King of Inferno (The Immortal Iron Brothers #2)

Chapter 1

Lifting the Veil

T ime is like a grain of sand blown away in the wind or swallowed up by the depths of the ocean—for us, it doesn’t exist. We are in all moments.

We are in the past, present, and the future. Time is the one gift I have reserved. I’ve always had an understanding of who each of my sons would be. I gifted them with powers that would suit their temperaments.

I had also intended to gift them with companions who matched their essence and would complete them. They were not meant to know loneliness as they weren’t meant to know the fractured concept of human time.

The start of the wars changed it all. Their mates were stolen from them. This was the first wrong I needed to right.

“Why is it you are following me?” I say as I stop in the corridor as I make my way to the ethereal pools.

I turn my head slightly to the left as I feel the presence of my sibling. Everyone I’ve trusted has an assignment to carry out. Rüya is no different. He and Gü? have worked closely together on this mission.

“I didn’t know she would give her life,” he says from behind me.

Thunder sounds outside and rumbles through the corridor as my anger rises from him questioning me. He doesn’t need to know the ins and outs of what I have planned; he only needs to do his part.

“Have you done what I’ve asked of you?” I rumble, my back still to him.

It’s not like he’s in a form that will be visible to the naked eye anyway. Rüya is one who likes to remain in our original form. Pure energy.

“Yes, the dreams have begun. The veil has been lifted. He can feel her now. It is only a matter of time.”

Time. I snort. Everyone uses the word so freely without understanding its true meaning or purpose.

“You have insured she will remember what I have gifted her with?”

“Yes, brother. She will come into her true nature. The dreams will guarantee this.”

“Well done.”

“Tanr?, Gü? … is she really gone?”

“Are we ever truly gone? You know as well as I do. You cannot destroy energy. It is re-formed to manifest in another form. Gü? will always be with us. Her purpose has just changed.”

With that, I continue walking. Everyone has a part to play. Even I will play my part.