Page 113 of Courting the Dragon King

“Maybe he wasn’t working with the necromancers.” Honestly, Konrad couldn’t make sense of any of it. Especially when he was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that every moment with Wraith had been a lie.

“But if the necromancers weren’t working with Warden Flint, what is this? Another new group plotting and attacking people but not working together?” Elias paced back and forth.

“At first there was Princess Lantana’s attack, then Warden Flint’s, then there were our stepmothers, who like Warden Flint, were also working with someone else. Do we really think our stepmothers were working with the necromancers? Are they the robed figures?” Elias stopped pacing.

“There is something else going on. I can feel it. It’s too chaotic. But at the same time not,” Elias said.

What did that even mean?

“I’m missing something. Something important.” Elias stared up at the ceiling.

“Our stepmothers must have been working with the necromancers,” Konrad said. “They must have been those robed figures.”

Elias’s features pinched together. “That doesn’t feel right to me.”

“I don’t know how it all fits together, Elias!” Konrad barked. “I just know that the necromancers are behind it and that Wraith has betrayed us. He wanted me dead and then planned to bring me back as some fucking bone dragon.” His voice shook.

Elias hesitated. “I’m not convinced Wraith is involved in all this.”

“What more proof do you need?” Konrad yelled. “Wraith and his hellhound attacked us. They attacked and injured your husband.” He pointed at Gerard and his now bandaged arm.

“That was self-defence,” Elias said calmly.

But Konrad wasn’t calm. He’d known from the start that the necromancers were evil. He’d gotten distracted and become enamoured with a sad, odd, and pretty shadow prince and forgotten what he’d seen during the war. Forgotten what he knew to be true, that the necromancers were corrupt monsters. They could not be trusted.

That included Wraith.

“Wraith told us his hellhound was harmless and had never hurt anyone. He said Umbra could not hurt anyone. He lied!” The words scraped at the insides of his throat. “He made his hellhound attack us. Do you need to be shown the blood spilled on the floor to remember the attack?”

“I’ve seen the blood, Konrad,” Elias said dryly.

“Wraith lied!” Konrad shouted. “Everything he did and said was a lie.”

And that included Wraith’s feelings for Konrad. That had all been an act to get close to him. And Konrad had fallen for it. Completely.

Konrad clenched his hands into fists.

Fire and flames. How could I have been so gullible? How could I have not seen that he never felt anything for me? That I was the only one with any true feelings? Did he laugh at me in secret? When he met with other necromancers, did he mock me, and say how easy it was to manipulate me?

Elias lifted his hands. “Konrad, you need to calm down. I understand that this is upsetting and that you’re hurting, but we need to think clearly now. Especially since⁠—”

A servant entered the room and bowed. “Your Highness. Monk Clara has returned.”

Clara rushed into the room, two warrior doves with her. “The grand monk wishes to see you. Immediately.”

“Then let’s go,” Konrad said. “But we’ll need to hurry, as I’ve arranged to meet the other rulers in the western corridor meeting chamber.”

Clara nodded. “I’m sure the grand monk will wish to join.”

Konrad, Elias, Gerard, and fifteen of their guards followed the monks.

“It’s this way,” Clara said.

They took many twists and turns, going through doors and passages and up and down stairs.

“I’ve not been to this part of the monastery before.” Gerard glanced around.

“The grand monk thought it best to meet somewhere safe and secure,” Clara said.