Page 144 of Consort of the Dragon King

“The only thing that would stop him from trying to kill you was death,” Kitsuki’s dragon stated in an emotionless voice. “We could not abide by such filth threatening your life. It was unforgivable. The Realm is better off without his hatred.”

“There had to be another way!” Auslin protested.

“And what words would you have used that would make that cretin listen?”

It frustrated Auslin he didn’t have an answer to the question. “I don’t know, but neither of us were in real danger because of our powers. You didn’t have to kill him!”

“While it is admirable you have compassion for such a worthless existence, he deserved to die,” Kitsuki’s dragon said in an icy voice. “We only showed mercy in killing him swiftly to spare your feelings. Had we had our way, we would have flayed him alive and tortured him until he begged for death.”

“Kitsuki!” Auslin wanted his mate’s dragon to retreat so they could talk about what happened rationally.

“We would go to any lengths to ensure no one ever hurts you,” Kitsuki’s dragon swore to Auslin.

The sight of Urio’s dead body upset Auslin. “Why is killing your solution to problems now?” Kitsuki’s dragon didn’t answer, so Auslin repeated his question. “This is why you want to kill Kio, isn’t it?”

Kitsuki’s dragon was silent for another long moment as Auslin stared him down with an expectant expression. “You are not ready for the answer.”

“That’s a yes, isn’t it?”

“Yes, we wish to pull off Kio’s claws one by one before cutting off each of his fingers for having ever dared to harm you,” Kitsuki’s dragon growled. “We wish to break every bone in his worthless body, we wish to rob him of his manhood, we would split him open and disembowel him with the greatest of pleasure. We would not be satisfied until we had cut his unfeeling heart out of his chest and left him in broken, bloody pieces for the maggots to eat.”

The graphic description horrified Auslin. He took a step back from Kitsuki’s dragon. “How can you say that? How can you even think that?”

“Because it is unacceptable how deeply Kio hurt you for so long. We wish to punish Kio to the utmost of our abilities and have our vengeance on him for all the pain he has caused you.”

“That wouldn’t make me feel better!” Auslin yelled.

“Which is why we do nothing out of respect for your wishes,” Kitsuki’s dragon said. “Your kindness is the only reason that wretch still exists and is merely restrained instead of dead and buried like he deserves.”

It hurt to hear. Auslin demanded, “And what about Eldin? Would you kill him, too?”

“We will not harm Eldin.”

Auslin glared at him. “That wasn’t what I asked.”

“Our wishes differ from his,” the dragon said regarding Kitsuki. “That is all that matters.”

It confused Auslin. “What does that mean?”

“He believes Eldin having to live with his hurt is punishment enough.”

“And you?”

“We have resisted our urge to punish Eldin for overstepping his bounds and forcing a kiss on you when he knew you were mated,” Kitsuki’s dragon growled. “We know it is not allowed.”

Auslin returned to his earlier point. “And what about Kio? Are you really going to let Kio stay in the dungeon?”

“As long as he does nothing further to you, we will allow him to have his pathetic existence.” It was a small comfort when Kitsuki’s dragon retreated.

“Are you really fine with what your dragon just did?” Auslin questioned in anguish.

“We are united in our opinion of what should happen to that man for threatening you,” Kitsuki answered, although it wasn’t what Auslin wished to hear.

“You know he posed no real threat to us!”

“And what if he had a Divine weapon?” Kitsuki countered. “It was a risk we were not willing to take.”

Auslin fumed at the answer. “I could have healed any damage from a Divine weapon, and you know it!”

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