears.

Their battle with the boar must have inspired their retractable swords. But she wondered why she'd put them in gladiator garb—what little there was of it?

She couldn't help but smile because they made sexy gladiators with their bronze skin and bulging muscles. The sight of their sculpted thighs peeking out from under their pleated skirts as they lunged was particularly enjoyable. For that alone, she was grateful she remembered the details .

One thing nagged at her, however. If Tarus was her supposed "one," or maybe Remus, why had her sleeping mind conjured them both? This unsettled feeling stayed with her as she went about her morning routine, showering, getting dressed, and preparing for the day ahead.

AN HOUR LATER, WHEN she stepped out of her apartment, a sultry breeze heralded another blistering hot summer day. Seeing one of the twins leaning casually against the metal stair railing caught her off guard. Despite the heat, he wore his hair loose, the long black strands gleaming in the sun. Amy moved silently closer, squinting against the brightness, trying to discern which warrior stood before her.

Seeing the gleaming blue of his irises amid the purple, she greeted him with a smile. "Good morning, Tarus. What has you out and about so early?"

He bowed ever so slightly then extended his arm, inviting her to take it. "I was hoping you'd give me the honor of escorting you to the clinic this morning."

"How gallant. I would enjoy that very much," she murmured, feeling the steely muscles of his arm as she rested her hand in the bend of his elbow.

"Have you had breakfast?" he asked.

"I woke up later than usual and didn't have time, actually."

He guided her down the steps and along the sidewalk toward town, adjusting his pace to match her shorter stride. "The cinnamon rolls at the coffee shop are quite good. Do you have time for one before you're due at the clinic? "

Right on cue, her stomach made a growling noise. Embarrassed, she quickly covered her belly, as if she could make it stop.

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. "Sounds like we better make the time."

Joe and a few of the regulars greeted her when they walked in.

"I take it you've been here before?"

"Once or twice," she admitted with a grin. Spying an open table, she grabbed his hand and hurried them to it before someone else snatched it up.

Over fresh-baked cinnamon rolls dripping in cream cheese frosting and refreshing iced coffee—it was simply too hot for brewed—Amy found herself charmed again by a warrior twin.

There was something about the way he looked at her that made her feel like the most important person in the world. Tarus had an air of authority and wisdom about him that set him apart from his playful brother. Yet, beneath his more serious demeanor, there was a mischievous spark in his eyes that hinted at a hidden, adventurous side. When he made a droll observation or told a funny anecdote about how rustic the colony used to be—which even now was barely a step above an Old West frontier town in her opinion—she couldn't help but laugh.

He asked questions about her life back on Earth, and his comforting presence made her feel safe enough to open up about the frightening experiences of the last few years.

"Until about ten years ago, I worked, had friends, and a busy social life like most twenty-somethings. Life wasn't always easy, but I thought it was good. It was around that time I remember things changing. The experts had warned about doom and gloom scenarios for decades, but not everyone believed them."

"And when their predictions started coming true?" he asked.

She shook her head sadly. "It was too little too late. Growing up in Washington state, the occasional tremors of my youth evolved into regular occurrences, with the ground shaking beneath my feet and rattling the roof over my head on a near daily basis. We lived in constant anticipation of the ‘big one' everyone had always talked about. When it inevitably struck, it exceeded all expectations. The coastline was permanently altered, with entire communities swallowed up by the raging ocean. Then came an even bigger ‘big one,' followed by another and another. Each quake changed the landscape, and the destruction and loss of life were overwhelming."

He reached across the table and gripped her hand. "How did you survive alone?"

"I kept moving inland, but nowhere was safe. During my last year there, wildfires became a constant threat. Sparked by lightning strikes during severe drought conditions, they ravaged the forests and burned through the plains. Acres and acres of once-lush greenery turned into charred wastelands. It was heartbreaking to witness the suffering, both human and animal. Those who survived the fires were often left without homes. And, if that wasn't enough, storms grew progressively worse. They spawned off-the-charts tornadoes and brought catastrophic coastal flooding, on a scale never experienced before." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she concluded, "It was awful, truly awful."

Tarus listened intently, his expression filled with genuine empathy as he absorbed every word. "I'm glad you're free from such turmoil. Except for the mine explosion that reactivated the dormant volcano, which was a man-made event, Ventorcopia, or I should say Terra Nova, is now stable. If taken care of, this planet should serve your people well for many millennia." His words offered hope and reassurance, but also a warning that the fate of her people rested on this new land.

"I certainly hope we do better with this home than we did with the last. I wouldn't wish such fear and uncertainty on anyone." That sat in silence for several heartbeats before she shifted the conversation to him and his past. "I've been to Primaria and visited some ruins from the meteor storm. Your own history is fraught with detestation and tragedy, too."

"Remus and I were too young to remember the rain of fire , or our mother who died because of it."

She could hear the raw pain in his deep voice. Memories of losing her own mother flooded her mind. Amy covered their joined hands with her free one and offered a comforting squeeze.

"We have that in common. The world loses its vibrancy when you lose your mom. I was an adult when she passed and was lucky to have had time with her. Years later, the ache of her absence still lingers, especially when major events unfold in my life—whether good or bad. More than anything, I miss being able to talk to her."

He inverted his hand and laced his fingers with hers. "As we get to know one another, I hope we can find joyful things in common that don't make your beautiful blue eyes so sad."

"I feel sure that we will," she whispered, meaning it. But she still had an incredibly difficult decision to make.

He walked her to work and left her with a gentle kiss on the cheek. His eyes said he would have done more if they weren't standing on a public street.

Throughout the day, Tarus lingered in her thoughts. By closing time, she was convinced once again that he was the one. But then Remus appeared to walk her home, confusing her all over again.

He took her on a slight detour to the park and into the gazebo, which was much bigger and quieter without the band. A few other residents were present, passing through mostly, which gave them relative privacy. As they sat on a bench, with plenty of shade and a not exactly cool but less hot breeze, Amy watched him pull sandwiches and drinks out of a brown paper bag.

"Last time, things got a bit heated between us. I thought we should talk and get to know one another better, so I opted for a more public setting where spirits are prohibited. That means you'll have to be good," he said, flashing her a mischievous grin.

"Have you ever been told that you're absolutely incorrigible?"

"If that means devilishly handsome, yes."

Although she couldn't fault his reasoning—looking at him took her breath away—laughter spilled out of her at his audacious remark.

Remus winked, a sly grin on his face, and resumed unpacking his bag. "The clerk at the counter recommended lemonade. Have you had it? "

"Had it?" she exclaimed. "I used to sell it with a friend outside our apartment during the summer. We were five and thought we'd get rich. We didn't, but we had fun."

He poured them each a brimming cup, gave Amy a playful salute, then raised the cup to his lips and took a hearty gulp. When he puckered his lips and made a comical face, clearly caught off guard by his first taste, Amy burst into giggles.

"It can be a little sour sometimes."

"Shame on you for not warning me," he said in between grimacing and smacking his lips. Next, he gave her a look of complete disbelief. "You can't actually like this stuff!"

She took a large gulp, savoring the tartness as she licked her lips with delight instead of disgust. "There's nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day. It's up there in my top three favorite drinks, right after sangria and Primarian vilo ."

His dark brows arched as his lavender eyes twinkled with mischief. "I have a confession. The vilo we had the other day was smuggled out of Ariad—illegally. Not by me," he quickly explained. "But it's the last of the stash. I hope you enjoyed it."

"I did, but why is it illegal?"

"Long ago, the elders decided they didn't want a society full of intoxicated people. It can lead to misbehavior and low productivity. Between you and me, they're hypocrites because every one of them imbibes now and then."

"My society tried to outlaw spirits once. It didn't go well. The people liked it and found a way to have it even if they had to be sneaky about it."

"We are the same. There is an herb, restricted for physics' use only to treat pain and anxiety. But many of our citizens grow their own. Known for its hallucinogenic properties, volanta is often claimed to have aphrodisiac effects as well."

"We have something like that on Earth, but it's legal. Have you ever tried it?"

"Never! I'm a warrior, and a law-abiding citizen," he declared, puffing his chest out as if affronted, but he couldn't keep a straight face.

"My people have an expression which is apt for this situation. Liar, liar, pants on fire." She grinned up at him. "I bet it wasn't something you did with your brother."

His laughter rolled across the nearly deserted park. "I wouldn't take that bet. Tarus isn't exactly the type to stretch the rules, let alone break them," he quipped.

Amy considered him thoughtfully. "Growing up, I didn't have anyone to be daring and adventurous with, so I had to do it on my own. Was that the case with you who had a stickler for a brother?"

"When we were young, I got him into a few scrapes. As we grew older, he learned to spot what he called a Remus plot." Remus leaned to the side and much closer before he shared, "It's much more fun when you have a partner in crime. I'll have to think of a daring adventure for us to get into."

"The keywords in the story of my checkered past are had to , past tense. Nowadays, the most adventure I get is trying to survive this scorching heat."

"Lucky for you, I've become an expert in surviving the Terra Nova heat," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Maybe I can show you a thing or two."

Suppressing a smile, Amy raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? And what exactly do you have in mind, Mr. Expert? "

He leaned in until his lips nearly brushed hers then said in his low, smooth voice, "It involves a purple lake near to here and a lot less clothing."

"Skinny-dipping?" she exclaimed, immediately hot and bothered, and not from the weather. Cavorting with a naked Remus in cool purple waters was undeniably tempting.

"I'm not familiar with the term, but it sounds accurate," he replied. "Are you game? Trust me, it'll be worth it, regardless of any laws we might have to bend."

She was about to respond with an emphatic yes, but he pressed his lips to hers, intensifying the heat with a smoldering kiss.The ice was melting in their lemonade when voices alerted them to other visitors in the park, and they broke apart.

He was no longer playful, his eyes gleaming in the fading light as he gazed at her. "It seems we can't resist getting a little heated when we're alone together."

"So it seems," she replied breathlessly. "But I don't mind if you don't."

His grin returned as more people entered the park, a couple settling on a bench, eyes to the sky for some stargazing evidently. It halted any further amorous pursuits.

When Remus left her with a kiss at her door, shorter but equally smoldering, Amy felt torn. How could she possibly choose between these two amazing men? Tarus with his gentle nature and compelling eyes, or Remus with his playful charm and bold advances. She was more unsure of what to do than ever.

And as she climbed into bed that night, her mind filled with thoughts of the warrior twins, Amy knew she had a tough decision ahead of her. All she could do was hope for a sign to steer her in the right direction.