Page 108 of Courting the Dragon King

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!”

Chapter

Fifty-Three

Wraith gaped.

Umbra released Gerard. He cried out, clutching at his bleeding arm.

Meanwhile, the corridor filled with more of the fog. It obscured visibility. The guards shouted and swung at a now giant Umbra with their swords. But none of their blades could strike her.

However, apparently, Umbra could definitely hurt them. She sank her teeth into Karl’s leg. Karl screamed. Lina stabbed Umbra with her sword. But it went straight through Umbra’s body. Lina stumbled forward and fell through Umbra.

They can’t touch her. But she can touch them.

“Run, Wraith! Run! I am saving you!” Umbra called out. “Run now!”

Wraith sprinted towards the Bone Door. As he passed the doorway to Konrad’s room, he saw Konrad approaching the door, no doubt having heard the commotion.

But Wraith didn’t pause. He rushed past his husband, through the Bone Door, and into the beyond. Shadows immediately engulfed him. The door slammed shut.

Unsure what else to do, Wraith kept running. But the ground softened beneath his feet. With each step, he sank downwards. He stopped and looked back. The Bone Door was gone.

Had Umbra summoned it? Wraith hadn’t known Umbra could do that! But there seemed to be lots that Wraith had not known about Umbra, like that she could attack and physically harm people.

Wraith looked around. He’d never considered hiding in here before. Luckily, Umbra had.

He took a breath and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself so he could think clearly. But all he could see was Konrad’s cold green eyes.

What happened? Why had Konrad turned on him? He had a million questions. But there was one that kept pushing to the front of his mind.

What do I do now? Wraith crouched and wrapped his arms around himself. He rested his head on his knees.

Konrad doesn’t want me. Konrad is angry with me. Konrad hates me. Again.