50. Auslin

Chapter 50

Auslin

R eturning to the banquet hall, Auslin ran into the person he least wanted to see. Nasume stood in his way with a challenging glare.

Auslin may have hated Nasume with every fiber of his being, but the shifter was still royalty. Auslin bowed to him respectfully, even though it made his soul rage at having to acknowledge the wolf shifter. "Good evening, Prince Nasume." Auslin hated calling him by his first name. He didn't want the royal to think they were on friendly terms.

"Well, you earn at least one point for being so polite." Nasume closed the distance between them. He curled his fingers under Auslin's chin to tilt it upward to force their gazes to meet. His amber eyes were cold and calculating. "I must admit, you are not entirely unattractive for a human. But I will not lose to the likes of you . "

As much as Auslin wanted to fight back, he held his tongue. "If you will excuse me, I must return to the banquet."

Nasume stood in Auslin's way when he tried to leave. "Know this, human. You may think that you are special to Kitaro, but I can assure you there is no place for you in his life."

He tried not to let Nasume's words get to him. "I believe I will defer to Kitaro's judgment on that matter." Auslin trusted in Kitaro's feelings for him and used that as a shield for his heart.

"What can you offer him?" Nasume insultingly questioned. "You are nothing compared to me."

When that failed to get a reaction out of Auslin, Nasume slammed the human up against the wall to pin him in place. "Do you truly think yourself so special?" Nasume sneered as he loomed over Auslin. "Do you believe you are the only one who knows how he tastes?"

Auslin wouldn't give Nasume the satisfaction of seeing him crack. He passively stared up at the wolf shifter. It was odd. That close, he swore he could almost see a resemblance to Maseo, but the half-wolf shifter Auslin knew in his time had never been so hateful and cruel. All he could see were Maseo's sad green eyes as Kio betrayed him again. It never failed to break Auslin's heart to see Maseo experiencing the same pain as himself.

"Kitaro was mine before you came into the picture, and I will be here long after you're gone." When Auslin tried to free himself, Nasume slammed him even harder against the wall. "I will not lose him, let alone to a filthy human. "

"You say that, but I believe Kitaro has already decided who he prefers." Auslin was riled up enough to add, "And it's not you."

"Then perhaps I should find out what it is about you he finds so appealing." Nasume's dark amusement did not bode well for Auslin.

When the shifter leaned in to kiss him, Auslin turned his head to refuse it. His eyes went wide as Kizoshi approached them.

"My, my, Prince Nasume. It appears you have drunkenly stumbled into the family wing again ," Kizoshi said with a disapproving tut. "You really must stop making this a habit."

He growled at her, but she didn't even blink. "This does not involve you, Kizoshi. For once in your damn life, stay out of it."

"Oh, my! And forgetting your manners as well," Kizoshi admonished him. "What would Kitaro think?"

The interruption allowed Auslin to slip free. His stomach churned with anger and disgust that Nasume had almost kissed him. Forget the banquet. He just wanted to get as far away from the wolf shifter as possible.

Nasume scowled when his prey escaped. "Leave us at once. This is none of your concern, woman. "

"To the contrary. It is very much my concern." Kizoshi narrowed her eyes at Nasume in silent warning. "You would do well to remember that."

"Threats are unnecessary. I was merely introducing myself to Vanra."

"That is Lord Vanra to you," Kizoshi corrected him. "Or in your drunken stupor, have you forgotten that he is a member of our clan?"

"A human has no place in your clan," Nasume snapped.

Kizoshi's smile conveyed an unspoken threat. "You are mistaken. Vanra actually holds an important position. And you know firsthand what lengths I would go to for the beloved members of my family. You, on the other hand, are inconsequential."

"Your father doesn't think so," Nasume shot back. " He values our family's alliance."

"Which has nothing to do with you and everything to do with your father. It is merely a courtesy that is extended to you by proxy."

Nasume drew himself up to his full height to menace Kizoshi. "Remember who you are speaking to."

His posturing had no effect on her. She politely covered her mouth as she laughed. "You are quite fortunate that I am in a charitable mood this evening. Normally, I would not be so willing to waste my time talking to a drunken pup who has lost his way."

"I will not stand here and be disrespected! "

Kizoshi held up her hand to summon a servant as if from the air. "Then it is for the best that you return to your room and sleep off this hangover. Take him to his room."

The servant bowed low in acknowledgment. "If you would please follow me, Prince Nasume."

"I am not finished with you," Nasume warned Auslin with a threatening glare.

"You are if you know what is good for you," Kizoshi told the irate wolf shifter. "Then again, you never have known when to quit. Take him away."

"One day, you will not be here to interfere," Nasume growled.

"It is cute that you think you can ever outsmart me." Kizoshi's mocking laugh made Nasume bristle. "It must be so difficult going through life with only half a brain. I would pity you if you were a better person." She shooed him away.

Nasume left with a final snarl.

Once he was gone, Auslin bowed deeply to his savior. "I truly appreciate you coming to my aid, Princess Kizoshi." He figured it was safer to use the honorific since manners seemed important to her based on her interaction with Nasume.

"Any excuse to ruin Nasume's night is fine with me." She laughed as she gestured for Auslin to follow her. "You may simply call me Kizoshi. We are clan, after all."

He bowed his head in acknowledgment as he fell into step with her. "I'm still grateful to you for intervening when you did."

"I will never allow Nasume to do as he wishes."

"Wait, isn't the banquet that way?" Auslin asked when they turned off earlier than expected.

"It is, but we are not going there. You and I have much to discuss."

"We do?" What could Kizoshi possibly want to talk about with him?