Page 59 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
Vanra seemed uncertain. “Is everything okay?”
“All is well. Father simply wanted an update on how things went with the Enchanters yesterday. As you know, there was very little to report on the matter.”
The human hesitated for a moment. “I apologize if I’m out of line, but areyouokay? You seem agitated.”
In truth, Kitarowasagitated by his dragon demanding he do unforgivable things to Vanra. The mage had no idea what he wasdoing to the shifter by standing there unsuspecting and only a towel away from being naked.
Kitaro wanted to rip off the towel and amulet, then carry Vanra the few steps to the bed to have his way with the human mage. But as much as he wanted to drown in Vanra’s heat scent, it couldn’t be allowed.
While Kitaro was aware he was forming feelings for Vanra, he couldn’t tell how much of his current reaction was his dragon’s to the heat. He reminded his unreasonable other half for the millionth time that Vanra intended on returning to his own time. They could never be mates, but Kitaro’s dragon would not be deterred.
It made Kitaro irritable from having to suppress such intense desires as he struggled against his normally well-behaved dragon. However, he didn’t want Vanra to know about his internal dilemma. “It is nothing to trouble yourself over.”
“If I’ve done something wrong, I want to know,” Vanra insisted. “I’m sorry I was bad at practice today, but it wasn’t because I wasn’t taking it seriously. I really tried, but this pendant is draining me too much.”
Kitaro walked over to Vanra and held the human’s shoulders. The gesture was meant to comfort, but his dragon howled inside that they should do so much more than touch. “Please rest easy, Vanra. You are not at fault for anything.”
The human looked up at him with wide, lilac eyes. “But you would tell me if I had, right?”
“You have my word,” Kitaro promised. “You should not assume everything is your fault. It pains me you needlessly live with such constant guilt when there is no reason to do so.”
“I’ll work on it.” Vanra’s expression turned sheepish. “I guess I’m used to getting blamed for everything all the time, so I automatically think I’ve done something wrong.”
Kitaro moved one of his hands up to cup Vanra’s flushed cheek. “I value you too much to do such a horrible thing.” It bothered him he didn’t have his normal insight into the human’s chaotic shifts in emotions from his scent.
“I wish I could say the same of my companion, but I can’t.”
Once again going against his better judgment, Kitaro gathered Vanra into an embrace. He deeply regretted that the amulet denied him the pleasure of experiencing Vanra’s delightful scent. “If he cannot treat you as the treasure you are, he is a fool who does not deserve you,” Kitaro murmured as he rested his head against Vanra’s. His dragon railed against the thought of Vanra leaving them to return to someone who treated him so poorly, even though he had claimed to break things off with his companion. Kitaro found it impossible to disagree on the matter.
Vanra returned the hug, and all felt right in Kitaro’s world. It was as if the smaller human was made for him to hold. He never wanted to let go. Andthe more time they spent together, the harder it would be to let Vanra return to his time.
Then convince him to stay here, Kitaro’s dragon whispered.
When Vanra drew back, he fidgeted with his hands. “Um, I hate to ask, but would it be possible for me to sleep somewhere else tonight?”
It was not what Kitaro had expected to hear. “Have I upset you?”
“No, nothing like that,” Vanra hurriedly assured the shifter. “It’s not that at all.”
“Then what other reason would you have for wanting to sleep elsewhere?”
Vanra’s cheeks flushed a deeper scarlet. “I—well, the thing is, and I’m sorry I have to ask, but…”
When it was clear Vanra had trailed off, Kitaro prompted him. “You have yet to ask anything.”
Vanra ran his fingers through his hair with a frustrated noise. “I’m at my limits and desperately need a break from wearing this amulet. I don’t want to inconvenience you, so sleeping in another room seems like my only option at this point.”
Kitaro’s dragon was giddy at the promise of such an opportunity, but the prince wasn’t about to let anything happen. He gave his dragon a stern warning before telling Vanra, “You may take it off while in our room.”
“But won’t that cause problems for you?” Vanra uncertainly asked.
“It is the preferable alternative to having you sleep elsewhere.” Kitaro was ill at ease with the idea of Vanra sleeping apart from him during his heat. It would leave him vulnerable to other people—especially Mitsuki.
Vanra hesitated for a moment. “Are you sure? I don’t want to cause any issues.”
“You are not in any danger from me, if that is your concern,” Kitaro assured him. “My dragon cannot act against my will. Since my sole desire is to protect you, that is his primary directive as well.”
Vanra shifted on his feet. “As long as you’re sure…”
