Page 95 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
Vanra watched the scene with wide eyes. Kitaro could smell the human’s shock tinged with a hint of anger. Not wanting him to get the wrong idea, the dragon prince extracted himself from Nasume’s clingy hug. “You have always been overexcitable.”
The wolf shifter pouted at being denied. He shifted his attention to look down at Vanra with adisapproving expression. “So, this is your human stray I have heard so many rumors about?” Nasume wrinkled his nose in distaste. “If you were that bored, I would have happily entertained you.”
“That will not be necessary.” Kitaro gestured at the human. “This is Lord Vanra. He is a member of our clan. As such, I expect you to treat him with the same respect owed to any Ariake member.”
“Your old man must have lost his damn mind to allow such a thing,” Nasume said with a laugh. “What was King Tatsuki thinking?”
“Father was of sound mind when deciding, I can assure you,” Kitaro defensively retorted. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
“I was invited to the celebration banquet. I was hoping to get the chance to dance with you again.”
When Nasume tried to slide into a dancing hold, Kitaro outmaneuvered him to prevent it. “Forgive me for declining.” He couldn’t understand why his father would have invited Nasume, who was a prince from Norello, the capital of Kunushi. There was no reason for the wolf prince to make the long journey from the most northwestern part of Talwyn for such a minor event.
“I am sure I could entice you to change your mind,” Nasume suggestively said as he once again moved to touch Kitaro.
A feminine laugh interrupted him. Kitaro had never been so glad to see his oldersister, Kizoshi. “Prince Nasume, how unexpected to see you here in these halls.”
She was as tall as Kitaro, with an elegant poise lent to her by her half-Power heritage. Her dark amethyst eyes danced with amusement, usually at someone else’s expense. As always, her fiery red hair was styled in an elaborate updo, with many glittering hair pins made of various jewels. Kizoshi’s markings pulsated between red and purple, to show the two halves of her shifter and Power. Her intense aura of power intimidated even the most self-assured of shifters. Her shimmering red dress with gold trim had long, oversized sleeves. She looked regal as she approached them.
“Kizoshi,” Nasume greeted her, but the annoyance was all over his face at her arrival. He hated her with a fierce passion. It was a hatred that was mutual between them.
She made a disapproving tutting noise. “So impudent. I would be outraged by your disrespect if it were at all surprising.”
He gave an overly dramatic bow. “Please forgive me,Princess Kizoshi. How kind of you to grace us with your magnificent presence.”
“As many times as I have had to put you in your place, one would think you would have learned where that is by now.”
“Why should I remember when you are always so quick to remind me?”
“Perhaps if you were as intelligent as you believed,I would not have to be burdened so,” Kizoshi said in an icy tone. “Now, if you would be so kind, I have business with my brother. Since you seem to have stumbled into the family wing under a mistaken belief that you belong here, I shall have a servant escort you back to your guest quarters so that you do not become so lost again.”
One appeared with a bow to do her bidding.
Nasume glared hatefully at her. He sarcastically said, “I appreciate such generosity from you. It is always a pleasure seeing you, Princess Kizoshi.”
“I cannot say the same.” She gave a dismissive gesture for the servant to take him away.
“I will see you later tonight,” Nasume told Kitaro with a flirty wink.
“I very much doubt that.” Kitaro watched apathetically as Nasume bristled at his words.
“Do not be so sure about that,” Nasume warned before he allowed himself to be led away by the servant.
Kizoshi gave her younger brother a stern look. “You really must learn to treat that mongrel like the trash that he is.”
“If I were to do so, it would put Father’s alliance with King Soseki in jeopardy, and you know it,” Kitaro reminded her. “Regardless, I appreciate your efforts in getting rid of Nasume.”
“I regret it cannot be permanently. He is nothing but problems.”
“I cannot disagree,” Kitaro said with a wry grin. “It is good to see you, dear sister. It has been far too long.”
Kizoshi hugged him tightly, and he lingered for a moment. It had been some time since he had last seen her. “Forgive me, Kitaro. I have been attending to too many things in the Divine Realm. I did not mean to stay away so long.”
“Whatever the reason, I am glad you came.”
“Yes, I have been remiss in not coming earlier to meet the curious new member of our clan.” Kizoshi focused her attention on the human. “You are called Vanra, yes?”
He shrank back a little under her intense amethyst gaze. “I am.”
