Page 85 of Consort of the Dragon King

“Well, let me tell you a little secret.” She leaned over to conspiratorially whisper, “That beer is laced with a powerful magic, which will turn any bad thing into something good.”

If only it were that easy. Maseo knew it was impossible, but her teasing still drew a laugh from him. “If you can work that kind of magic, you’re wasting your considerable talents in this tavern.”

A patron at another table flagged her down. “Looks like duty calls,” Elzbieta said. “I’ll be back soon to check on you, honey.” Her overly familiar way of addressing Maseo was so foreign tohim. He knew she was just doing her job, but he had so few people who cared about him, he would take what he could get.

“What am I doing here?” Maseo sighed as he took another long swig of his ale. His instincts were rarely wrong. When his gut warned him that his asshole father was planning something nefarious, Maseo had hightailed it to Alsari, the kingdom the farthest east from Kunushi. He would have preferred to go to Valzerna, but it was too risky.

Visiting there would open him to the possibility of running into his bastard ex or, worse, his father’s violent wrath. Nasume had been in love with King Kitsuki Ariake longer than Maseo had been alive. If he found out Maseo had one of his chance encounters with the king of Valzerna, he might follow through on his regular threats about ending Maseo’s worthless existence. There were some dark nights when he almost wished his father would stop talking about it and just put him out of his misery. He really wasn’t sure what he was living for, other than more heartache.

He hadn’t run into Kitsuki in almost two years. Once Maseo broke up with Kio, the shifter king had disappeared from his life. Although he was nothing to Kitsuki, his absence still pained Maseo. Kitsuki was everything Nasume wasn’t: a good ruler, a kind person, and he tolerated Maseo during their interactions.

Maseo could never make sense of it. Kitsuki hated his half brother with a fiery passion, but he never took that rage out on Maseo. He had even saved him on several occasions, which filled Maseo with complicated emotions. The dragon shifter would probably find his fond feelings for the ruler laughable at best, offensive at worst. After all, Maseo had nothing to offer anyone, let alone someone as magnificent as Kitsuki.

It was a testament to how fucked-up Maseo was that he also missed Auslin, the human mage Kio strayed from to be with Maseo. They should have been adversaries because Kio played them both for fools with his cheating. But Maseo couldn’t bring himself to hate someone who was so gentle. Auslin had shown Maseo a kindness he didn’t deserve. But he had also disappeared two years ago.

Maseo knew it was weird to miss two people who probably couldn’t stand the fact he existed. But Maseo had never been normal. He sipped his ale, then held his pendant in his hand. It was the only thing he had left from his mother. The small orb had intricate filigree cutouts, allowing a small indigo light to glow through, which shifted between purple and blue.

His mother had said it was the magic of the Wish Power Mireya, which would grant him his heart’s desire. It had failed enough that Maseo found it hard to believe in its magic, but he never gave up the hope it might work someday. He closed his eyes as he made a wish to Mireya for Elzbieta to have the magic to change his fortunes.

“You’re a hard man to find, handsome.” Maseo’s eyes flew open to see an attractive raven shifter taking a seat across from him. He froze in fear. Was the man one of his father’s new cronies? “I’ve been looking all over Talwyn for you, Maseo.”

Questions about why were on the tip of his tongue, but Maseo’s need to flee before disaster struck was stronger. He got up to leave, but the raven shifter pointed back at his chair. “Sit.” He said it with such authority Maseo’s body responded automatically by doing as commanded. “You have no reason to fear me. I come in peace and bearing gifts.”

“Bullshit. If you work for my father, then you’re?—”

The man held his hand up to interrupt Maseo. “Full offense to your father, but I would never work for such a lousy excuse for a king.” He gave an indignant sniff. “No, I work for someone much more important and deserving.”

The urge to flee was still strong. Maseo’s voice trembled as he asked, “Who are you?”

“My name is Rylan Norkon. I was tasked with delivering this to you, no matter what it took to find you.” A dark blue velvet pouch tied with silver strings appeared in his hand through magic.

It was all very impressive, but Maseo remained suspicious. “Who sent you?”

“I suspect what’s inside this will answer any questions you have.” He gestured at Maseo to take it. “Here.”

Maseo watched the man warily before accepting it. To his shock, the bag was heavy with a considerable amount of coins. It felt like enough to tide him over for months without having to pick up the odd job here and there during his travels.

He loosened the strings on the pouch, then pulled out an envelope. It was addressed to him, but he didn’t recognize the elegant handwriting. He turned it over and about fell out of his chair when he saw the Ariake dragon clan wax seal. It made the money more confusing. Why would anyone in the Ariake clan want to give Maseo money, let alone so much of it?

“You work for the Ariake clan?” Maseo asked in disbelief.

“I’m a lieutenant in General Jaega Ariake’s army.” He tilted his head in lieu of a formal bow. “At your service.”

Why would Kitsuki’s army general want anything to do with Maseo, let alone giving him a generous amount of money? Since Rylan wasn’t offering any further details, Maseo broke the seal with a trembling hand. He pulled out the letter. Everything came screeching to a halt when he saw Kitsuki’s signature. What could the king of Valzerna possibly want with him?

Maseo took a steadying breath before he read the letter.

I am aware this letter will rightfully be met with skepticism, but I have reason to be concerned about your father attacking you. I regret to inform you that his jealousy regarding me now poses a dangerous risk to you, through no fault of your own. For your own safety, please take care to avoid traveling to Kunushi and Reflorna for the time being.

That was hardly news to Maseo, nor was it a hardship to obey. He hadn’t gone back to Kunushi in years, and he’d never step foot in Reflorna while his father’s cruel cousin ruled it with an iron fist. That was the fastest way for Maseo to end up with a new permanent residence in the Beyond Realm.

Maseo continued reading.

While I cannot offer you protection in person, I have enclosed this ring for you to wear. It has been enchanted with my magic to form a protective barrieraround you that only a Divine weapon can break. Any normal weapons or magic are powerless against it, so long as you wear the ring.

The half-wolf shifter blinked in disbelief. Kitsuki was sending him protective jewelry? Maseo reached into the bag, feeling around until his fingers found what he was looking for. He wasn’t sure what to expect when he pulled out a smaller blue pouch, but it definitely wasn’t a ring in the shape of a dragon protectively wrapped around a sparkling diamond.

“What the fuck?” Maseo could only stare at it with a million questions. He looked up at Rylan. “Do you know about any of this?”

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