Page 139 of Consort of the Dragon King

A knock interrupted them before Auslin burst into the room, looking between the two men with a worried expression. “Is everything okay?” Auslin asked in concern.

Although it took all Kitsuki’s willpower, he knew it was the right thing to do. “I will wait outside for you. Please do not forget about our lunch with King Kehnon.” With those words, Kitsuki walked out of the room, praying he wasn’t making a mistake by leaving the two men alone.

Chapter 70

Auslin

The last thing Auslin had expected was Kitsuki to leave him alone with Eldin. He could only stammer, “O-okay,” and watch in confusion as Kitsuki left. It made him turn to Eldin. “What happened?”

When Eldin didn’t immediately answer, Auslin grew increasingly concerned. “Please tell me, Eldin.”

“Knowing he loves you so much should make it easier for me to stop loving you, but it doesn’t.” Eldin clenched his hands into fists at his side as he struggled with his emotions. “I hate he didn’t come in here growling and making threats at me so I could prove to you he only thinks of you as property.”

“It’s not like that between us. Kitsuki truly loves me.”

Tears welled up in Eldin’s eyes. “So do I.”

“I’m so sorry,” Auslin apologized, still feeling awful for the hurt he was unwittingly inflicting on his friend.

“Are you sorry you fell in love with someone else?” Eldin bitterly asked.

Auslin tried to be as delicate as possible. “I’m sorry for hurting you with my choice, but I don’t regret becoming Kitsuki’s mate. I’ll never regret that decision.”

Eldin was silent as he stared at the floor. “Why couldn’t you have fallen in love with me instead?” When Auslin didn’t immediately answer, it made him continue. “I could tell that night you shared my feelings. Why didn’t you come back to me when Kio left you for Maseo?”

“Because that’s not what happened. Maseo and I left Kio. It was the best thing for both of us to have a chance at happiness.”

“Happiness? Maseo doesn’t deservehappiness,” Eldin spat with a vehemence that scared Auslin. “He deserves death for what he did to you.”

“No, he doesn’t!” Auslin’s temper flared at Eldin’s unfair reaction. He hadn’t realized his friend would have such a cruel mindset. It made Auslin fear what would happen if Eldin and Maseo’s paths crossed if the half-shifter ended up following Auslin to Sybir. Guilt gnawed at Auslin because he might have inadvertently put Maseo in more danger. “Maseo didn’t do anything to me. Kio made his choices.”

“And Maseo made it easier for him by chasing him around from city to city like a little puppy dog,” Eldin argued. “He wanted you to suffer.”

“He wanted to be loved!” Auslin’s heart ached for what he and Maseo had both been through because of Kio. “I don’t blame him. Kio’s the only one who deserves any kind of retribution for what he did to us.”

Eldin’s laugh had a hysterical edge to it that unsettled Auslin. “Do you forgive Maseo for what he did to you?”

“I’m saying he never did anything that requires forgiveness. Why can’t you understand the blame lies solely with Kio?”

“Because Maseo is equally responsible in my eyes. You’re being too lenient because you’re kind.”

Auslin scowled. “And you’re being too cruel because you’re mad at Kio for hurting me. If all I want for Maseo is for him to find happiness and love, why would you wish him harm?”

“Because they both deserve to die for what they did to you.”

Nothing good could come from the circular argument. Auslin refocused Eldin’s attention by answering his previous question. “Truthfully, there’s a part of me that regretted stopping when we did and going back to Kio. I spent a lot of nights wondering what would have happened if we hadn’t stopped. But for the longest time, I didn’t think I deserved someone who loved me the way you did. Then I finally found what I was looking for in Kitsuki.”

“You didn’t even give me the chance to make you happy,” Eldin protested. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t have done to show you how much I love you.”

It hurt to hear, but Auslin forced himself to endure it as punishment. “I know I have no right to ask for forgiveness, but I hope you’ll understand one day.”

Eldin reached out and caressed Auslin’s cheek. “I’ll never stop loving you.”

When Eldin leaned closer, Auslin feared he would kiss him on the lips. It was a relief he settled for a forehead kiss. “I hope you understand I love you enough to step back and let you be happy with your mate,” Eldin said. “There’s no harder decision in thislife for me than to let someone else do the one thing I want most in this life.”

“Thank you,” Auslin whispered in relief.

“But if he ever hurts you, I don’t care that he’s a king. I’ll fight him for your sake,” Eldin swore.

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