King of Tides (The Immortal Iron Brothers #3)

Chapter 17

Lost Communication

I ’ve been in my feelings all day. I thought Ardan would return before I had to leave for my shift, but he didn’t. I understand I fucked up. When I saw the woman from the warehouse bleeding out on the floor, I snapped into action.

If there was a chance I could save her, I wanted to. I wanted to find out who she was and ask her questions about Candido and that night he tried to kill her.

By the time I realized I had thrown myself in the middle of the problem, it was too late. I don’t regret helping the boys to keep them from being harmed. Although I’m still not sure how I even managed that.

“What a long day,” I groan as I step into the bedroom at the clubhouse and kick my shoes off.

I don’t know what made me come here. It’s like I’ve been moving on autopilot. My body brought me back here, not my mind.

I stand with my hands on my hips, not knowing what to do with myself. Ardan hasn’t said a word to me all day, which has me pulling further into my shell. I felt the moment he entered the necklace this afternoon as I stepped into my car to head to work.

I wasn’t expecting to feel this hurt from his silence. It’s grating my nerves that I miss talking to him. At this point, I just want to forget about everything and decompress.

“What are you thinking, little mate?” Ardan says, startling me as he wraps his arms around my waist from behind.

“About what I plan to do before I go to bed.”

“I’m going to make you something to eat,” he says.

“You cook?”

“Yes, I can feel you are hungry, and cooking relaxes me. Go relax. We can talk later.”

I turn in his arms and look up at him. “Why won’t you talk to me now?”

He looks at me with his brows furrowed. Then he reaches to brush his thumb across my cheek. I want to know what he’s thinking so I open my thoughts for him to see mine.

After a few beats, he grunts and pulls a frown. “You think I’m upset with you? I’m not.”

“But you haven’t spoken to me all day. You didn’t return until I had to leave for work, and you said nothing as you entered the pendant.”

“I lost track of time while in the oasis realm. I had to hurry back to make sure I left with you. The boys were struggling with what happened.

“They never want to hurt anyone and were very upset they attacked you. When I returned, I could feel you shutting down. I knew we needed to talk, but I didn’t want to distract you from work.

“This isn’t a quick conversation we need to have. When you’re in the human world, you need your focus. I would never place you in danger by rambling in your head.

“You were also surrounded by people and situations today. There was never a free moment for us to talk,” he explains.

“I’m sorry. This is all so new for me. All of it. Not just your world but dating too. I feel like a fish out of water.”

He cups my face and leans in to kiss me. All the sadness and frustration melt away as his soft lips touch mine. I begin to wonder if I can close off compartments of my thoughts to allow him in more.

“Yes, you can. The more you work at it, the more skilled you will become,” he murmurs against my lips in response to my thoughts. “This is on me. I should be helping you to understand more.”

“I could have reached out to you today as well. It’s my fault too. I did shut down.”

“Because you felt like you weren’t needed or wanted. Billy, I want you wherever I am. Last night, I was angry with myself. You could have been hurt and that would have destroyed me.”

“What exactly happened last night? Who was that woman? She’s the one from my vision.”

“You mean Kai? She works for our mercaptain. He’s out of town and Candido tried to press her to find him. That is what you saw in your vision.”

“She’s a mermaid?” I ask as I see her in his thoughts.

“Yes, she is. As for the boys, water titans are born in pairs. Bardo, the being you saw with Candido at the restaurant, was their father’s twin.

“When a water titan’s heart turns cold, so do they. They become ice titans. They are vicious and care about nothing but themselves.”

“What happened to turn their uncle cold?”

“His mate killed herself. No one knows why, but he found her body. After that, he was broken and inconsolable. He disappeared sometime after that, and then the sirens lured Brodny and Marina to him.”

“And he killed them? Brodny and Marina are the boys’ parents, right?”

“Yes, they were. That’s when I found out Bardo had become an ice titan. He tried to take the boys, but I had already stepped in and taken them,” he says.

I nod my understanding. This is much bigger than I understood. My heart goes out to the boys.

“So what was that about last night?”

“I believe that Bardo is somehow controlling the boys, trying to turn them. When they lose control, they can’t see who they are harming. It’s not them.

“It’s whatever or whoever he has taking over their minds. I think he’s trying to break them because he knows I won’t accept an ice titan among the fold,” he says.

“Oh my God, that’s terrible. How do we stop him?”

He gives me a grin. I can feel the flood of warmth in his emotions. Suddenly, I have access to his thoughts.

“Of course I want to help them. I wish someone cared to help me when I was their age. Not having someone when you’re that small is enough to make you jaded.”

“When we find Bardo, we will find our answers. He’s been eluding me for this very reason. Sea guards are important to both our worlds. Bardo has thrown the balance off and it will be years before Beck and Bourne can take their rightful places.

“I have substitutions in their place, but who knows how long I’ll be able to keep that up. However, if he breaks them … if he can manage to harden just one of their hearts, we face dire repercussions.”

“Is there something I can do while we try to find him?”

“Bardo didn’t just kill his brother to get him out of the way. He killed his sister-in-law because that’s the key to keeping young water titans safe and happy. Their mother. She guards their hearts. It’s the warmth of her love and care.

“The boys haven’t trusted many since losing their parents. I’m having a hard time finding the right female to care for them and nurture that good and peace within them.

“I do the best I can, but it’s not enough. Reilly has been helping as much as he can, but we can’t keep stripping their powers like that. We don’t know the lasting effects it will have.”

I gasp. “That’s what he did to them? He stripped their powers?”

“Enough to get them to return to their natural forms. I’m not even sure how they are taking on titan forms. They shouldn’t mature to that level until they’re about sixteen.

“They certainly shouldn’t be able to attack with such skill. It takes most titans years after maturity to be able to wield their powers.”

I look down as my thoughts race with this new information. I can’t help feeling like this is my task to take on. I need to help the boys, and I need to find their uncle to keep him from harming those sweet little ones.

Ardan grasps hold of my throat and tips my head up. I focus my gaze on him as he breathes me in. In the next motion, he lifts me onto his waist.

“Now I’ve made you two promises, and I’ve broken them both. I never break a promise. I’m always a man of my word, which means I need to make some shit up to you,” he says against my lips.

I wrinkle my brows. “What?”

“I didn’t make it back in time for your morning blessing and I didn’t take your mind off work. You’re thinking about finding Bardo and locking up Candido. I can’t let either of those things slide,” he rumbles, then crushes my lips.

I grasp the sides of his head and allow him to devour me. No matter what, somehow, he also makes me feel whole. I think it’s the bond between us.

I groan and whimper as my stomach growls loudly, interrupting our kiss. Ardan releases me to slide down his front. He kisses my forehead and then pecks my lips.

“Shower while I make you something to eat.”

“Can you feed me with magic?” I pout.

“I could, but I want to do something romantic for you. It will all be ready by the time you’re done. Then I will make good on my debts for the rest of the night. Now, that’s a promise I plan to keep. No matter what,” he says then kisses my lips once more.

“Fine,” I say and turn for the bathroom. “What’s the point of magic if you’re not going to use it?”

Ardan rumbles with laughter. I look over my shoulder and stick my tongue out at him. He gives me this bright smile that makes his eyes twinkle.

“Man, I feel stupid,” I mutter to myself as I enter the bathroom.

I should have talked to him from the beginning. I guess this is what Mack is always talking about, but can I really outgrow the habit now? I’m almost thirty.

“You can only try,” I say to my reflection as I look into the mirror.

And try, I will. I’m going to do my best to make this work because, for the first time ever, I have someone who feels like home.

I wonder when Bourne and Beck last felt like they were home. I’m going to nail that son-of-a-bitch uncle of theirs and help them to feel safe again.

Ardan

I want to follow Billy into the bathroom to make good on my promises, but I want to give her time to sort her feelings. Here I stand in my kitchen preparing a meal for our first date. I truly do enjoy cooking.

It has been a pastime of mine for centuries. I have learned to prepare cuisines from all around the world. For tonight, I’ve made lamb over rice and samosas with Pakistani flavors.

The spices and tastes are sure to hit the spot for Billy. I think she’s going to love it. I get the nano ready and go to make a refreshing drink to go with the meal. However, I receive a mind link.

“I have one of yours down here in the main hall making a scene, brother,” Brass says.

I groan and roll my eyes. I didn’t used to mind when my folks would act out. I would head down there and straighten them out.

I have a mate now. Billy needs me as much as my people do. This is meant to be a night for her.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I mind-link him back.

“Baby, I need to head down to the main hall. Our date and your food will be waiting when you’re done. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Okay. I’ll wait for you.”

“If you’re hungry, don’t wait for me. Go on and eat.”