Page 12 of Lord of the Lone Wolf (Bonded Hearts #3)

The idea was laughable, of course. Powers rarely involved themselves with the people in the Living Realm they governed.

Yet if Kisano was honest with himself, Liros was the only being he could imagine complementing what he and Sephen already shared.

The Power could challenge them both intellectually, broadening their understanding of the world.

And if Sephen felt the same, Liros could strengthen their mating bond rather than ruin it.

“You are thinking of someone specific,” Kitsuki observed, his dragon-enhanced senses no doubt picking up on the subtle changes in Kisano’s scent and posture.

Kisano blushed harder. “Perhaps.”

“Do you believe Sephen would feel the same?”

Kisano’s expression softened. “Yes, although it is an impossibility.”

“But if the impossible became possible?”

Kisano conceded the point. “Then I suppose we would have to be brave enough to embrace what fate offered us, the same as you, Auslin, and Maseo have.”

Kitsuki remained silent, absorbing his brother’s words.

“You see?” Kisano continued, refocusing on the original question. “Even the hypothetical does not seem as impossible as you believe. You should talk to Auslin about this.”

Kitsuki’s head snapped up. “Absolutely not.”

“Why not? If anyone could help you understand what is happening, it would be your mate. Auslin knows you better than anyone, and he has also been spending time with Maseo. He might have insights you lack.”

“I cannot tell Auslin that I am attracted to someone else,” Kitsuki said. “It would destroy him.”

“Or it might help him understand his own confusing feelings.” At Kitsuki’s stricken expression, Kisano softened his tone.

“Remember, Auslin defended Maseo with the passion of a mate protecting someone precious to him. If he is experiencing similar attractions, learning that you share them might come as a relief rather than a betrayal. It could ease your unnecessary suffering.”

Kitsuki shook his head. “I will not risk hurting Auslin by admitting to shameful desires I never should have developed. After waiting six hundred years to be reunited with him, I cannot dishonor that devotion by lusting after another.”

“I do not believe these desires are shameful, brother. What if they are what Kizoshi has been trying to prepare you for? A trinity bond could offer you and Auslin something deeper and more fulfilling than what you already share.”

“Or it could destroy everything we have built together,” Kitsuki countered. “I will not take that chance.”

Kisano sighed, recognizing the stubborn set of his brother’s jaw. “At the very least, consider that continuing to fight these feelings might be more harmful than exploring them. Your dragon’s unrest will only worsen if you keep suppressing his instincts.”

“My dragon will have to learn to live with disappointment. I will not jeopardize my relationship with Auslin for the sake of a fantasy.” Kitsuki stood, his agitation returning full force.

“I need to focus on the war, not on impossible dreams about trinity bonds that have not existed for millennia. Maseo will prove himself in battle, and once this conflict is over, he will find his own path. Whatever my dragon thinks it wants shall fade with time and distance.”

Kisano watched his brother with concern, sensing the fear hidden beneath Kitsuki’s stubborn denial. “Running from this will not make it disappear. If anything, it will only complicate matters further. Consider how your dragon will react to seeing Maseo in danger on the battlefield.”

Horror warred with fear on Kitsuki’s face before he regained control, adopting a neutral expression. “Perhaps you are right. But this is the only choice I can live with. I refuse to risk losing Auslin for anything or anyone.”

With that declaration, Kitsuki strode toward the library doors, his posture rigid with determination. Kisano watched him go, worry gnawing at his chest. The situation was bound to become more complicated over time, especially with the war intensifying the danger and Kitsuki’s protective instincts.

The room fell silent after Kitsuki’s departure, leaving Kisano alone with his troubled thoughts.

He had witnessed Auslin defending Maseo, with tears in the mage’s eyes at the thought of harm coming to the young half-wolf.

He had also seen Kitsuki struggling with his dragon’s possessive reactions.

If Kizoshi was right about the trinity bond, all three of them were resisting an inevitable path that could lead to unprecedented happiness.

But forcing such a realization would only bring more pain. They would have to find their own way to the truth in their own time.

“That sounded like quite an intense conversation,” Sephen commented as he emerged from behind one of the tall bookshelves. His expression was apologetic but curious.

“How long have you been there?”

“Long enough to feel terrible about eavesdropping,” Sephen replied, approaching Kisano’s desk with a sheepish smile. “I was looking for the Liros manuscript you mentioned earlier and couldn’t help overhearing. I’m sorry.”

Kisano’s tension eased at the sight of his beloved mate. “It is fine. The conversation was not exactly private, given where we were.”

Sephen perched on the edge of Kisano’s desk, swinging his legs like a carefree child. The playful gesture never failed to make Kisano’s heart flutter. “I’m disappointed I didn’t get to welcome Maseo back before they whisked him away to the barracks. I was looking forward to seeing him again.”

The comment surprised Kisano. “You know Maseo well?”

“Not really.” Sephen reached out to toy with the quill Kisano had abandoned. “We’ve only met a few times. The longest I talked to him was when I ran into Maseo while out shopping for books with Auslin. The last time was when he came to the temple looking for Auslin and Kitsuki.”

“How do you feel about Maseo?”

“Originally, I was ready to hate him for being with Kio and making my brother sad. But Maseo was so gentle and sorrowful that meeting him broke my heart, especially when he treated Auslin with respect.” Sephen’s expression grew more animated as he spoke.

“Plus, we had an intelligent discussion about Reskin’s books that impressed me.

Anyone who appreciates good literature can’t be all bad, right? ”

“Do you want to get to know him better?”

“I do,” Sephen said with enthusiasm. “Especially since he’s so important to Auslin. Anyone who matters that much to my brother matters to me, too.”

“Does it not strike you as strange,” Kisano asked, “given the history between Auslin and Maseo through Kio?”

Sephen laughed, the sound warm and genuine.

“Have you met my brother? Auslin doesn’t hold grudges against people who’ve been hurt like he was.

If anything, that shared experience probably creates a bond between them.

Besides, from what I could tell, Kio was the one causing all the problems. It’s not like Maseo or Auslin asked to get caught up in that mess. ”

The observation made Kisano pause. “Do you think their connection runs deeper than friendship?”

Sephen slid off the desk to settle in Kisano’s lap. “I believe love has a way of sneaking up on us when we least expect it.” He leaned down to press a soft kiss to Kisano’s lips. “Sometimes what we assume is one kind of feeling turns out to be something different.”

Kisano tilted his head back to look at his mate. “You are wise for somebody so young.”

“I have an excellent teacher, who has shown me our hearts don’t always follow the rules.” He captured his mate’s lips in a tender kiss that tasted of Alsarian honey and home.

When they parted, Kisano rested his forehead against Sephen’s, drawing comfort from the familiar warmth of their mating bond. “Do you believe Kitsuki will find the courage to talk to Auslin?”

“I hope so,” Sephen replied, his fingers playing with the hair at the nape of Kisano’s neck, sending shivers through the dragon shifter. “Though I suspect it’ll take time for him to overcome his fear of messing up what he already has.”

“Sometimes the biggest risk is not taking any risk at all.”

“Exactly. But that’s a lesson people have to learn for themselves. We can’t force it.” Sephen’s expression turned thoughtful, a mischievous glint entering his eyes. “Speaking of which, let’s discuss your conversation with Kitsuki about hypothetical second mates.”

Kisano’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “What about it?”

Sephen settled more comfortably in his mate’s lap. “Do you think I didn’t catch that part about someone needing great intelligence and a passion for knowledge? You were describing somebody very specific, weren’t you?”

Heat rushed to Kisano’s cheeks. “That was a theoretical discussion.”

“Theoretical, huh?” Sephen’s fingers toyed with the ties of Kisano’s robes. “Because the way your voice got all soft and dreamy when you talked about someone who could ‘engage in philosophical discourse’ sounded pretty real to me.”

“You are being deliberately provocative.”

Sephen’s grin turned wicked. “Maybe a little. But I’m also curious. You probably imagined someone brilliant, who writes philosophy that makes your heart race, and whose mind could challenge us both intellectually, right?”

The first teasing hint of Sephen’s arousal made Kisano’s dragon stir beneath his skin, responding to his mate’s growing desire.

Sephen continued. “I mean, there’s only one person who fits that description, isn’t there?”

The heat in Kisano’s body intensified. “It is so impossible that it is not worth considering.”

“Oh, I disagree. Liros joining us is definitely worth talking about.” Sephen’s lips brushed against Kisano’s ear.

“He embodies infinite knowledge. Imagine the intellectual foreplay of your two brilliant minds focused on me and exploring every way to bring pleasure and connection. Think of everything he could teach us in bed. We could learn so much from him.”