Page 34 of Lord of the Lone Wolf
The dragon shifter pouted at being singled out. “Why?”
“Trust me, you donotwant to tangle with his protector.” Rylan grinned at Maseo. “Isn’t that right?”
Maseo toyed with his ring, struggling to understand why Kitsuki would care about someone showing interest in him. Still, he enjoyed feeling special to the dragon monarch. Rather than answering, Maseo said, “I’m here to fight for Valzerna’s sake.”
“Is that all?” Rylan hummed with interest. “Fascinating.”
Maseo blushed at the implication. “I don’t know why you think I’m so special.”
“Because we both know if he walked in here right now and saw me sitting with you like this, he’d remove my arm for touching what’s his.”
Maseo furrowed his brow in confusion. “No, he wouldn’t care, because I’m not his.”
“Sure, pup.” Rylan laughed, sounding anything but convinced. “You keep telling yourself that. I know what I saw.”
“Who do I have to fight?” Bitris teased, though Maseo wasn’t entirely sure it was a joke. The interaction confused him, especially since it seemed Bitris had figured out his connection to Nasume.
“Someone you’ll never defeat and definitely don’t want to piss off. But if you protect Maseo, I’m confident you’ll find yourself handsomely rewarded,” Rylan said with confidence. “There’s not a Power alive who could save you from the ensuing wrath if you harm him.”
Bitris’s nose flared as he tried to scent the truth in Rylan’s words. “Wait, you’re serious.”
Drayden snorted. “That’s rare.”
“All the more reason to believe him,” Sudryl pointed out to his friends. “Message received, Lieutenant.”
Drayden huffed as he pushed a stray hair behind his ear. “Do you have any idea how irritating it’ll be that Bitris knows something the rest of us don’t? He’s going to lord that shit over us.”
“He won’t if he knows what’s good for him,” Rylan warned. “As far as you’re concerned, Maseo is the most important nobody you’ve met. There’s a reason the Ariake clan honored you three with the privilege of protecting him.”
“Because keeping him all to yourself in your private room would give the wrong impression?” Bitris asked with a cheeky grin.
“In different circumstances, it’d give the right impression. However, I value my life and my rank, so I’ll have to settle for the role of honorary guard dog.” Rylan ruffled Maseo’s hair. “We’ll make sure you get through this war alive and in one piece, Maseo. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
“I really want you to be right,” Maseo said. “I’m so tired of running.”
“Soon, you won’t have to run,” Rylan promised.
“Except away from Bitris and his unwanted sexual harassment,” Drayden joked to lighten the mood.
Bitris held up his hands in surrender. “I’ll behave because I’m not interested in making the enemy the lieutenant is implying.”
“I’m lost,” Sudryl said with a frustrated sigh. “Who’s the enemy?”
Instead of answering, Bitris’s expression turned serious. “If I’m right about what I think I know, then he’s correct about us needing to keep Maseo safe from very real danger.”
Maseo hung his head in shame. “I’m so sorry.”
Rylan forced the half-wolf shifter to look up at him. “None of this is your fault. You’ve done the right thing by coming here. You don’t have to fight alone anymore.”
“Thank you.” The sentiment touched Maseo, especially since he had so few allies in his life. “Please believe me when I say I sincerely want to give my all for Valzerna.”
“But why would a half-wolf shifter from Kunushi want to fight for Valzerna when we’re about to go to war againstKing Nasume?” Drayden asked, studying Maseo with growing interest.
“Especially since you’re Nasume’s bastard son,” Bitris added.
Maseo winced at the expected blows in retaliation. “If you know who I am, then you already understand why I want to fight against him.”
“To claim the throne for yourself?” Sudryl asked, suspicion coloring his tone.
