Page 129 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
“From a great number of things. Primarily, your father protected you from himself.”
“That makes no sense.” Auslin threw his hands upwith a frustrated growl. “My father was a healer, who was gone long before my mother died.”
“Indeed.” Satsuma stared at him with her unnerving eyes filled with stars. “You have much to learn about your heritage.”
Auslin took a calming breath. He needed to stay patient to get answers. “Such as?”
Satsuma resumed rocking in her chair. “I believe you would find a conversation with Princess Kizoshi most enlightening.”
“What does my sister have to do with any of that?” Kitaro asked.
“She understands better than anyone,” Satsuma responded. “I trust she will be there when the time comes for Vanra to learn more.”
Kitaro scowled. “She always has an uncanny sense of timing with those kinds of things.”
“It has been far too long since I have enjoyed her delightful company.”
Auslin couldn’t figure out how they had gotten from the topic of Fate’s Gate to his parents and Kizoshi. His head spun from all the nonanswers he had received. He tried to gather his bearings. “Are you really saying I have no choice in remaining in this time?”
“That decision was made as soon as you stepped through Fate’s Gate,” Satsuma confirmed. “As I said, all will be as it should. You should not fear the path you are to walk. It leads to where you want to go.”
“No, it doesn’t! It takes me away from Kitaro, and I don’t want to lose him,” Auslin protested in anguish. He looked at Satsuma with a pleading gaze for some kind of help.
“And you will not.” Her simple response only confused the human further.
“Are you saying I can go through Fate’s Gate with Vanra?” Kitaro asked.
“No.” Somehow, her direct answer was even worse than her being vague. “Its magic is not for you.”
“Then if I cannot pass through Fate’s Gate with Vanra, and he cannot remain in this time, then how does he not leave me?” Kitaro demanded.
“It is indeed a mystery,” the ancient owl shifter said in an airy voice. “That is enough talk for now. It has been a long journey for you both. Please rest here tonight.”
Somehow it was too much and not enough for Auslin. It was exhausting trying to figure out Satsuma’s vagaries. He bowed his head in acknowledgment. “Thank you.”
“We appreciate your hospitality,” Kitaro added.
“It is the least I can do for the son of King Tatsuki and the son of a secret.” She walked out of the room.
Auslin couldn’t even begin trying to guess the meaning of her last comment. He looked at Kitaro in desperation, hoping he somehow had an answer to all the questions Satsuma had left him with.
Reaching over to take Auslin’s hand, Kitaro brought it to his lips to kiss. “We will figure this out, Vanra.”
Auslin could only nod. If he started talking about leaving, he might never stop crying.
Chapter 66
Kitaro
Aheavy silence hung over Kitaro and Vanra as they settled into the room Satsuma had provided them.
Vanra sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at the floor with a dejected expression.
Kitaro’s heart hadn’t stopped shattering since finding out Vanra had to return to his time at some undetermined point in the future. Everything in him wanted Satsuma to be wrong so that Vanra could stay with him, but he knew in his heart of hearts that the ancient owl shifter wasn’t mistaken. It was only a matter of time before Kitaro lost the human who meant so much to him. It made him desperate to hold on to Vanra even more.
But he had not yet given himself over to despair. The implication that they somehow wouldn’t beseparated gave Kitaro the slightest shred of hope that maybe everything would work out for them.
He sat down next to Vanra on the bed, wrapping his arm around the human. It pleased him when the mage leaned into the embrace. “All is not lost, Vanra. We cannot give up hope.”
