Page 52 of Consort of the Dragon King

“I will give it some more thought,” Kisano promised. “Your points are well taken, though. As always, I am most appreciative of your efforts to build up my self-confidence.”

“You know I would do anything for the sake of your happiness,” Kitsuki warmly told his brother. “We have both been miserable for entirely too long. It is time for us to fully enjoy ourselves now, difficult as it may be to let go of old habits.”

“Indeed,” Kisano agreed with a small smile.

He might not have convinced Kisano, but at least Kitsuki felt like they had made progress on the matter. “We may talk later if you need some more convincing.”

“Sometimes you are so wise it is hard to believe you are not the older brother instead of me. Speaking of wisdom, may I ask for your opinion on a strange question?”

“Of course.”

It took Kisano some time to build up the courage to speak. “Sephen said something earlier I cannot stop thinking about. He believes Liros has a special place in his heart for Reskin because the Knowledge Power gifted him the task of spreading knowledge.”

Kitsuki rubbed his chin as he mulled over the point. “I can see his logic in coming to that conclusion.”

“But do you believe it’s true?”

Rather than answering, Kitsuki asked a different question. “Do you want it to be true?”

“It feels arrogant to believe it.”

Kitsuki made an indecisive noise. “Kizoshi’s best friend is Sophina, who has always shown us favoritism when assigning our fates. Is it so difficult to believe Liros would do the same when he is also close to our sister?”

“But the thought of having a special place in his heart makes me feel…”

“Feel what?” Kitsuki prompted when Kisano trailed off into silence.

“Overwhelmed?” Kisano scowled. “I am not sure what to call the feeling. It is a physical sensation coursing through my entire body. It burns hot inside me like a fire I cannot figure out how to extinguish.”

It was a surprising admission. “Perhaps you are not meant to.”

“Thinking about Sephen gives me the same sensation.” Kisano’s brows furrowed.

“That almost sounds like desire.”

Kisano looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Desire for what?” When he received a pointed look, his blush deepened. “I could understand that for Sephen. It feels like Sophina made him for me. But why would I feel that way when thinking about meaning something to Liros? I have never seen him because he rarely comes to the Living Realm.”

“You have stumbled upon quite the mystery.” Kitsuki had his suspicions that his older brother was experiencing lust for the first time. He was obviously smitten with Sephen. But reacting to Liros was a surprise.

Kisano brushed his fallen bangs behind his ear. “I will have to ask her during her next visit. Do you not find it strange she has yet to appear? Especially when Nasume was here. I think this was the first time she did not arrive to thwart his plans.”

The point still didn’t sit well with Kitsuki. But it was not beyond belief Sophina told Kizoshi not to interfere because Kitsukineeded a reason to warn Maseo. “I would be lying if I said that situation did not bother me. But Kizoshi always does everything for a specific purpose. We can question her when she finally graces us with her presence.”

Kizoshi couldn’t come fast enough. The questions for her to answer in her cryptic fashion continued to pile up at an alarming rate.

Chapter 25

Sephen

After taking a grand tour of the castle, Sephen and Auslin took a break on a veranda overlooking a garden area. They admired the view of the pond, which was beautiful in the moonlight.

“This place is so incredible,” Sephen sighed as he rested his arms on the railing. “No wonder you don’t want to live at the temple anymore.”

“My place is with Kitsuki,” Auslin said. “The incredible castle is a delightful bonus.”

Sephen laughed. “I don’t think I’ll ever get over the infinitely expanding library for as long as I live.”

“I’m sad I’ve never seen it in action before. Their Enchanters really can do anything.”

---