Page 98 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
Nasume was relentless. He heaped further indignity onto Kitaro by grabbing the dragon shifter’s ass to pull their bodies closer together.
“I insist you cease and desist at once, or I will not be responsible for what I do.” Kitaro pushed the wolf shifter back, then called fire to his hand as a warning.
Nasume crossed his arms with a glare. “What reason do you have to refuse me?”
“I have no interest in you romantically. Being alone would be better than being your bondmate.”
Nasume sounded wounded. “Am I really so off-putting to you?”
“Yes.” It was a relief that Nasume finally understood. “I have no need for you. It would be better for us both if you would stop these pathetic attempts at romantic interludes with me.”
“You have no need for me?” Nasume’s anger flared. “What an insulting thing to say!”
“I have everything I could ever want. I do not require you.” Maybe now Nasume would finally understand how serious Kitaro was about the matter.
The wolf shifter narrowed his eyes with a glower. “Is this because of that human?” When Kitaro didn’t reply, Nasume’s outrage exploded. “Are you seriously refusing me because of a filthyhuman?”
“I am refusing you because I have no interest inyou,” Kitaro coldly told him. He tired of reiterating the point to the obstinate wolf shifter. “I have been telling you this for years, but you refuse to listen. It has nothing to do with Vanra.”
“If you think I am giving you up for the sake of some pathetic human, you aredeeplymistaken,” Nasume warned. “You deserve better than that ridiculous excuse of an existence.”
The insult infuriated Kitaro, but he kept his reaction in check. “I understand you are upset, but please refrain from insulting Vanra. I will not tolerate your disrespect.”
Nasume sneered. “How serious can you be about him when you have yet to claim him?”
“Regardless, I have made my choice.” Kitaro gave a final plea. “If you ever had any true feelings for me, you would drop this ridiculous attempt at a proposal.”
“You havegotto be kidding me,” Nasume irritably growled. “You cannot possibly be serious right now.”
“I am entirely serious. For once in your life, please do me the decency to respect my wishes.”
“There is no way I will give you up for the sake of ahuman,” Nasume hissed.
“Then we are done here.” Kitaro turned to leave.
Nasume grabbed the dragon shifter by the wrist once more. “Kitaro, please?—”
Kitaro didn't wait to hear the wolf prince’s plea. He jerked free of his hold and stormed out of the room without a backward glance.
When he returned to his room, Vanra wasn’t there. That meant he was most likely in his second favorite place in the castle.
Kitaro finally found Vanra in the library, with his face buried in his arms folded on a desk. It surprised him that Kisano was nowhere to be seen. He rubbed Vanra’s back to comfort him. “Please do not despair, Vanra.”
“Why didn’t your father say no?” Vanra asked in a mournful voice.
“It was neither the time nor the place to do so.” It bothered Kitaro to see the human so upset. The scent of his distress made Kitaro’s dragon pace in his cage. “Please understand, I have no intention of accepting Nasume’s outrageous proposal.”
Vanra straightened and threw his hands in the air. “Why is italwayswolf shifters?”
It was a confusing comment. “Do you have a problem with them in your time?”
“You could say that.” Misery rolled off the human in waves. “Well, it’s not technicallyhisfault that there are issues. My companion is—never mind. It’s complicated. Forget I said anything.”
Kitaro knelt in front of the human. “Please look at me, Vanra.”
Vanra frowned. “You’re aprince. You’re not supposed to kneel.”
“And yet I happily do so for you.” Kitarotook one of the human’s hands in his to refocus his attention. “I would do anything for you.”
