10. Kitsuki

Chapter 10

Kitsuki

K itsuki was reading in bed when Auslin jerked awake with a loud gasp. Hibiki disappeared into the amethyst stone on Auslin's ring. While it startled Kitsuki, he reached over to comfort the human with calmness. "You are safe, Auslin. All is well."

"Your arm," Auslin said, turning to look at Kitsuki. He touched the restored one, his expression overjoyed. "It actually worked!"

The shifter monarch caressed Auslin's cheek. "It did indeed."

"I'm so glad!" Auslin exclaimed as he threw his arms around Kitsuki's neck in a tight hug.

For the first time in six hundred years, Kitsuki enjoyed embracing Auslin with both arms. He made a quiet noise of agreement as he hid his face against the human's shoulder. Kitsuki still couldn't believe Auslin had returned to him. He never wanted to let go for fear Auslin might disappear again.

Auslin hugged Kitsuki even tighter. They remained locked in an embrace until Kitsuki finally made himself move back to look down at Auslin.

Auslin ran his hand along the length of Kitsuki's arm. "It really worked."

"You even restored my healing and magic abilities to it."

"Seriously?" Auslin questioned in shock. Kitsuki demonstrated by summoning his dragon fire in his new hand, making the human's jaw drop. "That's amazing! I wonder if I can do that for Uncle Jaega now that I know how to reconnect someone's power?"

"If anyone could do it, it would be you."

Auslin traced the path of Kitsuki's shifter markings. "I wonder why they're so much brighter now?"

"When Mitsuki severed my arm, he also removed part of my magic abilities," Kitsuki explained. "That caused my markings to grow darker since it weakened me. Now that you restored my arm and powers, the lines glow brighter than ever, thanks to you."

Auslin's gaze roved over Kitsuki's body. The dragon shifter arched an eyebrow when he smelled the subtle tease of Auslin's arousal from looking at him. It made him feel good that Auslin still desired him as Kitsuki and not just as Kitaro.

"I'm so glad," Auslin shyly said.

"You are truly unbelievable." Kitsuki leaned down to kiss him.

Auslin wrapped his arms around Kitsuki's neck once more. He breathed Kitsuki's name in between kisses, shivering with want when the dragon shifter trailed his claws against his skin. It came as a disappointment when Auslin stopped Kizuki with an apology. "Sorry, I'm a little dizzy. I need a minute."

"You expended a great deal of power. Hibiki did what he could, but you may still feel weak," Kitsuki explained, guiding Auslin back down onto the bed. "You have been out for the better part of two days."

"Two days!" Auslin exclaimed in disbelief. "But I told my brother I would be back when?—"

Kitsuki soothed Auslin with a gentle touch. "Be at ease. I sent word to Sephen you were safe here and would visit him as soon as you felt up to it."

The panic disappeared from Auslin. "I appreciate you doing that. I didn't want him to think I had vanished again or that he had imagined my return."

"It was no trouble."

Auslin groaned. "Ugh, Kio is going to be so mad at me now."

"It is of no consequence."

The human closed his eyes with a sigh. "I don't want to see him ever again."

"Unfortunately, he will give you little choice in the matter."

Sorrow emanated from Auslin. "You must think I'm the worst."

"Why would I think that?"

"Because now I finally understand why you really hated seeing me with Kio," Auslin said with a sigh.

"I do not hold it against you."

Auslin couldn't bring himself to look at Kitsuki. "You should. How could you stand to be with me knowing I was once with him?"

Kitsuki didn't like the direction the conversation was heading, so he tried to stop it in its tracks. "You are my everything, Auslin. There is nothing you can do that is not already forgiven."

"How can you say that?" Auslin looked up at Kitsuki in anguish, reeking with guilt.

"Because I love you," Kitsuki replied with a small smile, "and because it is true."

"If I had known, I would never have?—"

Kitsuki gently interrupted him. "As repugnant as I find Kio, if you had not been unhappy with him, you never would have had a reason to go through Fate's Gate to meet me in the past. For that alone, if nothing else, it is easily forgiven."

Auslin reached up to stroke Kitsuki's cheek. "You know I would never go back to him, right? You understand I never want to be with anyone else but you, don't you?"

"Ah." Kitsuki kissed Auslin to reassure them both. "You are still my intended. I do not plan to give you up to anyone."

"Good, because I'm yours," Auslin said with a touching sense of determination. "I'm never leaving you again."

"Are you not intending to return to live at the temple with your brother?" Kitsuki held his breath as he waited for Auslin's answer.

The light dimmed in the mage's violet eyes. "Am I not allowed to stay here with you?"

Easily able to smell Auslin's fear of being sent away, Kitsuki quickly reassured him. "I want nothing more than for you to live here at the castle with me, but I do not wish you to feel beholden to me to do so. You are free to live with your brother at the temple if you wish."

"I want to stay here with you," Auslin emphatically insisted, giving the shifter monarch a rare sense of joy. "Of course I want to see Sephen, but I want to live here with you and the rest of your clan. My place is by your side, not at the temple."

It was everything Kitsuki had wanted to hear. Hearing it stated so clearly was a balm to his battered soul. "I am pleased you feel that way."

Auslin pulled him down for a passionate kiss that Kitsuki gladly gave himself over to. The human's stomach growling interrupted them. "Sorry," Auslin automatically apologized.

"There is no need to be," Kitsuki told him before stealing another kiss. "I will summon food here while you use the bathroom. We can visit your brother as soon as you are feeling up to it."

"Thank you for always taking such good care of me." Auslin got out of bed.

Kitsuki chuckled at Auslin's shocked exclamation over the expanded bathroom before the door slid closed behind him. Satisfied Auslin had recovered enough to not require further assistance, Kitsuki summoned a servant to bring them both breakfast.