Page 133 of Lord of the Lone Wolf
“Please come back to visit,” Kisano said, meaning every word. “Consider it your sanctuary as well.”
The smile that spread across Maseo’s face was like sunshine breaking through clouds. “Thank you. That means more than you know.”
After Maseo left, Kisano remained in his chair, staring at the shelves surrounding him. The conversation had exceeded his expectations, revealing depths of Maseo’s character that he was still processing.
Knowing his book had provided comfort during Maseo’s darkest moments felt like an unexpected gift. It also inspired him to do everything in his power to ensure that no one ever experienced such isolation and pain again.
Perhaps taking the throne of Kunushi would allow him to create a kingdom similar to Valzerna. Kisano wanted to rule in Kitsuki’s example, creating a place where those who were different could find acceptance, where kindness mattered more than bloodline, where everyone had the chance to become their truest self.
If he could build something like that, if he could honor both the real Maseo and the book that had given him hope, then perhaps his new crown would be a blessing rather than a burden.
The thought filled Kisano with a sense of purpose he had never felt before. He had work to do, a kingdom to heal, and a promise to keep, both to the people of Kunushi and the half-wolf shifter who had shown him what true courage looked like.
It was time to prove himself worthy of the trust placed in him.
Chapter 46
Kitsuki
The correspondence from Uncle Jaega lay spread across the mahogany surface of Kitsuki’s desk, each line a reminder of the complexities that accompanied victory. They’d won the war by defeating Nasume, but the burden of leadership pressed heavier than ever upon his shoulders. How could he reward courage without bankrupting a kingdom? How could he honor sacrifice without creating new hardships for innocent people?
A knock at the study door interrupted his brooding thoughts.
“Enter,” he called, setting aside Jaega’s letter with a sigh.
The door opened to reveal Maseo. Even weeks after the battle, the evidence of Nasume’s brutality remained etched across Maseo’s features. The eye patch covered the worst of the damage, but the careful way he moved and the slight tension in his shoulders spoke of pain that persisted despite all efforts to heal it.
“Maseo,” Kitsuki greeted him warmly. The formal distance he maintained with most visitors dissolved in the presence of theman who had become so precious to him. “What an unexpected pleasure. I am afraid Auslin has traveled to Fate’s Gate Temple with Sephen to visit friends there, if you were looking for him.”
Something flickered across Maseo’s expression, a moment of vulnerable hesitation. “Actually,” he began, then paused, seeming to gather his courage. “I was hoping to see you.”
The admission surprised Kitsuki. “Does something trouble you?”
“No, nothing’s wrong,” Maseo assured him, though his cheeks flushed with color. “This is going to sound weird, but I was worried about you.”
Kitsuki blinked, taken aback by the unexpected confession. “Worried about me? Whatever for?”
Maseo shifted, his good eye not quite meeting Kitsuki’s gaze. “I don’t know how to explain it. I had a strong urge to check on you, to make sure you were okay.” He straightened, seemingly embarrassed by his own words. “I’m sorry if that’s inappropriate. I can leave if you prefer?—”
Maseo may have been confused by his impulse, but Kitsuki understood that the trinity bond was asserting itself, drawing the half-wolf shifter to him through instincts the young man could not yet comprehend. Kitsuki’s dragon purred with deep satisfaction at this evidence of their connection, at the way Maseo’s soul recognized what his mind didn’t understand.
“Please do not leave,” Kitsuki interrupted, moving around his desk to approach Maseo. “Your instincts serve you well. I was indeed troubled by a correspondence.” He gestured toward the sitting area next to his study, where padded chairs surrounded a low table beside tall windows overlooking the palace gardens.“Perhaps we might speak somewhere more comfortable? You should not stand for extended periods while you recover.”
Maseo followed him, settling into one of the cushioned chairs with a suppressed wince that tightened Kitsuki’s jaw with anger at Nasume. The afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows cast a golden glow across Maseo’s features, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the way his dark hair fell in front of his face.
“Your concern was not misplaced,” Kitsuki said as he sat near Maseo. “I have been wrestling with a challenging problem regarding our recent victory.”
“What kind of problem?” Maseo asked, his posture ramrod straight to avoid straining his injuries.
“Uncle Jaega has written requesting guidance on how we should reward our warriors for their success in the war. It should be a simple matter of distributing bonuses and recognition, but the financial realities make it far more complex than it appears.”
Maseo’s brow furrowed with interest. “How so?”
“My father, King Tatsuki, always solved this dilemma by raiding the defeated enemy’s treasury,” Kitsuki explained, his voice heavy with old frustrations. “He would seize their gold, their jewels, whatever wealth remained after conquest, and distribute it among our warriors as payment for their courage. It was effective, if ethically questionable.”
“But you can’t do that with Kunushi,” Maseo realized. “Because Kisano is going to be their king.”
“Precisely.” Kitsuki’s respect for Maseo’s quick comprehension grew. “Taking from Kunushi’s treasury would leave my brothergoverning a bankrupted kingdom, trying to earn the loyalty of subjects who already question whether they can trust a foreign ruler. He would inherit nothing but debt and resentment.”
