Page 7 of Lord of the Lone Wolf (Bonded Hearts #3)

Maseo

A fter arriving at the Tiora castle the next afternoon, Kitsuki summoned Kisano and Jaega to discuss the events that had transpired during his absence.

Despite his earlier bravado during their journey, Maseo struggled to suppress his nerves about meeting Kitsuki’s older brother and uncle.

His palms were damp with sweat, and he resisted the urge to fidget with the luxurious clothes that Kitsuki had provided.

They were more opulent than anything he had ever worn as a rejected halfling.

What if they deemed him too much of a risk to keep alive?

Stop it , he chided himself. You’ve faced your father’s rage countless times. You can handle meeting two dragons who have no reason to want you dead.

Yet.

Maseo felt better when Auslin sat down beside him at the polished oak table in a show of support; the mage’s familiar presence was a soothing balm for his anxiety.

Kitsuki took his place at the head of the table, his regal bearing making the spacious meeting space feel smaller.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through tall windows, casting geometric patterns across the stone floor and illuminating the dust motes that danced in the air like tiny spirits.

When Kisano entered, he was nothing like what Maseo had expected.

Despite being a full shifter, Kisano was even shorter than Auslin, with delicate features suggesting scholarly pursuits rather than battlefield prowess.

He startled upon seeing Maseo, his steps faltering before he regained his composure and sat across from Auslin.

The next person to arrive made Maseo straighten his posture in response to the dragon shifter’s authoritative aura. Jaega was an imposing man, over a head taller than Kitsuki, with broad shoulders that suggested centuries spent wielding heavy weapons.

Yet, for all his intimidating stature, the general’s eyes held wisdom and compassion rather than the cold calculation Maseo had learned to expect from his father’s military leaders.

Most intriguing of all were Jaega’s orange shifter lines, which intertwined with another set that shifted through every color of the rainbow in a mesmerizing display.

Maseo had never seen anything like it before.

The colors seemed to pulse and flow like liquid light beneath the general’s skin, creating patterns that were both beautiful and unreal.

He had so many questions about why the colors changed, but he didn’t feel he had the right to ask.

It was enough that they allowed him to sit in the same room as them.

Kitsuki gestured at the half-wolf shifter as he made introductions. “As you can see, Maseo joined us on our journey home from Mizujil. Maseo, this is my older brother, Kisano, and Jaega, my uncle and head general of my army.”

When Maseo bowed low, he kept his gaze downcast in a gesture of submission he had perfected under his father’s rule.

Kisano stared at him with wide eyes that seemed to take in every detail of his appearance. “Maseo? As in Nasume’s son? Kio’s lover?”

“Ex,” Maseo replied, the single word coming out sharper than he intended. It was an important distinction that mattered more than ever. “Former lover. That relationship is over for good.”

Kisano’s gaze drifted over to Auslin with silent questions, his eyebrows raised in a way that asked for clarification. They seemed to communicate without words, a skill Maseo envied. He had never had that kind of connection with anyone.

Auslin squeezed Maseo’s hand under the table, grounding him in the present moment. “It was my idea for him to join us.”

Jaega arched an eyebrow at Kitsuki, the expression conveying curiosity rather than disapproval. “And you allowed this?”

Maseo held his breath, waiting for Kitsuki’s response. Everything hinged on his answer. Would they accept him or cast him out? He prayed he had found a sanctuary instead of delaying the inevitable.

“The safest place for Maseo is with us, especially since Nasume tried to murder him,” Auslin argued when Kitsuki remained silent. “He almost succeeded. If we hadn’t found Maseo when we did…”

The memory of lying in that forest clearing, feeling his life ebb away with each labored breath, flashed through Maseo’s mind. He could still taste the metallic tang of blood and feel the crushing weight of his father’s boot against his bones. The phantom pain made him shift in his chair.

“Murder?” Kisano repeated in shock, his scholarly demeanor cracking to reveal genuine horror. “His own son?”

“And he came close to succeeding,” Auslin said. “Thankfully, we found Maseo in time for me to heal him. But given the way things are going, his only chance of surviving this upcoming war is by coming here with us.”

Auslin’s fierce protectiveness touched Maseo, even as part of him wondered if he deserved such loyalty. What had he done to earn Auslin’s friendship except be a victim? The thought sat uncomfortably in his mind.

Kisano frowned as he studied Auslin. “But if Maseo is a target for Nasume, that makes him a liability for us by harboring him.”

The words stung, even though Maseo had expected them and far worse. Of course, they would see him as a danger since he was Nasume’s son, trained in their enemy’s tactics, carrying information to use against them. Why should they trust him? Especially given his history with Kio.

“That’s all the more reason we should protect him,” Auslin insisted. “Nasume can’t hurt Maseo while he’s here. There’s no harm to us and everything to benefit him.”

Everything to benefit him . The words echoed in Maseo’s mind, and he wondered what Auslin saw in him that was worth protecting. What future did the mage envision that Maseo couldn’t see for himself?

“Do you know how to fight?” Jaega asked, his deep voice cutting through the tension as he studied Maseo with a curiosity that lacked judgment. Unlike Kisano, the general seemed to evaluate him as a potential asset rather than a threat.

Maseo straightened, grateful for a question he could answer with confidence.

“I grew up fighting in my father’s army barracks, so I’ve trained in a wide range of weapons.

” He offered a formal salute to the general, muscle memory from years of military protocol taking over.

“It is my most fervent wish to serve the Ariake clan and take down my tyrant father. I will do anything to help your kingdom emerge victorious in this war.”

Jaega nodded, a pleased look crossing his face. “You have the right spirit. That matters more than bloodline, in my experience.”

The casual acceptance in the general’s voice made Maseo’s throat tighten with unexpected emotion. When was the last time someone had praised him rather than criticized his heritage?

Kisano glanced back at Kitsuki, seeking guidance from his younger brother in a reversal of what Maseo would have expected. “Are you fine with this? Taking in Nasume’s son carries significant political implications.”

Kitsuki was silent for a long moment before speaking. “If this is to work, we must find a way for Maseo to convince our warriors that he has defected to our side. It is his only chance at having a normal life once the fighting is over.”

A normal life . The phrase hit Maseo like a revelation. Was that what he wanted? He had been so focused on survival and escaping his father’s influence that he never dared to dream of normality.

“But that’ll put him in too much danger!” Auslin protested, his voice cracking with emotion. The mage turned to face Maseo, lavender eyes wide with concern. “You could be killed.”

Kitsuki’s tone was gentle as he spoke to his mate. “There is no better way to show our people Maseo’s sincerity than by having him fight on our side. Actions speak louder than words, especially in wartime.”

“He’s right,” Maseo said to Auslin. “If I hide behind your protection, I’ll always be seen as a coward or a spy. Fighting in His Majesty’s army is the only way to prove myself.”

“And what if the soldiers refuse to accept you?” Auslin demanded. “You could die!”

The fear in Auslin’s voice was palpable, and Maseo had to resist the urge to reach out and comfort him.

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.” He held the auramancer’s gaze, trying to convey his sincerity through expression alone.

“I would be dead already if it weren’t for you, so it’s all the same to me. ”

But even as he spoke, Maseo realized his words weren’t true anymore. Before they had rescued him, death would have been a welcome release from his father’s cruelty. Now, with the possibility of a different life stretching before him, he wanted to survive.

“But I don’t want anything bad to happen to you,” Auslin protested, tears welling up in his beautiful lavender eyes.

Maseo had to suppress his desire to reassure Auslin by pulling the mage into his arms and promising everything would be all right.

Such gestures would be inappropriate, giving the royal family the wrong impression about their relationship.

He had to settle for using his words instead, though they felt inadequate for the depth of emotion he wanted to convey.

“I promise I’ll be fine. I’m a better fighter than you think.

Let me repay your kindness and King Kitsuki’s by fighting for your side.

I want to prove I’m more than Nasume’s unwanted son. ”

The last words slipped out before he could stop them, revealing more vulnerability than he had intended. But perhaps it was better to be honest about his motivations than to pretend it was about strategy.

Auslin stared at him for a long moment, tears still threatening to fall, before nodding. “Promise me you’ll be careful and won’t take unnecessary risks.”

“I promise.” Maseo had too much to live for now to throw his life away.

“Then it is decided,” Kitsuki pronounced, his voice carrying the weight of a royal decree. “From this moment, Maseo is now under the protection of the Ariake clan.”

Knowing what the oath meant to a dragon, Maseo’s heart filled with unexpected joy at being claimed. For the first time in his life, he belonged somewhere. Someone had chosen him, not despite his heritage but with full knowledge of it.

He bowed his head. “I am honored. I will uphold the honor of the Ariake clan with integrity in all my actions.” The formal words felt right on his tongue, like a vow he had been waiting his entire life to make.

Kitsuki nodded, a flicker of pride shining in his eyes. “Good. Since you have no possessions with you, we will provide you with both civilian and military clothing, along with anything else you require. While that is prepared, Uncle Jaega and I will take Maseo to the training hall for assessment.”

When Kitsuki and Jaega stood up, their imposing figures casting long shadows across the table, Maseo did the same to follow them.

His legs felt unsteady, though he couldn’t tell whether it was from nerves or relief.

It would be his first test as a member of the Ariake clan, and he intended to do well.

It startled him when Auslin grabbed his wrist to stop him, the mage’s fingers wrapping around his arm. Auslin’s violet eyes pleaded with Maseo in a way that made him want to stay. “Please be careful.”

Maseo gave Auslin’s hand a reassuring squeeze before he had to step into the role of a warrior. The mage’s skin was warm and soft beneath his fingers, a stark contrast to the callused hands of warriors he was used to. “You have my word.”

He lingered for a moment longer, memorizing the concern in Auslin’s beautiful eyes, before he forced himself to follow the two dragon shifters out of the room, leaving Auslin and Kisano alone.

Walking down the corridor between Kitsuki and Jaega, Maseo let his new reality settle over him like armor. He was no longer Nasume’s son or Kio’s former lover. He was now a member of the Ariake clan, with all the responsibilities and opportunities that entailed.

Now, he needed to prove he was worthy of the chance they had given him.