Page 55 of Courting the Dragon King

“Ask your husband.”

Gerard glanced after Elias before turning back to Konrad. “I actually wanted to talk to you.” He adjusted his eye patch. “As you know, I do not like the necromancers. I never have. What they did during the war⁠—”

“And most of what you know is from reading reports.” Konrad’s lip curled. “I saw it all first hand.”

“But maybe that’s the problem,” Gerard said slowly. He straightened his shoulders. “I think your experience with necromancers during the war has clouded your judgement. All you see when you look at Wraith is the atrocities and horrors his people committed. It stops you from actually seeing him.”

Konrad opened his mouth to speak, but Gerard held up his hand.

“I’m not saying you should trust him or that we shouldn’t watch him. We do not know him, and we are not aware of his intentions, so we need to remain constantly vigilant. Nor am I certain that Umbra does not have other skills that could be a threat to us.” Gerard paused. “But you could be less cruel to Wraith.”

“I’m not cruel,” Konrad snapped.

Gerard placed his hands on his hips. He raised a brow. “He is scared of you, Konrad. That much is clear.”

“He knows he has nothing to fear from me!” Konrad snapped. “I gave him my word that I would not harm him.”

“You pulled a dagger on his hellhound,” Gerard said dryly.

“That was his hellhound. Not him!”

Gerard stared blankly at him. “When you yelled, he flinched. He cowers from you.” He hesitated. “And I don’t like how you treat him.”

Konrad looked away. Betrayed by my own brother! “I can’t believe you don’t have my back.”

“Don’t do that,” Gerard growled. “Don’t play the victim. I have your back. I always do. That’s why I’m telling you that your behaviour needs improving. You’re not a shit or cruel person, Konrad. So stop acting like one. It’s beneath you, and it’s beneath the king of Draconia.” His voice was tight and firm.

“You need to treat Wraith, your spouse, your king consort, better,” Gerard said.

They stared at each other. Neither turning away.

Then Gerard said, “And you need to inform Wraith that he is welcome in your room and he can sleep there.”

“Of course he can sleep there! Where else would he sleep? In the corridors?” Konrad scoffed.

Although, he had been considering finding another room for Wraith to sleep. He’d even thought of converting one of the rooms into a bedroom just so Konrad would not have to share a room with him.

Maybe Gerard had a point, as much as Konrad hated to admit it.

Gerard pinched the bridge of his nose. He opened his mouth, but Konrad was done with this conversation, even if his brother might have some legitimate points.

“Excuse me. I need to go find my husband and talk to him,” Konrad said.

He strode towards the exit of the banquet hall, his guards following. He tried to keep the scowl from his face as he walked through the crowd.

Grand Monk Ferdinand stood with Grand Shield Dahlia and Grand Healer Eveline. The grand healer saw him and stepped forward. Konrad wanted to keep walking and just ignore her, but he knew he shouldn’t.

“King Konrad.” She bowed.

Konrad came to a stop. “Grand Healer.” He inclined his head.

She gripped her hands tightly in front of her. “I just wish to say again, how very sorry I am about your father’s death.”

“I have no doubt you did everything you could to save him, Grand Healer,” Konrad said.

Grand Healer Eveline and Healer Doran had been tending to his father after the strange attack. His father had then died mysteriously as the two watched over him.

At first, they’d thought it was poison. But after numerous examinations of the body, they’d determined it must have been an unknown after-effect of the magical attack.