Page 68 of Consort of the Dragon King

His dragon’s venomous thirst to shed Nasume’s blood in retribution for harming Maseo caught Kitsuki off guard. “We do not love Maseo,” Kitsuki reminded his unruly dragon.

“He is ours to protect,” his dragon growled with a ferocity that scared Kitsuki. “We must keep him safe.It will please Auslin.”

“Is Auslin the only reason you want to save him?” Kitsuki asked his dragon.

His dragon sidestepped the question. “We protect what is ours.”

Kitsuki was so caught up in his internal conflict he almost missed hearing what his sister said next. “Your dragon cannot lie to you.”

“Maseo is not ours,” Kitsuki growled, resenting his dragon’s rebellion and his sister’s implications.

“He wears our mark,”his dragon argued.

Kitsuki’s discomfort increased at the reminder of Fersen informing him his dragon shaped the ring in his own image. He sternly told his dragon, “We will not betray Auslin by being interested in Maseo! We will not be disloyal filth like Kio.”

“It is not a betrayal when we all want the same thing,” Kitsuki’s dragon purred in the depths of his heart.

“Is it true?” Kitsuki asked his sister, as if she could hear his dragon’s thoughts. “Do we all want the same thing?”

Her smile was as enigmatic as ever. “Love and happiness? I would think so.”

“I refuse to betray Auslin’s trust in me,” Kitsuki insisted.

“Then why have you not told him about the ring you made for Maseo? Or your letter to him?”

The shame her question brought on hit Kitsuki hard. “Because I do not have the words to explain it to him.”

“Do you really think Auslin would be upset to hear you took extra measures to protect Maseo?” Kizoshi asked. “Would he not be grateful when he also desires to keep Maseo safe from all harm?”

Kitsuki knew his sister was right, but it was too embarrassing to say out loud to Auslin. He couldn't admit to his intended he had any kind of interest in Maseo. It felt like a dangerous bridge Kitsuki did not want to cross.

“Do you believe I would ever lead you astray?” Kizoshi asked. “Have I not always had your best interests at heart?”

“You have,” Kitsuki begrudgingly conceded.

“Then why do you think this situation would be any different?” Kizoshi gave him a pointed look. “Do you not think I hate Nasume as much as you do?”

It was all true, but Kitsuki still struggled. “But what about Maseo? Where is your sudden interest in him coming from?”

She shrugged. “It is not so sudden, dear brother. I have had my eye on him for a long time.”

“Butwhy?” Kitsuki demanded in an anguished tone.

“Because he was born to give you the ultimate happiness.”

Her answer floored Kitsuki. It also made him realize something important. “Isthatwhy you never killed Nasume in the past? Because he had not had Maseo yet?”

She sighed. “Alas, it was a necessary evil to ensure that happened for you.”

He struggled with what to do with that information. “You once said someone more deserving would end Nasume’s life. Is that person Maseo?”

“Would he not have every reason to kill his miserable excuse for a father?” Kizoshi asked with a shrug.

He would, but Kitsuki knew his sister better than that. “But there is a reason Maseo has not done it yet.”

“Several, actually.” Her gaze grew troubled. “What matters most is Maseo will be victorious in his war against his father.”

“Because you will make sure of it,” Kitsuki realized.

---