Page 117 of Courting the Dragon King

His heart sank. Konrad recognised what the shackles did.

“You won’t be able to shift whilst wearing these.” The dread knight rose to his full height.

“King Konrad, that was quite a display.” Shadow Queen Rue strolled forward. “We’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

The undead army parted to make way for her. It gave him a clear view of Wraith, who knelt on the grey stone floor. His hands had also been shackled in front of him, just like Konrad’s. His brother and sister stood over him.

Wraith told me to run. He tried to save me. He hasn’t betrayed me. I was wrong.

Konrad squeezed his eyes shut.

I betrayed him. I turned on him.

“Bring him forward,” the shadow queen commanded.

The reanimated released him, and two dread knights stepped forward. Each gripped one arm and one leg. They lifted him. He hung between them as they carried him through the rows of tombs. They dropped Konrad, and he cried out as he hit the stone.

“Konrad! Are you okay?” Wraith asked, shuffling closer.

Konrad groaned. He lifted his head and stared into Wraith’s pale face, streaked with dirt.

“I’m sorry,” Konrad whispered. “I’m so sorry for turning on you.”

He shouldn’t have believed his cousin’s accusations. But why had she said what she did? She’d been so certain that Wraith was plotting with the other necromancers. Why would she lie? And why had the warrior doves turned on him?

Shadow Princess Vex grabbed Wraith’s hair. “Harrow and I knew you’d let us down.” She yanked.

Wraith cried out.

“Stop that!” Konrad shouted. He tried to get closer to Wraith, but the dread knights gripped his shoulders, holding him back.

The shadow princess released Wraith’s hair. Shadow Prince Harrow came up and kicked Wraith in the gut. Wraith clutched his stomach, curling into himself.

“Leave him alone!” Konrad yelled.

But the siblings didn’t even glance in Konrad’s direction. Shadow Princess Vex spat at Wraith. Then, laughing, the two walked away.

“Wraith.” Konrad crawled to him. Thankfully, this time the dread knights didn’t stop him.

Konrad pulled him into his lap. “I’m so sorry. I should have trusted you.”

Wraith blinked up at him. “Konrad,” he whispered. He lifted his shackled hands and touched Konrad’s cheek.

“Bring the dragon king here,” said the shadow queen.

Cold fingers gripped Konrad by the shoulders and tore him from Wraith.

“I have something to show you, King Konrad.” The shadow queen smiled.

Dread knights dragged Konrad to an altar. A skeleton lay on the stone. Candles and symbols drawn in ash circled it. And four necromancers wearing skull masks chanted.

The shadow queen and king stood by the altar. Their two children flanked them. Keys hung from the shadow king’s waist. Was one of them for the shackles?

“King Konrad.” The shadow king smiled. “What do you think?” He gestured to the altar.

Konrad’s chest tightened. “Who is it?”

“Why, don’t you recognise your own father?” the shadow king asked. “We are going to bring Dragon King Alaric Drachen back as a bone dragon.”