Chapter 52
Chapter
Fifty-Two
“We’ll be leaving today, Umbra. We’re moving to the Castle of the Dragons.” Wraith brushed his hair. “As soon as this treaty is completed, we’ll be off.”
Umbra rolled around in a beam of sunlight, not listening.
Wraith yawned. He’d had a long night and felt deliciously sore. He could have stayed in bed longer, but when he’d woken to an empty bed, he figured he should rise and make himself available, just in case he was needed for something.
The door opened. Konrad came in. Immediately, butterflies took flight in Wraith’s stomach. Strangely, Konrad left the door open as he came into the room. He also didn’t look at Wraith.
“I wondered where you had gone.” Wraith put down his hairbrush. “I assumed you were in a meeting or doing something important for the treaty.” He smiled.
But Konrad did not smile back. In fact, he still did not look at Wraith.
The smile fell from Wraith’s lips. “Is something the matter?”
Had Wraith done something wrong the previous night? He’d been under the influence of the aphrodisiac. Had he done or said something that had displeased Konrad?
Konrad went to a table and picked up the locket he’d received on their wedding day. Konrad had not worn his yet. Wraith had seen the locket in that spot the entire time they’d been married. What did it mean that Konrad was picking it up now?
Wraith had assumed that Konrad would never wear the locket, since it came from necromancers, and Wraith now knew how Konrad felt about them.
Is he considering wearing it now? Perhaps he was willing to put aside his dislike of necromancers to show that he was married to Wraith.
Wraith leaned forward. “Are you thinking of wearing it?”
But Konrad didn’t answer. “Where is yours?” He placed the locket back on the table and looked at Wraith.
“Oh.” Wraith glanced at the vanity. He touched his sternum, where it would normally hang. “I wore it last night.” He paused. “But I can’t remember taking it off.” He looked around. Then he opened the vanity drawers. He could see it nowhere.
Konrad stepped up beside him. He opened his hand. The locket lay on his palm. Wraith glanced at the table. Konrad’s locket was still there.
“Oh. Is that mine?” Wraith plucked his locket from Konrad’s palm. He undid the clasp and then put it on. “Thank you. Where did you find it?”
Konrad stared down at him, his green eyes studying Wraith’s face. “You’re very good,” he murmured. “Really, you’re quite amazing.” It sounded like a compliment. But it didn’t feel like one.
Wraith hesitated. “Konrad, what’s wrong?”
Konrad walked to the window. He stared out. Umbra ran over to him. But Konrad didn’t glance down at her.
Wraith stood, clasping his hands together. “What’s wrong?”
Konrad kept staring out the window.
Wraith took a step towards him. “Konrad. Please. You’re scaring me.”
“Am I?” Konrad laughed, a harsh, pained sound that chilled Wraith’s blood. He looked again at Wraith, studying him once more. “You’re an excellent actor. I’ll give you that. You definitely had me deceived.”
“What do you mean?”
Konrad sneered. Wraith stepped back. He knocked into the chair behind him. He stumbled. But Konrad’s expression didn’t soften.
“Was any of it true?” Konrad took a step towards him.
Wraith took another step back.
“I had to admit it was clever, pretending to be some sad outcast who all the necromancers and even his own family disliked. It really made me think you weren’t like the others and that you were above all the evil shit your kind do.”
“I don’t understand,” Wraith whispered.
“Sure you don’t, Wraith.” Konrad’s eyes narrowed. “You can drop the act now. I know the truth. Now tell me, was the whole being strange and odd an act to dupe us into thinking you were not a real threat? Or are you really that weird?”
Wraith reeled. “I’ve never tried to dupe anyone.” Although he knew many saw him as odd, strange, and weird, he’d not known Konrad had too.
“And then you just kept talking about how you were just an innocent reaper. You never did anything vile during the war.” He glared at Wraith. “But I know you made those fucking monstrous dread knights,” he spat.
Umbra ran to stand between them. She stared at Konrad, ears flat. A low growl escaped her. Konrad ignored her.
Wraith opened his mouth. But he had no idea what to say. None of this made any sense. He had made the dread knights. But he’d never denied he’d done so. Why was Konrad turning on him like this? “I … I … I … ”
“What? Can’t think of a new lie off the top of your head? Come now, Wraith, you’re cleverer than that. Stop playing the fucking fool!”
Wraith’s eyes stung. “Why are you doing this? Why are you saying these awful things?”
“I can’t believe you are still pretending. Just stop! I know what you are. A monstrous fucking necromancer.” Konrad’s voice echoed in the room.
And in Konrad’s eyes, Wraith could see the hatred that Wraith had seen at the very start of their relationship. But now Konrad wasn’t holding back.
Wraith didn’t know why Konrad hated him again. Or how to change it. But the way Konrad looked at him made him want to shrivel up on the floor and scream.
“Are you really illegitimate or was that just another lie to earn you sympathy?” Konrad barked.
Tears spilled down Wraith’s cheeks. He shook his head. “What are you talking about?”
Konrad scoffed. “Bravo, Wraith! What a brilliant performance!”
Wraith flinched.
“You really are committed to this act,” Konrad said. “But I know it’s all a lie!”
Wraith hunched his shoulders. “Why would you think I’m lying?”
“Maybe because we received information telling us that you have been working with the other necromancers, plotting with them to attack us.” Konrad lifted his chin. “Plotting with them to kill me and bring me back as an undead creature. Perhaps a bone dragon!”
Wraith couldn’t move. It felt like the floor had disappeared from beneath his feet. He was falling, spiralling through the air. And there was no one to catch or save him.
“I would never.” Then Wraith realised that six of the guards had entered the room, including his own two personal guards, Karl and Lina. They stood by the door, hard and unflinching gazes fixed on Wraith. Their hands rested on the hilts of their swords.
Weren’t my guards meant to protect me?
Maybe Karl and Lina were assigned to me so they could protect others from me.
Wraith dropped his gaze. Had Konrad ever trusted him? Or had he always seen Wraith as a threat?
“Did you ever even see my dead father? Or was that more lies?” Konrad spat.
“No. I never lied!” Wraith shook his head.
This was not the man who’d spent the night with him; this was not the man who’d danced with him and promised to share his family with Wraith. This was the man who hated necromancers and who suddenly remembered Wraith was one.
“I didn’t lie,” Wraith said. “And I didn’t betray you. I would never want to harm you or hurt you.”
Konrad sneered and turned away. Wraith wanted to throw himself on the floor and weep. Umbra barked at Konrad.
“So you didn’t want me murdered and brought back?” Konrad asked.
Wraith shook his head. “No. Never!”
Umbra barked louder.
“We know you’ve been meeting with others from Necros.” Konrad lifted a hand and gestured to the guards. They stepped forward.
“No. Konrad, I didn’t do anything wrong.” Wraith ran to Konrad, clutching at his coat, tugging on the fabric. “You have to believe me. Please, Konrad!”
Konrad stared at him, expression icy. Two of the guards grabbed Wraith, fingers digging into his arms. Konrad didn’t move as the guards yanked Wraith away.
“Konrad! Please!” Wraith yelled. “You promised to protect and look after me! You promised!”
Konrad stared blankly at him as Wraith struggled to break free from the guards’ hold.
Umbra barked wildly. “I will stop them! I will fight for you! I will save you!”
The guards dragged Wraith into the corridor, where Gerard stood.
“Gerard, I didn’t do anything!” Wraith cried out. “Please. You have to believe me!”
Then Wraith spotted Elias behind Gerard. He frowned. But Wraith noticed that Elias held his hands out to his sides, fingers tensed, as if ready to unleash lightning on Wraith.
“Elias! Please!” Wraith screamed as the tears fell. “I’m your friend. I never plotted to harm anyone! I promise.”
Elias took a step forward. He opened his mouth, but Gerard spoke first, “We just need to ask you some questions, Wraith.”
“About what?” But Wraith knew.
Konrad had told him. They thought him a deceitful necromancer who would betray and attack them. They believed he wanted to kill and bring back Konrad as one of the undead. He didn’t know why they thought that. But whatever they’d learnt, it was enough for all of them to turn on him.
Wraith glanced back into the bedroom. Konrad stood by the window, staring out. He wasn’t even watching. Wraith sagged between the guards, the fight going out of him.
It seemed his new family disliked him even more than his old one.
The guards began to pull him down the corridor.
“I didn’t do it,” Wraith whispered. “I didn’t do anything.” A sob escaped him.
“We will get to the bottom of everything, Wraith. We just need you to answer questions. Okay,” Gerard said, voice soft but firm.
“And you needed all these guards for that?” Wraith asked.
Because not only had six guards entered the room, but many more stood in the corridor, hands on swords, ready to slay Wraith if he proved a threat. Which was laughable. Wraith lacked the skills to be an actual threat.
He was helpless. Completely and utterly helpless in his enemies’ den.
“We need to take precautions,” Gerard said. “But I promise that you will not be mistreated or harmed. We do not know anything for certain yet. As I said, we just need to ask you some questions. So remain calm and we’ll soon work everything out.”
But Wraith could not believe that they did not think him guilty.
Otherwise, why would they treat him like this?
Perhaps Wraith’s new home would be the dungeon in the Castle of the Dragons.
There was nothing in the marriage contract that forbade Konrad from keeping him prisoner for the rest of his life.
And this will be my fresh start.
Umbra barked. “I will not let them hurt you!” The scent of incense and smoke increased in the air.
“Can you get her under control?” Gerard asked. “Please.”
Umbra bounded around the guards. They stood firm, but they watched her warily.
“Umbra. You should stop.” Although, Wraith was uncertain why he would help those trying to imprison and question him.
But Umbra ignored Wraith and barked even louder. “Unhand him! Leave him alone or I will attack you all!”
“Umbra,” Wraith repeated, without much strength. “You should go.” He should make it an order, but right now she was the only one on his side, and he didn’t want to send her away. After all, it wasn’t like they could actually hurt her.
“Umbra, it’s okay.” Still, he did not want Umbra to be a part of this. Seeing Wraith like this was clearly distressing for her.
“It is not okay,” Umbra said. “I will save you! I will fight for you! I will kill them all.”
He was about to order her to leave. Then Umbra seemed to swell. She grew to double her size. Then three times. Then four. Thick fog rolled out, as if emerging from her body. The guards coughed as the scent of incense and smoke clogged the air.
“What the fuck?” One of the guards holding Wraith stepped back. The guards’ grips on Wraith loosened.
Gerard turned towards Umbra. He pulled out his dagger.
“No!” Wraith cried out.
Then Umbra lunged at Gerard. Gerard swung. The blade passed straight through Umbra’s form. She opened her mouth wide. She bit Gerard’s arm.
Gerard yelled as her shadowy teeth pierced fabric and skin. Blood dripped.
Wraith’s mouth fell open. He’d not known Umbra could do that.
Then the Bone Door appeared. But Wraith had not summoned it. It swung open, leading into the beyond. Shadow and fog swirled.
“Run!” Umbra yelled. “Run now!”