Page 105 of Courting the Dragon King

I just really hope I am wrong now.

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.