Page 23 of Courting the Dragon Prince (A Royal Arrangement #1)
Chapter Twenty-Three
L uther crossed his arms over his chest as he walked.
He’d been avoiding Onyx since the couple’s quest. And Luther had been doing a pretty good job of it too. But today, the day before his wedding, his father had informed Luther that he would be walking in the gardens with his betrothed.
So here Luther was. Walking in the gardens with his betrothed, doing his fucking duty, like everyone seemed to think him incapable of doing. Meanwhile, monks and individuals from the different kingdoms milled around and watched them.
Despite them walking together for an hour, Luther had continued to ignore Onyx. Onyx had initially attempted to make conversation. Luther had simply not responded.
After all, why should he? He’d tried to be civil with Onyx. He’d tried to be nice, and he’d gotten nothing for it but Onyx’s scorn and disdain.
So Luther had decided that he would do exactly what was required of him. But nothing more.
Still, Luther grew weary traipsing around colourful flower beds, beneath fragrant wisteria vines, and around pristinely manicured shrubs in the monastery’s largest garden.
“How much longer do we have to walk around this fucking garden? What is even the point of this?” Luther snapped.
“It’s part of the courtship rituals. They want us to be seen in public.” Onyx glanced at him, thankfully not commenting on the fact Luther had just spoken to him after continuously ignoring him. “It’s meant to show everyone that we are serious about this marriage and the treaty.”
Onyx had his hands clasped behind him. He wore robes of amber and embossed grey leather. “And we are setting an example of unity. We were once enemies. Yet now we are to be married tomorrow.”
Luther scoffed. “I think you mean we were enemies, we continue to be enemies, and we are to be married tomorrow.”
Onyx glanced at him but didn’t speak.
“Well, I’m sure us walking around really convinces everyone that we are desperately in love.” Luther gestured with an extravagant flourish to a peacock strutting across the perfectly cut grass. “Oh, look, beloved,” he said loud enough that those watching could hear them. “A pretty bird.”
Several glanced their way.
Luther looked to Onyx. He lowered his voice. “There. Do you think I have convinced everyone we are in love?”
“We don’t need to convince anyone we are in love,” Onyx snapped. “We just need to act like we are committed to this marriage.”
Luther rolled his eyes. “Oh, look, my sweet, precious Warden Onyx. Here is a tiny wooden bridge over a minuscule river. The picturesque sight of us walking over this bridge will demonstrate how successful our union is, and it will cause peace to reign over all the kingdoms forevermore.”
“This is important!” Onyx growled. “Why don’t you get that? Why can’t you be serious for once?”
“I don’t know. Why can’t you stop being an arrogant cockhead for once?” Luther shot back. “You’re such a mountain climber,” he muttered.
“How is that even an insult?”
Luther lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “You’d know if you could fly over mountains.”
Onyx took a deep breath, clearly trying to calm himself.
But Luther wasn’t having any of that. “I forgot to ask, how was your night in the inn? I must say, I had a lovely night here.”
The clouds above parted. Luther tilted his head to the sun, letting the rays of light warm his skin.
“I had some wine and chatted with my siblings about the quest. Then I soaked in a bath infused with lavender oil with little jasmine flowers floating on top.” Luther smiled. “Meanwhile, servants brought me plates of deliciously roasted pheasant, so tender and juicy. Then they presented fresh strawberry tarts. I drank some excellent wine. Then I slept like the dead.”
The bath part was true. The pheasant and tarts were mostly true, except they’d been the remains from dinner and not in the best condition when brought to Luther.
And Luther had not slept well. That was definitely a lie.
But he had gotten very drunk on very good wine. After that, he’d paced around his room, muttering to himself, kicking furniture, cursing Onyx, and drinking more wine until he passed out.
“I slept fine at the inn.” Onyx straightened his shoulders. “Mistress Fisher keeps the rooms well. She provided me with a hearty breakfast, and she sold me a horse. The ride back to the White Monastery was very pleasant. There is so much lovely countryside on this island.”
Luther’s eyes narrowed. That wouldn’t do. He wanted Onyx seething. He wanted to make Onyx as mad and miserable as Onyx made him.
Luther spotted Elias Storm, the lightning prince, surrounded by several others from Voltaria.
Inspiration struck. Luther smiled his most flirtatious and seductive smile. He lifted his hand and waved.
The prince smiled and waved back.
Beside him, Onyx stiffened. “You need to stop flirting with him.”
Bull’s-eye.
Onyx could pretend all he wanted that he didn’t desire Luther. But if that were true, why did he get so jealous?
“Why should I?” Luther tossed his wavy hair.
“Because you and I are in our courtship period. You are betrothed to me,” Onyx bit out. “If you show public interest in him, it undermines the marriage and thus the treaty.”
“But he is so much fun and such great company. And so very handsome,” Luther gushed. “I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
Onyx clenched his fists. Luther could practically feel the annoyance radiating off Onyx. Luther drank it in. He could get drunk off Onyx’s jealously.
Luther’s smile widened. “And he looks so lovely today. The patterned blue jacket with accents of black and silver suits him so perfectly. And I have to say I love those voluptuous trousers. They are so delightful! And that cropped jacket really shows off Elias’s slender stomach.” Luther paused as if lost in admiration.
Onyx growled low in his throat. “Elias? You’re on first-name terms?”
Excitement skittered along Luther’s skin. Luther had never used the prince’s first name before. He was glad he had!
“After what Elias and I have gotten up to, it wouldn’t be fitting not to use his first name.” Luther smiled at Onyx.
Onyx glowered.
“He’s been so kind as to keep me company the past couple of weeks.” Those were more lies. Luther got along with the lightning prince. They spoke in passing. And Luther definitely found him attractive.
But right now, his entire interest in Prince Elias Storm was in making his betrothed lose his mind with jealousy. “Perhaps I’ll approach him now. I find myself quite bored with the current company I keep, and he is always so attentive and charming.”
Luther took a single step. A single step was all he managed before Onyx gripped his wrist.
Luther’s pulse sped up. A mixture of adrenaline and arousal flowed through his veins.
How much further could he push Onyx?
He turned towards Onyx, looking at him with as much confusion as he could muster. “Is something the matter?”
“Stop it,” Onyx said through gritted teeth.
“Why? I just want to talk with the very attractive prince.” Luther smiled innocently. “Elias and I have had such … intimate conversations of late. Sometimes, we retire to his room and talk well into the night.”
Onyx’s eyes blazed. “Stop it.”
“Does that bother you, Warden Onyx?” Luther whispered. “Picturing him and me in his bed, going on and on and on and on well into the night, until we’re both completely exhausted from all the … talking. ” Luther almost laughed at the rage so apparent on Onyx’s face.
Why was pissing Onyx off so much fun? And so strangely arousing?
Perhaps he should be afraid. Onyx looked like he wanted to hit Luther. Still, Luther couldn’t help needling the earth elemental.
“I mean, if you and I aren’t talking ,” Luther continued. “Then I need to find others to satisfy my desire and desperation for … talking .”
Onyx’s face turned red. “Others? There are others? Which others?”
Luther pursed his lips in consideration. “It’s hard to keep track. I talk to so many people.” He faked a yawn. “That’s why I’m always tired and turn up so dishevelled in the morning to meetings and whatnot. I’m sure you’ve noticed. I just can’t find the time to sleep with all the talking I get up to.”
Sure. That was the reason. Not the memories and nightmares that haunted Luther and made him terrified of sleep.
“Just shut up.” Onyx’s hand on Luther’s wrist trembled.
Luther smiled, stepping in close so their chests pressed together. “Make me.”
Onyx froze. He frowned. “What?”
“You heard me. Make me.” Luther leaned in close so their lips were only a couple of inches apart.
Onyx’s breath brushed his lips.
“You want me to shut up and stop talking?” Luther asked. “Then maybe you need to stick something in my mouth and shut me up.”