King of Tides (The Immortal Iron Brothers #3)

Chapter 37

Trained Assassins

Two months later …

“ S ek sek ,” I hiss as I throw a combination punch then spin away.

These assassins are fast as shit. I’ve had to beef up my conditioning just to keep up with them. The first few weeks they kicked my ass.

I’m getting better though. I summon my naginata and spin it in my hand before settling into a low side lunge, holding my weapon out to my side. Three of the assassins have me surrounded, but I still have a little smirk on my lips.

“Patience, Billy. You don’t have to rush. Allow your weapon to guide you. Give ?ntikam room to breathe and become a part of the fight. You are not alone. Take this advantage,” Kenji coaches.

I listen to what he’s telling me and allow ?ntikam to rise its head. Kenji says he’s been cloaking ?ntikam’s presence within me because Ardan might get pissed off. I don’t like lying to Ardan, but if he can’t feel it, am I lying?

Yeah, I know. It’s a lie of omission, but I can feel something is coming. Kenji won’t reveal what it is, although I get the feeling he knows.

Ardan is still acting as if everything is fine as long as his stone doesn’t come up missing. I, on the other hand, want to be ready to protect what’s ours. Our people, our boys, our home, my man. I love Ardan with everything I am. I promise you someone is coming up missing if they fuck with him.

I’m stronger, faster, and more lethal than I’ve ever been in my life, and it’s only been eight weeks since I’ve been training with Kenji and the asashin . I love the way that sounds in Japanese. It makes it sound so much more badass—which these women are.

“It’s time to test the true form of your naginata,” ?ntikam says.

“What do you mean?”

“The weapon will become whatever you will it to be. Sword or swords, bow and row, pistols, what will you choose to get us out of this?”

“Let’s find out,” I reply and choose my weapon.

I stand up straighter and toss the naginata in the air to catch the handle at a lower angle. I then press the release to separate the blades. Willing my power through it, a chain forms between the two blade handles. I grab the chain with my free hand and begin to spin the loose end.

The assassins move into action. One runs at me, dodging the spinning blade. She drops to her knees and leans back as she slides at me with her own blades in hand. I don’t even flinch.

I elongate the blade that I’m using as my anchor. The sharp edge extends right through her side like a lengthened shard of ice. I stump down on her and turn the blade before I pull it out.

“Good, no mercy. Well done,” Kenji croons.

I don’t have time to gloat in his praises. I swing the chain as I lengthen the links once again and slice through the other two without giving them a chance to attack.

Kenji claps his hands as if I didn’t just obliterate three of his assassins without batting a lash. Not that they were permanently taken out of commission. Kenji will fix them up and they will be back to training in no time.

“Very good, Billy. You have shown great progress,” Kenji says with a bright smile. “How do you feel?”

“I feel great. ?ntikam is starting to feel like a part of me. Like more of a thought than another being.”

“Ah, this is good.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I think I understand what you’re not telling me. ?ntikam was not a gift from you. It is a gift from the gods but why?”

“Beautiful and smart. Let’s see if you can figure it out,” he replies. “A master creator was once in the middle of weaving perfection. His work was interrupted and only two of his creations were completed. He then had to make away to finish the other two master pieces, but all of his old tools were forbidden from his use.”

“I should have known you weren’t going to give me a straight answer. Your riddles suck, by the way.”

He releases a roar of laughter. “What would be the sense if they were simple? What kind of trickster would that make me?”

He freezes and his eyes begin to glow white. I gasp and step forward to reach out to him but he holds a hand up to stop me. I drop my hand and wait for him to tell me what’s going on.

When his eyes stop glowing, he has a frown on his face. I get the feeling this isn’t good. He looks pissed.

“What is it? Is it the stone?”

“It’s the scumbags trying to work their way around my barriers. They have been trying harder and more frequently these last couple of days,” he bites out.

“You mean whoever is trying to reach the boys.” He gives a curt nod. “What can I do? How can I help?”

“You are doing what you can for now. Their hearts are filled with happiness these days.”

“Is that really enough?”

“You will play your part when the time is right. For now, you and Ardan have words that have not been spoken but linger in the air.”

I look down at my feet. I have worked with Kenji to come up with the perfect date. It took some time for me to learn enough about Ardan, to come up with something I know he will enjoy.

I’ve learned so much about his past and eras he enjoyed most. I finally felt like I had it nailed two weeks ago, but something keeps coming up when it’s time for me to surprise him with the date. I’ve gotten my hopes up so many times only to have them deflated.

“Tonight will be the night. I’ve ensured there will be no distractions,” Kenji says as if reading my mind.

“Thank you.”

“As I told you before, you are family.” He gives my arm a gentle squeeze. “I am going to my meditation chambers.

“All you have asked for will be ready for your date this evening. Ardan will be busy until you are ready. I have made certain of it.

“Enjoy your evening. And Billy?

“Yes?”

“Be sure to tell him your true feelings,” he says and leaves.

I try to get excited about the date, but I can’t stop thinking about someone trying to come after the boys. I think of their happy little faces and my veins start to pulse with my powers.

“Easy, young master. We don’t want to go down that road. We will flatten all in its path and there will be no return,” ?ntikam warns.

Amadeus

I can feel my mate as she pours a steaming cup of tea before me. I want to open my eyes and address her and this elephant in the room, but I already feel the cracks forming in the illusions.

I double down my efforts and remain focused on my task. I believe my grandfather has me overreaching. I had no idea I would have to hold up so many illusions at once for so long. I had been fine until my grandfather began to enter and exit the illusions at will.

I thought the original plan was for him to stay here in this realm with me and Kai as I created our images back in reality. I understand that Ardan might become suspicious of him.

I don’t know my grandfather as well as Ardan and I was bound to make a mistake. Ardan arrived suspicious of Kenji and with good reason.

“You are doing well. Relax. We are nearly done,” Kenji’s voice floats to me, telling me he has returned.

I still don’t open my eyes. My hold on things is slipping. Right now, the slightest change and I will lose it all.

“You can do this. I have faith in you. Let’s check in with each illusion so you can regain control. I’ve already reinforced the barrier around the boys, so that magic will not interfere with your tasks.”

I give him a nod of acknowledgment. It is all I can offer at the moment. Then I focus on my hands to weave the right strings to tighten each illusion as he goes.

“First, the temple. The stone must be sensed within the vault. He cannot sense that it has been moved. If he walks into the vault, it must appear to be there.”

I weave the illusion carefully, reinforcing the cracks that have begun to form. I am careful not to set off any triggers as I work. In my mind’s eye, I can see Ardan and the others keeping watch.

Ardan turns his head toward the door of the temple, and I freeze. I hold my breath until someone calls his name and he looks away.

“Slowly, he can feel higher magic. You have to move slow,” Kenji coaches.

Slowing down, I finish weaving and release a breath as I’m done. I nod to signal for my grandfather to continue. I grow frustrated when I hear him sipping tea.

Of course he is relaxed. This is second nature to him, while I’m trying not to break a sweat. However, if I lose my temper, I will lose it all.

“Good, you are calm and ready to move on to the next. The stone. It’s true presence must remain concealed as should the presence of the other with it.”

Again, I take my time to weave the thread of the illusion. In my mind, I can see the gold strings I need to pull and thread together. Time is space and space is time. I weave and thread them with my mind.

This one is harder because the power coming from the source stones is so strong. I have to increase my strength to close the final loop as the stones fight against me.

“Very well done. Let’s move to the next. Billy and ?ntikam have gotten stronger way faster than I thought. Lock them down, before he senses the change. Be careful with this one.

“They must fully merge naturally. They must awaken as one for Billy to attain a true transformation. They are not there yet, and your magic cannot interfere. Take your time.”

I think his words over, allowing the gold threads to dangle before me before I reach for them and begin to weave. This will need to be thin but strong. Impenetrable but nearly invisible.

Taking a calming breath, I begin. I use an intricate design and take my time to thread each loop and strand, making sure not to touch anything that’s not my own magic.

“Excellent. Done like a true master. Now, the last one. You and Kai must appear as normal.

“He cannot sense you are here and the two out there are illusions. Your grasp on Kai has been slipping. Don’t allow whatever you are feeling to get in the way of this. You can deal with your situation with your mate once this is all over.”

I grind my teeth bitterly. My emotions begin to rage. I didn’t have time to deal with any of my personal feelings.

“Get a grip. This is not the time. The gods don’t make mistakes. You will have time to lick your wounds after our job is done,” Kenji snaps.

I growl. Not at him but to gather my emotions and reel them in. He is right, I will be able to address the problem later.

I begin to weave the threads needed to sure up the illusion of Kai. Grandfather wanted someone I know and trust here with me. Someone who’s also a warrior who can watch my back. That could only be Kai, so she has to be here—no matter how awkward the situation.

“Very nice. The illusions are stronger than before. You learn fast. Your powers are growing stronger.

“You should be able to relax now. Have some tea. You must keep up your strength.”

I open my eyes to find my grandfather sitting across from me with his own teacup in hand. He sips at it as he looks over the cup at me.

“How much longer?” I take a chance and speak.

“Tanr? will let us know when. We are almost there. The journey is almost complete.”

“Let’s hope we still have a friend when this is over.”

“We will,” Kenji says with that wolfish grin he gets.

I’m not so sure he’s right, not after what has been done to his mate.