Page 122 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
The information made Auslin’s stomach turn. “There are a lot of bad people in the world. But I could never live with myself if I kept walking by and left you here to be captured by anyone who was cruel enough to set such a trap.”
“Why would you even care?” There was a note of hysteria in his tone. “What difference does it make to you? You don’t know me.”
“I don’t need to know you to want to help you,” Auslin said. “I’m friends with several dog shifters, so I’m very fond of your kind. I could never look them in the eye again if I didn’t do my best to help you.”
“You’refriendswith dog shifters?” He scoffed. “I’ve never heard of such a foolish thing.”
Auslin didn’t take offense. “I promise it’s true. But even if I wasn’t friends with them or you were a different shifter, I still would have helped you.”
The dog shifter turned his attention to Kitaro. “And what about you? Dragon shifters think dog shifters are lowly creatures. Why would you help free me?”
“If I cared about such things, I would not be traveling with a human,” Kitaro replied with a shrug. “He asked for my help, and I willingly gave it. As he said, it was the right thing to do.”
He stared at them in disbelief. “You two are bizarre. I’ve never heard of a dragon shifter and a human traveling together, let alone saving random dog shifters. If it was a story someone else told me, I neverwould have believed them.” He sighed as he shook his head in amazement. “But I owe you my gratitude for freeing and healing me.”
“What’s your name?” Auslin asked. “I’m Vanra, and that’s Prince Kitaro.”
“PrinceKitaro?” The dog shifter stared at Kitaro with utter shock on his face. “As in Prince Kitaro, the youngest son of King Tatsuki Ariake of Valzerna?”
“Indeed.”
“Andyouhelpedme?”
Kitaro nodded. “Yes, gladly. Had Vanra not asked for my assistance, I still would have. No one should be doomed to be stuck in such a vile trap.”
“My name is Misuta.” The dog shifter gave a deep, formal bow. “I owe you both a great debt.”
Auslin waved it away. “Knowing you’re safe and free to leave that awful trap is enough for me.”
“One day, our paths will cross again,” Misuta predicted. “On that day, I shall repay what I owe.”
Knowing that shifter culture demanded such things, Auslin ignored his instinct to tell Misuta not to worry about owing him anything. “I’ll look forward to when we meet again. Hopefully, it’ll be under better circumstances next time.”
“Prince Kitaro, I am most appreciative of your aid. For someone of your stature to help a nobody like me is a kindness I will not soon forget.”
“I wish you well as you continue your travels,” Kitaro said in parting.
“Until we meet again.” Misuta gave a final bow before departing with his shifter speed. He was gone in the blink of an eye.
“We would be wise to vacate the area also,” Kitaro said. “Whoever set that trap is likely to come back to check it at some point.”
They began heading back to their camp. It was so nice not being yelled at for helping someone for once. “I’m sorry I left without telling you,” Auslin said. “But I couldn’t sit there when I knew he was hurt.”
Kitaro smiled down at him. “You did the right thing, Vanra. I am glad we could free him.”
“Thank you for helping. I know dragon and dog shifters rarely mix.”
“I do not share my father's and oldest brother’s prejudices against other types of shifters. Misuta was simply a person in need of help, which is why I was willing to do what I could to assist him.”
Auslin reached out and interlaced his fingers with Kitaro’s. “You’re the best.”
“From your comments, I assume your companion would have taken umbrage with you helping a dog shifter?”
“He didn’t like me helping anyone but him.” Auslin frowned at the reminder. “But hereallydidn’t like that I was friends with dog shifters. He’d almost always find an excuse to not go to Zinnia with me because of that.” That excuse was usually Maseo.
“I would go with you if you wished to visit.”
Auslin shook his head. “My friends are alive in this era, so it’s probably best if I don’t visit, even though I’d love to see them again.”
