Page 138 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
“Later. First, we must deal with Father.”
“I’m sorry.” Auslin felt wretched that he had somehow hurt the one person he wanted to protect.
Kitaro kissed Auslin’s forehead. “You have nothing to apologize for, Vanra. However, we must go now. It would not be wise to keep Father waiting.”
Auslin threw on a plain white shirt before allowing Kitaro to guide them to where the king waited for them.
“Enter!” Tatsuki bellowed when they arrived, the door sliding open in front of them. Auslin had to be gently ushered into the room by Kitaro.
Mitsuki stood beside Tatsuki, seething in rage while hatefully glaring at Auslin. “You dare show your face after what you did?” Mitsuki snarled as Auslin approached the throne.
Despite his fear, Auslin’s temper flared. “After whatIdid? What about everythingyoudid?”
“Silence!” Tatsuki roared, causing both to fall silent. “Explain yourselves.”
Mitsuki held up his blackened hand and forearm. His skin was charred and peeling from the purifying burn. “This worm viciously attacked me with his powers, then threatened to kill me!”
“You attacked me after I begged you to leave me alone!” It was infuriating Mitsuki was trying to blame him for what had happened. “I had no choice but todefend myself from you! And I warned you several times before you forced me to act.”
Tatsuki looked at the two with a deep frown. “Start from the beginning.”
“Igenerouslyoffered to help train this pathetic worm, and this is the thanks I get!” Mitsuki gestured with his injured hand for emphasis.
“I said I would leave the training hall so you could use it, but you attacked me with a sword instead,” Auslin argued, his anger replacing his fear. “You ripped off my amulet and my shirt. You pressed your erection against me while kissing me against my will, and then you tried to reach into my pants to grope me after threatening to ruin me for Kitaro! You’re lucky I only purified your hand!”
“Do you deny this, Mitsuki?” Tatsuki asked. It was a strange question when the king could smell that Auslin was telling the truth since he hadn’t put his amulet back on yet.
Mitsuki held his head high. “I was doing my duty to this family by reminding this worthless human of his place beneath us! Now that he’s finally shown his true colors, maybe you will cast him out of our clan, where he never belonged!”
Tatsuki stood up and walked down the three steps of the dais to approach Mitsuki. The shifter monarch stared down at his oldest son for a long moment before hauling Mitsuki off the ground by his injured forearm.
Mitsuki howled as Tatsuki tightened his grip.Auslin flinched when he heard Mitsuki’s injured arm break.
Tatsuki held Mitsuki up to look at him eye to eye. “If we hear you even so much aslookedat Vanra wrong, we will gouge your eyes out ourself. If you say one wrong word, we will take great pleasure in ripping your tongue out of your head. Tryanythingagainst Vanra again,and it will be you who is out of the clan and possibly this realm. Do we make ourself clear?”
“Crystal,” Mitsuki growled.
“This is your final warning.” Tatsuki roughly tossed Mitsuki to the floor, where he crumpled with a groan, holding his injured arm to his chest. “Now, get out of our sight before we change our mind about letting you live.”
Mitsuki pulled himself off the floor with as much dignity as he could muster before silently storming out of the room.
Tatsuki waited until the door was closed before approaching Vanra, who trembled in fear of the shifter monarch’s punishment for him. He looked down at the human with an unreadable expression before reaching out to him.
Auslin flinched from the hit he expected to come. It was why he was stunned when Tatsuki pulled him into a tight hug. “We apologize, Vanra. Our unwise continued indulgence in our eldest son’s stupidity has cost you greatly. For him to do such a thing to you while you are under our protection is unforgivable.”
“But I shouldn’t have?—”
“You were well within your rights to do what you did, Vanra. Never apologize for doing what was necessary to defend yourself. Should he ever try to do anything to you again, you have our permission to purify him to the Beyond Realm. We will not have you be subjected to such abuse.”
Auslin nodded in shock.
“Keep an eye on Mitsuki,” Tatsuki said to Kitaro. “If he doesanything, you are to inform us immediately. We have reached the end of our patience with him.”
Kitaro bowed in acknowledgment. “I will see to it, Father.”
“For now, attend to Vanra’s needs.”
Auslin bowed low. “I appreciate your continued kindness, Father. Thank you for understanding.”
