King of Tides (The Immortal Iron Brothers #3)

Chapter 39

Time to Go Home

A month later …

I ’m on first shift today. Kendrick and the others are having church but there’s a huge time difference between us. I came to get the others settle before I pop in for the meeting.

I let Reilly know I have business with Kenji, but I will be there when I’m done. Kenji said he would meet me here so we could finish the conversation we were having about my potential departure. He also said he has something he wants to share with me.

Although Kendrick told me not to rush back, I’m feeling like it’s time to return. My gut says this is no longer where I’m needed.

For three days, I’ve been reading and analyzing that page with the prophecy. Billy and I have discussed it, and still, I’m not sure I believe my father is on our side.

Why? What’s his motive after all this time? What good will this do for any of us?

I find I’m becoming more and more bitter with each day. I try not to let it show and to keep an expressionless face when others are around, but this is all festering on the inside.

“Are you okay, My King?” Dracon asks, causing me to notice I’ve been grinding my teeth.

I look up and something shifts in the air, grabbing my attention. I turn to look at the door to the temple where the vault rests and the shift happens again. I curse and storm over to the temple. Pushing my way inside, I inhale.

Magic permeates the air. I wave my hand before me and the illusion falls away. The door to the vault seems closed but the magical seal is broken. I move forward and yank the door open. The stone is not sitting where it was when I arrived and Kenji let me in.

The scent of the area says there’s been magic going on here for quite some time. I begin to growl. It’s not Kenji’s magic, but there aren’t many with the type of magic that can handle a trick like this.

“Brother?” Dracon says worriedly.

“I’ve been played,” I seethe.

“I don’t know if this is a good time to tell you this, but Kenji was walking toward this way, but then this guy appeared in his place,” Hudson says as he shoves a shaking little guy toward me.

I release a snarl. “Everyone out,” I bark.

Grabbing a hold of the frightened being, the team leaves out. I stand with my palms facing up. I need to know what happened here, did my friend betray me?

“Ben kral?m,” I rumble.

The space ices over and water begins to surround me, then begins to spin counterclockwise as it encircles me. I watch and wait.

The vault door now sits closed before me. Suddenly, a figure appears. They are large and covered with a hooded cloak. The figure moves swiftly. To my surprise, waving a hand to open the vault, they then enter.

As the figure rushes to leave, the asashin surround the exit. The figure moves with such fluidness. Their fighting style reminds me of my own and my brothers’. There are little nuances that come from our people in the way this being moves.

The asashin are holding their own, but this being keeps a slight upper hand although it seems like they are taking care not to kill anyone.

Just when I think the assassins are about to close in, a light comes out of nowhere and the figure and the stone vanish. Time seems to spend forward as I continue to watch on. The stone reappears and the vault door closes.

I pause the vision and run it back to replay it in slow motion. There … right there. I can see the threads of magic to know this was a trickster’s work. It’s not Kenji’s signature, but it’s someone who has his skills.

It sinks in that the stone has been gone the entire time I’ve been here. I release a roar that rises from my toes and shakes the ground beneath my feet.

Billy

“Thank you,” I say as I take the bottle of water offered to me after my training session. I just got finished fighting off twenty of Kenji’s best.

The next group will be starting soon, but I have time to catch my breath. The sun is beaming down in the courtyard we train in. It’s been nice enough to train outdoors lately.

As I get lost in thought, I amble over to have a seat. I start to think about that prophecy Ardan got from Kendrick the last time they had church.

I’ve read it multiple times, but I’m still not sure what it means. ?ntikam’s interest has been piqued each time I review it. Which I find very interesting.

I take a gulp of water as I sit on a bench under a cherry blossom tree. At least I finally know what’s coming. A war. A war of gods at that, but I don’t know what that means for all of us.

I can’t believe it’s been three months since we’ve been here. It’s strange but I miss home. I haven’t spoken to my sisters much. I’m assuming they are all as busy as I have been.

Mack checks in once a week. I think he’s starting to worry that Ardan has kidnapped me. I’ll have to go see him as soon as I get back. Ardan has been toying with heading back soon since there haven’t been any disturbances, and the stone is safe.

My suspension was extended as if I give a fuck. I have truly been wondering why I’m still a cop. Monsters get away with murder even when I nail them dead to rights.

I’m so tired of walking onto crime scenes to find babies as victims—that goes for young teens as well as small children. With the power I have now, I can do so much more good in the world.

“Mom, Mom,” Bourne and Beck call as they come running out to the training area where I am.

I wipe a hand under my nose to clean the blood off. Looking down, I find there are a few nicks on my arm, but they will heal up. I did a whole lot worse to the other side.

If I hadn’t taken so long to call for my weapon, I probably wouldn’t be this banged up. Once I see there’s nothing too alarming going on with me, I open my arms with a smile for the boys to run into them. They are growing so fast. These are not the same little boys I first met on that dais.

“Hey, what’s all the excitement about?”

“We finished training early today. Dad said if we were good and got our worksheets done and finished our training, we could have ice cream and watch a movie with Ren and Ford,” Bourne says excitedly.

Ardan has begun to allow them to call him Dad. I don’t know who is happier about that. They haven’t call him King Ardan since.

Some days I think they call him Dad just because they love the way it sounds. Same with calling me Mom. Their little faces light up with the words.

“Wow, that sounds like fun. Too bad I still have another session. I’m going to miss out on the movie.”

“We will save you a seat for when you’re done,” Beck says giving me a cute little smile.

“Aw, thank you. We’ll see what happens.”

“Training is important. We understand,” Bourne says.

I give him a smile and ruffle his hair. He’s not wearing his ponytail today, causing his long blond locks to spill in his eyes. So stinking adorable.

“I heard you two are going for your next belt with Master Kenji this evening. You two might have to become my tutors.”

They both laugh and hug me. ?ntikam sighs in my head. I can feel the love it has for the two of them. I once thought ?ntikam was a male spirit, but as of late I haven’t been sure.

There’s this maternal instinct that comes from the spirit. Male, female, ?ntikam is a protector and nurturer. I think we both want to see these two happy and healthy.

“Speaking of your dad, have you seen him?” I ask, hoping the four of us can have lunch together after my next session.

“He said something about going to church, but he didn’t go into Master Kenji’s temple,” Beck says with a frown.

I snicker. “It’s not that type of church.”

“Oh, so he didn’t tell a lie?” he says, looking at me cautiously.

“No, he didn’t. He went to meet with the other kings.”

“He doesn’t lie to us anyway. You have to pay attention. Master Kenji took him some place. They walked off talking while you were messing with your shoe,” Bourne says and rolls his eyes.

“Oh, I missed that.”

“It’s okay. We’ll catch up with him later.”

I’m a little disappointed but we’ll catch up with him when he’s not busy. It’s been a while since Kenji has been a part of my trainings. I haven’t thought much about it but for some reason it sticks out to me now.

“Can we go to church next time? We want to see King Bradan,” Bourne says, pulling my attention.

“No, maybe when you get older and become Iron Brothers you can, but for now you will see your uncle Bradan when we go home.”

Bourne’s eyes light up. “I can’t wait to become a prospect.”

“Are we going home soon?” Beck asks, hope filling his eyes.

“I think we are.”

Suddenly, a bone-chilling roar fills the air. I lift my head and jump to my feet. ?ntikam lifts its head. I hold out my hand to my side as I call for my weapon.

“Get behind me,” I command.

“But we can fight,” the boys say and take a stance.

“I said, get behind me now,” I demand with more force.

They quickly run behind me and hold hands. Power hums through me as I feel the glow of ?ntikam surging through me.

“Mom, you’re glowing blue,” Beck says in awe.

“What was that?” Bourne whispers.

“I don’t know. Just stay behind me. I will keep you safe,” I say.

My eyes widen as Ardan enters the courtyard with all six of our guards. He looks pissed, but the moment he sees me, his face contorts with so much fury and rage, I take a step back.