Page 67 of Courting the Dragon Prince (A Royal Arrangement #1)

Chapter Sixty-Seven

O nyx knocked on Jade’s door.

After several moments, it opened. Jade stood in the doorway, clothes dishevelled and her expression neutral. The skin beneath her eyes was puffy and splotchy.

“Yes, Cousin. Is there something I can do for you?” she asked, voice hoarse and strained.

“I just wanted to check on you,” Onyx said.

Just before the meeting earlier that day, Onyx had found Jade privately and informed her of her father’s actions and his death. He would not have had Jade find out what had passed at the emergency meeting.

She’d sat silently, hands clasped in her lap as Onyx told her what had happened. She’d remained completely still. But a slight tremble to her lip had betrayed her controlled and calm exterior as he spoke.

She’d nodded when he finished. “Thank you for informing me,” she’d said, voice stiff.

After a long silence, he’d excused himself. Likely, she’d wanted to be alone.

Since then, she’d remained in her room.

That had been hours ago. It had been a long day, and Onyx just wanted to find Luther and collapse into bed with him.

After Onyx had left Luther with his siblings earlier that day, individuals from other royal houses kept seeking Onyx out. They wanted him to recount what had happened whilst they expressed their horror at what had passed.

Now that he was finally able to escape, he just wanted to find his husband and retire for the day. But before that, he thought he should at least see how Jade was doing.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Onyx asked. “Anything I can get you?”

She gave a shake of her head. “No. Thank you, Cousin.”

Onyx nodded. “Well, let me know.” Onyx really wished they were closer. Then he could pull his younger cousin into a hug.

“I will.” Her face remained blank.

Onyx turned away, wishing he knew how to support her.

But how could he? Jade’s father had attempted to kill Onyx. Instead, Onyx had killed her father. It was no surprise that she did not wish to open up to Onyx about her feelings.

“I didn’t know,” Jade said.

Onyx stopped and faced her.

“I didn’t know,” she repeated. “Please believe me. I had no knowledge of what my father was up to.” Her hand clasped the doorframe.

“I know.” Warden Flint had told Onyx as much, and he’d had no reason to lie at that time. After all, he’d planned for Onyx to be dead soon after.

“I am so sorry, Onyx.” Jade’s eyes shone. “I am so very sorry for everything.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Jade,” Onyx said. “This isn’t your fault.”

She stared at him for several seconds, nodded, and gave Onyx a tight, watery smile. Then she closed the door.

Onyx stared at it for a few seconds before leaving. He walked down the corridor, the heaviness of the day weighing on his body.

Now I can finally go find my husband.

But no sooner had he thought the words than he heard laughter. Luther’s laughter.

Just the sound made Onyx smile and his whole body lighten. He’d thought Luther might still be with his siblings in the Draconian rooms. But it appeared that he’d come here, perhaps waiting for Onyx.

Onyx followed Luther’s laughter, the sound calling to the core of Onyx’s soul.

He found Luther on the settee with his mother. The two faced each other, their backs to Onyx.

When Onyx had filled Jade in earlier that day, his mother had been asleep in her room. As a result, Onyx had not yet told her what had occurred. He’d need to soon. There would be no hiding the truth from his mother, even if she was so often in a daze.

But tomorrow. Not tonight. Onyx didn’t think he had the strength to tell his mother that her brother had attempted to kill Onyx and Luther and had planned to murder her too.

“Here. Have a look at the two of them!” the grand warden said, her voice clear and unslurred. She sat upright as she held open her locket. One side of the locket held a portrait of Onyx. The other side, Tourmaline.

Onyx took a step further into the room. This was the most alert Onyx had seen his mother in years. He looked at the table. No empty glasses of lysithea tea could be seen. And no servant waited with a pot, ready to pour.

Luther leaned in close to examine the portraits. “They were very cute.”

“They were. I had these miniatures painted when they were about to leave for the Mystic Mountain Temple.” His mother turned the portraits towards her so she could see them. “When Tourmaline was old enough to go away for her training, they begged to go together.”

She smiled. “It seemed wrong to separate them when they were so close. So I allowed Onyx to go with her, even though he was too young.” She chuckled. “My advisers did not agree with me. But I liked the idea that they had each other as they faced the world away from Limestone Castle. Especially because of the war.”

The grand warden slid her fingers over the portraits. “Onyx must miss her so much.”

Onyx’s heart convulsed painfully in his chest.

He’d never spoken to his mother about how he’d felt about losing Tourmaline. When Tourmaline had died, he’d been at war. When he’d returned, his mother had been too far gone with her grief and too deep in her cups of lysithea tea to notice his attempts to talk to her about anything.

And here she was, appearing to be sober and talking to Luther.

“He does miss her,” Luther said. “Very much.”

“It is good you are here for him, then.” The grand warden inhaled deeply. “I have not been a good mother to him. Or a good grand warden. I have lost so much of myself.”

“Grief can have that effect on us.” Luther smiled sadly at Onyx’s mother.

She nodded. “I’d like to try and be better, a better mother and a better grand warden. I’d like to try …” She trailed off, still staring back down at the portraits.

“It can be hard when you’ve been lost for so long to the darkness and grief,” Luther said.

Onyx didn’t know if Luther spoke about himself or Onyx’s mother.

“You’re right.” His mother sighed. She closed the locket.

“I guess all we can do is try to get better.” Luther paused. “To improve bit by bit and trust that one day we’ll be a version of ourselves that will be better. That’s my hope anymore.”

His mother nodded. She let out a shaky breath, eyes glistening. “I’m glad Onyx married you. I’m sure you’ll do him a world of good.”

Onyx’s throat tightened. He should probably say something and not be lurking, but he couldn’t find his voice. All his emotions had swelled up inside him, choking him, making him unable to speak, breathe, or move a millimetre.

“I’m glad I married Onyx too.” Luther smiled. “Your son is wonderful. He has already done me more good than I deserve.”

“I doubt that.” The grand warden took his hand. “I think you deserve far more than you think, Luther. You are a kind man.”

“No.” Luther shook his head, trying to tug his hand back as if he couldn’t accept the simple praise.

But his mother held Luther’s hand firm. “You are. And I am glad you are part of our family, Luther.” She released his hand. “I am going to retire to my room for the evening.” She stood. “Good night.”

“Good night, Grand Warden,” Luther replied.

She held up a hand. “Amber, please. We’re family.”

Luther smiled. “Good night, Amber.”

Then his mother turned and looked directly at Onyx, her eyes clearer than he’d seen them in years. She walked towards him. Onyx felt his face burn at being caught eavesdropping.

“Good night, son.” She placed her hands on his shoulders.

Onyx’s throat tightened. “Good night, Mother.”

She stared at him. “I …” She hesitated. “I will be better. I will try, at least.” Then she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She smiled, dropped her hands, and walked from the room. Onyx watched her leave, heart lodged in his throat.

When he turned back to Luther, Luther smiled softly at him. “Eavesdropping?”

Onyx came around and sat beside him. “I have not seen her like that in a long time.”

He’d gotten so used to seeing his mother befuddled and confused. He’d practically given up hope that she might improve. For the first time in a long time, he felt a spark of hope that his mother might return to him. Maybe she wouldn’t be the woman she’d been. But it might be some form that he’d recognise.

“You’re good at talking to my mother.” Onyx wrapped his arm around Luther.

“I understand her in a lot of ways.” Luther put his hand on top of Onyx’s knee. “I understand what it is to lose so much of yourself to pain.”

Onyx kissed his cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”

“For what?” Luther asked.

“For trying to get better. I know it isn’t easy. And like I said before, I’ll be with you every step of the way,” Onyx promised.

Luther exhaled and leaned his head against Onyx’s shoulder. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“And I agree with my mother,” Onyx said.

Luther turned towards him. He raised a brow.

“I think you deserve more than you think,” Onyx said.

Luther lowered his gaze. He let out a breathy laugh. “I don’t know about that.”

“Well, I do.” Onyx cupped Luther’s cheek. “I think you deserve happiness and love. I want those things for you.”

Luther lifted his gaze to Onyx’s. He swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing.

“I am so glad to have you by my side as I face life’s difficulties and uncertainties,” Onyx said. “Since my sister’s death, I have felt so alone in this world. I don’t think I even realised how lonely I felt until you came along. I am so grateful that I have you.” Onyx’s chest swelled with all the affection he felt. “I love you, Luther.”

“I love you too.” Luther pressed their lips together. “Now I don’t want to talk anymore. Not today. I just want to be with you.” He kissed Onyx again. “Take me to bed.”

“Are you tired?”

“No.” Luther kissed him again, this time nipping at Onyx’s lower lip. “Not even a little bit.”

Onyx slid his arms around Luther, capturing his lips in another kiss. Their mouths moved in a dance that Onyx would never grow tired of.

Onyx slid his fingers up the nape of Luther’s neck, cradling the back of his skull as his tongue plundered Luther’s mouth.

Luther moaned.

Onyx broke the kiss. “I think we should retire to my room. Now.”