Page 52 of Lord of the Lone Wolf
“You underestimate him,” Kizoshi said. “Maseo carries strength you have not yet seen. But yes, the confrontation will be perilous.”
“Then I will ensure it does not happen.” Kitsuki rose from his chair, pacing to the window that overlooked the training grounds. Below, he could see warriors drilling in formation, but his eyes sought one figure in particular. “I will keep him close during the battle, under my direct protection.”
“You cannot save him from his fate.”
“Watch me.”
Kizoshi’s sigh carried centuries of weariness. “Your protective instincts do you credit, but they will not serve in this instance. Maseo must walk this path alone, or the cycle of abuse will never be broken.”
Kitsuki spun to face her, his control fraying. “I only care about keeping him alive.”
“As do I.” Her expression softened with genuine compassion. “Which is why I can promise you that if you leave Maseo to his fate, he will survive.”
Relief crashed over Kitsuki so suddenly that his knees nearly buckled. His dragon settled, though tension still coiled in his stomach. “You swear it?”
“I do.” But something flickered in her eyes, a shadow of knowledge she would not share.
“Did you warn him?”
“He’s aware only he can do what needs to be done.”
Kitsuki scowled at her nonanswer. “What are you not telling me?”
“That survival and emerging unscathed are not the same thing.” She rose from her chair. “The war will change all of you. Some changes will be welcomed. Others will require great courage to endure.”
“What about Auslin?”
“No harm will come to him while you are away.”
The assurance soothed some of Kitsuki’s agitation. At least his mate would be protected. But the thought of Maseo facing Nasume alone still made his dragon pace.
“I dislike all of this,” he admitted.
“I know.” She moved to stand beside him at the window. “But sometimes the greatest acts of love require us to step back and allow those we care for to find their own strength.”
Kitsuki shook his head. “Maseo is not ready.”
“He is more prepared than you believe.” Before Kitsuki could ask for clarification, she moved toward the door. “I must take my leave. There are other preparations to make.”
“Wait.”
She paused, looking at him with sisterly concern.
“If what you say about a trinity bond is true, how would such a thing even be possible?”
“The same way any miracle occurs. Through the convergence of willing hearts and the blessing of fate.” She looked back at him over her shoulder. “The question is not whether it is possible, dear brother. It is whether you have the courage to accept what your dragon already knows.”
With those words, she left Kitsuki alone with his turbulent thoughts.
Summon Maseo, his dragon demanded.We must speak with him about what comes next.
“No.” Kitsuki returned to his desk, trying to focus on the scattered reports. “I have work to finish.”
You cannot protect him by keeping your distance.
“I am maintaining appropriate boundaries.”
Lies. His dragon’s mental voice dripped with disgust. You fear the truth of what we feel.
