Page 59 of Consort of the Dragon King

“Your father was a beloved Power. Other Powers threatened to revolt, so the council in charge of ensuring they don’t neglect their duties compromised. Instead of banishing him to the Beyond Realm, they placed him under permanent guard to ensure he could never return to the Living Realm again.”

“That’s horrible! My poor parents.”

“It was the best possible outcome under the circumstances. The council does not accept love as a justifiable defense for abandoning your responsibilities.”

“It sounds awful.” Auslin hated hearing his parents were forcibly driven apart for such a reason.

Kizoshi continued. “That left your mother alone in the Living Realm with you. That is a very dangerous position for a woman to be in, so she found love with someone who could protect you both in Imeyu’s forced absence.”

“But Sephen’s father, Domiel, died in battle shortly before our mother got sick,” Auslin told Kizoshi. “If Imeyu passed to the Beyond Realm when she died, wouldn’t that mean my mother reunited with both of them in the afterlife?”

“It would.”

Auslin puzzled through the problem. “But wouldn’t that be awkward for them? She genuinely loved them both.”

“What would stop her from finding happiness with them both?” Kizoshi challenged with an arched eyebrow. “After all, it is common to find more than one love in life. There is no reason the three of them could not have found happiness together in their afterlives. Imeyu thought Domiel was a wonderful protector who took good care of you and your brother.”

“I suppose,” Auslin hesitantly agreed. “I guess I never really gave that any thought.”

“It applies to life in the Living Realm as well,” Kizoshi added with an expression Auslin didn’t know how to interpret. “Some people have big hearts meant to love more than only one person at a time.”

Remembering being torn between Kio and Kitsuki in the past, Auslin wondered what that said about him as a person. It was a thought best left alone, so Auslin returned to the subject of his heritage. “Have you really known this whole time that I’m a half-Power?”

“I honestly do not understand how it went unnoticed for so long,” Kizoshi replied with a shrug. “Purple eyes, markings, and auras can only belong to those with Divine heritage. Your lilac-colored eyes should have been a giveaway, not to mention your incredible powers.”

Auslin traced one of the lines on his arm from his elbow to his hand. “Does this change anything?”

“You are still you,” Kizoshi reassured him. “You will continue to live your life here in the Living Realm with Kitsuki. The biggest change besides your stronger powers is you are welcome to visit the Divine Realm should you choose.”

“I could go there?” Auslin questioned in amazement.

“Your half-human heritage does not prevent you from entering the Divine Realm any more than my being half-shifter does. I would be happy to take you there so you could explore.”

The idea excited Auslin. “Could we go to a bookshop?”

Kizoshi laughed behind her hand. “Why is that the first place you would wish to go?”

“Because I could buy my brother something by Liros in the Divine language,” Auslin explained. “I know he can read them in Kisano’s library, but there’s something special about having his own copy.”

“You are so thoughtful.” Kizoshi smiled at him with a fondness that brought a blush to Auslin’s cheeks. “I bet we could even talk Liros into signing a copy for him.”

Auslin’s jaw dropped. “Wait, I couldmeethim?”

“And Sophina, your uncle, along with anyone else you wish to meet.”

“On the one hand, my brother would be eternally grateful if I did that. On the other, he might kill me out of jealousy because I got to meet Liros, and he didn’t. Liros is the only person Sephen loves as much as Reskin.”

She laughed again. “And with good reason.”

“I don’t suppose he and Sophina ever come to the Living Realm?”

“Liros does not visit often, but when he does, he enjoys spreading new forms of knowledge.” Kizoshi’s grin made Auslin wonder how he did that. “Sophina and her twin are unfortunately forbidden to leave the Divine Realm.”

“Wait, isn’t her sister Destiny Power Shaleia?”

Kizoshi nodded. “She is. They could not be more different if they tried.”

“Why aren’t they allowed to leave?”

---