Blood On The Tide Novels & Stories

His mouth twitched into a smile, his left cheek dimpling. "Both of us are going, Troy, we're going to get on the boat now—" I said, coming back to reality. His shirt was black with blood, the crimson liquid soaking through the gaps between his fingers where his hands lay against his chest. I opened my mouth to speak but could only muster a choked cry. "I'm tired, Maeve."

Adrian was nowhere to be seen, leaving the Violet Rain Divine Bird in shock, unable to comprehend his absence. The blood-colored energy surrounding them was a barrier created by Madi, draining his life force. This blood barrier was impenetrable to outsiders. Suddenly, a voice echoed from the sea of blood, “Heh heh, kid, do you know what the worst outcome is now that you’re in my sea of blood?” Tyron and the Violet Rain Bird, listening from outside, felt a wave of shock. The blood energy surged like towering waves, trapping Adrian in a dire situation.

Once I'm in place he pulls out the chair next to me and takes a seat as I start stacking papers and flipping open the history book. I am all too aware of the shifter next to me. He's so close I can smell him. Mint and honey flood my nose, it's so overwhelming my head pounds in protest. I take my glasses off again sighing as I massage my temples. "Damn migraines." I whisper to myself.

Besides, I think they're too impatient to do things calmly. "What do you know about this wine called 'Blood of the Wise'?" Judging Orion's expression, there's no doubt, he's willing to tell him everything he wants to know. Ah. The scent of victory.

The royal blood left him in bright silver streams, pouring from every scar, every mark, every memory forced into his flesh. The broken crown above the first king cracked. Orochi’s serpent mark shattered. The White Tide Crown disappeared from above my head. Raiken looked at me through the light. The bond opened one final time. Warmth flooded my chest. A beach under a clear moon. A hidden fountain. A newborn hand around his finger. His voice against my thoughts. Live. The tide heart closed around him. I screamed his name. The first ocean collapsed. Its vast body turned to rain. The fortress vanished beneath falling water and blue light.

The tide turned in an instant, five against two becoming five against a dozen, and the Ghost saw it happen in real time. He didn’t panic. That was the unsettling part — no scramble, no fear, just a small, almost respectful nod, like a man conceding a hand of cards rather than fleeing a fight. “Reinforcements. Clever.” His pale eyes found mine one last time through the chaos. “You fight well together. Almost enough to make me reconsider. Almost.” Then he was moving, slipping through the study’s side door with the calm of someone who’d mapped his exit long before he’d ever walked in.