Page 53 of Courting the Dragon Prince (A Royal Arrangement #1)

Chapter Fifty-Three

L uther gaped at Onyx.

“It’s actually surprisingly easy to bring down a cave ceiling,” Onyx bit out, tone harsh. “You don’t need many earth elementals to do it. And they don’t need to be particularly precise, powerful, or skilled.”

Onyx’s lip curled. “It’s unlucky for you though. No one had been stationed in those tunnels at the time. We’d all departed to assist the Voltaria army. The earth elementals who attacked and killed your people, they were those who’d been fleeing for their lives when you attacked our temple.”

Luther’s lungs clenched.

“So what did you do then, Luther? What did you do when you arrived at my temple?” Onyx asked through gritted teeth, his voice shaking.

Luther turned away from Onyx, trying to collect his thoughts, his feelings, his memories. But all he wanted to do was weep and scream. “The battle was already won when I got there. No enemies were alive.”

Onyx made a choked noise.

Luther closed his eyes. The temple formed in his mind, he remembered the sound of his wings beating. “I was so far gone. I’d led my division to their death. I was so enraged. So overcome by misery. So filled with regret.” He’d stared down at the temple, the tower, the pillars, and the stone structures.

Luther had opened his jaw, and all his pain spewed forth.

Luther opened his eyes. He stared at the granite pillar. He took a step towards it. “I burned anything. Everything. With dragonfire.”

To Luther’s surprise, his voice sounded strangely calm. He felt like he’d floated away and was just watching himself talk. “I slammed my tail into the tower. I watched it crumble. Then I burned the stones. I kept breathing fire until I could make no more. Then I landed, and knocked at the charred ruins and broken remains with my talons and tail.”

Luther’s hand clenched and then released. “The other dragons in my battalion had to knock into me to bring me back. They practically had to drag me away.”

“You destroyed my temple.” Onyx’s voice shook with rage.

Luther nodded, still staring at the granite pillar. “I did.”

“You killed my sister!”

Luther spun to face Onyx. “No.” Luther shook his head. “Your sister was already dead when I got there.”

“And that makes it better?” Onyx yelled, voice echoing through the temple.

“We were at war!” Luther screamed. “I lost warriors too that day. Your earth elementals killed them!” His voice broke.

Onyx’s nostrils flared. “They were attacking us! Your people deserved to die.”

“What? Fuck you!” Luther shouted and lunged. He grabbed Onyx’s shoulders and drove him with all his might against the granite pillar. “My people didn’t deserve to die!”

He yanked Onyx forward before shoving him back against the pillar again. “They were good warriors. They followed orders. My orders.” His voice shook as the tears streamed down his cheeks.

Onyx knocked Luther’s hands away with a growl. He shoved Luther back.

But Luther wasn’t done. He pulled his arm back and punched Onyx in the gut. Onyx bent over, crying out in pain.

“They didn’t deserve to die! They deserved so much better!” Luther yelled. “It should have been me who died. It should have been me. It?—”

Onyx straightened and punched Luther in the face.

Luther’s head snapped back as pain exploded across his cheek. But before he had time to recover, Onyx punched him in the chest.

Luther stumbled backwards, crying out in pain as he collapsed onto his knees. He clutched at his ribs.

They stared at each other, breathing heavily.

Only two steps separated them. But they stood a world apart.

“Your people started this war,” Onyx spat. “Your people invaded us because they wanted more land. It’s your fault anyone is dead! It’s your fault my sister is dead.”

The earth beneath Luther trembled. Around them, rocks floated into the air. Luther stared at Onyx. Was he doing this? Was he about to attack Luther?

With a groan, Luther stood, trying to find his strength, preparing to shift and fight.

“I almost forgot what you were.” Onyx sneered. “A dragon. A monstrous, bloodthirsty beast who started a war that tore our kingdoms apart. And for what?” he yelled. “Nothing but your people’s never-ending greed.”

Luther swallowed, trying to ignore Onyx’s words. And the truth of them.

Because it had been his grandmother who started the war. And even after she’d died, his family continued it. Luther had fought in the war even though he’d believed his people were in the wrong.

“Stop!” a voice screamed.

Luther cried out as hundreds of flaying stings pricked across his whole body. Something tore at his skin and clothes. He yelled out in shock, closing his eyes and covering his face, trying to protect himself.

He heard Onyx call out in pain too.

“Warden Onyx! Prince Luther! You must stop this behaviour now!” a familiar voice cried.

All of a sudden, the pinpricks of pain stopped. Luther opened his eyes. On the ground, tiny bits of gravel lay scattered around the temple floor.

Panting, Lady Larimar strode up the stairs towards them, her face set with steely determination. Luther could see others peeking through windows, watching him and Onyx. His gaze stopped on one window, where Warden Flint stood, watching them with a stony expression.

Luther turned to Onyx. Tiny red cuts covered his face, neck, and hands. The gravel had torn his clothing. Blood peeked through the tears in the fabric.

Luther glanced down at his hands to see them covered in tiny cuts. He reached out with a trembling hand and pulled at a bit of stone that had gotten stuck in his skin. He dropped it to the ground, watching the wound bleed.

“What by the powers of the mighty mountain spirits is going on?” Lady Larimar shouted as she glared between them.

Onyx opened his mouth. He closed it. He glanced at Luther.

Then he turned on his heels and strode away.

“Warden Onyx!” Lady Larimar called out.

But Onyx didn’t look back as he walked down the stairs and left the temple.

Luther collapsed to the ground. He touched a hand to the cheek where Onyx had punched him. He hissed and dropped his hand.

For several moments, Luther stared at the granite pillar in front of him, letting the misery wash over him. Lady Larimar spoke. But Luther wasn’t listening.

It seemed like he and Onyx would not get the happy, loving marriage after all.

Luther threw back his head and laughed.

He laughed. And laughed. And laughed until the laughs turned into sobs.

He dropped his stinging face into his hands as sobs racked his body. He collapsed to the ground and hunched forward, a mixture of sobs and laughter escaping him as he bled and throbbed with pain.