Page 137 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
“I would much rather ruin you instead,” Mitsuki told him with a chilling laugh. He forced a punishing kiss on him.
Auslin nipped at Mitsuki’s tongue when he tried to slip it into his mouth, but it only made the shifter chuckle in amusement. Undeterred, Mitsuki’s hand slid down Auslin’s body toward his pants, clearly intent on groping him.
It was too much for Auslin to bear. He sent a burstof his powers at Mitsuki, sending the shifter flying into the nearby wall. Mitsuki howled in pain as he stared at his blackened hand and forearm that had been purified. “I will kill you for this!”
Auslin stood up, casting a protective barrier around himself. “Touch me again, and I swear I will purify you to the Beyond Realm, consequences be damned!”
Kitaro came running into the training hall as Mitsuki rushed at Auslin with his sword. He used his magic to stop his oldest brother from attacking Auslin. “What is the meaning of this?” Kitaro bellowed.
“Move aside, little brother,” Mitsuki growled. “Otherwise, I will kill you to get to him.”
“Have you gone mad? Get a hold of yourself, Mitsuki!”
When Mitsuki rushed toward Kitaro, it left him with no choice. Kitaro landed a hit on his oldest brother, sending him crashing motionless to the floor.
Kitaro reached out to Auslin, then jerked back when the human’s purifying powers singed him. “Vanra, we must leave!”
Auslin remained unmoving, staring at Mitsuki’s crumpled body with his eyes glowing purple from his powers.
Kitaro gritted his teeth, enduring the burning to shake Auslin’s shoulder. “Vanra, come!”
It drew Auslin’s attention to Kitaro. He stared at him for a moment without seeing before dropping hisshield. Auslin backed away from Mitsuki in terror. “He’s going to kill me!”
“Not before I kill him first.” Kitaro grabbed Auslin’s sword and amulet, then swept the human off his feet to carry him out of the training hall.
Once they were safe in their room, Auslin’s panic flared. He paced back and forth as he fretted. “I’m in so much trouble! Your father will probably banish me before Mitsuki has the chance to kill me.”
Kitaro stopped Auslin’s frantic pacing. “Father will do no such thing. Tell me what happened.”
“I’ve ruined everything!” Auslin groaned as he hid his face in his hands, trembling from the overwhelming incident. Tears fell from his eyes. “Your father will kick me out, then I’ll have no choice but to go back through Fate’s Gate, and?—”
Kitaro hugged Auslin tightly. “I will never let that happen.”
“I almost purified the hand off of King Tatsuki’s heir apparent, and you don’t think he’ll retaliate against me?” Auslin asked in a hysterical voice.
“What did Mitsuki do to you to deserve it? You would not have done that to him unless it was absolutely necessary. I can smell him on you.”
Auslin rubbed his neck self-consciously. “He licked me, then kissed me. When he threatened to ruin me and tried to slide his hands down my pants, I couldn’t let him do what he wanted. I had no choice but to usemy powers against him. Now, everything is ruined, and?—”
Kitaro shushed Auslin’s fears as he continued embracing the human. “I should have been there, Vanra. It seems I have failed yet again.”
“No!” Auslin pulled back with an aghast expression. “It’s not your fault! I should have done more to get away before it escalated or?—”
“You did what you had to do,” Kitaro soothed Auslin. “Father will see it your way.”
Auslin hid his face against Kitaro’s broad chest. “He’ll never take my side over his oldest son’s. What I did is unforgivable.”
“No, what Mitsuki did is unforgivable. You are without blame here.”
A knock on the door interrupted them. Auslin cowered in fear, knowing it could only mean one thing. His worst fears were confirmed when a servant announced, “His Majesty has requested Lord Vanra and Prince Kitaro’s presence immediately.”
“It’s all over,” Auslin whispered in anguish.
Kitaro kissed Auslin’s forehead. “We will make Father see Mitsuki is in the wrong. Come, let us go.”
Auslin remained frozen in place. How could he face King Tatsuki after what he had done to Mitsuki?
When Kitaro gently tugged on one of his hands to get him to follow, Auslin was shocked by the sight of blisters on the shifter’s forearm. It took him a moment to realize Kitaro probablygot injured when trying to reach for him through the protective barrier. “Wait, I need to heal you!”
