Page 108 of Consort of the Dragon King

“Because destiny allows choices, your proximity to Fate’s Gate means you always had an option of going through it. I merely presented you with an extra opportunity to consider doing something you were always free to do. Since Fate’s Gate is the magic of the ancients, it allowed you to have that new chance of fate without the council reprimanding me. If it was not meant to be, the gate would have remained dormant, and nothing would have changed.”

“Luckily for all of us, the ancients agreed with our opinions, so you all were blessed with the best possible outcome for your new fates,” Kizoshi added. “Shaleia had no real recourse at that point.”

“She wassomad,” Sophina said with a laugh. “It was absolutely worth the risk, though.”

Kizoshi nodded. “We could not have written a better result ourselves.”

“I don’t know how I can ever repay you for what you’ve done for all of us,” Auslin told Sophina.

“You making Kitsuki happy is all the repayment I need,” Sophina assured him.

Auslin suddenly realized something important. “Wait, if fate rewrote my life by letting me be with Kitsuki instead of Nasume, that means Nasume’s fate was also rewritten, which would affect Maseo.”

Sophina shared a look with Kizoshi. “That is correct. Maseo exists because of your decision to go through Fate’s Gate.”

Guilt ate away at Auslin. “Then it’s my fault he’s had such a miserable life with a father who hates him, which drove him to Kio and pushed me to go through Fate’s Gate?”

“There are many reasons why being a half-spider shifter is useful in being the ruling Fate and Destiny Powers,” Sophina told him. “Everything interconnects like a web.”

“It really is my fault Maseo has had such an awful life.” Auslin grew visibly upset.

“Do not feel badly, Auslin,” Kizoshi said. “This is not a bad thing.”

He threw his hands up in frustration. “How could it possibly be a good thing?”

“Maseo will live a life full of love because of you, Auslin,” Sophina said. “His earlier suffering ensures he will properly cherish that reward.”

It helped to hear that Maseo would finally have something nice happen to him, but Auslin still felt unsettled by the revelations.“But can it really make up for him living through so much pain because of me?”

Sophina dissuaded Kiribi from playing with one of her dangling earrings when the cat spirit jumped into her lap. “You do not need to feel badly about your role in Maseo’s existence. He will only have gratitude for what you did for him.”

“That’s impossible to believe, given some of the stuff I’ve heard about Nasume doing to Maseo,” Auslin said with a frown. He didn’t know many details, but the few he had heard were awful. He hated knowing he had any part to play in Maseo’s misery.

“I would not lie to you,” Sophina told him as she once again had to dissuade Kiribi from playing with her earring. “The love Maseo will have is worth suffering three lifetimes for. Just as Kio helped you understand why Kitsuki’s love is such a treasure, Maseo will learn that same lesson.”

Auslin wasn’t sure why it seemed so unbelievable to him. “I just don’t want him to suffer anymore.”

“His suffering will soon be over,” Sophina promised. “Then he will know a love he never imagined was possible for him, all thanks to you.”

“As long as he finally gets to be happy.” Auslin fervently wished for Maseo’s sake that Sophina was speaking the truth. “He deserves to have a love as great as what I have with Kitsuki.”

Kizoshi’s smile was as enigmatic as ever. “Rest assured, Maseo will have that same chance.”

When Kiribi made another attempt at biting Sophina’s earring, she booped him on the nose before turning her attention toKizoshi. “Since he keeps trying to eat my jewelry, does that mean dinner is soon?”

“Yes, and it will give you plenty of chances to ask Auslin embarrassing questions about his relationship with Kitsuki,” Kizoshi teased, laughing when Auslin blushed.

Chapter 52

Kizoshi

Sophina left after dinner, so Auslin and Kizoshi sat alone outside in one of her beautiful gardens. They sipped on ambrosia, a sweet drink Kizoshi missed whenever she was in the Living Realm.

“This place really is like heaven,” Auslin said with a contented sigh. He looked around with a sense of wonder.

“I am glad that it meets with your approval,” Kizoshi replied in a mock-serious tone. “You also did an admirable job of surviving Liros’s and Sophina’s teasing.”

Auslin blushed. “They really were nothing like I imagined. I always thought Powers were super serious all the time, but they’re both so playful.”

---