Page 34 of Lord of the Lone Wolf (Bonded Hearts #3)
They approached the largest tent in the encampment, its canvas walls reinforced with enchantments that shimmered in the night. Two royal guards stood at attention outside, their expressions impassive as they recognized Rylan and Maseo.
“His Majesty is expecting you,” one guard said, stepping aside to allow Maseo entry.
Rylan gestured for Maseo to step forward. “This is where we part.”
Maseo had spent considerable time in Kitsuki’s presence over the past months, yet being summoned sent a flutter of anxiety through his stomach.
“Try not to look so worried,” Rylan told him. “If the king wanted to berate you, he wouldn’t have sent me with a smile.”
“That’s reassuring,” Maseo replied.
“I live to serve. Now, go on. And remember, whatever happens tomorrow, you’re not facing it alone anymore.”
Maseo ducked through the tent opening. The interior of the king’s tent was a stark contrast to the utilitarian space Maseo shared with his comrades.
Thick Talwynian rugs in rich blues and silvers covered the ground, layered for both comfort and insulation.
A large ornate desk dominated one side, its surface inlaid with mother-of-pearl that caught the light from crystal lanterns hanging from the tent poles.
Polished stone paperweights held down maps and reports.
A privacy screen of carved wood concealed what Maseo assumed was the sleeping area.
Comfortable chairs upholstered in royal blue velvet surrounded a silver fire that burned in a brazier at the center of the space, emanating warmth without smoke.
A small table near the fire had a silver carafe and crystal goblets, along with a platter of fresh fruit.
It was as if a section of the royal palace had been transported into the forest, preserving all the dignity and comfort befitting Talwyn’s king. The opulence should have felt out of place, but it projected the same sense of power and stability that the dragon king himself embodied.
Kitsuki stood by the desk, examining a map with such intensity that he didn’t notice Maseo’s entrance. The firelight caught the silver threads in his white hair, which accentuated the sharp lines of his face. Even dressed down, there was no mistaking the authority he exuded.
Maseo cleared his throat. “You sent for me, Your Majesty?”
Kitsuki looked up, his expression shifting from concentration to something warmer. “Please join me by the fire.”
He gestured to the chairs, and Maseo moved forward. Being in the king’s private space felt more intimate than his normal visits to the castle’s war room.
“Would you enjoy some wine?” Kitsuki asked, gesturing at the carafe on the small table.
Maseo shook his head. “No, thank you. I prefer to keep a clear head before battle.”
Kitsuki nodded as they both sat. “A wise approach. Though I confess, I sometimes find a single glass helps quiet the mind when it refuses to rest.”
The admission surprised Maseo. Kitsuki rarely showed any signs of uncertainty or vulnerability, especially regarding matters of war.
“Is your mind troubled tonight?” Maseo asked before he could stop himself.
Kitsuki’s gaze fixed on the silver flames. “The last time I was in Balsimi, I found you half-dead in the forest, poisoned by your own father’s hand.” His voice was quiet but carried an undercurrent of anger. “I cannot help but remember that night as we prepare to cross into his territory.”
“This visit to Balsimi is already an improvement,” Maseo said, attempting to lighten the mood. “A comfortable tent is preferable to being broken on the forest floor.”
Kitsuki’s expression didn’t change. “You almost died.”
“But I didn’t, thanks to you and Auslin changing my fate.”
“A decision I have never regretted,” Kitsuki said. “Though I fear crossing into Kunushi tomorrow will put you in danger once again. It will be the first skirmish of many as we fight our way to Norello, where your father and his fiercest warriors will lie in wait.”
The half-wolf shifter shrugged. “I’ve always been in danger. The difference now is that I’m fighting for something I believe in, not following orders out of fear.”
Kitsuki studied him, the firelight casting shadows across his face. “We’ve discussed what Kizoshi foretold about your confrontation with your father. How are you feeling about that now, on the eve of war?”
“I’ve made peace with it. If confronting my father is how we end this war, then I will do it.”
The dragon shifter king nodded. “Your courage continues to impress me. Many would flee from such a fate, especially knowing the power Nasume wields.”
Maseo sat up a little straighter. “I’ve been running away from him all my life, but I’m tired of always being afraid.”
“Fear can keep us alive, but it can also prevent us from living.”
“Yes,” Maseo agreed, surprised by the king’s insight. “Since coming to Talwyn, I understand what living means. Not just surviving, but…” He looked down as he struggled to find the words.
“Belonging,” Kitsuki suggested, his gaze warm and comforting. “Having a purpose beyond mere existence.”
“Yes.” The simple word felt inadequate for the complex emotions swirling within him. “I’ve never had that before. Never thought I could have it.”
“And now that you’ve found it, how does it feel?”
Maseo shrugged. “Terrifying. Wonderful. Like waking up after a lifetime of darkness and discovering the world is full of colors I never knew existed.”
A smile warmed Kitsuki’s regal features. “Well said.”
Maseo looked away, uncomfortable with the praise. “It’s the truth.”
“Truth is often beautiful, especially when it comes from someone who has had so little opportunity to speak it.”
The understanding in the king’s voice touched something deep within Maseo, a place that had been cold and empty for so long he had forgotten it existed.
“I worry about you,” Kitsuki admitted, his formal mask slipping. “The thought of you facing your father alone…” He trailed off, his hand moving to his chest.
Maseo’s breath caught. Was the king touching the wish pendant he had given him? The possibility that Kitsuki might treasure it sent warmth flooding through his veins. “I will do everything in my power to survive. I have too much to live for now.”
“Please know that regardless of your lineage or your past, you have earned your place here. Not through blood or birth, but through your actions, your loyalty, your courage.”
The words wrapped around Maseo’s heart like a warm embrace.
He wanted to say more, to confess the feelings that grew stronger every day for Kitsuki and Auslin despite his best efforts to suppress them.
But he was a half-blood bastard, and they were a mated royal couple.
Some truths were too dangerous to speak aloud.
Maseo bowed his head. “Your belief in me means more than I can express.”
Kitsuki’s eyes seemed to burn with inner fire. “It is not mere belief, Maseo. It is knowledge. I have seen what you are capable of and what you have endured. You will face your father, and you will prevail.”
The fierce certainty in those words made Maseo’s pulse quicken as the careful distance between king and subject seemed to dissolve, leaving only two people who cared about each other’s welfare.
Maseo began to speak but stopped. What could he say? That he was falling in love with men he could never have? That every kindness Kitsuki showed him made his impossible feelings grow stronger?
“Yes?” Kitsuki prompted.
“I won’t let you down.”
“Of that, I am sure.” Kitsuki’s voice carried absolute conviction. “But remember what I told you before. Your survival matters more than vengeance. More than victory.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to come home.”
Home . The word still felt strange on his tongue, a concept he was only beginning to understand.
“Good.” Kitsuki’s relief was palpable. “I will hold you to that promise.”
They sat in comfortable silence, the weight of unspoken emotions settling between them. Maseo knew he should leave, should return to his tent and prepare for the morning, but being with Kitsuki was a gift he was reluctant to surrender.
Jaega entering the tent interrupted them. “Forgive the interruption, Your Majesty. The final scout reports have arrived.”
Kitsuki straightened. “Very good. Let us review them.”
Maseo stood, recognizing his dismissal. “I will return to my tent.”
Jaega’s gaze fell on him, warm with approval. “I am glad to see you, Maseo. Your insights during today’s strategy meeting proved invaluable.”
“Thank you, sir,” Maseo replied, the praise still unfamiliar enough to make him uncomfortable.
“Get some rest. Tomorrow will test us all, but I have every confidence in your abilities.”
Kitsuki rose as well. “Jaega speaks for us both. Your knowledge of Kunushi’s defenses and your father’s tactics has already saved lives. Tomorrow, it may save many more.”
Maseo bowed in acknowledgment, touched by their faith in him. “I’ll do my best not to disappoint you.”
“You never have.”
Kitsuki’s words followed Maseo out of the tent, warming him against the cool night air.
As he walked through the camp, observing the preparations for battle, Maseo felt a strange calm settle over him.
Tomorrow, he would face his past, coming face-to-face with the warriors who had stood by while he suffered, perhaps even the father who had inflicted that suffering.
It should have terrified him or filled him with dread.
Instead, it bolstered his resolve. Not only to survive, as he had always done, but to protect the future he glimpsed in Kitsuki’s words, in Jaega’s approval, in Auslin’s hope, and in the easy camaraderie of his fellow soldiers.
A place where he belonged, where his life had value beyond the pain he could endure.
And perhaps, when it was over, he would find the courage to acknowledge the feelings that had taken root in his heart, not with expectation, but as a truth he no longer wished to deny to himself.
Maseo looked up at the stars, bright and clear above the forested mountains. Tomorrow would bring blood and battle, the clash of armies and the test of resolve. But for tonight, he allowed himself to feel the warm glow of belonging, of purpose, of hope.
It was more than he had ever dared to dream of before. And that was worth fighting to the death for.