Page 12 of Lord of the Lone Wolf
“If Rylan is any indication, maybe others will react to me as he did.” While Maseo had been suspicious at first, he had come to appreciate the raven shifter’s dry sense of humor as they talked after exchanging messages for Kitsuki.
It took a moment for the name to register with Kitsuki. “Ah, you are referring to Lieutenant Norkon.”
“I was scared he was one of my father’s cronies, so I didn’t give him a warm reception,” Maseo admitted. “But he didn’t seem to hold it against me.”
“His ability to find you impressed me a great deal. Speaking of which.” Kitsuki pulled the wish pendant Maseo had entrusted to him from under his tunic. “I believe it is time to return this to you.”
Maseo felt choked up at the sight of the orb necklace hanging around Kitsuki’s neck. He had never expected the monarch to wear it. It filled him with complicated emotions he wasn’t ready to process. “I know I have no right to ask anything else of you, but would you mind watching it for me a little longer?”
Kitsuki fingered the filigree on the silver orb, which glowed a beautiful indigo in the dark night. “For what reason?”
“It’s silly superstition, but I’d rather you keep it for now so you could wish on it to protect you, Auslin, and your kingdom duringthe war. Maybe you’ll have better luck with it than I do. All my prayers to Mireya for love and happiness seem to result only in more heartache.”
Kitsuki’s expression turned thoughtful as he continued to toy with the orb using his claws. “Perhaps it is a matter of perspective.”
“I don’t follow.”
The dragon shifter was silent for a few moments before saying, “You and I may be more similar in that regard than I expected.”
Maseo struggled to grasp what Kitsuki meant. “How so?”
“To have my greatest joy, I had to face the worst sorrow.” An air of melancholy washed over Kitsuki. “I was gifted the love of my life, only to lose him for six hundred years. Those centuries of solitude made me appreciate Auslin’s return even more. It was the most painful thing I have ever endured, but it was worth it.”
The romantic declaration moved Maseo’s heart. He couldn’t believe Auslin was the infamous Vanra of the past. “Are you suggesting my years of suffering abuse from my father and Kio are the price I had to pay to find my fated mate?”
“In my experience, it would be very much like Sophina to balance the scales of fairness.” He tapped the orb with a claw before releasing it. “For what it is worth, I have it on good authority that you will find your happiness after the war ends.”
The comment surprised Maseo. “You do?”
“My sister is best friends with Sophina, so she enjoys giving cryptic hints about things that lie ahead in the future.”
“Right, because your sister is the War Power Kizoshi.”
Kitsuki nodded. “She is indeed.”
“She’s the only person my father hates more than Vanra and Auslin.” Maseo had heard endless drunken rants from his father about her infuriating interference regarding Kitsuki.
Kitsuki chuckled, mindful not to wake Auslin. “In fairness, she has given him countless reasons to loathe her over the centuries.”
“I can’t even imagine what it’s like to meet the War Power.”
“Something tells me your path will cross hers in the not-too-distant future. She can never resist getting involved in matters concerning Nasume.”
Maseo blanched at the possibility. “I’m not sure I can handle being hated by someone so legendarily lethal.”
“She does not hate you.” Kitsuki made the claim with a baffling level of confidence.
“How do you know that for sure?”
“Because we have spoken about you at great length.”
The news didn’t make Maseo feel any better. “Why would she care about me if she hates my father?”
“She is aware you are nothing like Nasume, so you have nothing to fear from her.”
Maseo remained unconvinced. “If you say so.”
“That being said, if it gives you peace of mind for me to continue protecting your pendant, I will do so.” Kitsuki tucked it back out of sight under his tunic. But the knowledge that it was there filled Maseo with a rare sense of happiness.
