Chapter 50
Chapter
Fifty
As Konrad climbed from the bed the following morning, Wraith did not so much as stir.
Which was unsurprising considering what they’d gotten up to the previous night. They’d gotten back to their room after the ball, and by that time, Wraith was ready to go again. And then again. And then once more.
Then Wraith had passed out. Now he slept like the dead.
Luckily, the treaty was planned to be finalised that evening, and there really wasn’t that much for them to do until then. It was the monks who were busy preparing.
Despite that, Konrad could not laze around in bed with his husband, even though he wanted to.
He needed to be primed for anything that would happen that day. And he needed to be ready for their immediate departure after they finalised the treaty. They’d fly out tonight. They’d already started sending their luggage ahead of them in carriages. Konrad couldn’t wait to be home.
Nor could he wait to show Wraith the Castle of the Dragons. It would be his husband’s new home. They would live there together and build a life. Trying not to wake Wraith, Konrad dressed as quietly as he could manage.
A few minutes later, he looked over himself in the mirror, attaching the emerald-and-gold dragon pendant to his leather coat. He walked over to the bed.
Wraith lay on his front. He breathed heavily. A small trail of drool fell from his open mouth onto the pillow. Konrad leaned down and kissed his forehead. Breathing heavily, Wraith slept on. Konrad walked to the door and left.
Numerous guards stood on duty outside. Konrad strode down the corridor, and his guards followed. He sighed. He’d never had this many before. And even when they returned to Draconia, as king, he would be required to always have numerous personal guards.
He found Gerard and Elias in the small dining room.
“Good morning,” Konrad said as he entered.
“Morning.” Elias sipped tea. Only crumbs remained on his plate.
Gerard inclined his head as he placed more fried fish and tomatoes before him.
“How did you sleep?” Konrad took a seat. He served himself roast potatoes, sausages, and toasted bread.
Gerard scoffed. “I’ll sleep once this treaty is finalised and we are back in Draconia.”
Elias patted his hand. Then he looked at Konrad. “Is Wraith not up yet? I want to ask him if I can borrow his books on necromancy.”
“He’s still sleeping.” Then he turned to one of the servants. “Can you bring a breakfast tray to our room for the king consort in about an hour?” Konrad didn’t know when Wraith would wake, but he wanted to make sure he had some breakfast. No doubt he’d forget if left to his own devices.
“Of course, Your Majesty.” The servant bowed.
Elias raised a brow. “Wraith is sleeping late and needs sustenance.” He dabbed his lips with a napkin before setting it down. “Did you wear him out last night, King Konrad?”
Konrad’s cheeks heated. “I’m just making sure he eats.”
“Ah. That makes sense. Of course there is no other reason.” Elias sipped his tea, still smirking. “So you didn’t use the ointment I gave to Wraith last night?”
“What ointment?” Gerard asked.
Elias set his teacup down onto the saucer with a clink. He motioned to the servant, who then refilled it. “Well, I gave Wraith some ointment at the ball last night, in case the opportunity arose to have some fun.” He sipped from his refilled teacup.
“And I just happened to notice that you and Wraith came back quite late to our quarters last night. So curious minds wish to know what you got up to.” Elias’s bright violet eyes gleamed.
“I don’t think that is any of your business,” Konrad said, keeping his voice level. “But thank you for the suggestion. And the ointment. It definitely came in handy.”
Elias laughed.
Gerard shook his head and chuckled. “It seems you and Wraith are getting along very well.”
“We are. I have to confess, I am happier than I ever thought I could be married to a necromancer.” Konrad paused. “In fact, I am happier than I ever thought I could be in an arranged marriage.” He cut his sausage and popped it into his mouth.
“That’s good, Konrad,” Gerard said. “I’m pleased for you.”
“I like him, and I am glad he will be joining us at the Castle of the Dragons,” Elias said. “He’ll be a great addition!”
“Are you sure you’re not just using him for his necromantic knowledge and books?” Gerard smiled at his husband.
Elias laughed. “Well, that is definitely a bonus. But I really do like Wraith!”
“I’m actually surprised by you, Konrad. You got past your prejudices very fast.” Gerard leaned back in his chair. “Not that long ago, you couldn’t stop going on and on about the vileness of all necromancers. And now here you are, happily married to one.”
“I’m as surprised as you. But Wraith has a lot of good qualities. He’s different from other necromancers,” Konrad said. “And I think it helped when I learned that he hadn’t really been involved in the war and all the necromantic horrors that I had witnessed first hand.”
“What do you mean?” Gerard asked.
“Wraith is a reaper. So he assists souls to cross over once they die,” Konrad explained. “He didn’t do much during the war.”
Elias frowned. “Konrad, Wraith was involved in the war. He wasn’t on the battlefield, but he definitely was involved.”
Konrad shook his head. “No. I don’t think so.”
Elias hesitated. “Last night he told me that he created dread knights for the war. He explained the whole process. It sounded all rather unpleasant and, honestly, quite gruesome. But he said his skills as a psychopomp were helpful in creating them.”
Konrad’s body went cold. “I— I didn’t know that.”
The dread knights’ faces flittered through his mind. He remembered the gaunt yellow faces. The black and missing teeth. The smell of rotting flesh. That laughter like rattling bones. “Did Wraith really create them?”
Elias nodded.
How did I not know? Had Wraith lied or misled him? Or had Konrad misunderstood or made false assumptions?
He put down his cutlery. He stared at his plate of food, but his appetite had dried up.
What else do I not know about Wraith? What else is he hiding?
He shook his head. No. Wraith didn’t sound like he’d been hiding it. After all, he’d told Elias. So Konrad must had just misunderstood. Or assumed. There had been some sort of miscommunication, and it wasn’t necessarily intentional and Wraith’s fault.
Still, that didn’t fix the actual issue. Wraith had created those wretched dread knights.
“Wraith was doing his duty,” Elias said, calm and measured, as if reading Konrad’s mind. “Like we all did during the war.”
Konrad raised his gaze. Elias and Gerard watched him warily.
“You’re right.” Konrad took a breath. “I will talk to him about it. Calmly.”
He would not jump to conclusions or see the worst in Wraith. Not again. But he really hoped Elias was wrong. He didn’t want to think of Wraith having anything to do with those dread knights.
The idea of eating breakfast no longer had any appeal. He wanted to talk to Wraith. Now. But Wraith still slept.
Martin the servant appeared in the doorway. He bowed. “Your Majesty. Your Highnesses.” Then his gaze fixed on Konrad. “Monk Clara is here and wishes to speak to you. She says it is urgent.”
“Really?” Konrad shared a glance with Gerard. Despite being cousins, they’d spent very little time with each other in recent years.
Martin nodded. “And I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but she seems quite distressed.”
“Show her in immediately,” Konrad said.