Chapter 47
Chapter
Forty-Seven
Gerard broke into a run. Warrior doves ahead of him did the same.
“You’re a traitor and deserve to be executed!” a deep voice shouted.
Three nobles stood together in the middle of the corridor. Straight away, he recognised Warden Jade Obsidian of the Grey Mountains.
Her cheeks burned bright red. Her hands clenched into fists by her sides. She bared her teeth. “You don’t know a fucking thing!”
“I know you were in on it with your father. I know you were plotting with him,” Lord Cedar from Botanial yelled at Warden Jade. Gerard had met the older man only briefly. He’d been very composed then. Now his face burned so red it looked like he might explode.
“I saw how often you worked together. You were always doing his bidding!” Lord Cedar sneered. “You wanted to rule one day! Just admit it!”
“That’s why you and your father wanted to murder the grand warden and Warden Onyx!” the other noble, Lord Cedar’s older son, yelled.
“You are fools! You are all fucking fools!” Warden Jade’s shaky voice echoed down the corridors. And for a second, Gerard thought she might cry. She took a step towards them.
But the warrior doves stepped in between the nobles.
“That’s enough!” a warrior monk shouted.
The two lords turned, led away by the warrior monks.
Another warrior monk stood by Warden Jade. But she stayed where she stood, hands still balled into fists, body shaking.
Gerard approached her. “Warden Jade.”
She rounded on him.
Gerard lifted his hands in a conciliatory motion. “I am not going to accuse you of anything. But come. Best to return to your quarters. I’ll escort you.”
For several seconds she glared up at him. Then she gave a sharp nod. The warrior dove watched them depart.
They walked in the direction of the Grey Mountain quarters. He was glad she did not object to him escorting her. After all, she did not need him to come with her.
But this gave him an opportunity to study her. He’d never really spoken to her properly before. And she was someone he was having closely watched.
“Are you all right?” Gerard asked.
“I am fine.”
Honestly, Gerard didn’t think she’d plotted with Warden Flint. But she had been the closest person to him. It would be negligent of Gerard to not keep an eye on her until he was completely certain she’d not been plotting with her father.
Her hands clenched and unclenched as she walked. Her jaw ticked. The red flush stained her cheeks and throat.
But what was her anger for? For being accused of something she’d not done? Or for her and Warden Flint’s plan having failed? As they walked, they passed other nobles and dignitaries. Many watched Warden Jade. Some whispered.
Her shoulders tensed. But she kept her head high.
Gerard’s lungs constricted. He knew what it was like to have whispers following you. To have people looking at you, judging you. To feel like you could never go anywhere without everyone dissecting you.
Then he frowned. Because in the past few weeks, there’d been less whispers and looks coming his way.
Why?
Is it because of Elias?
Every day Elias walked beside him, looking at him, touching him, kissing him, and holding his hand in public. He stood beside Gerard, not ashamed to be married to him. He even regularly showed how attracted he was to Gerard.
And he acted like there was nothing disdainful about Gerard’s appearance. Did that influence how others regarded Gerard?
They neared the quarters provided for the royal family of the Grey Mountains.
Gerard stopped and faced Warden Jade. “Can I ask you something?”
Warden Jade crossed her arms. “Depends on what you are asking.”
“I know you did not work with your father,” Gerard said, which was mostly true.
He didn’t think she’d plotted with Warden Flint.
But he was still not willing to rule her out completely.
“But can you think of anyone he might have been working with? Was there anyone in particular he was corresponding with?”
She threw her hands into the air. “He corresponded with lots of people! He’d taken over running the kingdom!” Her voice rose swiftly. “Every day he’d receive a pile of correspondence! How was I meant to know who he was plotting with?”
“I’m sorry, Warden Jade. I did not mean to offend.”
“Why can’t everyone just leave me alone? Why can’t people stop accusing me?” Her voice broke. She glared down the corridor, back the way they’d come. “Everyone here just won’t leave me be. Everyone is always hounding me. Always accusing me of things I didn’t do!”
Her eyes glistened. “I hate it. I hate them. I hate everyone here! I just want everyone to leave me alone.” Then she strode away.
Gerard did not follow her.
He pressed his lips together. He probably could have handled that better. It was clear she struggled with the current pressure and the scrutiny she faced. He didn’t blame her.
Gerard turned and walked in the direction of his quarters.
Shadow Prince Wraith strolled towards him down the corridor. His limbs moved fluidly. He wore a black headpiece with black metal shards that pointed outwards. Long black robes swished over the floor. His footsteps made no sound.
What is he doing here?
The necromancers’ quarters were not close by. And unlike individuals from the other kingdoms, those from Necros did not tend to leave their quarters often. In fact, he rarely saw anyone from Necros outside of the official events.
Gerard stopped. He inclined his head. “Good evening, Shadow Prince Wraith.”
But Shadow Prince Wraith just kept walking. He didn’t pause, slow down, look, or acknowledge Gerard in any way. He just kept floating down the corridor.
Gerard stared after him, mouth ajar. Well that was fucking rude!
Perhaps Shadow Prince Wraith was ignoring Gerard to prove some point. Maybe it was a dig at Konrad, since he’d been so against marrying the shadow prince. Or perhaps Shadow Prince Wraith thought himself too good to stop and speak for half a second to Gerard.
Gerard had no idea. His lip curled. Whatever his reason, it was bloody offensive.
He started to turn. He gasped and jumped.
A hellhound, whose form appeared to be half-smoke, half-solid brushed past Gerard. The creature followed the shadow prince. It moved just as silently as its owner. The hellhound turned towards Gerard. Empty eyes gazed straight into him.
Gerard shivered and stepped back.
Once they’d turned a corner, Gerard let out a breath, his muscles unwinding.
“I’m glad I married Elias instead of him,” Gerard muttered.
Soon, Shadow Prince Wraith’s betrothal to Konrad would be announced, now that all the other seven weddings had been completed. Prince Beau and Albert’s nuptials had taken place a couple of days before, and they were the last couple before Konrad and Shadow Prince Wraith to be married.
Letting out a breath, Gerard continued down the corridor. He took long strides, eager to be with Elias.
Fire and fucking flames! His jaw clenched.
Because the newly married couple, Prince Beau and Gerard’s cousin Albert, headed straight in his direction.