Page 10 of Lord of the Lone Wolf
“There’s no trace of a lie in your scent. How is that possible?” Maseo demanded.
“When I disappeared almost two years ago, it was because I went through Fate’s Gate and traveled six hundred years into the past. Back then, I fell in love with Kitsuki when he was a young prince, which led to some unfortunate confrontations with your father.”
“Wait, are you saying you’re Vanra?”
It surprised Auslin to hear Maseo say the birth name he had used in the past. “I am.”
“That’s so fantastical; I’d refuse to believe it was true if anyone else told me such a wild story.” Maseo fell silent for a few moments as he pieced together the situation. “When Vanra disappeared from the past, it was because you returned to the present?”
“If I had my way, I never would have left. But fate had other plans for me.” Auslin scowled, still feeling guilty for the six hundred years of solitude he had inflicted on his mate.
Kitsuki soothed him through their mating bond, easing the worst of his regrets.
Maseo rested his head on Auslin’s shoulder while still holding him. “Unbelievable. I never would have imaginedyouwere the reason I exist.”
The comment confused the mage. “What do you mean?”
“My father didn’t understand Kitsuki’s love for Vanra. He sought a mage to discover the appeal, but his inexperience with humans meant he didn’t realize my mother was fertile.”
The information confused Auslin. “If he was trying to find answers about why Kitsuki was interested in a human mage, why would Nasume choose a woman? Given his singular obsession with Kitsuki, I assumed he had no interest in them.”
“In hindsight, I can see she resembled you in some ways and showed him a kindness he didn’t deserve. To him, that was close enough to finding a Vanra replacement. Her pregnancy became an unwanted complication, and I have regretted every minute of my life since she died.”
“He didn’t…” Auslin struggled to finish his horrifying question. “He didn’t kill her, did he?”
“Shockingly, no. Because she was loyal to him and always forgave him, no matter how awful he was, he let her live. The one kindness granted to me in life was fate allowing her to pass to the Beyond Realm due to old age.”
Auslin’s heart broke for Maseo. “Shouldn’t her lifespan have been extended because of Nasume’s?”
“It would have been if they had mated, but he never touched her again after that. He was too afraid he’d end up with more unwanted bastard children.”
Tears welled in Auslin’s eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
Maseo squeezed Auslin tighter in silent comfort. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
“But you’ve suffered so much because of me.”
“No, I’m alive because of you.” A shiver ran through Auslin when Maseo nuzzled against his neck. “You and your mate have given me my first shred of hope since my mother crossed over to the Beyond Realm. I’m grateful, not bitter.”
“But after your mother and Kio, how do you not resent me or curse my name?”
“Because thanks to you, I finally escaped from Kio.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I realized that someone as patient as you had gotten fed up with his behavior to the point of leaving, I knew he was beyond redemption. I broke things off with him and refused to take him back, despite his futile attempts to change my mind. I’m relieved to know he’s in a place where he can’t come after me anymore.”
Auslin sighed. “I hate that he’s chained up in the dungeon like an animal, but he’s too dangerous to roam free and threaten our happiness.”
“He deserves to be sent to the Beyond Realm for good.”
“For what it’s worth, Kitsuki agrees with you.”
The dragon rumbled his agreement, prompting Auslin to pat him in acknowledgment.
“But I can’t be okay with it,” Auslin continued.
“The less you think about him, the better off you’ll be.” Maseo chuckled. “That’s true for both of us.”
