Page 132 of Courting the Dragon Prince

Luther glanced at him. He burst out laughing. “Are you pouting?”

“No. I’m not pouting,” Onyx said as he realised he was indeed pouting. He immediately stopped. “It’s the lysithea. It makes me act weird. And Ididsave your life. So stop complaining.”

Luther’s expression softened. “Thank you for saving my life, oh mighty earth elemental.”

“Well, I think you saved our lives first by grabbing that dagger,” Onyx said. “That was some quick thinking.”

“We aren’t saved yet. We still have to get out of this situation.” Luther sat back, surveying Onyx’s bandaged upper thigh. “That’s the best I can do for now.” His gaze met Onyx’s. “Now for stage two.” Then Luther reached into his pocket and pulled out a brass key hanging from a plaited leather cord.

ChapterSixty

“Blood and boulders! Where the fuck did you get that key?” Onyx asked.

Luther smiled. “Well, as you know, I hoard keys, especially pretty ones like this.” Luther held up the key. It dangled between them from the cord. “And although I have mostly grown out of the habit of stealing keys, I had a relapse.

“You see, when your uncle knocked on my door earlier, he had several keys hanging from his sash.” Luther wrinkled his nose. “And he was being so annoying, telling me he needed me to come with him, expecting me to follow him when I just wanted to be left alone.”

“Faster, Luther.” Onyx glanced towards the front of the wagon. “We have no idea how much longer we have before this wagon stops.”

“Right,” Luther said. “Anyway, I was in a pretty bad mood, and he was pissing me off, so I took one of his keys.”

“Well, thank the mountain spirits you did,” Onyx said.

Luther gave him a tight smile. “Thank me if it works on our shackles. I only took one. I figured he wouldn’t notice one missing.” Luther slotted the key into the shackle wrapped around his own wrist. “If I’d known he’d planned to kill us, I’d have taken them all.”

Luther tried to turn the key in the lock. It didn’t budge.

Onyx’s heart sank.

Luther exhaled sharply. He tried to turn the key again. Luther grunted as he wiggled it. But still, the key wouldn’t turn. “Shit.” Luther yanked the key from the lock. “Hopefully it works in yours.”

Onyx held out his wrists.

The rocking and jolting of the wagon stopped. They both looked around. It seemed they’d reached their destination.

“Quickly!” Onyx whispered, glancing at the wagon door. He could hear voices outside now that the sounds of the wagon and hoof-beats had stopped.

Luther slid the key into the lock of Onyx’s shackles.

Onyx’s whole body vibrated.

Luther turned the key. It clicked. The manacle opened. Onyx exhaled.

“Yes!” Luther hissed. He yanked the shackle free from Onyx’s wrist.

“Thank the mountain spirits.” Onyx held out his other wrist.

Onyx could hear movement outside. Soldiers dismounting. Footsteps. How long until they opened the wagon door?

Luther unlocked the second shackle and then tugged it open.

Like a wave, Onyx felt the energy of the mountains flow into him. He took a breath and felt their pulse moving around him. How he’d missed it.

Onyx closed his eyes, reaching out, savouring the feel and taste of the energies of the different rock, limestone, basalt, slate, schist, marble, gneiss?—

“Whatever stone meditation you’re doing right now, stop it!” Luther whispered. “We have other things to deal with now.”

Onyx’s eyes snapped open. “Right.” He shook his head. “Sorry.”