Page 87 of Consort of the Dragon King

It was naïve to wish for happiness when life had repeatedly shown Maseo he didn’t deserve it. But his heart still longed for it all the same.He wasn’t arrogant enough to believe he had a chance at finding love with them.

Maseo kissed the small orb pendant, which glowed with the magic of the Wish Power Mireya. He put it in the smaller navy blue pouch with a silent prayer to be lucky enough to be reunited with it and Kitsuki someday. It pained Maseo to part with the only thing he had left of his mother, but he knew it had to be done. He handed the small pouch, paper, and quill to Rylan.“Please give that and this letter to His Majesty with my sincerest gratitude.”

“And you have mine for giving me something of yours as more definitive proof I met you.” The items disappeared in a swirl of Rylan’s magic. “You have my word. I will deliver them to him without fail.”

“Thank you.” Maseo’s heart overflowed with gratitude. It was rare for him to feel grateful for being alive, but knowing Kitsuki gave a damn about him was a good reason to keep surviving. He had to live so his wish to be with Kitsuki and Auslin could come true.

Chapter 41

Kitsuki

Preparations for the Royal Consort Fatebonding ceremony had kept Kitsuki busy. In a few more days, he wouldfinallybe free to claim Auslin as his bondmate. The long wait had been excruciating, but his fated mate was more than worth it.

A knock on his office door interrupted Kitsuki’s work. It was a welcome reprieve from his paperwork. “Enter.”

To his surprise, Rylan Norkon arrived with a formal bow. “I’ve returned with news, Your Majesty.”

The sudden burst of hope spreading through his heart caught Kitsuki off guard. He gestured for Norkon to sit in one of the chairs across from his desk. “Welcome back, Lieutenant Norkon. Was your mission successful?”

“Indeed, it was.” Norkon used his magic to produce the small blue pouch Kitsuki had entrusted to him to deliver the protective ring to Maseo. He passed it across the desk, along with a letter.

Kitsuki opened the pouch, then pulled out a necklace. He recognized it as the beautiful necklace he had seen aroundMaseo’s neck every time they had met. The half-wolf shifter’s scent still clung to it, which Kitsuki breathed deeply. His dragon stirred as relief washed over them that their warning hadn’t been too late. He put the orb pendant back in the small bag and set it to the side. “Where was he?”

“Finding him was more of a challenge than I expected, but I finally came across him lying low in Fordani. He panicked when he thought I was one of his father’s men coming after him. Apparently, his instincts told him Nasume might be hunting him.”

“And it’s all our fault,” Kitsuki’s dragon bemoaned, the guilt still eating away at the shifter king. He berated himself yet again for being foolish enough to endanger Maseo.

Clearing his throat, Kitsuki refocused his attention on Norkon. “I am pleased to hear it. Alsari is a good hiding place for him since it is such a safe kingdom. Nasume would never assume Maseo would have a reason to go there because he has no ties to that kingdom.” He hesitated before asking, “How did he react when you delivered the message to him?”

“With suspicion, until he saw your clan’s seal on the envelope.” Norkon crossed his leg over his thigh. “Maseo was incredibly moved by reading your letter. Your ring seemed to bring him great comfort and joy.”

Why did that please Kitsuki? He didn’t understand his reactions to the half-wolf shifter. “Did he say anything?”

“He said he was nobody special.” Hearing Maseo’s reaction physically pained Kitsuki.Why? “I told him that was—forgive my language—bullshit. You are not in the habit of giftinganything to someone unworthy. That seemed to bring him some comfort.”

The real question was why Maseo mattered more to Kitsuki since Auslin’s return. His dragon’s insistence on protecting Maseo at all costs still confused the shifter monarch. It was only through his supreme self-control that Kitsuki had resisted reading the letter Maseo sent. Something warned him it was best read alone. Norkon saw too much to be witness to something so private.

“Is he planning on staying in Alsari?” Kitsuki asked.

Norkon nodded. “He said he would stay there as long as he could. But if his father’s men come to find him, he’ll have no choice but to move to Quintox or Galinor. Since they’re the kingdoms farthest south to Kunushi, it will hopefully provide him a sanctuary should Alsari no longer be safe.”

Kitsuki had a powerful urge to offer Maseo protection in Tiora, but he knew without a doubt that when Nasume found out, he’d bring an army to the castle gates. The best way for Kitsuki to help was to keep his distance. But doing so left his dragon unsettled. Why did it rage at being denied the ability to keep Maseo as close as possible?

“Is there anything else I need to be apprised of?”

“While I searched for him, I heard disturbing rumors about what’s going on in Kunushi. Nasume is preparing for war. There is a strong possibility he intends to invade Valzerna.”

Kitsuki gave a humorless laugh. “Then the man is an even bigger fool than I thought. Our allies in Balsimi and Zinnia would stop him well before he reached our shores.” If Nasume believed Kitsuki would allow such an egregious challenge to his power,he would enjoy making the wolf shifter regret his hubris. “I will send my army to crush his before I let that happen.”

“It sounds as if it may come to that. Things are seriously grim in Kunushi, Your Majesty. The people have been taxed into poverty, he has dismantled their education system, and the murder rate is alarmingly high. There might not be a Kunushi left if we do not act soon.”

It wasn’t the news Kitsuki wanted to hear. He sighed in frustration. “I will speak to my sister about this. If anyone will know about an impending war, it would be her.”

“Would you like me to have her summoned?” Norkon offered.

Kitsuki shook his head. “No, I will speak to her later. I have a few things to take care of first.”

“I am happy to serve Your Majesty in any capacity I can help,” Norkon offered.

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