Chapter 53
Chapter
Fifty-Three
How could I be so easily duped? Gerard clenched his jaw.
He marched down the corridor, passing servants and warrior doves still on duty. He spotted a few dignitaries and nobles. But anytime he thought he might pass one, he took a corner to avoid them. He could not greet or make small talk. Not now. Not when his world had imploded.
He sucked a breath through his gritted teeth. His boots echoed loudly on the floor. He curled his fingers into fists, nails biting into the flesh of his palm.
How could I have been so completely deceived?
Gerard had always been straightforward and honest by nature. But as the dragon warrior, he’d been involved in diplomatic meetings and constant negotiations. He thought he’d developed a sense for when an individual could or could not be trusted.
He’d met dishonest people. Plenty of times!
Sometimes someone was obviously duplicitous and dealing with them left a bitter taste in your mouth or a foul smell in your nostrils.
Other times, it was more subtle. Something just felt slightly off about them.
Or there was an inconsistency in their manner or speech that gave them away.
But Elias was not like that at all.
Elias was like a cool evening breeze after a sweltering summer day.
He smiled, laughed, and sparkled through life.
He brightened every room. The air smelled sweeter after he passed through it.
Gerard’s concerns always lightened in Elias’s presence.
Elias made Gerard believe, made him hope for things he’d long ago given up on.
Like the hope that anyone could ever care for or desire me again.
Gerard exhaled. What had he been thinking? Of course Elias could not desire him! Of course Elias would see him like everyone else saw him. Gerard had been a fool to think otherwise.
Vile. Repulsive. Dragon wretch.
His footsteps slowed. He turned to the window. And for a moment, he took in his face in the glass. Even in the weak reflection, he was a ghastly sight. The eye patch sat over his right eye, surrounded by damaged skin. The remnants of the lightning attack—of Elias’s attack.
The man really was a magnificent actor. He’d fooled Gerard completely. Gerard really had believed him to be a weak lightning sorcerer when Elias could do the things he could …
Gerard lifted a hand, hovering his fingers an inch from the skin of the right side of his face. Gerard had seen Elias’s capabilities first hand. He’d felt them. Felt the convulsing agony of them. And now he’d forever bear the scars of their encounter.
Elias was a lightning archmage. Gerard still had trouble comprehending it.
People had mocked and teased Elias for his weak powers. And Elias had let them. No doubt Elias must have laughed at them behind their backs as he made fools of them.
And he’d made Gerard the biggest fool of them all.
Gerard dropped his hand. Had any of it been true? Had there been a moment where Elias had felt maybe an inkling of affection for Gerard?
He closed his eyes. Unbidden, images flickered before him, Elias striding out to him at the Tournament of Dragons, sucking his cock afterwards in his tent, the wedding, the wedding night. Elias had been so fucking convincing.
Could it really have been just an act? Or was there some truth there too?
Or was Gerard being desperate, looking and hoping that Elias might care for him, when he so clearly didn’t?
He took a step back and began to walk once more.
But why pretend he wasn’t repulsed by Gerard? Why pretend he liked Gerard at all? Why would Elias manipulate Gerard’s feelings like he had? What could Elias achieve by making Gerard fall for him?
Gerard ground his teeth together. Because it was true. He had started to fall for Elias.
Elias had cried when his cover had been blown. But no doubt that was all just some act too.
He quickened his step. How often had Gerard talked about needing to protect Elias, since he could not defend himself?
Had Elias been laughing at him all along whilst thinking of what he’d done to Gerard?
After all, he could clearly take care of himself.
He’d brought Gerard, in his dragon form, down to earth with two lightning strikes.
His feet halted.
Elias could bring down a dragon. He had that capability.
And right now Elias, a lightning archmage, was living amongst Gerard’s family. Furthermore, only Gerard knew Elias’s true identity and capabilities.
Spinning on his heel, he marched back in the direction of the Draconian quarters.
Everyone thought Elias weak. Not a threat at all.
He tried to think. In Voltaria, lightning archmages hid their identities so they wouldn’t be targeted. He’d learnt that in the time since the war had ended. So Elias hiding his identity did not necessarily mean he had been planted to launch an attack or cause harm to the royal family of Draconia.
However, Gerard could not be certain. He broke into a run, wishing he could shift and fly. But these passages were far too narrow. He’d tear it apart. Or end up bringing the structure down upon himself.
What if Elias had been planted? What if he was part of the plot against the peace treaty this whole time?
But what would be his motivation to work against it?
Gerard wanted to laugh, weep, or scream. How should he know what Elias’s fucking motivations were? He knew nothing about his husband!
And Elias’s cover had just been blown. If he had been part of some plot or plan, he might have decided he needed to move quickly and act now. He might have already attacked Gerard’s family!
His legs pumped, breath coming fast. Finally, Gerard reached the doors leading to their Draconian quarters. He halted.
He glanced around. Where were the guards? He looked up and down the passage. There was no one guarding the door! And no one patrolling outside their quarters.
His insides sank. Until that moment, Gerard had not truly believed Elias could betray him. But what other explanation was there? There were no guards in sight.
The warrior doves would not be close. He’d requested them to keep some distance from their quarters, stating that the Draconians guards could take care of defending their rooms.
He reached for his dagger. The sheath hung empty.
Shit! He’d dropped the dagger in his bedroom.
Should he leave and get backup? But what if Elias had already made his move? What if his father had already been attacked? He had no idea which of his family members were in their quarters and could already be dead at Elias’s hands.
His throat clenched at that thought. But he couldn’t dwell on it. There was no time to waste.
Taking a deep breath, he crept forward, listening for any noise. He turned the handle and opened the door.