Page 25 of Lord of the Lone Wolf (Bonded Hearts #3)

Maseo

M aseo entered the war room expecting strategy maps and grim faces, not the most beautiful woman he had ever seen standing at the head of the table.

She was as tall as Kitsuki, holding herself with regal bearing.

Sparkling jewels adorned her hair, swept up into an impressive updo that enhanced her elegant air.

Her flowing dress resembled liquid gold, showcasing her curves in a way that left Maseo too intimidated to appreciate, especially as she looked as if she could kill him with a snap of her fingers.

It was clear she was a woman not to be trifled with, but Maseo had no idea who she was.

To his surprise, her full lips curved into a charming smile. “There you are.”

Unable to believe such a stunning person wanted anything to do with him, Maseo glanced over his shoulder, half expecting her to be addressing someone else behind him. But there was nothing there but a closed door. “Me?”

She stifled a laugh behind her hand. “Yes, Maseo. It is finally time for us to speak. I have been looking forward to this for quite a while.” She gestured for him to come closer with a finger that glittered with a bejeweled ring that put everything in the Venrik pack treasure room to shame. “Come.”

His feet couldn’t disobey. He walked over to stand before her, feeling unworthy of being in the presence of such greatness. Maseo flinched in fear of being struck when she reached out with a manicured finger to curl under his chin, forcing him to look up and meet her gaze.

Her dark amethyst eyes seemed to see straight through to his soul. In front of her, he felt like the failure his father always accused him of being. His breathing hitched when she moved her hand to cup his cheek, brushing her thumb against his cheekbone with a tenderness that made his heart ache.

“Your suffering is almost over,” she said.

His eyes widened with fear. “Because you are here to kill me?” He reverted to his more formal court language, as everything about her conveyed royalty.

Her laughter sounded like music. She patted his cheek with a fond look he didn’t understand. “How delightful to discover you are as precious as promised.” She gestured to a chair at the war table. “Sit. We have much to discuss.”

Once again, his body obeyed without question. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she settled into the seat, maintaining her regal posture.

“Who are you?” Maseo asked.

“I am Kizoshi.”

If he hadn’t been sitting down, he would have fallen over. “The War Power ?”

“Indeed I am.” She tilted her head in acknowledgment. “And I have been waiting a long time to meet you.”

It was an unbelievable claim. “ Why ?”

“Endless curiosity.”

He blinked several times in confusion. “Why would you know who I am?”

“Because you are of vital importance to my brother and his beloved mate, who saved your life.”

Maseo wasn’t sure which part of that sentence confused him more. “I am?”

“Oh, yes. They cannot live without you.”

Maseo’s head swam as he tried to keep up with her vague claims. “Do you mean literally or figuratively?”

“Yes.”

For such a direct answer, it left Maseo more baffled than before. “I would do anything for His Majesty and Auslin.”

“Of which I am well aware.” She smiled at a private joke he didn’t understand. “You will do what only you can do.”

Her riddles baffled Maseo. “Meaning?”

“You will have the honor of doing what I have wished to do for many long centuries.”

“Which is?” Maseo prompted when she failed to elaborate.

“Claim your reward for every scar carved into your soul by your monstrous sire.”

Everything Kizoshi said left Maseo puzzled. “Why is that something you want?”

“Because vengeance is what you deserve after a lifetime of suffering. It is the only reason I have restrained myself from the ultimate temptation for these past centuries.”

“Vengeance against my father?” Maseo asked, still trying to make sense of her vague words.

“Indeed. It will be glorious .” She said it with sadistic satisfaction, which further confounded Maseo.

Maseo’s brow furrowed. “I know he hates you.”

She laughed again, a delightful sound for such a grim topic. “I take great pride in that accomplishment. I reciprocate his hatred with the fiery passion of ten thousand burning suns.”

Maseo’s eyebrows arched in surprise. “Because he won’t leave Kitsuki alone?”

“Indeed. He is a blight on this world.”

Her blunt answer drew an amused snort from Maseo. “Fair.”

“All my reasons to hate your shameful disgrace of a father could march to war and never run out of soldiers. If I ever tried to count the ways he has given me to loathe him, the world would wither before I reached the end.”

“Damn, and I thought I hated him.” Maseo shook his head with a humorless laugh.

“Oh, it is more than mere hatred. If suffering had a name, it would whisper his in the wind, etch it into the marrow of the earth, and echo it in the silence between dying stars.”

Maseo stared at her in stunned silence. “If you feel that way, why have you not killed him yourself?”

“He still had a part to play. But his time is almost at an end.”

“Because of the war?” Maseo guessed.

She chuckled. “Do you believe I would ever start a war my beloved brother would not win, especially against the likes of Nasume?”

“Good point.” Maseo felt more confident about what lay ahead in their battle against Kunushi. “But if you hate my father so much, why are you being nice to me? A Power like you should hate a half-human.”

“You forget I am also half-shifter.”

He flushed at her gentle reproach.

“But to answer your question about why I bear you no ill will, you had the choice to be as evil and cruel as Nasume, Kio, and Phaedra or different.”

Maseo blanched. “You know about Phaedra?” She was both Valdrion’s younger sister and Maseo’s ex-fiancée, a childhood friend whose complicated and toxic relationship with him had soured beyond repair. He considered himself lucky to have escaped alive from her.

“All too well.”

Her response didn’t set him at ease. “That feels ominous.”

“She is the least of your troubles.” Kizoshi waved away the topic. “Nasume being aware of your continued existence despite his best efforts to kill you is far more pressing.”

“How did he find out?” Maseo asked in shock. “And why has he let me live?”

“Because he is up to more nefarious deeds right now.”

Maseo blanched at the news. “Thank you for warning me.”

“Take heart in knowing you embraced the forgiving kindness of your dear mother in the face of trauma and tragedy.” Kizoshi’s expression grew distant, as if she saw threads of fate invisible to mortal eyes. “What is given in love often carries more power than what is taken in hatred.”

Maseo frowned, trying to parse her cryptic words. “I do not understand.”

“Understanding comes when the hour demands it, not before.” Her smile returned, mysterious and knowing. “You still find value and meaning in the love that has so often been denied to you. Your strength is a testament to how well she taught you, and some lessons echo beyond the grave.”

Her approval warmed Maseo’s heart. “Why are you telling me all this?”

“To give you the courage to do what you must in this war and what comes after.” Her smile softened her features. “What appears to be lost is often the only path to finding what was always meant to be yours.”

Maseo’s stomach clenched with unease. “What do you mean?”

“Sometimes the deepest wounds become gateways to the greatest healing.” Her amethyst eyes grew distant, as if she were seeing futures yet to unfold. “Trust in love, even when it brings you pain.”

“Nothing you are saying makes any sense to me.”

She placed her hand over his, her touch warm despite the cold fear spreading through his chest. “Remember that every decision you make during this war will lead you to what you want most in life.”

Maseo’s head spun. “Which is?”

“That is a mystery you must figure out on your own.” Kizoshi stood up, and Maseo did the same. She reached over and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Be brave, Maseo. I promise the reward will be well worth the effort. We will have reason to talk again soon.”

With those parting words, she walked out of the room, with her dress fluttering behind her. Maseo remained where he was, too stunned by the encounter to move. A few moments later, a knock on the open door drew his attention.

Jaega chuckled as he shut the door behind him. He took the seat Kizoshi had vacated, gesturing for Maseo to sit down again. “Based on your bewildered expression, I am guessing you met my beloved niece?”

“I have never been more confused in my life.” Maseo ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh. “Is she always like that?”

“Kizoshi is a nexus of the arcane, where the veil between realms whispers secrets in a tongue long silent. The truth of her words unfolds only in the shadow of what has passed.”

“You’re saying that making sense of all her cryptic warnings is like trying to capture the wind?”

Jaega chuckled. “Precisely. Her riddles will eventually be solved, so do not trouble yourself too deeply with deciphering her obfuscation. All will become clear in time.”

“I hope so, because right now, I have more questions than answers. Based on the way she spoke about my father, I guess I should be grateful she seems to like me at all.”

Jaega nodded, with a hint of a grin on his face. “Yes, her detestation of your father is quite legendary.”

“I’m guessing she’s that ‘interfering heinous bitch’ my dad always ranted about when he talked about King Kitsuki,” Maseo realized. “Uh, please forgive my direct quote. I don’t share his opinion.”

“Think nothing of it. If anything, I am surprised he used such a mild swear. She has certainly done enough to him over the centuries to merit stronger words.”

Maseo flushed. “Oh, he’s definitely called her worse, but I don’t feel comfortable repeating them, especially to her uncle.”

“Trust me, there are no insults left to scandalize me after living this long.” Jaega grinned at his own joke. “Speaking of which, have they lessened in these past few weeks since you have been here?”

“I’ve honestly never been treated better in my life,” Maseo replied.

Jaega frowned. “I hate to think of what could be worse, but with a father like Nasume, I suppose it is no surprise.”

“No one has tried to kill me or threatened to, so I have no complaints.” Maseo felt guilty for making Jaega look so troubled.

“I’ve made friends, which I didn’t think would be possible.

I’m grateful to you for giving me a place to belong.

I would be honored to stay in your army after the war, if you would let me. ”

“You will always have a place here.” Jaega said it with such warmth that it made Maseo feel a little choked up. “I am confident my nephew and his mate feel the same way.”

Maseo bowed his head. “I’ll never understand why they’ve granted me a second chance at life, but I will always be grateful.”

“Use it wisely.” Jaega stood, signaling the end of their conversation. “Get some rest. I suspect Kizoshi’s visit means the tides of war are shifting faster than we expected.”