Chapter 10 #2
The temptation to slug the imposter was even greater than before.
Which reminded him of what had led to that kiss.
Ronan.
Rubbing his thumb across his bottom lip that still tingled with the memory of her kiss, he inclined his head to her. I’ll take care of summoning my friend.
She gasped as he sent that thought to her.
The fact that Masakage wasn’t in his head, asking him what he’d said only confirmed what he knew.
His brother wasn’t here.
And that infuriated him. But at least he knew Masakage was a survivor. They might have him for a moment…
Gods help them when he regained his feet. His brother didn’t go down without a massively brutal fight.
Which made him wonder what sick game this was. What shifter would dare impersonate Masakage?
And why?
Not that it mattered. He would find his brother, and he would skin this imposter alive.
With that thought in mind, he headed for his horse and pulled out one of Candara’s potions and the small whistle he’d been given years ago.
The whistle was part of a relay set up for him specifically by Ronan.
Unlike the others, I know you won’t use this unless you really need to.
Because Ronan understood that it physically hurt for Xaydin to reach out to others for help. The only reason he was doing this now was for his brother.
For Gisela.
“What are you doing?” the imposter asked.
Masakage would have known the answer. “I’m letting Dash know that we’re on our way,” he lied.
He locked gazes with Gisela who inclined her head to him to let him know that she was in agreement with whatever he sought to do.
They were united in this.
Whatever was going on, they’d get to the bottom of it.
Discreetly, he blew the whistle, knowing that even here it’d travel to whatever fowl creature heard it and they would relay the call to Ronan who’d find him.
In the meantime…
He pulled out one of Candara’s strongest potions. The purple liquid swirled. This would taste disgusting. Why she couldn’t make an appetizing potion was beyond him. Sometimes he wondered if she took pleasure in making them as nasty as possible.
Shivering at the thought of tasting it, he steeled his taste buds and took a drink of it.
As expected, it was akin to drinking sludge shat out of the back end of something dying.
It took everything he had not to gag.
You owe me, brother.
While he knew it would be powerful, what he didn’t expect was the way it would slam into his stomach like a fist and cause him to fall to his knees.
Thankfully, his horse was used to such. But Gisela rushed to his side.
“Are you all right?”
He couldn’t answer. His consciousness was being stripped from his body and sent out toward Masakage’s.
Xaydin gasped as he found himself in…
Tenmaru?
It was the only place he knew that held such peaceful gardens. Luminescent butterflies shimmered in the daylight as they danced over a variety of flowers. The sun held a peculiar cast to it as it highlighted Masakage sitting in the middle of the garden with his legs tucked beneath him.
“Meditating? Really?”
Masakage opened one eye to look up at him. “About time you realized I wasn’t with you.” Ironically, there was no judgment or emotion whatsoever in that tone. He merely spoke fact.
“What happened to you?”
“Your irritating little ferryman. While you were under the sea, I was ambushed.”
Bloody figured. He should have checked for that. Should have realized he couldn’t trust anyone. “Where are you?”
“Being held by King Mardyth in his palace, under the sea. He wants to make sure you bring home his son as he doesn’t trust you to abide by your word.”
Xaydin walked a small circle around him. “And who’s this new asshole I’m having to deal with who pretends to be you?”
He smirked at Xaydin’s choice of words. “A spy hired by the king. You should be familiar with such.”
Xaydin ground his teeth in frustration. “Are you in any danger?”
“No. King Mardyth is treating me like a guest. He just doesn’t trust you to take care of his son without added—”
“Stress?”
“Incentive is the word the king used. Since I’m underwater, he knows I can’t leave without their assistance.”
Of course not. “And he sent a fucking shape shifter to babysit me?”
“I tried to warn him how you’d react if you discovered his ruse. Sadly, he thought me a liar.”
“Let the fish know that I’m not happy about this.”
“Already accomplished.”
He could just imagine. Though he was quite certain Masakage had been much more polite in conveying Xaydin’s displeasure. His brother was terribly irritating that way.
“Can you reach me, if you need me?”
Masakage gave him that infamous droll stare. “I don’t think that’s nearly as much a problem as you reaching me.”
Valid point. “I will get you out of this.”
“I have all faith in you.” Could he have sounded more sarcastic?
Not that it mattered. Mardyth had no idea what forces he was playing with and Xaydin didn’t care for games like this.
It was one of the reasons why he didn’t seek his father’s throne.
He didn’t want to play nice with those he couldn’t stand.
Be cordial to enemies. It was bad enough he had to stomach the mongrel masquerading as his brother.
How anyone such as Dash could do this full time…
He shivered more than when he’d drunk his sister’s concoction.
“I’ll be back for you, Kage.”
“I know. Just be careful. I don’t trust the king’s man he sent to watch you. And neither should you.”
“You know I don’t.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
Gisela scowled at the Masakage imposter. “I don’t know.” Xaydin seemed to be in a trance. She’d barely been able to guide his massive body to the ground before he’d succumbed to whatever spell had him enthralled.
At least she assumed it was a spell. She could have sworn she saw him take a drink of a potion before he’d gone down. But at this point…
She wasn’t sure of anything other than how large a beast he was. His head was cradled in her lap while she stroked his cheek. Nothing could wake him. For all intents and purposes, he appeared to be asleep.
Or dead.
“What did you do?” she whispered, anxious to know if this was planned or not.
He’d given her a knowing look right before he’d gone down. Had she misread it? Maybe it’d been a look begging for help.
She almost laughed out loud at the thought of Xaydin asking for help.
No, he’d never do that. He’d rather die.
So what exactly was happening? Why didn’t she have some of Masakage’s abilities?
Anything?
Instead, she was helpless as she sat on the ground, holding the head of a virtual stranger. She’d laugh if it didn’t hurt so much. She despised this helplessness. It reminded her too much of her childhood. Of having no sovereignty over herself. Of being powerless against others.
It was what had made her such a vicious warrior. That fury that refused to be at the mercy of others.
No more!
But she couldn’t control this.
“Speak to me, X. Say something.”
He took in a deep breath before he opened his eyes and met her gaze.
An unbelievable wave of relief tore through her. She hadn’t realized until then that she’d been holding her breath. Not until she met those gorgeous eyes that captivated her.
“Hello.”
Grimacing, he blinked. “Hi.”
She laughed at his confusion. “You had me worried. Where did you go?”
“No place. I would say I fainted, but I think the potion’s fumes grabbed me.”
“What potion?”
Xaydin cursed as he realized the imposter was standing near them. Damn it!
His attention had been captivated fully by Gisela and the fact that his head rested in her lap. He’d never had so comfortable a pillow before.
But now he had something much less pleasant to contend with.
Growling low in his throat, he rolled out of her lap and stood to face the irritating look-alike. “What have I missed?”
“Nothing.”
Xaydin dusted himself off and sighed. “Well then, let’s get off this damnable island and be about our business. Shall we?”
The imposter nodded. “What’s our first order?”
“I’ll summon an Outlaw to let Dash know that we’ve taken care of the contract. While we wait for our contact, we’ll head after Mardyth’s son.”
“You’re really planning to do that?” the imposter asked with enough sincerity that Xaydin could almost believe him.
“Gave my word. Not something I renege on.” He exchanged an amused smile with Gisela who shook her head at him.
But it wasn’t really amusing. His brother’s life hung in the balance, and he needed to get Masakage out of that watery tomb where he was being held.
Hopefully, word would reach Ronan within a day, possibly two and then Ronan would find his way to them.
In the meantime, he had to make sure that the imposter or another didn’t plunge a dagger into their backs.