73. Auslin

Chapter 73

Auslin

H aving come to an understanding, the rest of Auslin and Kitsuki's journey was uneventful until they arrived in Mizujil. Auslin had concerns about meeting Kalassandria again, but he smothered his worries since Kitsuki seemed to believe they were meritless.

When Kalassandria entered the sitting room, she warmly greeted Kitsuki. "Cousin, I am so glad you have journeyed out here after so long." She gave him a tight, lingering embrace. "Welcome, Auslin."

"I have been remiss in not visiting sooner," Kitsuki apologized. "It is difficult to get away for long periods of time when you are a ruler, as you well know."

"That I do." She gave him a kind smile, which was completely at odds with Auslin's memories of her icy hardness at the banquet after their mating ceremony. "Your room is ready. You are free to stay as long as you desire."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty," Auslin thanked her with a respectful bow.

Kalassandria carefully studied him. "I almost regret that Uncle Tatsuki is not alive to be astounded at Vanra's miraculous return." It surprised him Kalassandria knew he was the Vanra of the past.

"Given that Father always promised me I would be reunited, I fear it would not have come as much of a surprise to him," Kitsuki said to her with a chuckle. "I am confident he would have happily welcomed Auslin's return and subjected us to quite an epic I-told-you-so."

"I wish I could have seen him one last time to thank him for everything," Auslin said with a genuine pang of sadness. "I miss our talks."

"He certainly adored you," Kalassandria stated with a hard edge in her voice as she added, "perhaps a bit too much."

She ignored the silent questions in Auslin's eyes. "You must be tired after your long journey. Please rest before we have dinner this evening."

"I am looking forward to catching up with you," Kitsuki told her with a smile before they left.

Auslin was very conscious of Kalassandria's gaze coldly following him as they departed. His apprehensive anxiety came back stronger than before. He waited until they were alone in their room to ask, "Why did she say Father was too fond of me?"

Kitsuki hesitated before answering. "Kio's mother possessed certain qualities you share. Kalassandria is of the opinion Father sought a human because he had an unfulfilled desire for you."

Auslin laughed at the ridiculous notion. "That doesn't make sense. Father didn't view me like that at all. I don't think he enjoyed being with a man."

"It is an undeniable fact Father was drawn to your kindness and acceptance," Kitsuki said. "They were things denied to him because of his warlord nature. Kio's mother was the only other person who ever treated Father similarly. I cannot say that I did not harbor some suspicions myself."

"Are you seriously saying that Father fell in love with Kio's mother because of me?" Auslin asked in shock.

Kitsuki sighed. "It was painful for me to endure at the time because I was not blind to the similarities between you both, which made my loss feel even more poignant."

"But that's…" Auslin tried to protest, but the words wouldn't come as he struggled to understand what was being said.

Kitsuki smoothed the wrinkle of concern from Auslin's brow. "Father did not have an untoward interest in you. His was entirely a paternal affection, which was not sexual. But when you disappeared, even Father felt the loss of your warmth and kindness to be hard to endure."

"Does your cousin blame me for driving Father to be with Kio's mother?"

"It is highly doubtful," Kitsuki replied. "If Kalassandria truly hated or resented you, she would not welcome you into her home."

It was a good point, but Auslin couldn't shake Kizoshi's warning he should avoid Kalassandria. "But what if she's letting me stay here so she can take revenge?"

"There is no need for such paranoia." When Auslin still seemed disturbed, Kitsuki reassured him with kisses.

Unable to move past the topic, Auslin dissuaded Kitsuki from continuing.

"Truly, you have nothing to fear from my cousin," Kitsuki told him. "I do not understand where your apprehensions are coming from."

"Kizoshi said I should avoid her, if at all possible," Auslin replied with a frown.

Kitsuki sighed. "This is the one time I would encourage you to not have faith in her warning. Kizoshi has a long-biased hatred for our cousin. Keeping you from being in Kalassandria's presence can only be a benefit to Kizoshi."

"But when is she ever wrong?" Auslin demanded. "She's been right about everything else."

"If nothing else, my cousin will not do anything she fears will upset me," Kitsuki reassured him. "That alone should set your mind at ease."

Auslin really wanted to believe Kitsuki, but he couldn't let go of his anxiety Kalassandria may harbor ill will toward him for things beyond his control. There was no other choice for him but to trust in Hibiki to keep him safe. He said a silent prayer to Kizoshi to appear if things moved in a dangerous direction.

A uslin was quiet as he had dinner with Kitsuki and Kalassandria. He still felt deeply unsettled by Kalassandria, despite Kitsuki's assurances she bore him no ill will.

"I am surprised your mate is not joining us for dinner," Kitsuki commented to his cousin.

She sighed at the question. "Naifar is away because he went to talk his foolish brother out of starting a military campaign."

"You did not join him?"

Kalassandria laughed. "He specifically dissuaded me from joining them for fear I would talk his brother into going through with the fighting."

"Against whom?"

Kalassandria's gaze briefly flitted over to Auslin. "There is a faction of a human uprising against shifters that has been causing some problems on the fringes of my borders, which connect with my brother-in-law's lands in Arenvale."

"We had an incident with one such human on the way here," Kitsuki said.

"I am not the least bit surprised." Kalassandria shook her head. "They are militant and interested only in death for shifters and the humans who sympathize with them. I would be fine if my brother-in-law killed them all, but Naifar does not share my views."

Auslin said nothing as he focused on carefully controlling his reaction to the news. But he drew Kalassandria's attention. She scornfully asked, "I suppose you think we should try to negotiate with the insurgents instead of fighting them?"

It wasn't Auslin's place to say anything, but he couldn't hold his tongue. "In an ideal situation, that would be the preferred outcome, but when you get that many people—humans or shifters—who strongly believe in one cause, there is probably very little chance of reasoning with them."

"Those vile creatures only understand violence because that is how they think," Kalassandria said with a look of disgust. "However, if we slaughter humans, even the bad ones, it would cause a diplomatic nightmare. Although having hate mongering humans spewing such dangerous rhetoric is unacceptable, somehow, I am in the minority opinion that their living causes far more problems than their deaths."

Auslin said nothing in response.

Kitsuki drew his cousin's attention away from his mate. "Have you met with any of the human leaders who stand against this rising faction?"

"I have. They fear this will permanently damage relations with shifters."

"What caused the uprising?" Kitsuki asked. "We have not had any such problems anywhere in Valzerna."

"Given your sympathies towards humans and having supporters like King Lenwat and King Kehnon, it is far harder for such sentiments to grow."

"We recently visited King Kehnon in Sybir. There has been unrest amongst the shifters in his kingdom." Kitsuki rubbed his chin with a pensive expression. "I wonder if it has any connection to these problems?"

Kalassandria made an uncertain noise. "Given their proximity to Reflorna, it is likely. This issue has been slowly pushing its way south from Kunushi."

"Nasume is responsible for this?" Kitsuki asked.

She nodded. "Nasume continues to harbor a serious grudge against all of humankind, so it would not surprise me if he secretly supported the cause. There was a skirmish between the humans and wolf shifters about six months ago that triggered the rebellion. I am of the belief that the wolf shifters willingly sacrificed those humans to incite problems."

It didn't make any sense to Auslin. "But he has a half-human son. What benefit does he get in starting fighting between humans and shifters?"

"It is no secret Nasume despises his halfling son," Kalassandria said with a shrug. "Perhaps he is hoping the fighting will get rid of his problem in a way which cannot be traced back to him."

Auslin's stomach dropped. Could Nasume really be trying to kill Maseo in such an underhanded manner? "How can he be so heartless about his own son?"

"Because he is disgusted by his son's humanity." Kalassandria gave Auslin a pointed look, which made him shrink back in his seat.

Kitsuki projected calmness through their bond as Auslin's upset grew. To Kalassandria, Kitsuki said, "If that is truly the case, then we must act."

"Short of marching into Kunushi with an army and wiping out both the wolf shifters and the human uprising, there is not much that can be done at the moment."

"I hope such a drastic action will not be necessary." Kitsuki frowned. "Knowing this involves Nasume, it may very well come to that."

Talk slowly turned into a more benign direction as dinner continued, but Auslin remained a silent observer. He was too lost in his thoughts about everything discussed. He did his best not to project his fear to the two shifters with very sensitive senses of smell.

"Thank you for such a wonderful dinner," Kitsuki thanked his cousin when they finished eating.

"I apologize for almost spoiling it with talk of such unpleasant matters," Kalassandria replied with a slight incline of her head.

"I feel better for being informed about the matter," Kitsuki reassured her. "It is no trouble."

When Kitsuki and Auslin stood to leave, Kalassandria stopped them. "Auslin, would you stay behind with me for a moment? I wish to speak with you."

Auslin's heart raced at the prospect of being left alone with the woman who most likely hated him. "Sure," Auslin agreed, although he would rather run away to the safety of his room with Kitsuki.

"I will leave you two to talk." Kitsuki brushed against their bond to reassure Auslin everything would be fine before leaving.

Once Kitsuki had left, Kalassandria moved them to a room with a view of a beautiful pond with a small waterfall cascading into it. It was beautiful, but Auslin still felt nervous about why she wished to talk to him.

Kalassandria drew out the silence between them. As Auslin grew increasingly unsettled, she finally asked, "Why are you so nervous?"

"Because I'm pretty sure you disapprove of me."

"For a very long time, I resented Vanra for having so much influence over Uncle Tatsuki." It hadn't been the point Auslin expected her to make first.

"But I never intentionally did anything," Auslin protested. "All we did was talk occasionally."

She frowned as she studied Auslin. "I am aware, which is what makes it even more annoying." Her gaze hardened. "I was fine with Uncle Tatsuki claiming that bastard's mother as a war trophy in revenge for killing my father. If he had humiliated her, I would have accepted it. Instead, he betrayed my father by falling in love with her humanity he missed in you, thus creating that bastard halfling son of his."

"But that's not my fault!"

She ignored his protests as she continued. "Uncle Tatsuki loved that woman's humanity more than he valued the love of his brother, who had always stood by his side and died for his cause."

"I'm sorry about your father, but you're blaming me for something that's not my fault," Auslin insisted with more confidence than he felt.

"That is not what you should be sorry about," Kalassandria coldly said, making Auslin flinch back from her harsh tone. "I have despised Kio since he was conceived. I longed for the day when I could smite his miserable existence. However, my honor prevented me from doing so when he was too young to defend himself or understand exactly why I was stealing away his life."

The shift in topics confused Auslin. "What does that have to do with me?"

"Imagine my surprise when I discovered the coincidence that despite Kio not knowing who Vanra was, he found a human mage of his own," Kalassandria continued. "I derived great pleasure from seeing his misery at being rejected by everyone as the worthless scum he is, but then this human mage came along and gave Kio the acceptance he had craved his whole life. He showed that bastard a love he did not deserve."

Auslin's heart hammered from fear at the intensifying pressure of Kalassandria's aura pulsating with her simmering rage.

Kalassandria continued her story. "I decided killing the human mage Kio did nothing to deserve would be the ultimate way of inflicting pain on that bastard halfling. I had two assassination attempts made, hoping to hurt Kio where it would inflict the deepest wound."

"You tried to have me killed?" Auslin demanded in outrage.

Kalassandria's flinty gaze sent shivers down Auslin's spine. "I would have done it myself if I was certain I could have restrained myself from killing Kio at the same time. Imagine my surprise when my beloved cousin, who had withdrawn from the world in his heartache and shared my hatred of Kio, foiled my attacks because he could not bear someone who reminded him so much of Vanra being harmed."

"You're the one who sent the raccoon shifters and those shifter-hating humans after me!" Auslin had only survived because Kitsuki had coincidentally been nearby and saved him.

"I would have tried again if it were not for the fact I knew Kitsuki would stop my every attempt. I did not want him to figure out I was the one responsible for the attacks." Kalassandria sighed. "I was irate that even though it had been centuries, someone with a resemblance to Vanra could cause Kitsuki so much pain. It made me wish all over again that I could get rid of you, once and for all."

Hearing Kalassandria casually discussing her attempt at murdering Auslin terrified him. It took every ounce of willpower not to flee to the sanctuary of his room with Kitsuki.

"I thought I got lucky when you disappeared for almost two years," Kalassandria said. "I relished Kio's suffering during that time, but it was hell seeing Kitsuki becoming more withdrawn than ever. And then, to everyone's surprise, Vanra magically reappeared, and impossibly, was the same Auslin who had been separated by time."

"This entire time, you've known about my history with Kio and what happened in the past," Auslin realized with a growing pit of dread in his stomach.

"I fully intended to contest your Fatebonding ceremony until I saw you interacting with Kitsuki," Kalassandria confessed. "To finally see my beloved cousin returning to living for the first time in over half a millennium was everything I had ever wanted. But I still did not trust you, so I sent word to Kio about the ceremony to do what I could not."

The revelation stunned Auslin. " You're the one who sent Kio to the castle the night before the ceremony?"

"I wanted to prove to Kitsuki you were still loyal to Kio," Kalassandria justified herself with a shrug. "But there was no trace of love for Kio in your heart. When I saw the depths of your love, I could no longer bear to stand between Kitsuki and his finally recovered happiness."

"Why are you telling me all of this?" Auslin suspiciously asked, distrusting the woman he now knew had made multiple attempts on his life.

"So that you understand I have a history and reason for hating you, but I have accepted you despite that," Kalassandria replied.

"I love Kitsuki more than anyone in this realm." Auslin's temper flared. "You have no right to question that!"

Kalassandria almost looked repentant, and her voice grew softer. "I know that now. For what it is worth, I regret what I did in the past to you. Had I known you were actually Vanra, I never would have had attempts made on your life."

"I would be more upset if I didn't understand you were trying to protect your cousin's heart in your own weird way," Auslin said after he calmed himself.

"I cannot express what it means to me to see Kitsuki finally happy and living a life of love at long last," Kalassandria told Auslin. "For that, you have my eternal gratitude and support. I will repay you one day for the wrongs I committed against you." It was a relief to hear Kalassandria say.

"That's really not necessary. As long as it stays in the past, that's all that matters."

Kalassandria looked at Auslin with a sad smile. "I will never understand your kindness. I have told you to your face I have tried multiple times to have you murdered, yet you still show me such forgiveness and understanding." Shaking her head, Kalassandria marveled at Auslin. "If I were not so certain about your genuine sincerity, I would think there was something fundamentally wrong with you."

Auslin laughed despite himself. "You're not the first person to say such a thing to me."

"I look forward to getting to know the real you during your stay here," Kalassandria said. "Please believe me when I say no harm will befall you here in my lands. You are clan, and I will protect you as such."

"Thank you." Auslin experienced a tremendous sense of relief since he knew what being clan meant to the dragon shifters.

She smiled at Auslin. "You should probably return to Kitsuki before he wears a hole in the floor from anxiously pacing as he wonders why I requested to speak to you alone."

Auslin took both of Kalassandria's hands in his and squeezed them. "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad we understand each other better now."

Kalassandria blinked in disbelief as Auslin walked away to return to his mate's side.