Page 136 of Courting the Dragon King

Where am I?

All his limbs and muscles ached. He took a deep breath. He groaned. Even his lungs hurt. He struggled to keep his eyes open. A bone-deep weariness urged him to close his eyes and return to sleep.

Images flashed in his mind. Monks chanting. Skeletons. Corpses. Lightning. Blood. So much blood.

The shadow king, Vex, and Harrow dying. The bone dragon. The dread knights. The Bone Door. His mother’s willingness to kill him. His mother was dead now. The lightning had torn through her. It was the last thing he remembered before he’d collapsed.

Wraith exhaled. It was a lot. And he didn’t quite feel ready to deal with … any of it.

He turned his head. Konrad lay on the bed beside him, eyes closed, breathing deeply.

Konrad’s bed. That’s where we are.

And for a moment, he just stared at Konrad’s handsome face, slackened in sleep. Bags hung beneath his eyes. He lay on top of the sheets, fully dressed in rumpled clothes. They’d both been through a great ordeal.

With a sigh, Wraith closed his eyes and fell back asleep.

The next time he woke, he was still facing Konrad. But Konrad had moved. He now slept on a chair by the bed. This time, Wraith felt a lot more rested and did not need to immediately return to sleep.

More memories fluttered through his mind. These ones from before the battle. Konrad turning on him. Accusing Wraith of betrayal. Guards grabbing him.

“I know what you are. A monstrous fucking necromancer.”

Wraith’s throat clenched. His heart dropped like a lead weight as he remembered the words Konrad had flung at him.

He really felt something for Konrad. And he’d believed Konrad felt the same for him. But he’d turned on Wraith so fast. How could he trust Konrad again?

Umbra, who lay snuggled beside Wraith’s legs, woke and glanced up at Wraith. She jumped to her feet and barked, circling on herself and messing up the sheets.

“You’re awake! Oh! I was so scared. Your Konrad was scared too,” she said. “But you’re awake now! You’re awake, and I’m so happy!”

Konrad blinked awake. When he saw Wraith with his eyes open, he bolted upright. He smiled.

“Wraith. I’ve been so worried.” He cupped Wraith’s cheek. Then he turned to the door. “He’s awake! Call the healer.”

The door opened immediately, and a servant appeared. She must have been waiting for Konrad’s call. “Right away, Your Majesty.” She bowed and dashed off.

“How are you feeling? Are you all right?” Konrad’s dark brows lowered as he looked Wraith up and down.

“I think I’m okay,” Wraith said.

Umbra laid her head on his thighs. Her tail wagged. “You just kept sleeping and sleeping! I worried you’d never wake ever again!”

Wraith placed his hand on her head, scratching the top of her head. “How long did I sleep for?”

“Forever!” Umbra said.

“Almost a full day,” Konrad said. “I don’t really know what happened. You just collapsed.”

“I think I overexerted myself. I’ve never broken a bond like the one holding your father. And I’ve never forced a bunch of dread knights to move on. I probably just need some rest.”

Konrad nodded. “Of course. Whatever you need, I’ll make sure you get it.” Concern shone in his green eyes.

He’s been worried. But Wraith still remembered how those eyes had filled with hatred. How could Wraith be sure that Konrad would not turn on him again?

He opened his mouth to speak, but Healer Doran rushed into the room and approached the bed. Stopping beside them, he bowed. “King Consort Wraith, it is good to see you awake. You had us all worried.”

The healer’s appearance put a stop to the conversation. Healer Doran looked Wraith over. He’d never been assessed by a non-necromancer healer before. Most healers trained at the Dove Healing Academy. But the healers from Necros did not.