Page 4 of Lord of the Lone Wolf
Maseo had spent countless nights wondering what was wrong with him, why he could never be enough for anyone. To learn that someone as powerful, kind, and handsome as Kitsuki would choose him over his own father was almost too much to process.
Before he could respond, Kitsuki’s dragon retreated, and he summoned plates to serve the meal. He waited for Kitsuki to take the first bite before trying his own, a lifetime of careful protocol ingrained in his bones.
The meat was tender and flavorful, seasoned with herbs that made Maseo’s mouth water. “I’ve been to the finest taverns, but none have rabbit this tasty.” Best of all, his stomach didn’t rebel against the food the way it had for days. Auslin’s healing had been so thorough that even the lingering effects of the poison were gone. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you’re as amazing at cooking as you are at everything else.”
The compliment drew a soft chuckle from Kitsuki. Maseo experienced a rare glow of pride at being able to coax the sound from the stoic ruler.
They ate in comfortable silence as the silver dragon fire provided warmth and light, creating a pocket of safety in the vast wilderness. Maseo used the quiet time to gather his courage for something he needed to say.
Once they finished eating and Kitsuki made their plates vanish with casual magic, Maseo took a deep breath and forced himself to meet the monarch’s gaze. “I’m sorry I broke my promise to you by taking off your ring, but I knew it was the only way I could escape Norello alive.”
Kitsuki’s eyebrows drew together in a frown. “Explain.”
“I doubt it’ll come as much of a surprise to learn that my father’s anger manifests in physical abuse.” Maseo tried to keep his voice steady, but he couldn’t quite suppress the flinch that accompanied the words. “When Kio attacked me earlier, he recognized your magic. I knew my father would as well, which I feared could have had deadly consequences.”
Silver flashed in Kitsuki’s eyes again as his dragon responded to the mention of violence against someone under his protection. “But he could not harm you because of my magic.”
“No, but his Divine weapon could have shattered the protective barrier.”
The temperature dropped several degrees as Kitsuki’s expression turned deadly cold. “How does your father have a Divine weapon?”
“My grandfather defeated an Inciter during the Necromancer War and took her sword as a war trophy. It’s one of my father’s most prized possessions at the castle.” Maseo’s voice grew quieter as he continued. “Thankfully, despite countless threats of using it on me, he never has. But I knew if he sensed your magic protecting me, it would be the first thing he’d grab to attack me.”
“If that is the case, how did you escape without him using it on you?”
Maseo’s hands clenched into fists in his lap as the memories threatened to overwhelm him. “After poisoning and beating me, he turned me over to his men to have their way with me. Knowing him, he would think that death by a Divine weapon would be too swift and painless when he wanted me to suffer at the hands of his cronies.”
Kitsuki’s careful control snapped. Silver light blazed in his eyes as his dragon surged to the surface. “We will kill them all for this injustice.”
The intensity of his declaration should have frightened Maseo, but it sent a thrill of vindication through him. Someone cared enough to be angry on his behalf. Someone believed his suffering mattered enough to warrant vengeance.
“Thankfully, while they argued about who would take me first, I put the ring back on, which kept me safe from their nefariousintentions,” Maseo continued, drawing strength from Kitsuki’s protective fury.
“At least we offered you that protection,” Kitsuki’s dragon rumbled, the sound vibrating through Maseo’s bones in a way that made him shiver. “But their desire to harm you is still unforgivable.”
“The important thing is I’m far away from them now.” Maseo’s gaze drifted to where Auslin slept, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. “And thanks to Auslin, I’m okay now.”
Kitsuki bowed his head as his dragon receded, leaving behind the beautiful blue of his eyes. “Although I have no right to ask for forgiveness after my thoughtlessness put you in harm’s way, I vow to do everything in my power to atone for the harm I have caused you. I am sincerely sorry for the harm my thoughtlessness caused you.”
Maseo could only stare in stunned disbelief. A man as proud and powerful as Kitsuki was humbling himself before a half-breed bastard with no real standing or worth. It defied everything life had taught Maseo about his place in the world.
“Thank you, but no apologies are necessary,” he said, desperate to spare Kitsuki any further guilt. “You being willing to speak to me without hatred is more than enough. Anything more would be greedy.”
A troubled expression crossed Kitsuki’s features. “I have never hated you, Maseo.”
“After everything I put Auslin through, how could you not?”
“Because my mate pleads your case at every opportunity he finds.” Kitsuki’s answer stole the breath from Maseo’s lungs.“What you have endured because of my half brother and your awful father is a hell no one should have to endure.”
It was almost too wonderful to believe that Auslin had defended him. After all the pain Maseo had caused him, and after the way Kio had used their relationship to hurt the mage, how could Auslin still speak on his behalf?
“I thought you both hated me,” Maseo said, his voice breaking. “You should hate me. I deserve it and your scorn.”
“You do not.” Kitsuki’s tone was gentle but implacable, cutting through Maseo’s self-recrimination. “Auslin agrees with me.”
The kindness of his words overwhelmed Maseo. Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes, threatening to spill over despite his efforts to maintain composure. “You’re both too kind. How can you be so forgiving after everything I’ve done?”
“As Auslin has often argued, there is nothing to forgive. All you wanted was to be loved. The only crime is that the two people who should have loved you unconditionally were incapable of it. You did not deserve their abuse.”
