Page 103 of Courting the Dragon King

“This is Wraith’s from your wedding,” Clara said. “He gave it to his mother last night at the ball. The locket has power over you, because it contains both of your hair, and because it symbolises the marriage binding you together. The high priestess apparently did something with it this morning so they could use this against you.”

Konrad snatched the locket from her and opened it up. Sure enough, his and Wraith’s hair lay inside.

“What attack?” asked Gerard.

“It sounded like they wanted Wraith to lure Konrad somewhere where they could murder him,” Clara said. “Then they would perform necromancy on him.”

Konrad closed the locket. He wrapped his fingers around it, squeezing tight.

Was Wraith really going to help them murder me? And then what, bring me back as some horrid undead creature? No. It can’t be true. It can’t!

“And they said that they killed the grand healer too. Somehow, she found out about their plan, and so they had to silence her.” Clara hunched forward. “I was so scared. I knew if they realised I was there, they’d kill me too.”

“You did well, Clara.” Gerard placed a hand on her shoulder.

“They left the sitting room, and I ran in and grabbed the locket. I didn’t want them to use it against you,” she said to Konrad. “I rushed straight here. But I was so scared they’d catch me.”

Konrad opened his hand. He looked at the locket. Wraith had been wearing this last night. He’d worn it to the ball. Had Wraith really given this to his mother?

“I know it’s hard to believe, Konrad. But you’ve been tricked. The king consort has tricked and betrayed you. Just like the queen consort tricked your father and everyone else.” Clara stood. “Now I must go and tell the grand monk. Really, I should have told him first. But we’re family. No doubt the grand monk will wish to speak to you soon as well.”

She paused. “I’m really sorry, Konrad.” Then she ran from the room.

Konrad stared at the embossed skull on the locket. He rubbed his finger over the metal.

“Konrad,” Gerard said, voice gentle.

Konrad looked at him.

“Are you all right?” Gerard asked.

“I— No. I don’t think I am.” Konrad’s mind spun. It went around and around, and he still didn’t have any idea what he was thinking. He couldn’t make sense of any of it. His body felt numb.

Gerard stood. He gripped Konrad’s shoulder. “We’ll work this out and get to the bottom of it.” He strode to the door and spoke to one of the guards.

Konrad’s ears rang. The guard marched off, and Gerard came and stood next to Konrad, watching him.

“She can’t be right. Can she?” Konrad looked at Elias and then at Gerard. “Wraith wouldn’t betray me.”

There were feelings between them. Real feelings.

Unless Wraith had been faking them.

“Clara is wrong,” Konrad said. “She must have been mistaken or misheard or …” He trailed off, hoping the others would offer some other explanation.

Elias frowned, saying nothing.

“I’m not sure what is going on, Konrad,” said Gerard. “But I’ve asked for Wraith’s guards to come here immediately. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

A second later, the two guards assigned to Wraith appeared.

“Has the king consort exhibited any unusual behaviour lately?” Gerard asked.

The guards shared a look.

Then the male guard said, “Excuse me for saying so, Your Highness, but he often exhibits strange and unusual behaviour.”

“He sometimes stares at nothing or talks to the air,” the female guard said.