3. Auslin

Chapter 3

Auslin

T he ancient magic activating momentarily disoriented Auslin. When the dizziness passed, his eyes widened as the crumbled staircase before him was now in far better condition. "Wait, what?"

Immediately losing his nerve, Auslin went back through Fate's Gate, but it remained dormant.

When he looked around, he noticed the old annex and storage house were missing. A chill ran through Auslin as he realized something had gone very, very wrong when he went through the ancient monument.

"Roltan, are you out there?"

Auslin froze. He knew all the mages that lived at the temple, and there was no one by that name. He momentarily debated the wisdom of seeking the person who called out and explaining what had happened. But a stranger appearing at the temple at night on the Day of Remembrance Festival would seem suspicious. It was smarter to retreat. Maybe it wasn't too late for Fate's Gate to fix the situation.

It once again failed to activate when he passed back through it. The impossibly newer stairs before him were easily ascended as he hurried up them to reach the clearing. His heart pounded with fear as he struggled to keep control of his anxiety.

Auslin skirted closer to the trees for coverage. He would wait out the night in the peaceful glen, then try to make sense of everything in the morning. Maybe by then, he could come up with a realistic story that the strangers at the temple would believe.

Off to the side, something caught Auslin's attention. An enormous white dragon lay still, although it was clearly watching him. Its iridescent scales seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. The creature was one of the most beautiful Auslin had ever seen.

Afraid it was hurt, Auslin's need to help overrode his fear as he calmly approached the creature that was easily ten times his size. It must be a shifter in their dragon form , he realized.

As Auslin approached, he held his hands so it could see he had no intention of harming him. "Are you hurt?"

The dragon huffed, but Auslin didn't know how to translate that sound. It surprised Auslin when he felt the shifter's aura move against his in curiosity. It felt warm and kind, putting Auslin at ease.

"I want to make sure you're okay," Auslin said. "Will you let me?"

The dragon lifted its head when the human was next to him, calmly looking down at him. Its silver eyes seemed to swirl with power as it intently studied him.

Because his senses were extended for the dragon's benefit, Auslin felt a bat shifter rapidly approaching. He instantly stood up in a defensive stance in front of the dragon since he still didn't know whether it was hurt or not.

When the bat flew into the clearing, he shifted into his person form. He retained his oversized fangs and glowing red eyes as he approached with menace. "Is there some reason a human is guarding a dragon shifter?"

Auslin stood his ground. "I won't let you harm him."

The bat shifter laughed. "At this point, I'm more interested in harming you ."

"I would not advise trying." Auslin flared his aura to put the aggressor on notice that he was not to be trifled with lightly. "I'm stronger than I look."

The bat shifter arrogantly chuckled. "You think that a mere human could harm the likes of me?"

"If you attack us, I'll be forced to purify you, which I really don't want to do." It was not an idle threat since the bat shifter wasn't powerful. "I will if I have to defend myself, but it would be best for all of us if you left in peace."

The bat shifter only laughed heartier. "I'll enjoy tearing you to shreds before I fuck up your friend over there."

Before Auslin could reply, the bat shifter launched itself at him.

Auslin dodged the attack but was careful to stay in front of the dragon, who was calmly watching the scene unfold before him.

"You're fast, I'll give you that much," the bat shifter said, "but I'm faster!"

Auslin focused his purifying energy, defensively pushing it in front of himself. As the bat shifter launched into his protective energy shield, he disintegrated into dust that was dispersed by the uncaring wind. Auslin was upset with what had happened, but his concern immediately returned to the dragon shifter, who had yet to move.

He crouched in front of the enormous dragon once more, checking it for any signs of injury. "I'm so sorry. I know how bad it looks that I did that, but please believe me, I only purify when it's necessary for self-defense. I couldn't take the chance that he would hurt you when he wouldn't accept no for an answer."

The dragon made a noise that sounded like laughter. Taking it as a good sign, Auslin relaxed as he sat down. "I'm sure you are more than capable of defending yourself," Auslin said. "Please don't think I'm disrespecting you or your abilities."

Maybe Auslin was imagining it, but he could swear he felt the amusement radiating from the dragon. "You must think I'm so strange." Auslin sighed as he leaned back on his hands. "You wouldn't be wrong at this point."

When there was no answer, Auslin filled the silence with sound. "It's so strange. I know several dragon shifters, but this is the first time I've ever seen one up close in their dragon form." It made him wonder what Kitsuki looked like as a dragon. He was probably as beautiful and majestic as his human form.

After the dragon lowered its head to rest again, Auslin smiled wryly. "Sorry, I'm probably boring you to death, aren't I?" That was one of the many reasons Kio had stepped out on him with Maseo. "It's no wonder he strays…"

The dragon gently butting its snout against his hand startled Auslin from his sadness.

It filled him with gratitude. "Thank you." He took a chance and reached his hand out. When the creature didn't move away, Auslin decided to be bold. "Wow, I never thought I'd pet a dragon. This is incredible!"

The dragon made the laughing noise again. Auslin smiled despite his weird mood. The realization that the shifter had shown him more kindness than Kio had in ages quickly erased it. Auslin could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He had given his lover many things, but he wouldn't let him reduce him to crying anymore.

A smattering of raindrops turned into a heavy rain. Auslin hung his head with a huff of frustration. "Come on! Haven't enough things gone wrong tonight?" It annoyed him that his plan to stay outside for the night would be soggy. Why had he let his brother take his pack from him?

The dragon shifter stood up, making Auslin's heart sink. "Thanks for listening. Be safe out there."

Rather than running off like Auslin expected, the giant dragon stretched before he crouched down again.

"Are you inviting me to get on?"

The dragon nodded and crouched lower with a huff.

Figuring anything was better than waiting all night in the falling rain, Auslin got on and awkwardly tried to figure out how to position himself. When the dragon stood up, Auslin was startled by how high up he suddenly was. He did his best to hold on as the dragon flew through the woods with shifter speed.

After flying in the rain for ten minutes, Auslin and the dragon arrived at a cave near a small lake. As they entered the darkness, silver fire ignited throughout, illuminating the space. There was a pallet large enough to fit a shifter the size of the one he'd ridden on, and a large pit with a roaring fire warming the chilly space.

The dragon crouched down to let the human dismount. Auslin thanked him, then watched as it walked deeper into the cave to shake off the excess water. It drew Auslin's attention to his clothes, which were completely soaked through. He didn't see anything that he could change into while they dried. His health was more important than his modesty, so Auslin took off his drenched shirt. He went to the side of the cave opposite the bed to wring out the water.

Before he started, it occurred to him that perhaps it was inappropriate to do that in the dragon's cave. "Should I do this outside instead of over here?" Auslin called out to the dragon, his voice echoing in the cave. He didn't want to accidentally break some unwritten shifter decorum rule he was unaware of by being rude.

A blink was the only answer he received.

Auslin shivered when an icy wind blew through the cave. It reiterated his need to get out of his soaked clothes. He really didn't want to be naked at the cave entrance, so he wrung out the water where he stood.

It startled him when the dragon returned, standing near the fire and watching him with shining silver eyes that matched the large firepit.

Auslin stared at the dragon for a long moment before self-consciously undoing his pants. "I'm sorry. I feel weird doing this in front of you, but I don't want to catch a cold from these wet clothes."

Seemingly disinterested, the dragon walked over and flopped onto the bed.

It made it easier for Auslin to finish undressing. He laid his clothes beside the fire to dry out during the night.

Auslin looked at the dragon for guidance about what to do next. "Where should I go?"

The dragon shifter gestured with its tail for Auslin to come closer, then curled it around himself to make more room for the human.

It was all the invitation Auslin needed. He gratefully got into bed with a word of thanks, scooting as close to the dragon as he dared. To his amazement, it was completely dry. "How did you—?" Auslin asked until he realized if the dragon shifter could light multiple fires through magical means, getting dry would have been easy enough. "Right. Dragon shifter magic. I forgot." It was easy to do when Kio couldn't use it since he was only half-shifter.

Once again, the dragon laughed. Auslin smiled reflexively, even as he shivered. It startled him when the dragon's heavy wing fell on him, completely covering his body in welcomed warmth.

"Thank you." Auslin couldn't resist petting the wing blanketing him. It was amazing how soft the underside was. His exhaustion soon caught up with him. The fact that it was the most comfortable bed he had ever had the pleasure of sleeping in helped him quickly drift into a deep slumber.

S leep was slow to leave Auslin in the morning. He lingered in an unaware state, enjoying the warmth embracing him. It was a comfort he was loath to let go of in favor of wakefulness. He snuggled deeper into the comfort with a contented sigh, loving when he was held tighter.

It had been so long since Kio had held him like that—and that's when Auslin remembered it couldn't be Kio behind him. His eyes flew open, and he saw a pale arm around him with silver shifter markings. Auslin scrambled back with an alarmed noise as he turned to see a naked man.

Brushing his long, silver-white hair from his face and opening his eyes, the shifter blinked sleepily as he looked at Auslin questioningly with startlingly familiar ice-blue eyes. Auslin's heart raced when their gazes met. The shifter in front of him looked like a much younger Kitsuki. But unlike the ruler, the person in front of him had both arms, different colored hair, and a brighter aura.

Although the dragon monarch looked to be in his thirties in human years, Auslin knew he was over a thousand years old. The shifter in front of him appeared to be equivalent to a twenty-something-year- old human male in age, but he was probably still several hundred years old.

He was a stunningly beautiful creature in seductive repose, which made Auslin's heart pound for a different reason altogether. The shifter had shimmering silver markings that sensuously caressed his entire body. They were proof that he was an immensely powerful shifter.

Auslin knew Kitsuki had similar lines on the back of his hand, the sides of his neck, and chest, but they were much darker and didn't swirl with energy like he had seen with other shifters before. He had always assumed Kitsuki had markings on the rest of his body, like a shifter of his rank was supposed to. But Auslin had no way of knowing how extensive they were since he had never seen him undressed before. And for some reason, thinking of the dragon monarch naked brought heat to his cheeks.

But none of that changed the fact that Auslin was looking at an impossible person. He couldn't make sense of it at all.

When he continued silently staring, the shifter propped himself up on his elbow. He asked in a rumbling voice deepened by sleep, "Is it a human custom to awaken with such fear?"

It was not the reaction Auslin had been expecting. "It is when you wake up in bed naked with a stranger!"

"You fear me as a man but not as a dragon? What sense does that make? Humans are such curious creatures."

"You can't be the same dragon as last night," Auslin protested. "Your eyes aren't silver!"

"You do not know much about shifters, do you?" He seemed amused. "You met with my dragon yesterday, who has different-colored eyes than me when he is in control."

Although Auslin was friendly with many shifters from his travels, he had never actually met one in their other form before. He looked down in embarrassment, which made it easier to breathe when he wasn't looking straight into the shifter's sky-blue eyes, which reminded him so much of Kitsuki's.

"Why do you seem no less fearful of me?"

"What's your name?" Auslin needed to know that crucial piece of information that would confirm his worst fears. Had he somehow gone back in time via Fate's Gate and met Kitsuki in the past?

"You do not know who I am?"

The human shook his head.

"I am Prince Kitaro Ariake," he said as if that explained everything.

"Prince Kitaro ?" Had Auslin heard right?

The shifter adopted a playfully arrogant look. "I should feel insulted you do not know who I am."

"I'm sorry."

"Clearly, you are not from around here." Kitaro tucked some hair behind his pointed ear that had fallen when he shifted positions again. "I am the youngest son of the ruler of Valzerna, King Tatsuki Ariake."

Unfortunately, that told Auslin what he dreaded most. Somehow, he had traveled back in time when Fate's Gate had rewritten the course of his life. Auslin knew from Kio that his and Kitsuki's father was the famed ruler, King Tatsuki, who had died over three hundred years ago during a brutal battle with a powerful phoenix when Kio was still a young child. The thought that he had somehow ended up over half a millennium in the past filled him with a rising sense of panic. He did his best to stay in control of his spiraling emotions. How was it possible he was meeting one of Kio's older brothers in the past? And why didn't he know about that brother in the future?

"Based on your reaction, his name obviously means something to you."

"Do you have any other brothers?" Auslin asked in a detached tone, needing to know so he could judge just how far back in time he had gone.

"I have two older half brothers, Mitsuki and Kisano."

Auslin needed to be crystal clear. "And no younger ones?"

"Not until Father sees fit to take on another mistress he impregnates."

That told Auslin he was far enough back in time that maybe Kitsuki and Kio hadn't been born yet. Auslin had to tread carefully if he didn't want to affect the future. He needed to get back to Fate's Gate to return to his time as soon as possible.

"Since you know my name, it is only fair I know what to call you," Kitaro said, bringing Auslin's attention back to the present.

Auslin had a momentary flash of doubt about saying his given name. Just because he had never heard of Kitaro in his time didn't mean he wasn't still around in the present. Kio was shunned by his whole family, so there could have been other half brothers that Auslin had never heard of before. Deciding it would be the safest possibility, Auslin gave his birth name, rather than the one he had taken upon entering the temple. "My name is Vanra."

"Vanra." The name rolled off his tongue in a way that made Auslin shiver. "Tell me, Vanra. Why do you seem to hold so much anxiety for my family when I can clearly smell someone of a relation on you?"

Auslin's eyes went wide. "What do you—what do you mean?"

"Are you unaware that dragon shifters have powerful senses of scent?"

Auslin's heart plummeted as he realized what was being inferred. He had never bathed after Kio had finished his blow job, which meant not only was the half-dragon shifter's scent on his most intimate areas, but it also meant Kitsuki would also have been aware of it when they ran into each other earlier. That realization made Auslin want to die of embarrassment. He blushed profusely.

Kitaro grinned at the reaction. "It seems you understand what I am referring to."

It humiliated him he had subjected Kitsuki and a stranger to such a thing. As he spent so much of his time around humans, it never occurred to him to worry about such things. He probably should since he encountered so many shifters in his travels.

Kitaro flipped his long hair over his shoulder. "It is most strange, though. You clearly smell of a relation to my clan, and yet it is someone I do not recognize."

"Um, they're a really distant relative." Auslin meant that in a greater sense than Kitaro understood. "You wouldn't know him."

"He must be wondering where you are, no?"

The innocent question tugged painfully at Auslin's heart. He doubted Kio would have left Maseo's side to meet him at the festival, even if Auslin had gone. Kio wouldn't know he was missing yet or, worse, wouldn't care. Auslin didn't know which hurt more.

"How far away are we from where we met?" Hopefully, it wasn't as far as he feared.

"About twelve miles."

Auslin's face fell. It would take almost four hours to walk back to the clearing.

Kitaro took pity on him. "I will take you back there if that is where you wish to go."

Relief washed over the human. "Thank you, Prince Kitaro. That would be incredibly helpful if you wouldn't mind."

"Perhaps it will give me the chance to meet this mysterious relative of mine you seem to be so intimately acquainted with."

Rather than saying anything, Auslin self-consciously went to check the status of his clothes he had laid out by the fire the previous night. He was relieved to find they were dry. Wasting no time, Auslin redressed and immediately felt much better for not being so exposed.

Kitaro, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease with his nudity. He ran his fingers through his hair with a yawn before converting back to his shifter's enormous dragon form. It was a relief. The bright silver eyes swirling with magic didn't remind him of Kitsuki or the fact that Auslin was now a step out of time.

Auslin approached Kitaro, who once again crouched lower to allow him to get on top so he could ride. He barely had made himself comfortable before Kitaro took flight, the fire in the cave going out behind them as they left and made their way back to the clearing atop Fate's Gate.