Page 101 of King of Tides

“What the hell?” I gasp and jump up from my seat, the box tumbling to the floor.

“Don’t be alarmed. A blessing has been given,” Kenji says.

“A voice in my head that’s not mine or my mate’s isn’t what I consider a blessing.”

“But this is your voice. You and Intikam are one. Like Ardan, you must learn you’re not alone. You can rely on others. You need Intikam and Intikam needs you.”

“He is right. We are stronger together. I will bring balance to you and you will bring balance to Ardan.”

“Why do I need you?”

“It is the world who needsus.”

“Kenji, with all due respect. I’m going to need you to explain why the fuck there’s a voice in my head. What the hell did you just do?”

“You have felt Intikam inside you for quite some time now. From the moment you came into my presence, you began to feel the awakening. All I have done is seal the bond so you are one as it should be.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m so stupid. I should have got up and left when you entered the room. Ardan warned me.”

“Well, yes, I’m sure he did. I still have a question for you. Does it feel wrong?

“Can you say Intikam doesn’t feel right? Like something you need to be apart from. Or do you feel like you have come home?”

I stand glaring at him as I take inventory of my person. Power is surging through me like never before. It’s almost scary how powerful I feel.

My hands tingle as if needing an outlet to release some of this power I feel. The hum within is welcomed, that much I’m sure of. I shake my head to clear it.

“What does this mean?”

“You are now a dual being like your mate. You can learn to be here and there. We can train you to master this gift and that weapon for the time to come,” he says.

“What’s this time you keep talking about?”

“You will see. Train first, talk more later. We go now while Ardan licks his wounds.”

“He’s upset with me?” I ask softly.

“He is upset with himself. He doesn’t know how to ask you for what he needs. He wars with what’s good for you and what’s right for everyone.”

My shoulder sag as I feel guilty for my earlier words. I didn’t mean to intentionally hurt his feelings. I know something has been going on with him.

He’s also keeping some of his thoughts from me. I didn’t used to be able to tell when he was holding back but lately it’s become clearer. That frustrates me because I’ve been leaving mine open more.

My mind goes to all he’s had to endured alone for so long. Maybe I should try a different approach. We need to talk about whatever has had him in this mood.

I think it’s time we do some heavy lifting. Not just talk, but meaningful conversations that lay out our real future, not hypothetically. Maybe it’s time I treated him to a date instead of the other way around. If I want to start to show him I’m all in I need to put actions to it.

I snap my fingers as a thought comes to me. “I need a favor. I will train with you and your ladies, but you have to help me with something special for Ardan,” I say.

“Name this thing you need, and it shall be done.”

“I need you to tell me everything you know about Ardan. All the things he loves, times in his life he has enjoyed. Things like that. I’ll take it from there,” I reply.

“I can do this.”

“Cool, but you can’t tell Ardan. Deal?” I say as I hold out my hand.

“You should know never to offer a trickster your hand to seal a deal. We will always manipulate the ties and binds of that agreement,” he says with a stern face, leaving my hand in the air. All traces of playfulness and warmth are gone.

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