Page 97 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
The crowd reacted positively, but Auslin’s heart dropped at the idea of Kitaro getting engaged to Nasume. His good mood quickly turned dark. He could feel Kitaro’s seething rage next to him. Kizoshi was similarly glaring daggers at the wolf shifter forhaving the audacity to make such an indecent proposal.
It felt like an eternity before the applause died down.
“We shall consider your offer later,” Tatsuki jovially said. “Now is the time to focus on our soldiers and their many accomplishments during our vanquishing of the accursed snake shifters! To our warriors!”
The crowd echoed his words. “To Valzerna’s warriors!”
Auslin fought back tears. Why hadn’t King Tatsuki rejected Nasume’s proposal? Could he really be considering marrying Kitaro off to the awful wolf shifter?
For the sake of appearances, Auslin struggled to stay. But the arrogant gloating Nasume was aiming squarely at him made it almost impossible to remain and be civil.
He glanced over at Kitaro, who was staring blankly at a distant wall with a neutral expression. Why hadn’t he rejected the wolf prince’s proposal? Or worse, what if he wasn’t allowed to? Would King Tatsuki really make his youngest son mate with such an abhorrent prince?
The sound of Nasume’s obnoxious laughter drove Auslin’s need to get away from the mocking royal. It was the coward’s way out, but Auslin fled the banquet hall. He couldn’t bear to look at Nasume’s smugsatisfaction at not being outright denied his outrageous proposal. It wasn’t fair. Once again, his life was being interfered with by a wolf shifter, just like when Kio would stray to his ex Maseo’s side.
What was it with wolf shifters standing in the way of Auslin’s happiness?
Chapter 48
Kitaro
Kitaro’s world slowed in his numb disbelief. Why had his father not declined Nasume’s absurd attempt at a proposal? Their alliance with the kingdom of Kunushi was not so weak that they would have to reinforce it with an unwanted mating bond. The wolf shifter’s audacity was outrageous.
Nasume looked so smug over his coup. Kitaro could barely suppress his rage. It took all his self-control not to storm out.
Kizoshi leaned closer with a playful gleam in her amethyst eyes. “You never know. Perhaps Nasume will have an unfortunate drunken accident tonight that ends his cursed life.”
“That would be even more disastrous.” The prince and heir to the throne of Kunushi dying in their lands would drive a huge rift in the alliance between theirkingdoms.
“Counterpoint: we would at least be rid of him for good.” Kizoshi’s smirk was lethal. “Sacrifices must be made sometimes.”
It was true, but Kitaro could not allow himself to be one of them. “I will talk to Father after the banquet. I cannot allow this to happen.”
“Yes, I suppose Vanra would rightly have some strenuous objections to your engagement to that fool.” She laughed at her brother’s confusion. “Do you think me blind, dear brother? Anyone could see that Vanra only has eyes for you.”
If that was the case, where was he? Kitaro scanned the crowd, but the human wasn’t anywhere in sight. Had he gone to the bathroom?
Kizoshi tilted her head toward the doors. “He went that way while you were lost in shock. Presumably to your room.”
Kitaro left with a word of thanks to his sister. He needed to make it clear to Vanra that he had no intention of ever becoming bondmates with Nasume. Death would be a preferable option before it came to that.
Fixated on his goal, it caught him off guard when he got pulled into a room. “Unhand me,” Kitaro snarled, yanking his wrist free. He couldn’t afford to attack the insolent wolf shifter, even if it would make him and his dragon feel better.
Nasume pinned Kitaro against the wall. “I thought my intended wanted a moment alone with me,”Nasume purred as he pressed closer. “How could I deny you?”
Kitaro shoved Nasume. “How many times do I have to tell you I am not interested in a romantic relationship with you?”
Undeterred, Nasume slammed Kitaro back into place. He braced his hands over his shoulder to trap the dragon shifter in place. “There once was a time when you would have welcomed a romantic entanglement with me.” He nuzzled against Kitaro’s neck before kissing it.
Kitaro pushed Nasume off him again with more force, putting distance between them. “Get it through your head. I have no romantic interest in you now, nor will I ever. Please stop embarrassing both of us with your atrocious behavior.”
“I refuse.” Nasume embraced Kitaro, then kissed the underside of his chin. “I will never stop until you are mine, Kitaro.”
With a growl, Kitaro grabbed Nasume by the neck to force some space between them. He released him in disgust. “I willneverbe with you. Give up your foolish interest in me.”
“Why? Your father did not reject my proposal.” Nasume preened with cocky confidence. “You might be mine before the end of the banquet tonight. Why not give yourself over to me now?”
The very idea was repulsive. “Even if it started a war, I would refuse your indecent proposal. How dareyou put me in such a position publicly? If you truly cared about me, you never would have done such an outrageous thing.”
