Page 41 of Courting the Dragon King

Konrad scrubbed a hand over his face. This was all so hard. He’d married a necromancer, hoping for peace with them and Draconia’s other ex-enemies. But did their ex-enemies actually want the peace treaty to succeed?

After all, he knew there were those working against the treaty. Or just plotting against each other for their own end goals. It was a giant mess, and Konrad did not know how to clean it up.

“Fire and fucking flames.” Konrad collapsed onto the bed and dropped his head into his hands.

So far, there had been betrayal from those from Botanial, the Grey Mountains, Zephyrias, and even amongst the Draconians. Some Voltarians had also been involved in the plot with his and Elias’s stepmothers. That left only those from Necros who had not tried to undermine the treaty or harm anyone during this assembly, at least to his knowledge.

The truth was, Konrad couldn’t trust anyone, not just the necromancers. Until the identities of all the plotters were uncovered, he’d just have to assume everyone was against him. Well, everyone except his full siblings. He trusted them completely.

Moving forward, he’d inform them not to discuss important matters within the Draconian quarters when Wraith was present. They’d have to keep track of his movements. But what if he used his ghosts to spy on them?

Konrad had not seen ghosts before. He’d not known that they actually existed or that necromancers interacted with them. It unnerved him. If he did not know what these ghosts were capable of, he did not know how to protect against them.

But if Wraith could fuck them, they might be willing to help their lover out. His lip curled.

Perhaps Konrad could instruct Gerard to provide Wraith with guards, as he was now the king consort of Draconia. They could follow him around, protecting him. And they could also spy on him, providing reports and updates on all his movements and behaviour.

That’s a good idea.

Konrad stood. He should set that plan in motion. Now. He wanted to know everything his husband was up to.

He paused as he passed a side table. His skull locket lay flat on the wood. Konrad picked it up. He touched his fingers to the cool metal. He opened it and stared at their hair woven together.

He gritted his teeth. What did this do? Was there some sort of power in it? He shut the locket, staring at the skull embossed on the front. What sort of marriage tradition included the image of a skull? He rubbed his finger over it, remembering the skeletons he’d faced.

The skeletons, along with the reanimated corpses, were actually the easiest of the undead to destroy. At least when taking them on one by one, as they lacked skill or intelligence.

The dread knights, however, had been completely different.

The first time he encountered them was at an army camp. Konrad and the army were within the Draconian kingdom, a day’s march from the Necros border. They were resting for the night. They thought they were safe, since no necromancers had breached their border.

Then the sentries’ cries rang out.

Konrad jumped from his bed. Grabbing his sword, he threw open the tent flap.

All around, shouts rang out as Draconian soldiers fought the reanimated skeletons and corpses. They hacked at them with swords and battle-axes. They crushed them with war hammers.

Dragons already flew overhead, searching for the necromancers controlling their undead army. Konrad thought for a moment before deciding he did not need to join them. It appeared they had enough dragons in the sky already. So instead, Konrad joined the fray, slashing at the mindless undead creatures.

Konrad ran around a corner and froze. Before him stood a creature unlike any he’d seen before. She was tall, wore armour, and held a sword that did not look rusted or broken. She stood over three dead soldiers, sword dripping with their blood. Konrad would learn later that this creature before him was a dread knight.

The knight smiled with her sullen, gaunt face. Only a handful of black teeth remained in her mouth.

With a yell, Konrad ran forward. He lifted his sword, angling it, and shoved the tip straight through the gap between breastplate and shoulder armour. The blade went straight through the knight.

The creature’s smile widened. Then she opened her mouth wide and laughed, releasing a breath of rot and decay.

Konrad tugged his blade free and stepped back. He’d never seen an undead creature laugh before. He swung again, planning to decapitate her. But the dread knight lifted her sword and blocked.

Their swords clanged as they battled. Konrad thrust and attacked over and over. The dread knight matched him, blow for blow, all the while smiling with dry, crusty lips.

Sweat dripped from his skin as he fought. His breathing raced as he struggled to get the best of the dread knight. Konrad could not believe the skill she had. Several times, the dread knight almost landed a killing blow.

Then, all of a sudden, all the skeletons and reanimated corpses collapsed. Konrad let out a breath. They’d found the necromancers controlling the undead army and stopped them. Hopefully they’d killed them.

He stared at the dread knight, waiting for her to collapse too. Instead, the dread knight lunged.

Konrad was so startled he only just managed to lift his sword in an attempt to block. But it had been a feign. The dread knight’s sword sliced at Konrad’s exposed leg. Konrad let out a shout.