SOLVED. YA/Mature m/m possibly m/m/m story ft members of an Assassins Guild falling in love in the Feudal Era. [s]

[Jessi]

I read this story when I was maybe a sophomore in high school so its over 9 years old at this point. The Story from what I can recall was one where two boys were taken from their homes and raised as assassins. I am not sure if this was a regular part of their culture or if their parents sold them. Either way, they ended up there where they became friends. It had a pretty cliché beginning so children died and it was survival of the fittest. What made it different is that depending on one's looks and how well they did they ended up going into one of two factions. The first was your run of the mil assassins that worked in the dark. The second was more of an out and open assassins. They took lives while seducing people basically.

I remember that each boy went into one of the other. Now, I say this story is YA because I don't remember it being overly explicit. Granted I read a lot of dirty stuff in my life by that point so it was probably just a little more tame than others.

Some key plot points I remember is that they had a ritual or tradition for people who made it past a certain point. Basically they got to get their V taken by someone from the other faction. It ended up with the main guy being able to boink the other dude.

The Story ended rather strangly in that some guy who was barely in the story joined their unit and they all maybe started dating each other. It was to clear. It was truly random because the third guy didn't even made himself known as a potential till the last three pages at best. But it does end on a rather happy note. I believe that they ended up running away from the whole thing cause staying would have gotten them killed.

The title of the book is the code name tat each character went by. I feel like it was Tiger, Waterlily, ?

I know Tiger cause there was on on the front cover. There was also a bird as well. Possible another big cat.
This story was one of my favorites at that age so I would really love to be able to find it. I thank you for any and all assistance.

[SamSpayedPI]

Could it be something on the Best Gay Sci-Fi/Fantasy Assassins and Spies list? I didn't see a tiger there, but maybe you'll find something that seems familiar.

[Jessi]

No, sadly I didn't see it. I remember the front cover featuring the titled animals/plants in a very complex art style. May have been done with very little color. I say Japan but it could have been a different Asian nation. I can't remember anyone's actual name but I do remember that they went by codes.


I think the guy who turned into a pleasure assassin ending up killing someone rather important during the climax.

[Becca]

Moonlight, Tiger and Smoke by Connie Bailey?

[SamSpayedPI]

Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke for Becca's link.

It looks quite likely, but in any event I'm adding it to the Gay Sci-Fi/Fantasy Assassins list.

[Jessi]

Yay that is it!!
I am not sure where I got waterlily from lol. Ah yes smoke. That random guy who appeared out of nowhere would be named smoke 🤣

[Jessi]

Thank you so much Becca and Sam

[SamSpayedPI]

All thanks go to Becca, but I'm glad you found your book!