Page 106 of Lord of the Lone Wolf
Nasume’s face contorted with fury. “You dare speak to me that way? You, the greatest disappointment of my existence?”
“I’m only a disappointment because you never saw my worth.” Maseo circled to position himself between his father and the bed where Kitsuki struggled against his bonds. “You were too busy chasing after someone who would never want you.”
“And he wants a pathetic half-breed likeyou?”
The words struck old wounds, but Maseo refused to flinch. “At least I don’t have to force myself on others to get their attention.”
Nasume’s eyes widened, then narrowed to slits. “You understand nothing about my relationship with Kitsuki.”
Maseo tightened his grip on his sword. “I understand he has rejected you for centuries, and you’re so pathetic that you can’t accept he doesn’t want you.”
Nasume’s nostrils flared, his chest heaving with rage. “And what makes you think he wants you? Look at yourself. Weak. Human. Powerless. What could you offer a dragon king?”
“More than you ever could. Respect. Understanding. The ability to accept no for an answer.”
Nasume’s laugh was ugly and twisted. “Is that what you tell yourself? That he respects you? That he sees you as anything other than a tool to be used against me?”
Maseo kept his expression neutral, though the words cut deeper than he wanted to admit. “Whatever he sees in me, it’s more than he ever saw in you.”
“You worthless little shit,” Nasume spat, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. “Let us see how brave you are when I tear you apart.”
The wolf king lunged forward, his claws extended to rip into Maseo’s throat. But as his hand came within inches of Maseo’s skin, a brilliant silver barrier flared to life, repelling Nasume with such force that he stumbled backward.
Confusion gave way to ire as Nasume’s gaze fixed on Maseo’s hand. “He gaveyoua protective ring?”
“Yes, he offered me the protection you never provided,” Maseo replied.
Nasume’s jealous rage flared. “Take it off.”
“No.”
The single word of defiance seemed to push Nasume over the edge. Shadows erupted from his hands, coalescing into jagged spears that hurtled toward Maseo with lethal intent.
The silver barrier flared again, the shadows dissipating into wisps of darkness upon contact with the protective magic.
“Why would he give that toyou, of all people?” Nasume snarled.
“Because unlike you, he understands what it means to care for someone.”
“Care?” Nasume sneered. “He is only using you to hurt me where I am most vulnerable.”
“And where is that?” Maseo asked. “Your pride? Your ego? Because it certainly isn’t your heart.”
Nasume sent shadows sweeping over the floor, rising to engulf Maseo. Kitsuki’s magic flared again, pushing back the darkness and keeping Maseo untouched within its protective embrace.
Frustration twisted Nasume’s features as his attacks continued to fail. “He cannot protect you forever.”
“Long enough to deal with you,” Maseo replied, his confidence growing with each failed attempt. He glanced toward the bed, where Kitsuki struggled against his restraints. The dragon king’s gaze burned with silver fire as he fought against the necromantic restraints.
Nasume followed Maseo’s gaze, his expression darkening further. “You think he cares for you?” He laughed, the sound bitter and twisted. “He is a dragon king. You are a halfling bastard. At best, you are a momentary distraction, a pet to be coddled and then discarded.”
The words touched on Maseo’s deepest insecurities, but he refused to let it show. “Better that than a millennium-long annoyance.”
Nasume’s eyes narrowed. “You have grown too bold, insolent whelp.” The shadows around Nasume shifted, taking on the taint of necromancy. The air in the chamber grew cold and heavy with the wrongness of death magic.
“Dragon magic is powerful,” Nasume conceded. “But nothing can protect against necromancy.”
Fear flickered through Maseo as he realized the truth in his father’s words. Kitsuki’s ring protected against many things, but necromancy operated outside the natural laws.
