Page 30 of Courting the Dragon Prince (A Royal Arrangement #1)

Chapter Thirty

F ire and flames.

Luther suppressed a groan.

My body aches. My head aches. My father is glaring at me. Onyx is glaring at me. Again. Why is Onyx glaring at me?

The buzz of the alcohol Luther had drunk throughout the night had worn away. Now Luther was pretty sure he was just going through the hangover awake. He took a bite of some citrus pastry, trying to sit upright whilst wishing he could collapse in a heap on the floor.

He’d stumbled home after several hours of flying followed by several hours of dancing. Thinking himself so exhausted that he might actually be able to sleep for an hour or two, he’d headed to his room.

But Konrad had spotted him. “Father was looking for you,” Konrad had informed him. “He was annoyed when he couldn’t find you. You’ve apparently been invited to tea with your new husband’s family.”

Luther had quickly changed and practically run through the monastery to get to this blasted tea party.

And now he had to sit through Onyx’s glares. Was it because Luther was late? Had Luther known about this tea and forgotten? That unfortunately did seem likely.

Tired of Onyx’s glaring, Luther smiled brightly at Onyx. Onyx’s eyes narrowed.

Then Luther turned away, drank his tea, and ignored his husband.

“You must visit the Grey Mountains. Travelling through the mountains can be difficult for some. But with your ability to fly, no doubt you’ll find it incredibly easy,” Warden Flint said.

“Thank you for the invitation.” Luther’s stepmother smiled. “I would love to see the Grey Mountains and fly above them. Wouldn’t you, dear?”

The king gave a simple nod.

Luther had flown above the Grey Mountains. But that had been for wartime purposes. Best not to bring that up over tea and cake.

Of course, those mountains would soon be his home. Luther gulped down his tea. The servant refilled Luther’s cup. Luther wondered how long he’d have to stay and drink cup after cup of tea.

Luther tuned out the chatter and instead focused on eating the cakes, slices, and pastries to fill his empty belly. He drank more cups of tea. He continued to not look at Onyx.

Finally, after what felt like several lifetimes, the king rose. “Thank you for having us.”

Everyone else placed down their cups, saucers, and plates and stood. With a relieved sigh, Luther did the same.

“Yes. It was truly delightful,” the queen consort said.

“Thank you for taking the time to join us,” Warden Flint said. “We look forward to strengthening our ties further with Draconia. This marriage between Warden Onyx and Prince Luther is just the beginning.”

The grand warden stood. She smiled but didn’t speak. In fact, she’d barely spoken the entire time Luther was here. Which Luther thought a little odd.

It seemed Onyx had his mother’s sparkling and vivacious personality.

Although, sometimes Onyx could be interesting. He’d been interesting last night when he’d been fucking Luther. But now he was back to being an uptight arsehole who glowered at Luther.

As they left the tearoom, the queen consort paused. “Warden Flint, you mentioned yesterday that you had a pin with a rare black opal from the Grey Mountains mines. I’d so love to see it.” She smiled at her husband. “I’ve never seen a black opal before.”

“It would be my pleasure to show you. This way.” Warden Flint gestured down a corridor.

Luther’s father and stepmother followed. But Luther had no interest in seeing opals, no matter how rare. He just wanted to return to his room.

Onyx’s murmured voice caused him to turn back to the tearoom.

The grand warden sat once again. Onyx leaned towards her, speaking to his mother too softly for Luther to hear. But his mother didn’t seem to be paying any attention to Onyx.

She gestured to a servant. “Bring me some more of my tea.”

Luther frowned. Hadn’t she had her fill of tea? Luther had come in late, and he’d drunk three cups. How much tea did the grand warden drink?

“Mother, what if we first—” Onyx glanced towards Luther, breaking off mid-sentence when he saw Luther watching them. He straightened. After a moment, he walked towards Luther.

Luther turned on his heel and began to stride away. Unfortunately, Onyx followed.

Luther sighed. “Can you give the scowls a rest for one single day? And what have you got to be upset about anyway?” He glanced behind Onyx. They seemed to be out of earshot of Onyx’s mother. And she didn’t seem to be paying them any attention, anyway. “Traditionally, after a good fucking, one’s mood improves.”

Onyx sneered. “Traditionally, you don’t go fuck other people on your wedding night!”

Luther laughed. Was that what Onyx thought? Was that why he’d been so angry? It made more sense than Onyx being upset at Luther for being late to some tea party.

But if Onyx was going to jump to conclusions, Luther wouldn’t bother to correct him. “Well, traditionally you stay on the wedding night after fucking your spouse. You don’t rush off whilst your seed is still dripping from your husband’s hole to go wash his touch from your skin.”

Onyx’s mouth dropped open. “I didn’t … That’s not … Did you … Did you want me to stay last night?”

Luther scoffed. “Of course not.” Why had Luther said that?

Fuck. Luther was too tired, too hung-over, too strung out, and too on edge for this.

He needed to escape before he said something else stupid. “I don’t care what you do!” He folded his arms across his chest. “I just wish you’d stop scowling at me all the time.”

But from the look in Onyx’s gaze, he didn’t believe Luther’s lie. “Luther?—”

“Just leave me alone.”

The grand warden coughed.

Luther glanced past Onyx. She still sat in the tearoom. She held a glass containing what must be the tea she’d ordered. Strangely it was a bright purple. “Go be with your mother. She looks like she could use the company.”

Onyx looked back in time to see his mother sip her purple tea. His shoulders tensed.

“Is that what she does every day, sit here alone and drink tea? Is that why she’s never at any functions?” Luther chuckled. “She seems as dull and lifeless as you.”

Onyx spun towards him. “What did you say?” Onyx snarled.

Any more teasing words died on Luther’s tongue.

Rage burned in Onyx’s gaze. “How fucking dare you!” he said, voice cold and dangerous.

Luther’s eyes widened. What had he done? He’d insulted Onyx a thousand times. But the earth elemental had never reacted like this before.

It must have been the comment about his mother. But why would that upset Onyx so much? Luther hadn’t thought he’d said anything so bad.

“How dare you mock her. After everything you and your family have done to her and my family, how fucking dare you!” His voice trembled with suppressed wrath. Onyx stepped towards him.

Luther took a step back, no idea what Onyx was talking about.

Onyx’s whole body shook. His hands clenched into fists by his sides.

Luther prepared to defend himself if one of those fists swung at him. “What did we do?”

A muscle twitched in Onyx’s jaw. Disbelief flashed across his face, replacing the fury. “You don’t know?”

Luther opened his mouth. No words came out.

Onyx’s face twisted. “My sister died. Killed during a dragon attack. Did you not know that?”

Luther blinked. Did he?

He searched his memories, and as he did, he thought he vaguely remembered hearing about the heir to the Grey Mountains being killed. But he couldn’t remember when or how.

“Since then, my mother has been lost to her grief, drinking lysithea tea almost constantly. She’s addicted to the stuff.” Onyx laughed, a bitter choking sound. “And you didn’t even fucking know. It’s not a secret. None of it is. Everyone knows my sister died. Everyone knows what happened to my mother afterwards. Everyone pities the great grand warden, now a husk of who she used to be.”

“I knew about your sister,” Luther blurted. “I just forgot.”

“You … you forgot?” Onyx choked.

“I mean …” What the fuck did Luther mean?

Onyx shook his head. “You don’t really care about anyone or anything but yourself.”

“That’s … that’s not true,” Luther said weakly.

But he couldn’t help but wonder if it was. Because even when the war had ended and he had been engaged to Warden Onyx from the Grey Mountains, he’d not asked a single question about his betrothed and his family. Nor had he considered how the war might have affected Onyx.

“You really are a selfish prick, aren’t you?” Onyx’s dark gaze bore into him.

Luther dropped his gaze. He couldn’t answer that. How could he?

Onyx shoved past him. Luther grunted and stumbled. He watched his husband stride away.

I really am a selfish prick.

Rubbing a hand over his face, Luther turned his gaze to the grand warden. Guilt gnawed at him as he thought about how he’d mocked her in her pain.

Was that what the purple drink was, lysithea tea? He’d heard of it and its properties. He’d even asked the herbalists in Draconia about it. But it was a rare plant that grew only under the eyes of the nature mages in Botanial. Even after the war, he had not known how to get a hold of it in Draconia.

Luther stood in the corridor. The grand warden stared blankly ahead of her. He felt wretched for what he had said. He’d not been aware that she’d been devastated by grief.

Do I only care about myself? About my suffering?

Luther let out a breath. He’d been hurting since the war, his mind filled with terrors from the past. Had his own pain consumed him to the point where he’d forgotten that others hurt too?

Gerard’s face flashed in his mind. Gerard had been reserved since his injury. And although Luther had worried for him, had he actually done anything to help him or show he cared?

His skin prickled with unease. He knew he was a mess and a fuck-up. It seemed he’d also failed to behave like a semi-compassionate being too.

Should I go to Onyx? Apologise to him?

The grand warden slowly slumped in her chair. Luther wondered what it would be like to drink the tea and lose himself to the oblivion it promised.

Letting out a breath, he took a step forward.