King of Tides (The Immortal Iron Brothers #3)

Chapter 20

Just for You

“ U gh, shut up,” I groan and shut off the ringer to my phone.

It’s my day off. I had every intension of sleeping in. I stretch as I wake up fully to the scent of mint and coffee.

A smile comes to my face. Ardan has plans for us today. My curiosity from last night returns.

He wouldn’t tell me what exactly we’ll be doing. He has already used his magic to move my things here to the clubhouse. Each day I find a new room or area he has built to make me feel more at home. The room now has three levels.

I didn’t want him to change anything about the bedroom because I love it so much. However, it’s no longer the first thing you walk into when you enter the room. I’ll admit, I love the place.

Although a part of me wants to slow things down and go back to my apartment. Yet, I haven’t been able to bring myself to do so. I think it’s the bond thing holding me back. Besides, Ardan isn’t having it.

In all honesty, whenever I think I’m going to put my foot down and head to my apartment for the night, my heart aches and the thought feels wrong. I tried to leave and go home last night.

Ardan made sure I forgot all about that idea. That’s why I have such a big smile on my face this morning. I can still feel his mouth and hands everywhere on my body.

“You’re awake. Get dressed and come out for breakfast. I have a surprise for you,” Ardan says into my thoughts.

“Give me a sec,” I reply as my phone goes off again.

It’s Mack calling. I want to make sure everything is okay since I haven’t spoken to him in a minute. I’ve been skipping my weekly visits to the gym, not sure what to expect when I run into Carson.

There is also the fact that Ardan doesn’t allow me out of his sight. I sigh, knowing I need to deal with this sooner rather than later.

“Hey, Papi,” I say as I answer the call.

“Billy, thank God. I thought something happened to you. What’s going on? I haven’t seen you in a week and Carson growls like a beast each time I ask him about you.”

“I’m fine. I’ve just been busy. Carson and I are having a little disagreement. That’s all.”

“That’s fine, but I’ll feel better once I see you with my own eyes. I’m making chili tonight. You should come by.”

I palm my forehead and look up at the ceiling. I feel bad for blowing him off, but what am I supposed to do? This is all so complicated.

“Papi, I already have plans. Can I get a rain check?”

“As long as I see your face next week.”

I bite my lip. I’m going to have to figure this out. No matter how independent I’ve tried to be all my life. Mack has never let go.

Even once I became eighteen and thought for sure he would put me out, he didn’t. Mack was right there to help me figure out college and then the academy.

He was the one to find my apartment and gave me my deposit no matter how much I protested. He was so mad at me when I returned the money to his account.

He takes being my father to heart. However, I’ve never been able to accept that he’s not going to fail me next. I’d rather do things for myself and not have to feel the pain of someone I tried to trust letting me down.

“I’ll do my best,” I say after a few beats.

I get out of bed and use my magic to dress in a pair of running shorts and a sports bra. I want to take a run after breakfast. After I’m dressed, I pad out to the main area barefoot.

“ Mi hija ,” Mack sighs into the phone. “I worry about you. I only want to see you safe and happy. You won’t even go out on a date with a nice young man. If it’s a nice young woman you’re looking for, I’m fine with that too.”

I can’t help but laugh at him. I mean, I give a full belly laugh. If he knew the things I allowed Ardan to do to me last night, he’d know that I’m definitely into men.

I know he means well, but I can hear the nerves in his voice. I have no doubt he would support me no matter what, but I can tell he’s holding his breath.

“Papi, I like men. You can relax,” I say and shake my head.

Ardan turns to look at me with amusement on his lips as he takes me in. I give him an appreciative once-over as well. He’s dressed in a pair of low-hanging jeans, a fitted T-shirt, and his cut. His feet are bare as well.

As I stop in front of him, he places a hand on my waist and tugs me to him to peck my lips. Without prying into his thoughts, I know exactly what he’s going to do next.

“Good morning, baby girl. I’ve been waiting for you to get up,” he says in that strong, rumbling voice of his.

I purse my lips and glare at him. He has the audacity to wink at me before he pecks my lips once again. I swat at his shoulder and shake my head.

“Billy, who was that?” Mack asks.

“That was my boyfriend,” I say through my teeth as I watch Ardan’s face light up.

“Your boyfriend?”

“Yes, my boyfriend. I’m seeing someone.”

“When will I get to meet him?”

“It’s new. I don’t know if we’re ready for that,” I say and look away from Ardan.

“Is that your father? I’m looking forward to meeting him,” Ardan says with a slick-ass smile on his face.

“Oh my God,” I whisper-yell as I cover the phone.

“Were your plans tonight with him? Bring him by for chili,” Mack says excitedly.

“Papi, I will find time to come by. Just not tonight. Okay?”

“All right, all right, but I want to meet him soon.”

“I’ll call you later,” I say and end the call.

“I can’t believe you just did that shit. What the f?—”

Ardan places a finger over my lips to silence me as he chuckles. I turn to look over my shoulder to see with he’s looking at. I’m met with two tiny little faces staring back at me from around a corner in the living area.

I knit my brows. That corner wasn’t there yesterday. When both the boys smile and wave back at me, I can’t help but lose all my anger.

“Where did you two come from?” I say with a smile.

“You promised to play with us. King Ardan sent for us,” Beck says excitedly.

“They’ve been upset about attacking you. I wanted them to see for themselves that you’re fine and you’re not angry with them,” Ardan says in my head.

“That was almost a week ago. They’re still worried about that?”

“Yes, they are still five, after all. And their nature makes them more emotional than other beings.”

I squat down and open my arms to them. Both boys come running and wrap themselves around me. Bourne surprisingly holds me the tightest.

I give them a good squeeze back. I don’t know why, but I get the feeling this is exactly what they’ve been needing. I kiss the top of each of their heads.

“Have you eaten?”

“No, we were waiting for you,” Beck replies.

“Well, then. Let’s eat.”

“You’re not going to come see your surprise?” Bourne asks.

“It can wait,” Ardan says.

I turn to look up at him. He gives me a mischievous smile, causing me to lift a brow at him as I shake my head. I can only imagine what he has added to our little apartment this time.

Our apartment. When did I start thinking of it as that? My heart swells as I wonder if the surprise is a bedroom for the boys to come live with us.

“What are you thinking, pretty one?”

I haven’t opened my mind to him this morning, so he looks at me curiously as my emotions must reach him through our link. I bite my lip and shake my head.

“I might tell you later,” I reply.

He smiles back at me and kisses me on the lips. The boys start to make noises of disgust before taking off for the dining room table. I stand watching them and their excitement.

I’m still trying to find their dirtbag uncle, but I’ve come up empty. Ardan hasn’t had any luck either. He actually told me to stop digging and allow him to handle it.

If I have it my way. I’m going to find him and then Ardan can do whatever he wants with him. As the boys’ laughter fills the space, I double down on that promise.

Ardan

The little titans have passed out for a nap on our couch after Billy and I have played with them for most of the afternoon. I’ll be sending them back to the oasis realm when they wake.

“Do they have to go back?” Billy asks as if reading my thoughts.

I take a seat in the accent chair and tug her into my lap. I love how she snuggles into me. She’s becoming more open to me with each day.

There’s no way I’m allowing her to spend a night away from me. I almost lost it last night when she tried to go back to her old place. I’ve been working to make this our home.

I come out of my thoughts to answer her question as she settles in my hold. “Yes, that realm helps to contain them. What you saw would have been much worse if it happened here. Like I told you, we don’t know the lasting effects Reilly stripping their magic will have.”

“I hope it isn’t causing any real damage.”

“You’re not alone. Reilly will be able to heal them to some degree, but if it’s bad enough, there would only be so much he could do,” I say in frustration.

“That makes me sad. They’re so cute and seem so lonely. I want to visit them more often. You know, wake up earlier and spend mornings with them or something.”

“My queen already wants to take care of her people.” I nod and kiss her forehead. “I think they would like that, but I’m sending them away to stay with a friend for a little bit. I think it’s best now that I know Bardo is still alive and could be the one behind causing the problems.”

“Will that be safe?”

“I’m sending them to live with trained assassins and one of the most powerful immortals I know. Kai will be traveling with them. They will be safer than ever.”

She opens her mouth as if she’s going to say something, then closes it and shakes her head. “I don’t want to know. Supernatural shit. Not my business or jurisdiction.”

I laugh and tighten my arms around her. “I will take you there someday and you will see they are needed in this world. Not at all what you’re thinking.”

“Not my business,” she sings.

She rolls her shoulders and sighs. I reach to massage her neck. It’s hard not to always want to touch her.

“That better?” I ask.

“Yes, that’s perfect. For five-year-olds, they throw a mean water balloon. I think I’m going to have bruising.”

I search her face as she snickers. Reaching to trace her hairline, I admire her beauty. No makeup, a ponytail, and that gorgeous smile, that’s all it takes to take my breath away each time I look at her.

“Show me where it hurts. I’ll ice it for you,” I murmur against her temple.

“Look at you, always wanting to take care of me.”

“You have no idea. All you have to do is allow me.”

There’s so much I want to do for her. I’m doing my best to pace myself when all I want is to shower her with love. No man could ever cherish her the way I plan to for centuries to come.

“ Mm . What happened to my surprise?”

I chuckle. It took long enough for her to ask. Once the boys started that water fight after breakfast, her surprise was forgotten.

“It is still waiting for you.”

“It’s around that corner over there, isn’t it? You think I didn’t notice you used magic to block it off while we were playing with the boys?”

“I was hoping you didn’t.”

“Come on, what is it? What are you hiding?”

“Go see her yourself.”

I don’t have to tell her twice. She pops up out of my lap and races toward the barrier I have up. I’m taken aback as she causes the barrier to vanish.

Not for the first time, I note that she’s coming into her magic on her own. I’ve wanted to help her along, but in true Billy fashion, she’s been finding her way by herself. I’m starting to admire that about her.

“Oh my God. You built my library,” she squeals in my head. “Babe, there’s a window in here and a window seat with sunlight coming in. Like, what the fuck? How?”

“Do you like it?” I ask as I flash to stand behind her and wrap my arms around her waist.

“Yes,” she whispers aloud. “It’s exactly like I always imagined.”

She steps forward and spins around to take it all in. She stops and covers her mouth with her hand. I break into a huge smile as she squats to take in the surprise the boys left for her.

“Are those their little handprints?”

“They are.”

“Wait, these are all children’s books,” she says as she fingers the books on the shelves next to the boys’ handprints.

She looks back up at me with questions in her eyes. I move closer and squat down behind her. I can’t help leaning in to take her lips.

I break the kiss and look into her eyes. “They asked to have books here for you to read to them. I didn’t think you would mind.”

“I don’t. Not at all. I’m honored.”

I search her face with my gaze. My heart aches to make this little being happy. She has already brought so much joy into my life in such a short time.

“I can’t believe I’ve lost so much time with you. The gods have been cruel to keep you from me, but they have made up for it in making you so perfect for me.”

“You know you were already getting some for the library, right? You don’t need all the pretty words.”

I laugh then take her lips and kiss her hard. I’d build her a new library each day just to see the twinkle she has in her eyes right now. She kisses along my jaw.

“Thank you. I love it so much.”

I get ready to tell her I love her, but I’m not sure it’s the right time with Billy. I might scare her away. I hold my tongue and take her to our bedroom instead.

It’s time for her daily blessing.