Page 50 of Consort of the Dragon King

“He’s only saying that because he doesn’t think I’m going to come live in his library,” Sephen stage-whispered, making everyone laugh again.

“In fairness, he’s still getting to know you.” Auslin looked at his younger brother fondly. “I love that the only thing that will get you to leave our library at the temple is another library.”

“Another library?” Sephen indignantly repeated. “No, this is thebestlibrary. No one else in any realm could have a more impressive one.”

Kisano wasn’t a prideful shifter by nature, but the praise clearly pleased him. “I do not think I would go quitethatfar.”

“Brother, you are far too modest,” Kitsuki said. Their library was probably the biggest in the Living Realm, largely due to Kisano’s voracious efforts at expanding it. “We are lucky we have Enchanters that can easily accommodate your necessary expansions.”

Sephen tilted his head with a questioning expression. “What do you mean?”

“My brother has always been very generous in allowing me free rein to expand the library’s collection as I see fit,” Kisano answered. “Whenever I push the limits of my shelving, our Enchanters use their magic to create more space and make new shelves to accommodate the expansion.”

Auslin hummed with interest. “Sothat’swhy it looked so much bigger than when I was here before. I thought it was my imagination.”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Sephen looked back and forth between Kitsuki and Kisano in amazement. “Are you seriously telling me whenever you want a bigger library, these Enchanters use magic to build you more shelves and storage space? They wave their hands, and you get a new library annex expansion?”

Kisano blushed at Sephen’s excitement. “Yes.”

“Seriously? Like, for real?” Sephen emphatically demanded.

“The entire castle is built with magic, which is how we can expand it without cost to our people,” Kitsuki told Sephen, amused by his animated reactions.

“You have an infinitely expanding library,” Sephen said in awe and disbelief. “As in, you can buy all the books in the world, and your library keeps growing to whatever size you need.”

“That is correct,” Kisano confirmed.

“Auslin!” Sephen exclaimed in outrage as he stared at his brother. “Infinite. Library.Theyactuallyhave aninfinitelibrary. An infinitelibrary! How could you not tell me?”

His older brother held up his hands in defense. “I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”

Sephen kept making disbelieving noises.

Tyrian laughed. “And here I thought things could never be more interesting than when Auslin arrived in the past.”

“It’s certainly more lively,” Fersen agreed.

“My brother is back, and there’s an infinite library with the entirety of Reskin’s and Liros’s backlist, includinghandwritten volumes. Clearly, I died at some point and ascended to the Beyond Realm because this can’t be real.”

Auslin looked over at Kisano. “May we come watch the next time you do an expansion?”

“Oh, wehaveto see it,” Sephen pleaded, holding on to his arm. “Please say yes.”

The contact flustered Kisano. “You are both welcome to attend.”

“Kisano, you’re the best!” Sephen was almost bouncing with joy.

Auslin teased the overwhelmed shifter. “You’re lucky my brother’s showing restraint. Normally, he would tackle you to the ground with an excited hug over this.”

“I’m trying to be good!” Sephen protested with a playful pout.

It was the liveliest dinner Kitsuki had enjoyed since Kizoshi had stopped stirring up trouble during meals after Mitsuki’s passing. There was something healing about Sephen’s unbridled appreciation for everything the castle could offer him. It improved Kitsuki's darkened mood over his dragon’s unruly reaction to Norkon.

After meeting Sephen, it made Kitsuki appreciate Auslin’s willingness to walk away from the only family he had left to stay with them in the past. It was an even bigger sacrifice than Kitsuki had imagined. Thankfully, Auslin would never be forced to make that choice now.

Once they finished eating, Sephen looked at his older brother. “No wonder you don’t want to come back to the temple, Auslin. Who would ever want to leave this paradise?”

“You are welcome to live with us,” Kitsuki offered again. “As you are clan, you will always have a place here, whether it is for a night or permanently.”

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