Page 40 of Consort of the Dragon King

“An amulet can easily fall off while traveling or be ripped off someone’s neck. If it’s not touching the wearer directly, it won’t work. A ring is less likely to be separated from its owner.”

Kitsuki sighed. “Yes, you are right, of course. I trust your judgment to do the best thing.”

“Who is it for?”

Once again, Kitsuki fell silent for a few moments. He finally said a name so quietly, Fersen almost missed it. “Maseo.”

It took every ounce of self-control not to react to the unexpected name. “Is this the same Maseo who traveled with Kio?”

Kitsuki looked down, the shame rolling off him in waves. “It is indeed. He is the son of Nasume.”

The reminder of the wolf shifter made Fersen wrinkle his nose in distaste. “Oh, he wasawfulthe last time he was here for your three-hundredth jubilee. He must be the worst king in Talwyn.”

“I do not disagree.” Kitsuki rubbed his temple as he took a moment to compose himself. “He snuck in here earlier, and in the heat of my anger, I made some implications about his son that I fear put Maseo in danger. I cannot feel better about the situation unless I find a way to protect him with more than a mere warning.”

To say Fersen was shocked was an understatement. But he kept his reactions to himself. “May I?” Fersen gestured he wanted to touch Kitsuki.

Kitsuki nodded permission, so Fersen put his hand over the ruler’s heart. It surprised him to feel it racing despite the king’s calm outward demeanor.

“I need you to picture Maseo as clearly as you can,” Fersen instructed. “Think about how much you desire to keep him safe. Vividly imagine yourself using your magic to save Maseo from Nasume. The deeper your emotions run, the more powerful the ring will be when I extract it from your magic.” Fersen hesitated before adding, “Do not think about your guilt. Any negative feelings or doubt will weaken the ring’s power to form an effective barrier around him.”

Kitsuki took a deep breath before he closed his eyes. Fersen gave him time to focus before he extended his magic to touch the king’s. It gave Fersen a disorienting rush to experience direct access to Kitsuki’s considerable magical powers.

Due to Kitsuki’s reticence in discussing Maseo, Fersen had expected it to take the king some time to begin the formation of the enchanted ring. But it was quick to start. Fersen focused on reinforcing the thoughts he had told Kitsuki to imagine.

Once the center stone formed, it began drawing Kitsuki’s magic into it. It stunned Fersen at how strongly the king’s magic formed a protective bond for Maseo.

He was endlessly curious about where Kitsuki’s strong feelings to keep Maseo safe stemmed from. Although he didn’t know all the details, Fersen knew enough to understand Kitsuki should have despised Maseo because of his connection with Kio and Nasume. But the powerful magic pulsating in the ring told a much different story.

When it finished, Fersen used his magic to pull the ring from the depths of Kitsuki’s heart and into his palm. It was a stunning piece of platinum in the shape of a dragon protectively wrapping its wings around the large center stone, which swirled with Kitsuki’s silver dragon fire burning brightly in the center. It looked like the kind of ring he should have been giving to Auslin, so it left Fersen endlessly curious why he would create something so meaningful for a man he was supposed to hate.

It was a testament to the dragon king’s powerful magic that the ring’s creation had not physically affected him. “Here.” Fersen offered the ring to Kitsuki. “As long as Maseo is not attacked with a Divine weapon, there is nothing in the Living Realm that can break the barrier this will create around him.”

Kitsuki accepted the ring, taking a moment to study it. “I did not expect it to take this form.”

There was no delicate way to tell Kitsuki the truth. “That is your dragon’s influence on the magic. He wanted to send a clear message about who exactly was protecting Maseo.”

Kitsuki absentmindedly rubbed his hand over his heart with a conflicted expression. “That is…troublesome to hear.”

Fersen attempted to refocus the king on what mattered most. “The important thing is it will keep Maseo safe from anything Nasume could do to him. Regardless if it is magic or a weapon, the barrier your magic will erect around him will deflect it all. There is nothing else in this realm that will protect him as well as this.”

“Thank you, Fersen.” Kitsuki closed his fingers around the ring. “I will feel more at ease knowing he has this to thwart whatever terrible thing Nasume may try to do to him.”

Fersen tilted his head. “It was my honor to help, Kitsuki. If I may be so bold, I think you’ve done the right thing by making this for him.”

“This is such a strange impulse.” It clearly troubled the king. “I do not understand where it stems from.”

“Based on the power contained in the ring, I’d venture to say it is from the depths of your heart.”

Kitsuki fell quiet again. His voice was soft when he mused, “Perhaps it is so deep that it only exists in the fathoms unknown to me.”

Fersen didn’t dare tell the king that his dragon was hiding secrets from him. But the truth shined brightly in the ring, which drew considerable strength from an undercurrent of love lying beneath the magic.

Chapter 21

Kitsuki

Everything had become murkier after Kitsuki’s visit to Fersen. He had expected to see a simple ring, not a silver dragon guarding the magic meant to keep Maseo safe. The only thing more troubling than the form the ring took was his dragon’s reaction to it. That primal part of him was practically preening at their handiwork. Kitsuki’s head hurt too much to figure out why.

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