Page 125 of Lord of the Lone Wolf
Kisano’s expression was a mixture of wonder, confusion, and fear. He moved toward their reading alcove with deliberate care, still protecting whatever he held against his chest.
Sephen’s scholarly instincts focused in on the object in Kisano’s arms. Even from a distance, he could tell it was a book unlike any in their vast collection. The binding had an unusual metallic purple sheen that seemed to shift in the light.
“Did Kitsuki bring that back from Kunushi?” Sephen asked, his excitement growing as he studied the extraordinary craftsmanship.
“He did,” Kisano confirmed, settling into the chair beside him.
Delight bloomed in Sephen’s chest. “He’s such a good brother. Even amidst war and chaos, he still took the time to find something unique for your collection. That’s the kind of thoughtfulness that makes him such a wonderful king.”
But instead of the pleased smile Sephen expected, Kisano’s expression grew more complicated, shadows gathering in his eyes. “Actually, my brother told me this was a gift from our father to atone for treating me with ambivalence while he was alive.”
Sephen tilted his head, trying to make sense of words that contradicted everything he knew about the situation. “Your father? But how could he have given Kitsuki anything? He’s been dead for centuries.”
The explanation that followed left Sephen feeling as though the ground had shifted beneath him. Ishibiya had summoned Tatsuki from the Beyond Realm, forcing the former king’s soul into the body of a reanimated skeleton and using him as a weapon against his own children. The violation andsheer cruelty of such magic made Sephen’s stomach turn with revulsion.
“That’s horrible,” he breathed, color draining from his face as the full implications sank in. “To violate someone’s eternal rest in such a way, to force them to fight against their own children, is unforgivable.”
“It was,” Kisano agreed, his voice heavy with the weight of shared trauma. “But before Father returned to the Everlight Vale, he asked Kitsuki to give me this. He said it was the only Beyond text in the Living Realm and that he wanted my library to be the greatest in Talwyn.”
Sephen stared at the book with newfound appreciation. “It’s an actual text from the afterlife?”
“Indeed. I have never seen anything like it.” Kisano held it out to him, and Sephen accepted it with trembling hands.
The book seemed to pulse with life, as if it contained not only words but actual consciousness. “I can feel something,” he murmured, his voice filled with wonder and a touch of awe. “Considering it’s from the realm of the dead, it feels alive.”
With infinite care, Sephen opened the cover and turned to a random page in the middle. His breath caught in his throat as the text revealed itself. The letters glowed with an internal light, shifting and changing as if responding to his attention. Each illustration was a masterpiece.
“This is extraordinary,” he breathed, turning the page with the delicate touch that years of handling ancient manuscripts had taught him. “Wow.”
Each page revealed new wonders. The text appeared to be written in multiple languages. Some he recognized from his extensive studies, while others seemed to exist beyond mortal linguistic understanding. The way the words shifted and flowed suggested that the book was revealing different layers of meaning depending on how he approached it.
“Father said he wanted to show me the affection he never should have withheld while he was alive,” Kisano added, his voice thick with emotion, making Sephen’s heart ache in sympathy. “For all those years, I thought he saw me as nothing but a disappointment, and now…”
Sephen looked up from the miraculous book, his expression full of tender understanding. He could see the grief and relief from the long-buried hope of being acknowledged. “It’s a shame he couldn’t express that while he was living, but I’m glad you know without a doubt he was proud of you all along.”
The simple truth of it eased some of the tension in Kisano’s shoulders, but Sephen sensed there was more weighing on his mate’s mind. “Did something else happen?”
“Kitsuki also requested that I become the new king of Kunushi.”
Sephen’s head snapped up so quickly he worried he might have strained something. “What?”
“He wants me to become the new king of Kunushi,” Kisano repeated. “He believes I’m what the kingdom needs to heal after Nasume’s reign of terror.”
Sephen closed the miraculous book and leaned back in his chair, his mind reeling as he tried to process the magnitude of the revelation.King Kisano of Kunushi. The possibilities were both thrilling and terrifying. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him I needed to speak with you first since this decision affects both of us. I could not make it without your input.”
He pressed a sweet, lingering kiss to his mate’s lips, pouring all his gratitude into the gentle contact. “Thank you for considering my feelings and including me in something this important. That means everything to me.”
When they separated, Sephen linked their hands, needing the physical connection while they navigated a tough conversation. “How do you feel about being king?”
“Terrified. I have never left Tiora, let alone Valzerna. The idea of traveling to another kingdom and ruling people I’ve never met is overwhelming.”
Sephen’s heart ached at the uncertainty in Kisano’s voice, but his mind was already working through logical arguments to address each concern. “But you’ve helped Kitsuki rule for centuries. You’ve served as regent during his absences, making important decisions that affected every citizen. You have far more experience with governance than you give yourself credit for.”
“That was different,” Kisano protested. “I was supporting Kitsuki’s established reign, following precedents he had already set. We would build a new government in a kingdom devastated by tyranny.”
“Which is why they need someone with your compassion and wisdom,” Sephen countered. “Someone who understands that true strength comes from building people up, not tearing them down.”
