Page 16 of Courting the Dragon King

After what felt like an age, the carriage pulled to a stop. A servant opened the carriage door. Konrad waited for Shadow Prince Wraith to climb out before doing so himself.

In the distance, a pavilion had been set up. Shadow Prince Wraith stood facing it. But he did not move in the direction of it. His black robes and hair floated in the breeze.

For a second, Konrad considered striding ahead and leaving his betrothed to catch up. But just because he despised the necromancer, it did not mean he could shirk his duties.

I am king now. I must behave accordingly.

The treaty had to go forward. He knew that. He had to marry Shadow Prince Wraith, even though he did not trust or like him. Konrad had to act with dignity and could not dishonour himself or Draconia. And he had promised his father. He could not go back on his word.

Konrad held out his arm to Shadow Prince Wraith. The prince blinked at it. He lifted his hand. He hesitated. Konrad gritted his teeth and had to stop himself from storming off.

Konrad was doing his duty. Shadow Prince Wraith should do so too!

Finally, the prince placed his hand delicately on Konrad’s arm. Konrad walked forward, leading his betrothed. His four guards, who’d been riding outside the carriage, followed.

Beneath the pavilion, he spotted monks, nobles, and dignitaries. There were also many Draconian guards present, and also warrior doves from the White Monastery too. Konrad’s gaze skittered over everyone, and he wondered if those who had plotted and killed his father were present.

He stared at the shadow king and queen. Konrad had been so certain they had been behind all the machinations against the peace treaty. A part of him still believed they were. However, he no longer trusted his own judgement.

But what if he wasn’t wrong? What if he’d been correct all along and had just been thrown off because he hadn’t picked up on the others who’d betrayed them? He glanced at the man beside him. No doubt he’d have information regarding the inner workings of those from Necros.

“I was surprised when Necros agreed to the peace treaty.” Konrad tried to keep his voice casual and not at all like he was trying to uncover any necromancer secrets.

Konrad had always been direct and to the point and, unfortunately, had not much practice being manipulative and wheedling out information from others.

His betrothed did not respond. He just kept walking straight ahead, hand resting on Konrad’s arm.

“The shadow king and queen seemed resistant to the peace talks for so long,” Konrad continued. “And considering that necromancers gain power from death, I did not see a reason for them to agree to an end to the war. What convinced them to change their mind?”

Shadow Prince Wraith kept his gaze forward. Finally, he spoke, “They came around after talking with their allies and the Monks of the Way of the Dove.”

Konrad waited a beat, hoping for more. But the prince seemed to be tight-lipped, unwilling to share any actual information. “I see.”

They walked the rest of the way to the pavilion in silence.

Chapter

Nine

Wraith tried not to shake as he walked beside King Konrad.

Now that he knew the king hated him, he did not know how it had not been obvious to him from the first second of their interaction. He saw King Konrad’s hatred in every glance, every word, and every movement.

His future husband despised him. And Wraith did not know what to do about it. Or what he had done to cause it.

At least the shadow king avoided and ignored him. And Wraith had learnt early on to stay out of his way. But for the moment, he and the dragon king had to keep spending time together.

Beneath the pavilion, tables had been set up with food and wine. A flautist played music that mingled with the voices of the living and the few dead who stood around them. Quite a lot of people had turned up for this couple’s quest, including Wraith’s family. His siblings glanced at him and King Konrad as the couple approached.

The shadow king and queen stood together talking, not acknowledging their arrival. He expected that from the shadow king, but he wished his mother would at least glance at him. He was not so foolish as to hope for a smile from his mother. But perhaps she could give him a look of encouragement. Instead she just kept talking to her husband.

King Konrad and Wraith paused by the edge of the crowd. After a moment, the king’s sister and another woman approached.

King Konrad cleared his throat. “Shadow Prince Wraith, may I introduce my sister, Princess Senta Drachen, and her wife, Lady Juniper of Botanial.”

The two women bowed.

“Shadow Prince Wraith,” Princess Senta said as she straightened, looking him up and down with a neutral expression. “May you and my brother have a blessed union.”