MasukREDIf Ren was losing patience, then I knew I was not going anywhere with the training. I felt like I let him down and everyone back home. But I was exhausted and too impatient to get something done quickly.“It’s simple. Change your style to the side, lift, and cut. But faster and more precise, and that’s the only chance you have before your opponent sees your fucking weakness.”I breathed hard. “Maybe I’m just not for this.”“Oh, really?” His eyes narrowed at me. “What happened to the woman yesterday who said I wanna learn everything. Whatever fear you have in you, that’s what gets you killed and everyone around you. You’re the weakest one that they have to risk their lives to protect. Do you wanna be just a pathetic little human? Go ahead. Let’s stop pretending we’re going somewhere, because you’re not up for this. You’re not ready, and never will be. Something is holding you back, and I can’t help you break that barrier because, honestly, you don’t want me to help you. And I’m so
RED“What’s bothering you, child?” Hearing the word child reminded me of Zarah. That was the first thing I noticed.Gasping, I opened my eyes to an old man with white hair and a long white goatee before me. He was wearing traditional dress, but I couldn’t quite pinpoint its origin. His eyes were Asian, and he had an accent.He sat before me, the same way I sat while meditating.“Um, how do you know something’s bothering me?”“Well, you’ve been trying to meditate, but you couldn’t focus. You’re doubting why you’re here, doubting that you have a gift, and scared it might change you into something you don’t want to be.“Have you met people like me?”“Doubtful? Yes.”I smiled. “A tribrid.”“You’re not a tribrid until you’re the three. Right now, you’re just a human who has enhanced senses with rapid healing.”“You’re right. I’m just human.” My shoulders drooped. Sighing, I said, “I don’t know who I am anymore.”“If you could save a lot of people, but to do that, you have to sacrifice a pa
ZaxWhenever I met my enemies, I made sure to look them directly in the eyes.They said the window to someone’s soul was their eyes, but the only thing I saw was blazing fury mixed with despair. Interesting.Goddess, I wish Red were here to read what’s in this asshole’s head.“You killed my men?” The roar in his voice should send chills down my spine, but I felt nothing for them other than regret that I wasn’t the one who took the lives of those useless pieces of shit.“I’m not sure. I killed a lot of men. As I said, give me the names and their pictures to confirm their identities. And when you called for this meeting, then you must have known your men crossed the line they shouldn’t.”For a split second, I saw a flicker of something that looked like hope in those brown eyes, but his entire body contracted with wrathful anger as he gestured at his man.I leaned back in the chair, keeping an eye on his movement and the ones outside. When I walked in, I counted eight of his men on their
ZAXAnger, fear, and frustration burned through me. Though along with those emotions, the slimmest shred of hope and victory appeared. Finally, the faceless enemy had a name.“Is everything okay?”I turned to Slade. My anger faded. “It’s nothing. I have to go.”He didn’t buy my excuse. He saw what I did, and he’d known me long enough to know if I was lying.Worried was deep in his frown as he nodded. “Okay. Be careful out there.”“Innocence is bliss, Fizty. Thank you. You, too. Take care.”As we got to the lobby, I noticed Clay’s gaze like a hawk, scanning the area. Gillean opened the door to the backseat of the Mercedes-Benz.As I got in, I was surprised to see Dane Colin already sitting next to me.“I should have known. You called me from the lobby.”His cold blue eyes bore into mine. “Congratulations. I heard the wedding is next week,” he said in a perfect Japanese accent.Dane and I had history. We both were trained by the same master a decade apart. And then we met again when he
REDDay two. I survived day one. We had breakfast, but I could still see the anger brewing in his eyes.“I was trying to find food for almost an hour, and I honestly couldn’t find anything. How do I know that you didn’t use your powers to get into another wood to pick up mushrooms and catch a rabbit? So, I thought of the lake. And they say, there’s always fish in the lake.”“Shut up.”I hid my smile as we shared breakfast in silence.He then packed up again and took me to a more plain land in a clearing. We meditated. He said it could reduce stress and enhance my mental and physical well-being.I could barely concentrate when everything around me made sounds, and I loved the tweeting of birds and the rustling of leaves.“Focus and ignore the noises around you. I can hear your thoughts scrambling.”I looked at him sitting beside me. Scratch that. He was literally floating. “Oh, wow. How do you do that? Teach me how.”“It’s the element.”“Oh.” The dismay in my voice was instant, making
ZAX“Oh, so, you’re still alive.” Slade Fitzroy snorted as he scrolled his gaze at me, from head to toe.I snarled. “You’re getting older and fat, old man.”“Did you just say fat?” His brown eyes narrowed.“Yes. Fat and old. What are you gonna do, huh?”He rubbed his belly. “It’s Ellie. If I don’t know her any better, I think she’s trying to give me a heart attack. She’s been cooking a lot lately.”“But she’s a good cook.”“Oh, yeah.” He beamed. Pride glinted in his eyes. “She’s got a new sauce for the barbecue, and damn.”“Really?” I couldn’t help but smile.“She missed you, old boy.”I laughed as I opened my arms. “Give me a hug. I miss you, too, Fitzy.”“Oh, come on.” He hated it when I hugged him and lifted him. But he did it anyway. Deep inside, I knew he missed it when we were still young.Faking a groan, I released him from a hug. “Yeah. You gained a lot of weight. You should save for the antihypertensive drug.”“Dickhead.” He smoothed his suit and went back to the chair to sta







