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Chapter 20

“There are only threeof them,” Georgia said softly. “We can take them.”

“We’re suffering from gas poisoning, and we have no weapons,” Ash said.

She raised her fists. “We do. And now I’m almost as strong as you, they will be no match for us.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have given you so much Apexian energy. It’s made you cocky.”

“I know. It’s annoying, isn’t it? How about we teach these Siblet who’s in charge around here?” The energy flooding through Georgia made her feel unstoppable. The headache and lightheadedness had gone, and her veins fizzled with energy. It would be amazing to feel like this all the time.

She was no longer afraid of the Siblet and their brutality. They were evil and had to be stopped. And alongside Ash, she’d be the one to do it.

“I’m done hiding from the Siblet,” Georgia said.

“I’m up for some hand-to-hand combat with these aliens. We just need to figure out how to get those blasters out of their hands to make this a fairer fight,” Ash said.

She nodded, taking a second to admire the incredible alien warrior standing with her.

Ash was her partner in everything. She didn’t feel worthy of having his love, but how could something that felt so right be wrong? He’d never wavered in his devotion, and if she hadn’t been such a hard head, she could have had Ash in her life fulltime a long time ago.

“You ready?” Ash said.

“I’ve been ready to make them pay for a long time.”

“Their weapons are usually good for five or six blasts, then they need time to recharge. If we can get them to fire off as many rounds as possible so their blasters are useless, we can tackle them head-on.”

“Got it. If we split up, get them firing at both of us, that’ll happen faster.”

Ash grunted his unhappiness at that plan. “I don’t want you out there on your own. You could get trapped.”

“I’m practically Apexian. Those bastards don’t scare me. And I’ll have my banty with me.”

Ash pressed a rough kiss to her lips. “Run and hide. Don’t stay exposed when you don’t have to.”

“I know how to draw gunfire. This isn’t my first run-in with these buttheads, but it will be my last.”

A shout went up, and the Siblet increased their pace, heading straight toward them.

Georgia stood firm, her knees slightly bent and her hands loose. She was ready for this. She was done running from her fear and her nightmares.

A shot was fired from the small troop of Siblet.

Ash threw himself against Georgia, knocking her out of the path of the blast and sending the banty flying.

She hissed in pain as she slammed to the dirt. The stench of burning cloth filled her nose, and she jumped to her feet, her eyes widening as fire licked up Ash’s leg.

Georgia leaped on him and rolled him to put out the flames. “Still playing my hero, huh?”

“I always will, beautiful.” Ash checked over his leg. “It’s just a scratch.”

“It’s time to split, so we’re a harder target.”

He nodded. “Be careful.”

“You, too.”

It was a frantic game of cat and mouse for the next few minutes as Georgia dodged and weaved through the trees, always keeping Ash in sight as she drew the Siblet fire.