Page 75 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
Vanra caressed Kitaro’s cheek with his thumb. “I know you will, but I would prefer not to be put in a position where that becomes necessary.”
“But he hurt you,” Kitaro’s dragon argued in a pained voice. “You doubt our ability to protect you. It makes us feel like we have failed you.”
“You haven’t failed me. I have no doubts about your ability to defend me. I know you can smell that I’m not lying about that.” Vanra was right. There was no trace of a lie in his scent. “Besides, your brother is talking to your father now. He will surely smell me on Mitsuki. Let your father handle it this time.”
Kitaro’s dragon made a frustrated noise before sighing in defeat. “As you wish. We will rely on Father to punish Mitsuki for his heinous transgressions against you. But only because you have begged us for mercy, and we can deny you nothing.”
Vanra shifted closer to the counter edge, spreading his legs wider. He reached out and embraced Kitaro. “Thank you.”
Kitaro’s dragon tightly returned the hug. He nuzzled against Vanra’s now healed neck. “You are ours to protect.”
“I am.” His easy agreement helped soothe some of their fears.
“We should have been there tonight. We nevershould have allowed this to happen. It is our great shame to have failed you.”
Vanra hugged them closer, shushing any further protests. “I don’t think that at all. Look, I’m safe in your arms right now. I still trust you to always be there for me.”
“We cannot bear the thought of anything harming you,” Kitaro’s dragon confessed as they clung tighter to him.
“I’m okay now.” Vanra soothingly rubbed Kitaro’s back, still holding him. “You’re with me right now, and that’s all I need.”
They remained locked in an embrace, but when Kitaro finally pulled back to look at Vanra, he had returned to himself. His blue eyes still looked deeply troubled.
Vanra tucked a strand of Kitaro’s hair behind his ear. “Everything is okay. Nothing bad is going to happen to me with you here. I trust you and your dragon completely.”
He reached out to stroke Vanra’s cheek. It pleased him when the human leaned into his touch, nuzzling against his hand. “I will not fail again.”
“You didn’t fail me at all.”
Kitaro rested his forehead against Vanra’s. “There is nothing else in this world I want to do more than keep you safe and happy.”
Vanra drew back and gave Kitaro a shy smile that filled him with complicated needs. “When you’re bymy side, I’m both of those things. I hope you know that.”
“Yes, and please know I am equally happy when I am with you.” Kitaro helped Vanra get off the counter. “What did my father discuss with you?”
“I was convinced he would punish me for what happened at dinner, but he shocked me by complimenting the strategy I suggested.”
It was a relief to hear. “I am glad he sees the wisdom in your tactic. It surprises me he had not come to that conclusion himself.”
They returned to the bedroom and got into bed. “We also talked about my training, Kisano, things like that.”
“Kisano?” Kitaro repeated in shock as he used magic to remove their clothes. “What could Father possibly have to say about him?”
Vanra’s expression turned sheepish. “Actually, it was more me telling him he was foolish for ignoring how amazing Kisano is.” He facepalmed with a groan. “I really need to learn when to keep my damn mouth shut. I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.”
Kitaro arched an eyebrow in surprise. “What was Father’s reaction to that?”
“Oddly enough, he said we should talk more in the future. He told me I made for a good conversation partner.”
Kitaro found conversations with Vanra stimulating, but it surprised him that his once vehemently anti-human father felt the same. “I concur that discussions with you are always enjoyable. Still, it is unusual for him. He is not a man prone to idle chatter, let alone with humans.”
Vanra grinned. “It’s funny. Once I was done being terrified, I enjoyed myself.”
“That is good to hear. But you should rest now. It has been a long day.” Kitaro turned the lights off. “Sleep well, Vanra.”
“You too,” he said through a yawn.
Kitaro wanted to wrap himself protectively around Vanra and hold him all night to ensure that he was well protected. His dragon was still deeply unsettled that harm had befallen Vanra on their watch. Vanra wouldn’t allow him to punish Mitsuki, but he was honor-bound to warn his brother not to harm his ward again. And if it came to blows, that was on Mitsuki.
