Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Where is my husband?
Konrad sat at the head table for Draconia in the banquet hall. They’d practically finished the meal, but Wraith had made no appearance.
Konrad had been waiting for Wraith, gaze on the entrances and on the tables for Necros, expecting him to materialise at any moment. But he did not.
Konrad tapped his fingers on the table. He had things to say to Wraith. He’d not liked how their last interaction had gone.
And he did not like Elias’s rebukes. He wanted to ignore them and cast them off as just random ramblings. But Konrad had a niggling suspicion that at least some of Elias’s accusations had been right.
Konrad knew he despised necromancers. And he knew that affected how he perceived Wraith.
“I think he is lonely. Dreadfully lonely.”
Elias’s words circled in his head as Konrad stared down at his empty plate. Then he turned his gaze to the spot beside him, where Wraith, his consort, should be seated.
Was he avoiding Konrad? Was that why he was skipping dinner?
Sitting across from him, Elias, Gerard, Senta, and Juniper talked and drank wine, having also finished their meals.
Konrad cleared his throat. “Elias, Gerard, when did you last see Wraith?”
“We left him a little before dinner to get ready. We had a lovely chat with him this afternoon. It was most enjoyable. I assumed we’d meet him here.” Elias frowned at the empty seat. “I wonder where he is?”
“I have not spoken much with Wraith.” Senta paused. “I have to admit, I haven’t been keen. What’s he like?”
“Shy and a bit nervous around people. But he is nice when he opens up,” Elias said.
Shy. Nervous. Lonely. Is Wraith really those things?
“I confess, I’ve never been a fan of Necros and their necromancers,” Juniper said.
Elias laughed. “I don’t think many people are.”
“They’ve always terrified me, even though they were our allies during the war. I always avoided them.” Juniper smiled. “But if Wraith is as nice as you say, then I’m curious to get to know him.”
“We’ll have to make sure we all do tea together sometimes,” Elias said. “And honestly, I think he could use some friends.”
Konrad wanted to point out that Wraith was Konrad’s husband, and therefore Konrad should be the one organising gatherings with him and others and helping Wraith make friends. But he couldn’t deny that Elias got along with Wraith. And Konrad didn’t.
Elias had gotten Wraith to smile. Konrad never had.
“And Umbra, his pet hellhound, is lovely. She returned, happy and playful, after Konrad left for whatever business Konrad had to take care of,” Elias said that without looking at Konrad. But Konrad could feel the dig in his brother-in-law’s words.
“You just have to meet Umbra!” Elias said to Senta and Juniper. “She’s amazing and not as scary as she looks.” Then he looked at Gerard. “You liked her, didn’t you?”
Gerard cleared his throat. “Yes. She is actually quite sweet.”
Traitor! Konrad had not expected this from his own brother.
Then Gerard looked at Konrad. “I thought it good to see what she is like, to assess if she was a threat. From what I could see, she is just like any dog. Actually, she reminds me of our old dog. You remember Bones, right?”
“Of course I remember Bones.” Konrad had adored that dog. It had been his dog. He’d been distraught when he died. But Konrad struggled to see how that ghostly apparition had any resemblance to his old mastiff.
“Anyway,” Gerard said, “after interacting with Umbra, I don’t believe her to be a threat to our security.”
Konrad bit his tongue, stopping himself from snapping at his brother.
“She actually does not have the ability to touch the living so would be unable to attack or harm us. Of course, there may be other aspects to her that could be a threat to us. We do not know enough about hellhounds and their capabilities. So I think it best to be cautious and gather further information about her,” Gerard said.
At least his brother hadn’t completely softened.
And Draconian guards had been assigned to Wraith and would have started following him around. So that meant they could inform about not only Wraith but Umbra too.
“So, Konrad, you don’t know where your spouse is? I hope he is okay,” Elias said. “Your actions earlier seemed to upset him quite a lot.”
Konrad could feel everyone’s gaze on him. He gritted his teeth. Guilt gnawed at his stomach.
As the dinner wrapped up, they all stood. But Elias came over to him. Konrad considered making a swift exit. He’d had enough of his brother-in-law’s commentary for one day.
“You know, I spoke to Wraith about the whole fucking ghosts thing. Personally, I thought it sounded very sexy. Not despicable, gross, or vile in the slightest.” Absently, Elias stroked a finger down his own throat. “Honestly, I’m kind of jealous that I never got to experience something like that.”
Konrad scowled, and Elias laughed. Then he sashayed away. Elias really could be an annoying little shit. Unfortunately, it seemed his meddling family weren’t done with him. Gerard came up next.
“What is it? Are you going to tell me you want to fuck a ghost too?” Konrad asked.
“What?” Gerard’s eye widened. “What? Why— What?”
“Ask your husband.”
Gerard glanced after Elias before turning back to Konrad. “I actually wanted to talk to you.” He adjusted his eye patch. “As you know, I do not like the necromancers. I never have. What they did during the war—”
“And most of what you know is from reading reports.” Konrad’s lip curled. “I saw it all first hand.”
“But maybe that’s the problem,” Gerard said slowly. He straightened his shoulders. “I think your experience with necromancers during the war has clouded your judgement. All you see when you look at Wraith is the atrocities and horrors his people committed. It stops you from actually seeing him.”
Konrad opened his mouth to speak, but Gerard held up his hand.
“I’m not saying you should trust him or that we shouldn’t watch him.
We do not know him, and we are not aware of his intentions, so we need to remain constantly vigilant.
Nor am I certain that Umbra does not have other skills that could be a threat to us.
” Gerard paused. “But you could be less cruel to Wraith.”
“I’m not cruel,” Konrad snapped.
Gerard placed his hands on his hips. He raised a brow. “He is scared of you, Konrad. That much is clear.”
“He knows he has nothing to fear from me!” Konrad snapped. “I gave him my word that I would not harm him.”
“You pulled a dagger on his hellhound,” Gerard said dryly.
“That was his hellhound. Not him!”
Gerard stared blankly at him. “When you yelled, he flinched. He cowers from you.” He hesitated. “And I don’t like how you treat him.”
Konrad looked away. Betrayed by my own brother! “I can’t believe you don’t have my back.”
“Don’t do that,” Gerard growled. “Don’t play the victim.
I have your back. I always do. That’s why I’m telling you that your behaviour needs improving.
You’re not a shit or cruel person, Konrad.
So stop acting like one. It’s beneath you, and it’s beneath the king of Draconia. ” His voice was tight and firm.
“You need to treat Wraith, your spouse, your king consort, better,” Gerard said.
They stared at each other. Neither turning away.
Then Gerard said, “And you need to inform Wraith that he is welcome in your room and he can sleep there.”
“Of course he can sleep there! Where else would he sleep? In the corridors?” Konrad scoffed.
Although, he had been considering finding another room for Wraith to sleep. He’d even thought of converting one of the rooms into a bedroom just so Konrad would not have to share a room with him.
Maybe Gerard had a point, as much as Konrad hated to admit it.
Gerard pinched the bridge of his nose. He opened his mouth, but Konrad was done with this conversation, even if his brother might have some legitimate points.
“Excuse me. I need to go find my husband and talk to him,” Konrad said.
He strode towards the exit of the banquet hall, his guards following. He tried to keep the scowl from his face as he walked through the crowd.
Grand Monk Ferdinand stood with Grand Shield Dahlia and Grand Healer Eveline. The grand healer saw him and stepped forward. Konrad wanted to keep walking and just ignore her, but he knew he shouldn’t.
“King Konrad.” She bowed.
Konrad came to a stop. “Grand Healer.” He inclined his head.
She gripped her hands tightly in front of her. “I just wish to say again, how very sorry I am about your father’s death.”
“I have no doubt you did everything you could to save him, Grand Healer,” Konrad said.
Grand Healer Eveline and Healer Doran had been tending to his father after the strange attack. His father had then died mysteriously as the two watched over him.
At first, they’d thought it was poison. But after numerous examinations of the body, they’d determined it must have been an unknown after-effect of the magical attack.
“Still, I am sorry.” She lowered her gaze to the floor. “Very sorry.”
“Thank you, Grand Healer.” Konrad thought she looked like she might have more to say on the topic, but honestly, he did not have the desire to hear more apologies. So he said, “Enjoy the rest of your evening,” and continued on.
Surprisingly, he spotted Warden Jade, the daughter of the now deceased traitor Warden Flint. She often remained hidden in the Grey Mountain quarters, making few appearances. She stood talking with Konrad’s half-brother Leon.
Konrad kept walking. His thoughts whirled as he left the banquet hall and made his way through the monastery.
It wasn’t like he was trying to scare Wraith, and he had given his word that he would not harm him. Yet maybe that was not enough. Maybe his actions needed some adjusting.
But it was a completely reasonable reaction to not want a hellhound around! It was a fucking hellhound! Still … Konrad actually had no idea what a hellhound was or if they were in fact dangerous. He’d made no effort to find out.
Could it really not attack them?
He stopped walking. He placed his hands on his waist, tilted his head back, and stared up at the curved, vaulted ceiling.
Am I being cruel?
Konrad had always trusted Gerard’s judgement in the past. He should probably not discard it now. And Konrad had said some harsh words, especially after finding out Wraith had fucked ghosts.
But wasn’t that reasonable? Who fucked ghosts?
Elias acted like Konrad was the one acting inappropriately. Unfortunately Elias, as annoying as he was being at the moment, might also be on to something.
Konrad didn’t know what to think anymore. He just knew he didn’t like how he felt. And he didn’t like the idea that Wraith cowered from him. Furthermore, Konrad had promised to treat Wraith with respect. Right now, he definitely felt like he wasn’t living up to that promise.
He started walking again. “I’ll talk to him. I’ll be calm. I won’t be cruel.” He took a breath.
He would ask Wraith questions without being judgemental, unless he did see something that was obviously a threat to Draconia, in which case Konrad could not be blamed for protecting his kingdom.
Entering the Draconian quarters, he made his way to his room. No doubt Wraith would be there. But as he approached, he noticed that the guards were not outside the room, where they would have been if Wraith were within. He entered.
The guards bowed and left to stand outside the door. But there was no sign of Wraith anywhere.
Where is my husband?