Page 28 of Courting the Dragon Prince

“We just need to continue going this way. We’d probably be there by now if you hadn’t been dragging your feet,” Onyx bit out as he folded the map and walked.

“Me? This is your fault.” Prince Luther pointed at him as he kept pace with Onyx. “You can’t read a map for shit. You spent ages studying it, and then you took us the wrong way.”

Onyx turned on him and waved the map in the air. “This map is intentionally unclear. The symbols are muddled. It’s a puzzle of some kind.” He paused. “No doubt to make this more of a challenge for us.”

“Let me have a look at it.” Prince Luther grabbed the map.

Onyx didn’t release his grip. He didn’t trust Prince Luther with theironlymap.

“Come on!” The prince tugged.

Gritting his teeth, Onyx released it. Not because he wanted to, but because he feared Prince Luther would tear it if he didn’t give it over.

“Now we’ll get somewhere,” Prince Luther said triumphantly as he unfolded the map. “This isn’t so hard. You just need to … Wait. That doesn’t make sense.” He frowned.

“See!” Onyx grabbed for the map.

But the prince held it out of his reach. “No. I can get it. And you’ve had it for hours. It’s my turn!”

“You don’t even know where we are.” Onyx reached for the map.

“Yes. I do.” Prince Luther took a step back whilst Onyx kept trying to snatch the map from him.

Suddenly, Onyx had a clear picture of the two of them. Squabbling in the forest over a map like a couple of toddlers.

“Fine.” Onyx stepped back. “But you better not lose it.”

Prince Luther shot him a look. “I’m not a fool despite what you might think.” He studied the map for several moments. He strode forward. “This way. I’m sure of it.”

Onyx reluctantly followed, certain that they were making a massive mistake. Hopefully, once he realised it, Prince Luther would give him back the map.

A breeze blew. Dark clouds drifted across the sky, which had been sunny and clear not that long ago. Leaves rustled in the trees overhead.

The prince kept glancing at the map as they made their way onward. They passed several mounds of stone. But Onyx couldn’t feel them. He couldn’t feel the earth or rocks or anything with the shackle around his wrist.

It unsettled him. He felt naked and vulnerable. He couldn’t wait for this quest to end.

Through the trees, he spotted a pair of jackalopes. Hearing the sound of their boots, the jackalopes raised their antlered heads, ears swivelling towards them. A moment later, the jackalopes hopped away, disappearing into some shrubbery.

“What sort of key do you think it will be?” the prince mused. “Do you think it will be ornate or simple? What metal do you think it will be made of?”

“What sort of questions are those?” Onyx scoffed. “Who cares what sort of key it is or what it’s made of as long as it separates us!”

“I was just asking.” The prince sounded rather miffed.

Onyx frowned as Prince Luther pouted. Had Onyx offended him?

A soft pitter-patter began above. A moment later, rain drizzled down.

“Fucking perfect,” Onyx muttered.

“We should find cover.” The prince glanced down at the map, eyes searching.

“Afraid you’ll melt? Are you made of sugar?” Onyx mocked. “It’s just a little rain. We can handle it. We keep going.”

Prince Luther shook his head, gaze still firmly on the map. “It’ll come down heavier in a moment. It’s going to be a proper storm.”

Onyx scoffed, but he stopped when lightning lit up the sky. Thunder followed. The drizzle turned into a pour.