55. Sephen

Chapter 55

Sephen

A knock on the door pulled Sephen from his reading. It was tempting to ignore the person in favor of his Liros book, but Sephen did the responsible thing. "Come in!"

To his great delight, Auslin entered with a wave.

"You're back!" Sephen scrambled over to hug his brother. "When they told me you went to the Divine Realm, I could hardly believe it!"

"And I come bearing gifts." Auslin led them over to the sitting area, where they made themselves comfortable on the couch. He passed a book over to Sephen.

Sephen's hands shook when he saw it was a Liros text he had never seen before. Ornate bronze-orange metallic filigree decorated the edges of the silver cover, with the title in teal-colored foil. He traced the markings with his finger as he marveled at it. " The Knowledge of Pleasure ?" Realization made Sephen giddy. "This must be brand-new! I've never heard of it before. And it's in the Divine language, which is amazing ! I can't believe the colors on the cover match my mating bond marks. It's like it was written just for us."

"It comes out next month, but Liros said a fan as dedicated as you deserved an early copy." Auslin gestured at the book. "Open it."

There was a message on the inside title page in handwriting that was as beautiful as Kisano's. Sephen read it aloud. "To my beloved Sephen, who understands what a pleasure the pursuit of knowledge is. Wishing you and your mate the very best on your new bond as you discover even more forms of pleasurable knowledge together. I can't wait until our paths have the pleasure of finally crossing in person soon."

The handwritten note filled Sephen with so much joy he thought he might pass out from being so overwhelmed. He closed the book and hugged it to his chest as his heart raced. "He actually wants to meet in person!" Sephen couldn't hold in his delighted squeal as he squirmed in his seat. "This is the best gift ever !"

"Liros asked me to reiterate that your paths will cross in the not-too-distant future," Auslin said. "He's already looking forward to it and hopes you do, too."

"I get to meet him for real?" Sephen's body could hardly contain so much joy. "How did I get so lucky? Did he say anything about Kisano?"

"He thinks highly of you both." Auslin grinned slyly. "He also didn't deny Reskin held a special place in his heart, so I suspect you may be more right about that than you think."

"I knew it!" Sephen glowed with a warm satisfaction at being correct. "Oh, I can't wait to meet him! I'm so jealous you got to see him first, but I'm also so grateful for this book. Thank you, Auslin. You really are the best brother ever."

Auslin smiled at him fondly. "It's easy to spoil you when you're the best."

"So, what was the Divine Realm like?"

"Beautiful beyond anything I had imagined." Auslin leaned back into the comforts of the couch. "Everything is so gleamingly white and clean. They have incredible fountains in their town squares that have the bluest water I've ever seen. There's stunning art everywhere. And get this—Kizoshi has her own castle and a kitsune fire spirit who meows and purrs like a cat."

Sephen laughed. "Now you're just making fun of me for being gullible. There's no way she has a kitsune of any kind, let alone one made of fire who acts like a cat."

Auslin held up his hand. "I swear on my bond with Kitsuki, she absolutely does. His name is Finini, and he's best friends with Hibiki." At the mention of his name, the fire dragon spirit jumped out of Auslin's ring to sit in his lap. "I'm telling the truth, aren't I?"

The dragon nodded as he looked at Sephen. He then butted his head against Auslin's hand for pets, which the mage indulged.

Sephen couldn't resist reaching over and giving Hibiki a fond rub. "I wish I could see it. That sounds beyond incredible."

"I'm sorry I can't bring you there," Auslin apologized. "I would do it in a heartbeat if you were allowed."

Sephen refused to be depressed about it when he had already received so much good news for the day. "It's okay. As long as Liros is willing to come here to meet me, I couldn't ask for anything more. Oh, what about Sophina? Did you meet her?"

"I did. I thought she'd be fearsome, but she was an absolute sweetheart. So was Liros, honestly. I assumed everyone in the Divine Realm would be super serious because of their duties, but the three of them are a playful group of friends. They made me feel so welcomed."

"And they're probably as beautiful as Kizoshi."

Auslin nodded as Hibiki curled up in his lap. "Breathtakingly gorgeous." He teased his younger brother, "I'm not entirely sure you'll survive meeting Liros. Between being the smartest and one of the prettiest men in any Realm, he's a force to be reckoned with."

"I'd ask you to describe him for me, but I want to be surprised." That was a piece of knowledge Sephen wanted to discover for himself. "I can't believe I'm really going to meet him soon! Kisano will be so shocked."

"Speaking of which, congratulations on your new mate." Auslin lifted Sephen's hand to look at the marks on his younger brother's skin. "Your teal looks beautiful intertwined with Kisano's orange. I'm so happy for you both, truly."

Sephen still wasn't ready to let go of his new book, so he set it on his lap. "It's been so amazing. I never imagined I would be so lucky."

Auslin hesitated for a moment. "How is your body holding up to having a shifter mate?"

"Honestly, I'm a little sore," Sephen sheepishly admitted, "but my need for Kisano outweighs that."

Auslin merged their auras together to heal Sephen. Sephen sighed in relief as his aches disappeared. It was so convenient to have an auramancer healer for a brother.

"I actually have a gift for you both from Kizoshi." Auslin took out a small box to pass over to Sephen before he resumed petting Hibiki. "She implied it would help you withstand Kisano's dragon, but I'm not sure how."

Inside the box were two silver dangling earrings with an elaborate pattern that reminded him of his mating marks. "Wow, they're so beautiful!" Sephen touched one and shivered at the feeling it stirred inside of him.

"She explained that you each should wear one, which will connect your bond even more."

Sephen was about to protest his ears weren't pierced until the thought of Kisano using one of his fangs or claws to pierce him. The idea sent a shiver through him. "Did she come back with you?" Sephen asked. "I would love to thank her personally."

Auslin shook his head. "She had to stay in the Divine Realm to take care of some things, but she promised she would visit soon to congratulate you both in person. She's thrilled for you both."

"For someone who is supposed to be so scary, she's really nice," Sephen said with a laugh. "I'm relieved she likes me because I know she loves Kisano enough that she wouldn't accept just anyone as his mate. It's nice not having to be terrified of her showing up for a visit."

"Now that I've seen how incredible the Divine Realm is, I find it even harder to believe she leaves there to come here at all. I was only there for a few days and barely wanted to leave its splendor."

Sephen playfully nudged his brother's shoulder. "Well, thank you for coming back to the land of us mere mortals, where only cats meow." His comment made them both laugh.

"Where is Kisano, anyway?"

"He's training with Kitsuki and Uncle Jaega. They say he's making excellent progress, but he's so hard on himself when he doesn't get something on the first try."

Auslin made a sympathetic noise. "I'm sure it's hard for someone like him who has so much knowledge about so many things to struggle with something. He's not used to that."

"I wish he liked his dragon as much as I do." Sephen sighed as he continued tracing the filigree pattern on the book cover in his lap. "I don't think he understands how I can love them both."

"I wouldn't take it too hard. It's all still new to him. He'll eventually find his peace with his dragon."

Sephen's heart went out to Kisano. "I can't even imagine how weird it is to live with a dragon inside you, especially when it can have different opinions from you. It'd be like fighting a war against yourself."

"It is indeed an exhausting battle," Kisano said as he entered the room. "Welcome back, Auslin."

"He brought us gifts!" Sephen passed his new book to his mate. "Apparently, our paths will cross with Liros's very soon! I can't wait until we meet him."

Kisano shut the book when he finished reading the inscription. "I shall look forward to that. It is something I have wished to happen for a long time."

Auslin arched an eyebrow. "You've never met him before?"

The dragon shifter shook his head. "No, despite being Kizoshi's best friend, I have never met Liros. I met Sophina when she was a child, though. She was a delightful ray of sunshine, who showed me kindness at a time few did."

"It's a shame she's not allowed to return to the Living Realm because of what happened with her mother." Auslin shook his head. "The council that controls everything in the Divine Realm sounds scary."

Sephen pouted. "I'm sad I'll never be able to meet her." He perked up as he passed the small box over to Kisano. "Your sister got us these to celebrate our bonding. Auslin said she'd visit soon to congratulate us in person."

"Now that you've finished training, I should go find Kitsuki. I'm sure his dragon has been restless in my absence." Auslin recalled Hibiki into his ring before he hugged them both and left.

Kisano opened the box. "What an unusual gift from my sister."

"Auslin said they would strengthen the connection of our bond if we wore them." Sephen's heart fluttered with excitement. "I believe your dragon would be glad to help us with the piercings."

Kisano's dragon surged forward, his eyes shining a bright orange. "We would indeed love the honor."

"Race you to the bedroom." Sephen took off with a laugh, Kisano's dragon fast on his heels. He couldn't wait to get caught.