Page 123 of King of Tides

“Wait, oh god. Does this mean that one water fairy who talks too much will be able to bust in talking all the time?”Billy asks through our link, causing me to laugh.

“No, you don’t have to let anyone in you don’t want to. They know the rules. It’s not a social line. It’s for community business and emergencies. Unless there’s a bond with someone who wants to talk, you can shut them out like you do me.”

“Shut up before you’re the only one I don’t let in.”

I give a laugh and smile at her. Our life will always be entertaining.“I’m so glad I found you. I love you, Billy.”

“I love you too.”

Nuvos begins and we fall silent. The temple is filled with excitement. The queens are finally officially taking their thrones. This is huge for the community. We can definitely use the boost in morale around here.

No sooner than I have the thought things begin to go wrong. Our mates begin to lift into the air. Their heads are thrown back and their mouths open. This shouldn’t be happening like this.

My thoughts go to our babies. I don’t know what to do as panic I’ve never felt before fills me. My brain is trying to process what’s happening.

“Nuvos, what’s happening?” Kendrick is the first to demand. “Nuvos.”

I look to Nuvos to see he’s still chanting. Confused, I turn my attention back to Billy. She and her sisters now have their palmsturned out at their sides. Water jumps from Billy’s palm into Lee Ann’s palm and from Lee Ann’s palm flows sand into Ray’s and Lightning jumps from Ray’s palm to Taylor’s. I watch as flames jump from Taylor’s palm to Billy’s. Then the cycle continues.

A beam of blue light surrounds Nuvos as the sisters remain suspended above us. I’m so enthralled as I watch what’s happening, I’m taken by surprise when Dracon mind-links me and the rest of the guard.

“Bardo is here. I tried to fight him off, but he has the titans. He’s not alone. We’re under attack.”His voice sounds weak.

“Ocean, find Dracon and get him to the infirmary. Ren, assist her. Hudson and Ford, find the boys. The rest of the team, you are needed in the temple.”

As I finish the mind link intruders rush the temple. I only have an instant to react. Kendrick has thrown a tornado of wind around the sisters as they are still floating in the air. Bradan follows with a wall of fire. Quickly, I throw up a wall of ice.

Before I can release and go on the attack, I’m hit with something so heavy it carries me back and pins me to the wall. I hit my head against the wall, and I’m dazed at first.

When I regain my focus my first instinct is to fight against the web of chains. However, I look to Kendrick and Bradan and see it’s futile. The more they fight, it’s like their powers are attacking them.

I look to Reilly, and he has gone still within his confines. I do the same. The way to help my family is to remain calm.

Billy

The strangest feelingcomes over me and I’m thrown back in time. Nothing feels familiar to me. It’s like I’m seeing through someone else’s eyes. Then I realize I am.

“Su-Vaha wishes for you to enter the ceremony through the path of the gods. Come this way.”

This is Sevimli. I can feel it. His excitement for his brother is flowing through me. We follow the man who seems off to me, but I’m not in control to stop Sevimli.

We come out of the path, and I can see what looks like a ceremony happening below. Tanri. He is leading the ceremony. I know right away who he is.

Suddenly as we watch Tanri lift one of the babies from the basket, two men jump out and grab Sevimli to restrain him. He fights back, but they overpower him.

“It’s time to pick a side, Sevimli. Tanri and the losing side or go against your brother and Su-Vaha will be spared.”

“How dare you? You will not get away with this. Release me. Release me now,” Sevimli roars.

“Let me put this another way. Your son or your brother? Choose now,” the man who led him this way says as he holds up a small child.

A strangled whimper comes from Sevimli’s throat. He reaches out his arms and the child is placed within his embrace. In the next breath, one of the men releases a ball of energy down below.

“We are gathered here to bless these four—” Booms loudly from afar before the words are cut off.

I know right away the voice is Tanri’s. The next sound I hear is the strangled sob of Sevimli.

“Yakisikli, Yakisikli. My brother. No, Yakisikli.”

---