Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Konrad stared down at his crown. He touched the metal. Today he had done his duty as ruler of Draconia. But there was still more to do.
He had to bed the necromancer prince. Slowly, he turned towards his husband. Konrad froze. Because Wraith looked … terrified.
Wraith’s arms were wrapped tightly around himself. His shoulders remained tensed and hunched. His gaze jerked to the door, as if he was looking for an escape so he could flee. And was he shaking?
Konrad frowned. “What is wrong?”
Wraith’s gaze snapped to his. His arms around himself spasmed. “I … nothing is wrong.” His voice trembled.
“Are you scared?” Konrad took a step forward.
Wraith took a step back.
Konrad froze. “Are you scared of me?”
Wraith was a necromancer. He could raise and control skeletons and corpses. How could he be scared of Konrad?
In his fights against the necromancers, Konrad had seen the most harrowing of sights.
He’d never seen anything so terrifying before or since.
Visions from those battlefields continued to haunt his waking and dreaming nightmares.
There was nothing more frightening than the necromancers and what they were capable of.
And yet here was this necromancer … and he was scared of Konrad.
It made no sense.
“Are you scared of me?” Konrad repeated.
Wraith stared blankly back at him, dark eyes wide with obvious and very clear fear.
“You are scared of me. Why?” Konrad could not keep the incredulity from his voice.
Wraith did not speak for a minute. Konrad waited.
Finally, Wraith whispered, “You are the dragon king. You are renowned for your skill as a warrior. I am bound to you and will live with you and yours in your castle. How I live will be completely dependent on you. And you hate me. Your people hate me.”
Wraith lowered his head. “Of course I am scared of you. My life, my future, is in your hands.”
Konrad stared at Wraith, unable to speak. He had never considered that a necromancer might be capable of fear. They seemed … too inhuman for such base and honest emotions.
Konrad dropped his gaze to the floor, trying to collect himself and process this new information. He didn’t speak as he tried to order his thoughts.
“You are a necromancer, and I will admit that I am not fond of necromancers. I saw what was done in the war by your kind. The—” He cut himself off as his anger rose swiftly as images flickered in his mind’s eye.
Konrad took a breath. “I hold no affection for the necromancers. That is true. Honestly, I fought against marrying one. But I will do my duty.”
He met Wraith’s gaze. “We have been enemies, Draconia and Necros. Now we are trying to find peace. As a result, we have both entered into this marriage.” He paused.
“I have put my own personal feelings aside in order to do right by my kingdom and to help it achieve peace.” Konrad hesitated.
“I understand that you will have done the same.
“But I pledge to you, I give you my word, that you have nothing to fear from me. You are my husband, the king consort of Draconia.” The words tasted bitter on his tongue. “I will treat you with the respect that the title deserves, and I will ensure others in my kingdom do the same.”
He could promise that, at least. Konrad could not like Wraith, or any necromancer, but he could ensure that Wraith was respected and remained unharmed and disabused within his kingdom.
Wraith remained still for several heartbeats. Then he said, “Thank you.”
Konrad walked to a side table and poured two goblets of wine, uncertain how to proceed. They were meant to have sex. Until they did that, the marriage contract would not be completed. But Konrad had never taken a lover he did not like.
He turned back to Wraith, who had not moved. Konrad held out one of the goblets. After a second’s hesitation, Wraith stepped forward and took it. Konrad gestured to the sitting area. They sat. Konrad sipped his wine. Wraith stared into his but did not drink.
It seemed Wraith rarely ate or drank. Maybe the blood of the dead sustained him. Perhaps he had taken energy from that dead woman in the village. Konrad thought of stone altars and the Draconian soldier sacrifices.
Suddenly, he wanted to ask about those sacrifices. Why had the necromancers done that to them? And for what purpose? But if he started down that path, he’d end up shouting and cursing all the necromancers for what they had done. And he needed to stay calm. He needed to not frighten Wraith.
“I hope, despite our differences, we can have an amicable and respectful marriage,” Konrad said. “And as I have given you my word to not harm you, I ask you to promise that you will not attempt to harm me or any Draconians.”
“I promise,” Wraith said without any hesitation.
Which surprised Konrad.
Of course, he would never trust the word of a necromancer. But he felt obtaining that promise was still somewhat important. Konrad took another sip of the wine. At least they only had to have sex the one time to seal the marriage contract.
He leaned forward in his chair, trying to think of how to approach this. Perhaps direct and brutal honesty would have to do.
“This is clearly a less-than-ideal situation,” Konrad said. “We do not know each other and have until recently been literal enemies. But I am hoping that we can both act like ambassadors of our kingdoms and get through the sexual act we must perform tonight and thus complete the marriage.”
Wraith gave a jerky nod of his head.
Konrad cleared his throat and placed his wine glass down on the table. He rose and then gestured towards the bed. “Shall we?” By all the dragon gods, sex has never been this awkward before.
They just needed to get this over with. Then Wraith could return to his room, and Konrad would not have to deal with him again until they departed for Draconia.
Wraith placed down his wine and stood. After a second, Konrad walked towards the bed and stopped. He removed his boots. As Konrad began to disrobe, he wanted to curse everyone who had been a part of the decision to include consummating the marriage as part of the contract.
Why did it need to be a part of it? Surely all the other terms of the marriage contract would be enough. Perhaps it was needed for the binding magic to work. Konrad folded his tunic and placed it on the ottoman at the base of the bed. He glanced back.
Wraith remained where he’d initially stood, but he had removed the pins shaped like bones from his hair and placed them beside the wine goblets.
His long black hair hung around his shoulders and down his back.
He removed his long cape with the feathers and hung it over the chair. Next, he took off his boots.
He reached behind himself and began to undo the buttons that ran down the back of the translucent top he wore, but his hands struggled to reach.
“Let me help with that,” Konrad said, before he could second-guess himself. He came up behind Wraith.
Wraith glanced at him. After a second, he gathered his hair in his hands, pulling it over his shoulder so Konrad could access the back of his top.
Konrad pushed the black velvet buttons through their slots, one by one. The smell of incense and the sweet scent of lilies filled his nostrils. When he’d undone the last button, he took a step back. Wraith removed his top, revealing his slender back. Wraith placed the garment with his cape.
Konrad had to hold himself back from reaching out and caressing Wraith’s soft skin. Because whilst he knew he disliked Wraith and did not wish to bed him, his body had no such reservations.
Already Konrad’s skin flushed with heat. His gut tightened. His cock began to fill.
For a second, Konrad considered turning away, but this was what they were meant to do. So why was he fighting it?
Perhaps because Wraith is terrified of me.
Konrad may not like his husband, but it did not sit well that he might be afraid of Konrad. Especially on their wedding night.
Konrad’s fingers flexed. “May I touch you?”
Wraith turned to face him. He swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “You may.”
Konrad lifted a hand. He touched the side of Wraith’s elegant swan-like throat. Wraith’s pulse beat rapidly beneath his fingers. He stroked the side of Wraith’s neck.
Wraith sucked in a breath. Konrad slid his hand to Wraith’s collarbone, caressing the pale skin. Wraith’s eyelids flickered shut, lips parting. Konrad’s throat dried.
He’s so responsive.
And he did not seem scared of Konrad anymore. Which was good, because Konrad did not wish to fuck someone scared of him. He stepped closer. He slid his hand around the back of Wraith’s neck.
Gazing down at Wraith, Konrad was once again struck with how incredibly beautiful Wraith was. Perhaps the most beautiful man Konrad had ever seen.
And suddenly, Konrad found himself looking forward to the night ahead. He knew this would not be an affectionate or even a tolerable marriage. But they could enjoy tonight at least.
Konrad lowered his head and pressed his lips to Wraith’s. The kiss was chaste, soft lips simply pressing together. Konrad held still. With his fingers on the back of Wraith’s neck, he massaged gently.
After a moment, Wraith’s muscles relaxed and his mouth opened. Konrad moved his lips against Wraith’s. Konrad slid his free hand down Wraith’s lithe torso, then curled it around his back. He pressed his palm against Wraith’s lower back, holding him in place.
Wraith’s hands found their way to Konrad’s bare shoulders. His fingers dug in as they kissed.
Konrad did not want to think any more about treaties or the fact that he’d married a necromancer. Tonight, it was just the two of them. He wanted to lose himself in the movements and feel of their bodies.
He slid his hands to Wraith’s waist. He lifted him. A startled noise escaped Wraith, which was swallowed by the kiss.
Wraith wrapped his legs around Konrad’s waist, and Konrad carried him towards the bed.