Page 29 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
Vanra’s mood brightened. “Then dinner sounds great.”
Chapter 13
Auslin
After a delicious meal, Auslin and Kitaro headed back to their room to retire for the night. Although his training hadn’t been physically intensive, after the walk to and from the temple, Auslin felt in desperate need of a bath. He was extra paranoid about his odor when living in a castle full of dragon shifters who had sensitive senses of smell.
“Would you mind if I bathed?” Auslin asked once they returned to the room.
Kitaro headed toward the bathroom. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”
“Oh, I’ll go after you, then.”
“Nonsense. There is no reason we cannot both make use of such a large bath at the same time.”
There are plenty of reasons that’s an awful idea, Auslinthought in annoyance, but he didn’t voice his issue aloud. “No, it’s fine. Really.” The last thing he wanted to do was humiliate himself by bathing together with the impossibly perfect shifter. “I don’t mind waiting until you’re finished.”
“I won’t stand for it.” Kitaro gestured for the human to join him. “Come.”
Auslin wished he was brave enough to dig in and refuse, but he walked into the bathroom where the shifter prince was already disrobing.
Kitaro’s body was truly a thing of beauty. The shimmering silver shifter lines caressing his pale skin only enhanced his visual appeal. He looked like a chiseled god walking amongst men.
Auslin felt physically inferior standing near the shifter with his much smaller stature and tanned skin from too much traveling under an unforgiving sun.
Disrobing as fast as humanly possible, Auslin skulked into the water. He wanted his body on display for the least amount of time.
Kitaro continued at a leisurely rate and got them both towels from the closet.
Auslin kept his eyes firmly trained on the water as Kitaro finally lowered himself into a sitting position across from the mage.
It was clear the dragon prince shared none of Auslin’s discomfort as he made himself comfortable in the hot water. “Do you have a natural inclinationtoward embarrassment, or was that instilled in you as part of your training as a mage?” Kitaro asked as he rested the back of his head on the rim of the enormous bathtub. He studied the human with curiosity.
Auslin tried not to die of embarrassment. “Probably a bit of both.”
“What use is embarrassment here?” Kitaro asked, gesturing vaguely at the room.
Auslin thought his mortification couldn’t get any worse, but clearly, it was possible. He sank deeper into the water. “You have the clearest mirrors I’ve ever seen. Iknowyou’ve seen yourself.”
“And?”
“Please don’t make me spell it out.” Auslin groaned as he wrapped his arms around his knees to hold them close. As much as he didn’t want to have to explain it, the shifter still looked baffled over what could trouble Auslin so much. “How is anyone supposed to stand next to you and not feel inferior? Look at you!”
“But you are not unattractive,”
Auslin’s face was so flushed it felt like it was on fire. “No, we’re in two totally separate leagues with that. There is literally no comparison between us.”
Kitaro furrowed his eyebrows. “You have many fine features and qualities that make you quite appealing.”
Auslin’s brain didn’t know how to process Kitaro’s assertion. “Me and my weird-colored eyes aren’t anywhere near your level of beauty.”
“Do not be so quick to dismiss yourself. Your lavender eyes are remarkably stunning.”
Kitaro finding any part of Auslin attractive flustered the human. “Plus, people who look as gorgeous as you are supposed to be assholes, but you’re so impossiblynice.”
“Rest assured, I am more than capable of playing the part should the need arise,” Kitaro said with a flip of his hair for good measure. “I still fail to see how my appearance causes you any consternation.”
“How can anyone feel like they’re enough compared to you?” Auslin wondered if he would ever stop feeling self-conscious about being near Kitaro. “You’re like the Beauty Power walking amongst men. There’s no comparison.”
