Page 52 of Lord of the Lone Wolf (Bonded Hearts #3)
Kitsuki
N o matter how many skeletons Kitsuki cut down, it seemed scores more appeared in their wake. The onslaught was relentless as he fought alongside Maseo, trying to carve a path back to the other Valzerna warriors.
Without warning, a ring of red fire erupted around the clearing, incinerating every lichen within the area.
Kitsuki braced himself as one larger than any they had faced materialized before them.
An ominous red soulflame glowed in its chest, and fire burned in its eye sockets.
It wielded a black diamond blade, forged into the points of a flickering flame.
Red fire blazed within the weapon and along its edges, giving Kitsuki his first clue about its identity.
It lunged forward, its black blade arcing toward Kitsuki’s head with lethal precision. Only centuries of training saved him as he deflected the blow, the impact reverberating through his arms with bone-jarring force.
“Your reflexes have improved,” it said, its voice transporting Kitsuki back through centuries. “But your stance is too wide.”
As if to prove the point, the skeleton swept low, forcing Kitsuki to leap backward. Despite the fatigue weighing on him from earlier battles, he countered with a series of precise strikes, each one met with equal skill by his unmistakable opponent.
“You still favor your right side,” it observed. “How has our brother not corrected your flaw yet?”
Determination flared in Kitsuki’s chest. He channeled his strength into a counterattack, driving forward with a flurry of strikes that pushed the opponent back several paces. His movements were fluid and powerful, showcasing the mastery he had developed over centuries of training.
It parried Kitsuki’s blade. “Better. But your energy wanes. A king must have endurance beyond his enemies.”
Despite the auramancers’ healing after his battle with the necrowings and soulvore, Kitsuki’s reserves had depleted to dangerous lows after obliterating the soulvores. He refused to yield, meeting his father’s relentless assault with unwavering focus.
From the corner of his eye, Kitsuki saw Maseo charging to his aid.
He commanded, “Stand down!” When Maseo didn’t heed the order, Kitsuki raised an ice wall between the half-wolf shifter and them.
His tone was harsher than he intended, but he could not risk Maseo against what appeared to be his father’s spirit.
“Let me help!” Maseo growled, striking the invisible barrier in frustration.
The momentary distraction almost cost Kitsuki, as the skeleton’s blade sliced toward his exposed flank. He twisted away at the last moment, the edge of the black diamond sword glancing off his armor.
“Your attention wanders,” the skeleton admonished. “A king who cannot focus deserves to fall.”
Determination surged through Kitsuki. He gathered his power and cast a wide arc of blue ice in the skeleton’s direction, freezing it in place. The respite lasted only seconds before the red fire within the bones melted through the magical restraint.
Seizing the brief opening, Kitsuki’s dragon wings unfurled behind him.
He launched himself high and then descended with all his strength, bringing his blade down upon the black diamond sword.
The force scattered the skeleton’s bones across the clearing.
Kitsuki landed in a crouch, panting from the exertion.
His victory was short-lived. The bones trembled and flew back together, reassembling into the towering figure once more.
An arrogant laugh that Kitsuki had not heard in centuries echoed through the night air. “We are gratified to see Brother trained you to become an even better warrior in our absence. You have done us proud, son.”
Kitsuki straightened, his sword raised. “Is it truly you, Father?” He would have found it unbelievable if he had not witnessed Maseo’s mother’s consciousness earlier.
The skeleton inclined its skull in affirmation. “Indeed. While the circumstances are unfortunate, we are happy to be reunited.”
“How is this possible?” Kitsuki asked, his voice tight with lingering adrenaline.
“Ishibiya has been siphoning dead souls from the Beyond Realm to build Nasume a formidable army of lichen skeletons,” Tatsuki explained. “While we are powerful enough to resist, we answered the call of the death puppeteer because we have a role to play in this war.”
With a gesture of his skeletal hand, Tatsuki extinguished the red flame along the black diamond blade and extended it toward his son. “Store this in your cabinet for now. When you return home after the war, give it to Auslin. Make sure no one else touches it, not even you.”
Kitsuki accepted the sword with cautious reverence, using his magic smoke to handle it. The blade caught the moonlight, revealing intricate etchings along its surface that seemed to shift and change as he studied them. “For what purpose?”
“To do what only he can,” Tatsuki replied.
“When the time comes for him to save everyone from the greatest evil, he will understand. You must keep the blade safe from falling into the wrong hands. It contains the power of the Beyond Realm, which would corrupt even the strongest of men. As amazing as you are, only Auslin can wield it without consequences.”
Shock registered on Kitsuki’s face, mirrored in Maseo’s expression as the barrier between them dissolved. “This is a Beyond weapon?”
“The only one in the Living Realm, and with good reason,” Tatsuki confirmed. “It must remain a secret, especially from your two greatest enemies.”
With a thought, Kitsuki transported the sword to his private cabinet in Tiora. “How did you bring such a forbidden soulkeeper sword into the Living Realm?”
Tatsuki’s laugh resonated through the clearing, his bones rattling with the sound. “We have our ways, son. We are pleased to play our part in ensuring the success of your mates.”
Before Kitsuki could respond, Tatsuki turned his attention to Maseo. “It is fortunate that the only thing you share with your father is his good looks. We look forward to you putting an end to that miserable whelp’s life. Nasume has reigned in terror for far too long.”
Maseo’s jaw clenched with determination. “I will do whatever it takes to stop him.”
“Take heart in knowing your success will make you a legend celebrated across the three realms,” Tatsuki said. “You will be richly rewarded for your efforts. By the time we are through with him, your father will face an eternity of punishment in Blightmare Vale.”
Maseo bowed his head. “Knowing he cannot hurt your son or Auslin anymore is reward enough.”
“We will protect your mother upon our return,” Tatsuki promised, surprising both Kitsuki and Maseo. “You have our word that if Nasume does the impossible and reaches Everlight Vale, we will not let him near her.”
Maseo gave a formal bow, deeper than before. “Thank you for protecting her. That means more to me than I can express.”
“We are happy to do so, as she is the reason you possess a loving heart. You are clan, after all.” Tatsuki returned his attention back to his son, the red fire in his eye sockets burning brighter. “Take good care of him, son. You and your mate.”
“He is ours to protect,” Kitsuki said, the words escaping before he could stop them.
“We are pleased you have stopped running from your fate as an Ariake.” Tatsuki’s voice had an approving rumble. “Alyndra often speaks to me of how proud she is of the honorable and loving man you have become.”
Kitsuki blinked in surprise. “My mother speaks to you?”
Tatsuki nodded. “We have all found peace together in Everlight Vale.” It was the heaven where good souls spent their eternal lives in the Beyond Realm. “Even Arenthia.”
Before Kitsuki could inquire further, Kizoshi strode through the flames into the clearing, resplendent in the full regalia armor of her role as the War Power. She smiled up at the reanimated skeleton of their father.
“There is our precious daughter,” Tatsuki said, his fire burning brighter. “We have missed you dearly.”
“As I have missed you, Father,” Kizoshi replied. “I must say, you look well for a skeleton.”
Tatsuki’s bones rattled with his booming laughter. “It is an unfortunate consequence of the conditions for my brief return to the Living Realm, but worth it to have one last conversation with you both.”
Kitsuki glanced at his sister as Maseo watched them with wide eyes. “I suppose you knew this would happen?”
“Of course I did,” she replied with a laugh. “Has he entrusted you with the sword for Auslin?”
“We have done our duty to ensure Auslin’s victory in the future,” Tatsuki answered for his son. “We leave the rest to you, dear daughter.”
“What will my mate need it for?” Kitsuki pressed, turning to his sister.
She waved his question away. “We will speak of such things later.”
Tatsuki’s skull tilted, as if listening to something beyond their perception.
“Our time to return draws near. We will take this last chance to say that you both are our pride and joy.” He paused before adding, “Tell Kisano we are sorry for not recognizing his brilliance sooner. He has also made us proud, and not only because his dragon has emerged.”
“I told you so,” Kizoshi gloated.
Tatsuki’s booming chuckle echoed. “Ahh, we have waited so many centuries to hear you say that. We would have been wise to listen to you more.” Though Tatsuki could not smile in his skeletal form, the warm glow of his fatherly approval radiated through his words. “Give this to Kisano.”
A book materialized above Tatsuki’s hand, floating down to Kitsuki. The leather had a metallic purple sheen and the same mysterious markings as the black diamond sword. “What is it?”
“Our son deserves to have the greatest library in Talwyn. That is the only extant Beyond Realm text in the Living Realm, which makes his collection superior to all others. It is our gift to show him the affection we should never have withheld from him while we were alive.”