Page 48 of Courting the Dragon King

“A hellhound is not a fucking pet!” Konrad snapped.

Wraith flinched.

“She sure acts like a pet.” Then Elias paused. “Although, I suppose you were too busy waving your little dagger and yelling to actually watch Umbra’s pet-like behaviour.”

Konrad shoved his dagger in its sheath. He remembered the times when Elias would stay silent or say something ridiculous and everyone would have to try to not laugh or roll their eyes.

But since Elias’s true nature had been revealed during the attack on him and Gerard, Elias had gotten a lot more talkative. And opinionated. Normally that didn’t bother Konrad. He usually appreciated Elias’s insights. But right now, it bothered him a lot.

Konrad glanced at Gerard, hoping for some support. But Gerard stood silently, gaze averted. Clearly, he did not want to be brought in on this disagreement between his husband and his king / older brother.

Konrad stormed from the room, trying to shove down the feelings of anger and betrayal. Why was Elias even trying to be friendly with Wraith? Konrad was sure he’d heard Elias refer to the necromancers as creepy before. So why the change of heart?

And Elias wasn’t married to Wraith, so there was no reason for them to get close!

He thought of the smile on Wraith’s face. The way Elias and Wraith leaned towards each other. Elias had touched Wraith on the knee. Then the shoulder.

Not that Konrad cared. He did not want to be married to Wraith. So Elias could make him smile, and it would have absolutely no fucking effect on Konrad. Not. At. All.

But he would have to forbid the hellhound. They couldn’t have it in their quarters, and they could not have it in the Castle of the Dragons or anywhere in Draconia. It was a monster. An undead beast. Who knew what terrors it could inflict on others? Konrad would not let it harm any of his people.

It was not a pet, and he would never tolerate its presence!

“Konrad,” Elias’s light voice called out.

“What do you want now?” Konrad barked as he turned on the spot.

Elias smiled as he passed Konrad’s guards. He raised his brows. “What a pleasant way to speak to your brother-in-law.”

“Sorry. That was rude.” Konrad might be pissed, but he needed to keep his temper in check.

Elias stopped in front of Konrad. He lifted his hand and inspected his nails. “Yes. You’re being very rude today.”

Konrad bristled.

Elias threw a glance over his shoulder, looking in the direction of the room they’d come from. “I know Wraith seems rather odd. I definitely thought so too. But after a couple of hours talking to him, well now…” He trailed off.

“What?” Konrad pressed.

Elias looked at Konrad. “I think he is lonely. Dreadfully lonely. He could use some friends. And I think he has not spent much time around people. Or at least around the living.”

Konrad huffed. “You could say that again.”

“What do you mean?”

“He fucks ghosts!”

The skin between Elias’s brows puckered. “I’m sorry, what?”

“He fucks ghosts!” Konrad repeated. “He has sexual relationships with ghosts!”

Elias’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“He told me so himself.” Konrad waited for the revulsion and shock to cross Elias’s face.

Instead Elias just said, “Interesting. How does that work?”

“What? It’s not interesting!” His voice bounced off the walls. “It’s despicable! Gross! Vile! And I don’t know how it works? Why would I want to know that?”