Page 13 of Courting the Dragon Prince (A Royal Arrangement #1)

Chapter Thirteen

O nyx kept his gaze fixed on the map as they continued to walk.

“We’ve been walking in this stupid forest for hours. I’m hungry,” Prince Luther complained.

“Then you shouldn’t have eaten all the rations.” Onyx didn’t point out that Prince Luther, the greedy prat, hadn’t shared any of the food with Onyx.

“How was I meant to know we wouldn’t be done with the quest by now?”

Onyx held in a sigh. “If you’d been listening the other day, you’d know that the quest could go for the entire day. Potentially even several days.”

“What?” Prince Luther cried out. “Several days! There wasn’t enough food in the pack for several days!”

“That’s because they expect us to find our own food to show that we are resourceful and can provide for each other.” Really, why couldn’t Onyx be stuck with someone at least mildly competent?

Prince Luther shook his head. “The symbolism of this quest really is too much,” he muttered. In a mocking tone, he continued, “We must provide for each other, work together, be bound together, and face challenges together just as we will within our wonderful future marriage.”

Prince Luther glared at Onyx. “And just as in our marriage, during this quest, you are a pain in my arse, a thorn in my side, a jagged stone in my bloody shoe.”

“Would you just shut up for a moment!” Onyx snapped.

Mercifully, Prince Luther did. For one minute.

“How much further until we find the key?” Prince Luther lifted his arm and yanked, jolting Onyx and the hand that held the map. “Then we can get rid of these shackles, kill some fucking snails, and be done with this fucking nonsense.” He tugged again.

“Hold still so I can study the map!” Onyx yelled.

The prince rolled his eyes but thankfully kept his arm in place.

“We just need to continue going this way. We’d probably be there by now if you hadn’t been dragging your feet,” Onyx bit out as he folded the map and walked.

“Me? This is your fault.” Prince Luther pointed at him as he kept pace with Onyx. “You can’t read a map for shit. You spent ages studying it, and then you took us the wrong way.”

Onyx turned on him and waved the map in the air. “This map is intentionally unclear. The symbols are muddled. It’s a puzzle of some kind.” He paused. “No doubt to make this more of a challenge for us.”

“Let me have a look at it.” Prince Luther grabbed the map.

Onyx didn’t release his grip. He didn’t trust Prince Luther with their only map.

“Come on!” The prince tugged.

Gritting his teeth, Onyx released it. Not because he wanted to, but because he feared Prince Luther would tear it if he didn’t give it over.

“Now we’ll get somewhere,” Prince Luther said triumphantly as he unfolded the map. “This isn’t so hard. You just need to … Wait. That doesn’t make sense.” He frowned.

“See!” Onyx grabbed for the map.

But the prince held it out of his reach. “No. I can get it. And you’ve had it for hours. It’s my turn!”

“You don’t even know where we are.” Onyx reached for the map.

“Yes. I do.” Prince Luther took a step back whilst Onyx kept trying to snatch the map from him.

Suddenly, Onyx had a clear picture of the two of them. Squabbling in the forest over a map like a couple of toddlers.

“Fine.” Onyx stepped back. “But you better not lose it.”

Prince Luther shot him a look. “I’m not a fool despite what you might think.” He studied the map for several moments. He strode forward. “This way. I’m sure of it.”

Onyx reluctantly followed, certain that they were making a massive mistake. Hopefully, once he realised it, Prince Luther would give him back the map.

A breeze blew. Dark clouds drifted across the sky, which had been sunny and clear not that long ago. Leaves rustled in the trees overhead.

The prince kept glancing at the map as they made their way onward. They passed several mounds of stone. But Onyx couldn’t feel them. He couldn’t feel the earth or rocks or anything with the shackle around his wrist.

It unsettled him. He felt naked and vulnerable. He couldn’t wait for this quest to end.

Through the trees, he spotted a pair of jackalopes. Hearing the sound of their boots, the jackalopes raised their antlered heads, ears swivelling towards them. A moment later, the jackalopes hopped away, disappearing into some shrubbery.

“What sort of key do you think it will be?” the prince mused. “Do you think it will be ornate or simple? What metal do you think it will be made of?”

“What sort of questions are those?” Onyx scoffed. “Who cares what sort of key it is or what it’s made of as long as it separates us!”

“I was just asking.” The prince sounded rather miffed.

Onyx frowned as Prince Luther pouted. Had Onyx offended him?

A soft pitter-patter began above. A moment later, rain drizzled down.

“Fucking perfect,” Onyx muttered.

“We should find cover.” The prince glanced down at the map, eyes searching.

“Afraid you’ll melt? Are you made of sugar?” Onyx mocked. “It’s just a little rain. We can handle it. We keep going.”

Prince Luther shook his head, gaze still firmly on the map. “It’ll come down heavier in a moment. It’s going to be a proper storm.”

Onyx scoffed, but he stopped when lightning lit up the sky. Thunder followed. The drizzle turned into a pour.

“Told you.” Prince Luther folded the map and tucked it into the front of his coat. “Now come on. We need to find shelter.”

Not wanting to admit he’d been wrong, Onyx hunched his shoulders as the rain soaked his clothes. Luther’s wavy dark hair plastered against his forehead and cheek. Water slid along his dark skin.

Onyx tried to ignore the fact that the prince looked very good when wet. Onyx looked away. Their arms brushed as they strode through the forest. Onyx ignored their closeness.

He lengthened his strides and broke into a run. The prince didn’t.

“Will you quicken your pace? We need to find shelter.” Onyx heaved on the chain linking them.

Prince Luther lurched forward. “Hey! Stop that. I almost fell over, you prick.” He stopped walking. He yanked the chain back, anger twisting his expression.

“This is no time to fool around!” Onyx barked. He tried to keep moving, but Prince Luther wasn’t having it.

Prince Luther stared at Onyx, unmoving. He took two steps forward, chest brushing Onyx’s. “I’m so sick of you,” Prince Luther spat. “Always barking orders. Always being such an arrogant, self-righteous dick. Can you give it a rest for two seconds? Is that too much to ask?” He shoved Onyx in his chest.

Onyx stumbled. Without a thought, he shoved the prince back. Chains rattled. Above, a flash of lightning split the sky.

Suddenly, they both grabbed and gripped at each other. Thunder roared, and the metal chain clanked as the shackles restricted their movements. Onyx pushed Prince Luther. Prince Luther hurled his whole weight against Onyx, propelling him backwards.

Onyx’s feet slid in the mud a moment before his feet flew out from under him. He landed on his back. The air knocked from his lungs.

As Onyx had fallen, the chain between them had tightened and yanked the prince down. Prince Luther tumbled, landing directly on top of Onyx.

Onyx grunted, and Luther cried out.

Then they were wrestling. Hands clutched at wet cloth and skin. Growling and struggling, they fought for dominance in the mud.

Prince Luther’s hands pressed against Onyx’s chest. Onyx gripped Prince Luther’s shoulders. With all his might, Onyx rolled Prince Luther beneath him.

Growling, Onyx crawled on top of him, straddled his thighs, and pinned his arms to the ground.

Prince Luther tried to rise, but with a snarl, Onyx shoved him back down. Prince Luther groaned.

Both streaked in mud, they panted, glaring at each other as the rain pounded down on them. Onyx’s mouth tasted of dirt. Lightning once again lit the sky.

Prince Luther looked beyond pissed. No doubt Onyx looked the same.

Then something in Prince Luther’s green eyes shifted. The anger drained from his face.

Unbelievably, Prince Luther grinned. “If you wanted to be on top of me so bad, Warden Onyx, all you had to do was ask.”