Page 51 of Consort of the Dragon King

“Please don’t tempt me, because right now, I’m ready to sign up for a lifetime of living here.”

“Since it is already so late, we have readied a room for you to stay tonight,” Kitsuki told him. “Permanent residency will always be a standing offer. Please give it some consideration. Your presence here would be a welcomed one.”

Sephen bowed his head respectfully. “You are far too generous, Your Majesty.”

“Before taking him to his room, may I take him on a tour of the castle?” Auslin asked. “We headed straight to the library from our room, so he hasn’t seen the rest of this amazing place.”

“That sounds like a fine idea.” Kitsuki appreciated Auslin giving him an opportunity to talk to Kisano alone. It seemed they had a great deal to discuss.

“I’ll come with you,” Fersen offered.

“The more, the merrier,” Sephen said with a bright smile.

“I will also take my leave,” Jaega said. “Tyrian, we have things to discuss.”

Once everyone left, Kitsuki was alone with Kisano. He gave his older brother an expectant look as he squirmed in embarrassment. “You certainly seem to be enjoying yourself,” Kitsuki finally said.

Another blush graced Kisano’s cheeks. “It is very easy to get caught up in Sephen’s enthusiasm.”

“He seems to be easily excitable.” Kitsuki chuckled. “How does it feel to have such an ardent admirer?”

“Incredible. But I could not bring myself to tell him the truth.” Kisano hung his head in shame. “Reskin is Sephen’s idea of perfection. I do not want to disappoint him with the reality that I am secretly Reskin.”

Kitsuki leaned back in his chair once the plates were cleared. “I get the distinct impression that finding out you are Reskin would only heighten his already high opinion of you.”

Kisano looked down at his hands, struggling to express himself. “My words mean something to him. He treasures them in a way I never imagined anyone would. He talks about Reskin as a legendary figure. I could never be the awesome giant he admires.”

“But youarethat person, Kisano. You always have been.”

“I could not bear to ruin his idol,” Kisano protested in a pained tone. “Auslin has a deep appreciation for Reskin, but he is Sephen’s entire world. I could never see either of them again.”

Kitsuki understood his brother’s trepidation. “Neither of them would forsake you because you are Reskin. It is not in their character to do so.”

Kisano looked up at Kitsuki with a pained expression. “Sephen is not exaggerating when he says Reskin is his everything. He was moved to tears at the mere sight of my handwriting. The passion with which he talks about my books and the way he understands my writing with his entire soul…” Kisano sighed with frustration. “How can I be the one to steal away all that joy in his life when he finds out the truth?”

“I promise you would only enhance his enjoyment of your work,” Kitsuki insisted. He hadn’t known Sephen long, but Kitsuki knew that with unwavering certainty. Sephen had his older brother’s pure, loving heart. “The same is true for Auslin as well. You should believe in them if you cannot trust in yourself on the matter.”

Kisano’s anguish pained Kitsuki. “I could not bear to lose them,” Kisano whispered. “After so many centuries of silence, to hear laughter in the library again means everything to me.”

Kitsuki wished there was something he could say to convince Kisano about how the human brothers felt about him. “Do you truly think there is a single thing you could do that would make Auslin shun you?”

“They’ll never be able to forgive me for lying to them.”

It was difficult to hold in a sigh. “If Auslin can still plead mercy for Kio’s life and place no blame on Maseo despite the years of history between them, do you really think he would not forgive you for hiding your pen name from him because you were embarrassed?”

When Kisano said nothing, Kitsuki continued pushing his point. “And if Sephen understands your work on such a soul-deep level, would he not also sympathize with why you felt you could not tell him the truth at first?”

“Maybe.”

“They are two of the most understanding people in this realm, Kisano. I can promise you with absolute certainty they will not leave you over such a trivial reason as being too embarrassed to confess the truth. You do them a disservice by not trusting in them.”

The point seemed to intensify Kisano’s anguish.

“Kisano, look at me.” Only once Kisano looked him in the eye did Kitsuki continue. “I do not say any of this to make you feel badly, dear brother. I only say it out of the love in my heart for you and my complete faith in those two people to accept you for all that you are without question. You have nothing to fear from them other than perhaps Sephen maymove into your library and refuse to leave.”

The comment finally drew a soft laugh from Kisano. “Thank you for humoring my foolishness.”

“Kisano, you are many things, but a fool is not one of them.” Kitsuki’s gaze softened as he looked at his beloved older brother. “The only thing that would upset Auslin in this situation is to know this issue has caused you to be so distraught. I am confident his brother would feel the same way. You will all feel better for sharing the truth.”

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