Page 76 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
While Kitaro’s dragon had promised they wouldn’t punish Mitsuki for his actions the previous night, they still sought their eldest brother out while he was practicing in the training hall alone early the next morning.
Mitsuki didn’t stop his practice. “Welcome, little brother.”
Kitaro angrily growled Mitsuki’s name, still seething in rage over what had happened the night before.
The older shifter was completely nonplussed. He mockingly taunted, “And what has you up before noon for once?”
“You know exactly why I am here,” Kitaro snapped. “How dare you treat Vanra so disrespectfully and injure him!”
Mitsuki swung a sword at a floating wooden rabbit dummy. “I was merely reminding that disgusting worm of his place. How is it my fault he overreacted?”
“He should have purified you for what you did,” Kitaro snarled.
Mitsuki scoffed. “As if a mere human could ever purify me.”
“I will not tolerate your interference with him any further.”
“Yes, Father also demanded that I should keep my distance from the brat.” Mitsuki scowled as he angrily chopped a dummy in half before another one reappeared in its place.
“Perhaps you will listen to us for once.”
Mitsuki’s laugh was harsh. “Where is the fun in that?”
“Mitsuki, I mean it. Stay away from Vanra.”
“Or what? Will you tattle to daddy dearest?” Theolder shifter stopped his practice. “If you wish for me to keep my distance, you will have to fight me for it.”
“I am not in the mood for one of your games,” Kitaro growled. His older brother had a fondness for high-stake gambles Kitaro did not share.
He walked over to the wall to pick up two Divine weapons. “These will do nicely.”
“I do not wish to fight you, brother,” Kitaro protested, although his dragon was more than willing to take advantage of the offer.
“Some protector you are,” Mitsuki snidely commented. He tossed the Divine sword in front of his youngest brother’s feet. “And here I thought you would be willing to fight for your pathetic human. You disappoint me, little brother.”
Unable to stand the slight, Kitaro picked up the Divine sword. He held it up in a defensive stance. “Do not question what I would do for Vanra.”
“I cannot see what he has done to enrapture you. Perhaps I can beat it out of you.” That was the only warning Kitaro received before Mitsuki launched a flurry of attacks.
Kitaro said nothing as he countered every hit. When he had an opening, he went on the offensive to drive Mitsuki back.
“You are acting so shamefully that one would think you were a snake shifter!”
Mitsuki’s insult made Kitaro’s dragon burn with rage. The younger shifter brought his sword downhard, resulting in a struggle of strength. When neither of them made progress, Kitaro jumped back to regroup. “You are in no position to talk about shameful behavior after last night, brother.” Kitaro launched his own attack, cutting low. It forced Mitsuki to step back several paces.
“I could almost understand if you were fucking him.” Mitsuki launched himself at Kitaro in another burst of rapid attacks that resulted in them once again locking swords.
Kitaro was done playing nice. He kicked out hard, connecting with his older brother’s stomach. It sent him sailing back with a grunt. Not wasting the advantage, Kitaro used a spinning attack to disarm his brother.
Mitsuki dropped low to avoid it. He parried, cutting Kitaro’s forearm with a swipe up of his sword. Kitaro hissed at the searing pain but continued aggressively going after his brother. He was determined to be the victor in the fight.
When Mitsuki came at his youngest brother with a high hit downward, Kitaro got under his defenses to disarm him. Mitsuki’s sword clattered to the ground. Kitaro held his sword tip at his oldest brother’s neck and declared, “It is my victory, brother.”
“Only because I did not care enough to fight seriously,” Mitsuki said with a disinterested shrug. “I would hardly call it a victory when I drew first blood, and you will have to live with that scar forever.”
Kitaro pressed the tip of the Divine sword dangerously close to Mitsuki’s jugular. “Swear to me you will stay away from Vanra.”
“As if I hold any interest in that worthless human,” Mitsuki sneered.
