Page 24 of Lord of the Lone Wolf (Bonded Hearts #3)

Kitsuki

A uslin trembled beneath Kitsuki, poised on the edge of release yet unable to fall.

Every detail of his mate’s surrender captivated him, from the fine sheen of sweat making Auslin’s skin gleam in the afternoon light to the small sounds of pleasure escaping his throat with each movement of their joined bodies.

Kitsuki committed each element to memory, a treasure to revisit during the long, lonely nights he would soon endure when he left for the warfront.

With each powerful thrust, Maseo’s wish pendant swung from Kitsuki’s neck, tapping against his chest. The small orb served as a constant reminder of promises made and kept.

Kitsuki noticed Auslin’s gaze following the pendant’s arc, his violet eyes darkening whenever it brushed against his heated skin.

Each time the metal touched Auslin’s chest, his mate’s body tightened around him, pulling a deeper groan from Kitsuki’s throat.

The pendant served as a third presence between them, an unspoken reminder of the half-wolf who had given it to him.

Through their mating bond, Kitsuki sensed a chaotic flux of emotions from Auslin. Pleasure dominated, but beneath it lurked currents of shame and embarrassment that confused him.

His mate’s sweet musk mingled with the bitter tang of guilt, creating a complex bouquet that Kitsuki’s enhanced senses parsed with growing concern. His dragon rumbled with unease at the contradictory signals before redoubling his efforts to drive all thoughts from Auslin’s mind.

The conflict in Auslin’s expression gave way to pure sensation. Whatever had been distracting him receded, overwhelmed by the connection they shared.

Auslin’s hands clutched Kitsuki’s shoulders, his nails digging into skin. His body arched off the cushions, a cry tearing from his throat as his orgasm hit. Warm wetness spilled over Kitsuki’s hand as Auslin’s cock pulsed in his grip, painting the mage’s stomach.

Their mating bond allowed him to experience Auslin’s climax as if it were his own, a cascade that radiated outward until it consumed him.

His dragon roared in triumph at satisfying their mate, but Kitsuki continued to thrust into Auslin’s now oversensitive body.

Auslin gazed up at him with half-lidded eyes, his expression one of dazed satisfaction. The shame and guilt that had clouded their bond earlier had vanished, replaced by a warm contentment that wrapped around Kitsuki like an embrace. “Fill me. Make me yours.”

The request made his orgasm crest as he drove deep into Auslin’s willing body, spilling his cum with a growl that was more dragon than human.

His satisfaction grew as his knot swelled, a biological imperative to claim and keep that was as old as dragonkind itself.

The gradual expansion stretched Auslin further, locking them together in the most intimate way possible.

Through their bond, Kitsuki felt Auslin’s profound enjoyment as his body accommodated the increased girth.

“Mmm, I think we both needed that.” The tension that had marked Auslin’s features earlier had melted away, leaving him more at peace than he had looked since their return to Tiora.

Kitsuki shifted, causing his knot to tug against Auslin’s rim. The movement drew a soft gasp from his mate, followed by a contented sigh as Auslin rocked against the intrusion. It filled Kitsuki with a profound sense of rightness that quieted his dragon’s restless nature.

They remained joined, neither speaking as their breathing slowed.

Kitsuki savored Auslin’s warmth and the steady pulse of their mating bond.

For now, they were safe from the world beyond their chamber.

The war preparations, the political maneuvering, and the looming threat of Nasume all faded into insignificance compared to this perfect union of bodies and souls.

Once Kitsuki’s knot receded, he withdrew from Auslin’s body. His dragon mourned the loss of their intimate connection, even as he preened at the sight of his release trickling from his mate.

Kitsuki settled beside Auslin on the veranda cushions, gathering him close with gentle hands. Auslin curled against him, resting his head on Kitsuki’s shoulder, one arm and leg draped across his body.

“I have missed this,” Kitsuki murmured, trailing his fingers along Auslin’s spine. “The war preparations have kept us apart for too long.”

Auslin pressed a kiss to Kitsuki’s collarbone. “I understand why. But I miss having you to myself.” His voice held no accusation, only a wistful acknowledgment of their reality.

The mating bond between them thrummed with contentment, yet there was a lingering disquiet beneath Auslin’s apparent relaxation.

The same turmoil he had sensed earlier during their lovemaking had not dissipated.

It reminded Kitsuki of watching storm clouds gather on a distant horizon.

They may not have been an immediate threat, but they promised turbulence to come.

“What troubles you?” Kitsuki asked, keeping his tone free of accusation. His fingers continued their soothing path along Auslin’s back, offering comfort through touch.

Auslin stiffened, confirming Kitsuki’s suspicion. For a moment, he thought his mate might deny it or retreat behind reassurances. But then Auslin sighed as he toyed with the pendant resting on Kitsuki’s chest. “I went to see Maseo during training today to make sure he was adjusting well.”

“And was he?” Kitsuki asked in a measured tone, grounding himself in the physical sensation of Auslin against him as his dragon pressed closer to the surface of his consciousness.

“It was amazing to see him so confident and in control. He defeated Bitris in combat, despite being half his size.”

Maseo’s success pleased Kitsuki. “That is an impressive feat. According to Uncle, Bitris is one of our strongest fighters.”

And one of our most arrogant , his dragon added. It would do him good to be humbled by Maseo .

Auslin nodded, still not looking up. “Maseo fought with such grace and precision. He made it look effortless, even though Bitris was trying to use underhanded tactics.”

The hint of displeasure in Auslin’s tone caught Kitsuki’s attention. Before he could question it, Auslin sat up to make eye contact. “What was it like when you fought Maseo for his assessment?”

Kitsuki had avoided discussing the details of that session with Auslin, uncomfortable with how strongly his dragon had responded to Maseo. The memory of pinning the half-wolf to the training room floor, of feeling him yield beneath Kitsuki’s greater strength, still evoked a visceral response.

“He showed considerable skill,” Kitsuki replied, choosing words that were true but revealed little of his personal reaction. “His technique is unorthodox but effective, particularly given his size disadvantage against me.”

“Did you enjoy testing his abilities?”

“Yes,” the dragon king admitted, the word feeling like a small betrayal even as he spoke it. “It was stimulating to face an opponent who fought with such creativity and determination.”

It was exhilarating , his dragon corrected, memories of the session flooding Kitsuki’s mind. Maseo challenged us as few have dared.

Auslin studied him, his eyes narrowed as if trying to read beyond Kitsuki’s careful words. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

Tell him , his dragon urged, pushing against Kitsuki’s restraint. Tell him how the half-wolf made our blood sing with his challenge and his submission. Explain how perfectly Maseo would complete our trinity bond.

Kitsuki ignored his persistent dragon, but Auslin’s perceptiveness made evasion difficult. “The assessment was more intense than I expected.”

“In what way?” Auslin pressed, his gaze unwavering. His hand rested on Kitsuki’s chest, directly over the pendant, as if he could feel both their hearts through the metal.

Kitsuki sighed, recognizing his mate’s determination. Half answers wouldn’t satisfy Auslin, especially when he sensed there was more to be revealed. Perhaps it was better to address it now, in the privacy of their chamber, than to let it fester unsaid before the war began.

“My dragon enjoyed his combat style,” Kitsuki admitted. “Our fight was invigorating.”

“And?” Auslin prompted when Kitsuki fell silent, his tone making it clear he knew there was more to the story.

“And it ended when I pinned him,” Kitsuki confessed, the memory vivid despite his efforts to suppress it. “After disarming him, I forced him to the ground and held him there.”

The admission hung between them, heavy with implication. Kitsuki waited for Auslin’s reaction, unsure of what to expect. A sudden spike of arousal flared through their bond, and the unmistakable scent of Auslin’s renewed desire filled the air between them.

Kitsuki’s dragon stirred with interest, intrigued by the development.

“That pleases you?” Kitsuki asked, studying his mate’s flushed face with bewilderment. He struggled to reconcile the reaction with what he knew of Auslin.

“I don’t know why I can’t stop thinking about you and Maseo fighting together,” he complained, his voice thick with misery .

“My dragon’s reaction to Maseo puzzles me as well,” Kitsuki admitted. “It is disconcerting how strongly it responds to his presence. I blame Kizoshi for planting these absurd notions of a trinity bond in my mind.”

Auslin searched Kitsuki’s face, seeking reassurance or perhaps permission. “But what if she’s right? What if there is something to this connection we both seem to feel? I mean, she’s never wrong, is she?”

Kitsuki had no answer that would satisfy either of them.

The possibility that Kizoshi’s prophecy might be true filled him with equal parts intrigue and dread.

It would complicate their already precarious situation.

With war looming on the horizon and enemies gathering at their borders, the last thing they needed was a distraction.

Maseo would complete the bond , his dragon insisted. The half-wolf challenges and strengthens us. He would protect our beloved Auslin with his life .

Auslin nodded, a hint of relief in his expression at Kitsuki’s candor.

“I want you to like him,” he confessed, his fingers still wrapped around the pendant.

“It makes me feel less guilty for feeling the way I do. At least you have a dragon you can blame for your interest. I don’t have an excuse for why I’m so drawn to him despite our history. ”

The vulnerability in Auslin’s admission touched Kitsuki. His mate had always been open with his emotions, honest about his fears and desires. It was one of the qualities Kitsuki loved most about him.

He gathered Auslin closer, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

“You do not need to excuse your feelings, whatever they may be. We will navigate this together, as we have with all challenges. Whether my sister is right about the trinity bond is something we can discuss after the war. Nasume is too much of a threat to Maseo for us to risk distracting him.”

Auslin sighed. “You’re right. The last thing I want to do is put him in more danger.”

They lay in silence for a time, each lost in thought. The afternoon light had faded, casting long shadows across the veranda. Soon, Kitsuki knew, they would need to return to their respective duties. But for now, the moment of honesty and connection was more important than any other responsibility.

Kitsuki’s dragon pushed at the edges of his consciousness, urging him to ask more questions, to explore the depth of Auslin’s interest in Maseo.

How far did his feelings go? Was it mere curiosity or something deeper?

Did Auslin imagine himself with Maseo, or was his interest limited to watching Kitsuki with the half-wolf?

But Kitsuki silenced his dragon. He wasn’t ready to hear those answers, not when he remained so conflicted about the possibility of a trinity bond himself.

His father, Tatsuki, had been notorious for his inability to remain faithful to any one partner. The former king had taken countless lovers during his reign, leaving broken hearts and bitter resentment in his wake. Kitsuki’s mother had been murdered for those very reasons.

He had sworn never to follow that path, to honor his mate with unwavering loyalty.

He had waited centuries for Auslin’s return and remained faithful through long years of solitude.

Dividing his attention between Auslin and another felt wrong.

But if Kizoshi was correct about the trinity bond, then they were fighting a losing battle by resisting.

A trinity is not infidelity , his dragon argued. It is completion. Maseo would not divide our affection. He would enhance it and strengthen what we share with Auslin.

Kitsuki refused to change his mind about waiting until after the war to figure out what secrets his sister was trying to make them see.

For now, it was enough to hold Auslin close, to feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and to know that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.