Page 40 of Courting the Dragon Prince

Luther waved his hand, dismissing the compliment.

“You also threw that torch at the snail, saving my arse from snail spit,” Onyx acknowledged.

“That was just reflex.” Luther paused and smiled. “But you’re right. It was pretty impressive. Although, I did not like having to run through the tunnel in the pitch black.”

“At least there weren’t any turns. Just the one way in and out.” Though, since Onyx could connect to the stone, he could have navigated in and out in the dark even if there had been tunnels.

Onyx glanced at Luther. Surprised that they were actually getting along.

But fighting and almost dying together could make you forget that you hated a person. It could even make you see that person in a whole new light.

Luther’s clothes hung askew, covered in mud and grime. Dirt streaked his cheeks. No doubt Onyx looked similarly dishevelled and worse for wear. Luther limped along, having lost one of his boots to the snails. But he didn’t complain.

Maybe Luther wasn’t quite as bad as Onyx had originally thought. Or at least he had a few redeeming qualities.

One of the things that had bothered Onyx from the start was that Luther had always seemed so ready to smile. It felt like nothing hurt Luther, like the war hadn’t scarred him when it had the rest of them. He resented that Luther could smile and laugh so easily after all that pain, death, and destruction.

But perhaps Onyx had been too hasty in his judgement of Luther.

He stared ahead as they walked, wondering if they could find a way to get along, at least some of the time. If they just focused on developing a working relationship, that might be enough.

Onyx might have hoped for a love match once upon a time. But that was a foolish dream.

Right now, he’d settle for not hating each other. Perhaps he just needed to focus on developing a functioning, amicable relationship with no strong feelings, no love, no hate, and definitely no more sex. That would complicate things for sure. They just needed a pleasant, working relationship.

They walked in silence for several minutes.

Onyx frowned at the golden fields of wheat ahead of him. “Something has been bothering me.”

“And that is?” Luther glanced at him.

“We almost died today,” Onyx said. “We were sent to face a deadly foe without being at all prepared. We didn’t have any weapons. We couldn’t use our powers. I mean, what if we’d entered the chamber and the snails attacked us before we could reach the key?”

Luther’s brows furrowed. “Well, it was meant to be a quest. It was meant to test our abilities. And we are fighters.”

“But what if we’d died? That would have caused problems for the peace treaty. I assumed the quest would be challenging but not life-threatening. It seems bizarre to risk everything, our lives and the treaty, for some symbolic quest.” Onyx shook his head. “My uncle was involved in organising this event. I can’t imagine him being so careless.”

Luther stared at the ground as he continued to limp forward. “I’m pretty sure my brother and sister were also involved.” He reached out and grabbed a wheat stalk, tugging it free. He waved it back and forward. “Maybe they didn’t realise how dangerous the snails were.”

“Maybe.” Onyx stared ahead at the slowly darkening sky.

“We could ask when we get back to the monastery,” Luther said.

Onyx nodded.

They reached the small village, which was just a cluster of modest wooden houses, as the last of the light disappeared from the sky. They made their way to the only inn.

Soon they sat on stools by the bar, being served ale by the innkeeper, Mistress Fisher. Village folk sat at tables around them. Word had spread quickly about the two lords who’d rid them of their snail problem. It seemed every villager had descended on the inn to find out more.

“Did you hear, Magnus? These two defeated the snails!” Mistress Fisher called out over the chatter in the inn to an old farmer as he entered. She smiled widely, revealing several missing teeth.

Magnus looked between Luther and Onyx. “Did you really defeat the snails?”

“We did indeed.” Luther smiled. “The White Monastery sent us to rid you of your snail infestation, and we have done so. I burned them.” He pointed to Onyx. “He crushed them with rocks.”

Onyx chuckled and gulped his ale.

“And this fine lord”—another farmer pointed at Luther—“he says the drinks are on him tonight.”