Page 101 of Courting the Dragon King

“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.”