Page 93 of King of Tides

“You will meet them,”he says with a smile in his voice.

Ardan

“You are hostile toward me,brother. What has brought you here like this?”

“I fell into Billy’s past. I found her in the presence of one of yours. She has been dragon-touched in a past life. You were working for my father back then.

“What is your role in all of this? Why is my mate reacting to you?”

“Is it your mate reacting to me? Or is it her spirit reacting to home? What you see is never what is happening. What you feel will confuse you more. It is what you know that will lead you to answers and none of us know anything,” he replies.

I turn on him swiftly and grab him by his shirt. I throw him against the nearest wall. Thankfully they are all solid on this level. Otherwise, I would have thrown him through it.

“Don’t give me your riddles. I am not one of your puppets to dance around. When it comes to my mate, you don’t want to test me,” I snarl.

“Dear old friend, you would think I were a nefarious character,” he says as he reaches to pry my hand from his shirt. “I am an old man with too much time on his hands. I trust you to remember there was a long time when my familiar roamed freely.

“You would have to be more specific on the time. When was she touched? Are you absolutely sure it was my dragon? My brother, too, had dragons who roamed freely.”

I narrow my eyes. My mind goes back to Billy’s words. Would he really compromise the stone to play one of his games?

“Is this all a game? Did they truly come for the stone?”

“You and I both know the consequence of placing your stone in danger. I would do no such thing. I think we have been apart for too long. You are questioning my friendship, my loyalty, and my character.”

I take a step back and pull a hand down my face. I think for a moment. Kenji still has access to step through to the gods.

Although he is my friend, I have always engaged him with caution. However, I know him well enough to know he would never compromise his position or access. He holds favor with them, but if my stone were taken because of his games, they would not hesitate to reprimand him, which could lead to his access being denied.

“Perhaps you are right. Forgive me. Billy is everything I’ve waited for. I know you mean well, but don’t fuck with her. I have no tolerance for her being hurt. Not even for a second,” I say.

“I am here to help, my friend. As this involves your feelings, consider allowing her to train with my assassins. I can feel her powers are still somewhat locked.

“Training here will only ensure she’s never hurt. Take this as my gift, old friend.”

“I will think about it. Her training is being interrupted by our presence here,” I muse.

“I am at your disposal. Now, about the boys.”

“What about them? Have the transformations started again?”

“No, not that the perpetrator hasn’t tried. They’re just unable to get by me. I want you to consider this.

“One can be happy of mind but not of heart. My illusions are dealing with the mind. Those boys still need someone to attend to their hearts.”

That figure in the visions comes to mind. What if whoever is trying to access the boys succeeds in getting by Kenji and taints their hearts because that’s what I’m failing to address.

“When I am not guarding the stone, I will spend more time with them.”

Kenji sighs. “You are already spending yourself thin. Besides, you and I both know the way of the water titans. It’s a mother’s love that cures their hearts. Why don’t you allow Billy to do it?”

“She is not ready. Her fears will confuse them.”

“Will they?” he asks and tilts his head to study me. “Or are your fears getting in the way? You can feel her love, but that’s not enough. You fear the titans will reveal motherhood is unwanted.”

I work my jaw as his words hit their mark. I will be as patient as I need to be with Billy, but I have not fooled myself intobelieving all her fears will be healed miraculously and she will want to have children of our own.

“I still know you well, my friend and I can see through her. Her heart is not as fragile as you think it is. Nor is she as indifferent to love as you believe.

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