Page 17 of Consort of the Dragon King

“If I’ve repaid several times over, then you’re actually in my debt,” Kio argued.

The comment angered Auslin. “I’ve more than paid my debt for every time I patiently waited for you while you were away with Maseo and for all the times I said nothing when you used me as a substitute in Maseo’s absence. I’m done with you, Kio. It’s over between us. It has been for a long time.”

“No, it’s not!”

“It is if you know what is good for you,” Kitsuki threatened.

Kio launched an attack but was stopped by Auslin drawing a protective barrier around himself and Kitsuki. He pulsated his powers to force Kio back. “I’m not some prize to be fought over!” Auslin ran his fingers through his hair in agitation. “You don’t even want me! You’re only mad because I chose your brother instead of you.”

“Halfbrother.” Kio refused to be deterred. “This isn’t over!”

“No, it’s been over for a long time—even longer than I’ve been gone. Do us both a favor and go away in peace.”

“But I love you, damn it!”

Auslin’s smile was tinged with sadness. “I waited a long time to hear you say those words, but they’re meaningless now. I’ve stopped living my life for your sake. It’s over, Kio.”

“Like hell it is!” Kio shouted.

Auslin took hold of Kitsuki’s arm. “Let’s go.”

“With pleasure,” Kitsuki replied. He sheathed his sword, then gathered Auslin into his arms. The dragon shifter spread his white wings to fly them to the temple. Auslin heard Kio angrily shouting at them, but nothing in the world would ever make him return to his former lover. Not when Kitsuki was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

“Why did you defend Maseo?” Kitsuki asked as they flew to the temple.

“Why is that your first question?” It seemed like the last thing Kitsuki would want to focus on from the encounter.

Kitsuki was silent for a long moment before answering. “You meant it when you said you care more about Maseo than Kio. Why?”

Auslin shrugged. “Because it’s true?”

“How can you say that, knowing he was the reason Kio cheated on you so much?”

“Kio cheated because he wanted to. The other person is almost irrelevant at that point. But he treated Maseo even worse than me. Why wouldn’t I want Maseo to find the kind of happiness we have?”

“How can your heart be so forgiving?”

Auslin shrugged. “All he wanted was to be loved. It was unfortunate we both chose a person who was incapable of loving us the way we both deserved. I have you now, but he has no one. It feels wrong. He deserves our kind of happiness, too.”

“Your heart is a remarkable gift.” Kitsuki gave Auslin a gentle kiss that went a long way to reassuring the human everything was okay between them.

“Did you really not know Maseo was Nasume’s son?” Auslin asked.

“Nasume did everything he could to make the world forget about his half-human son. He never used Maseo’s name in front of me, so I did not make the connection between them.” Kitsuki frowned as he shook his head. “I could smell he was a member of the Venrik pack, but because Maseo never acted as arrogantly as Nasume or his cousin, I assumed Maseo was related to a distant member of the family I had never met.”

It made sense to Auslin based on his own perspective of the situation. “I had never been to Kunushi, so I didn’t know who the king was. Let alone understand who Nasume was before I went through Fate’s Gate. Maseo is nothing like Nasume, so even knowing the truth, I still can’t believe they’re father and son.”

Auslin expected Kitsuki to ask questions about Kio, but he remained silent until they landed on the grounds of the Fate’s Gate Temple. Before Auslin could say anything, an older mage exiting the temple exclaimed in shock, “Auslin, you’ve finally returned! And you’ve, uh—brought company?”

“This is Hessing, one of the elders here at the temple,” Auslin introduced him.

Hessing bowed low in front of the ruler. “It is a genuine pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty. Thank you for honoring us with your presence here.”

Kitsuki tilted his head in acknowledgment but remained silent. It was another reminder to Auslin that Kitsuki and Kitaro were twoverydifferent people.

The older mage still seemed uncertain about Kitsuki’s presence, but he continued to be unfailingly polite. “If you will excuse me, I have an appointment in town that I must leave for now. Auslin, we’ll catch up later, yeah?”

“Of course,” Auslin warmly told him.

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