Page 108 of Courting the Dragon Prince
But showing someone his hoard was a whole other level.
“Luther, don’t worry about it.” Onyx squeezed his bicep.
“No. It’s fine. You want to see a dragon’s hoard! So I’ll show you a dragon’s hoard.” Luther took the glass from Onyx and set it down. Then he grabbed Onyx’s hand and tugged him along.
“Really? Are you sure?” Onyx asked.
Luther glanced back and smiled as he led them down a passageway out of the portrait hall. “It’s no big deal,” Luther said as he started to sweat.
What if Onyx hated his hoard? What if he laughed? What if he mocked it?
“Well, I must confess I’m looking forward to your pile of gold and riches,” Onyx said as Luther pulled him down a flight of stairs.
Shit.
Because of course Onyx would expect his hoard to be comprised of gold and jewels. Luther swallowed. Still, he’d started this. He wasn’t about to chicken out.
“You’ll have to wait and see,” Luther said in a sing-song voice as he led Onyx deeper into the bowels of the castle. The air grew cooler as they climbed down another flight of stairs. Then Luther led Onyx down a side corridor.
He paused, glancing side to side, ensuring no one was around. He turned back and faced the wall. He placed his hand against the cool, hard stone.
“Open,” Luther whispered.
The brick wall groaned as it swung slowly open, revealing a narrow tunnel beyond.
ChapterForty-Eight
Luther grabbed a torch from a sconce on the wall and held it up in front of the newly revealed tunnel.
Onyx peered down the tunnel. “Your hoard is really hidden away, isn’t it?”
“Of course it is! A hoard can’t be easy to access,” Luther said as he led them inside.
Once Onyx entered, Luther placed a hand on the brick wall that had turned into a door. “Close.”
With another groan, the wall swung back into place, blocking the way they’d come. The only light now came from the torch he held.
“I hope you aren’t claustrophobic,” Luther said.
“Thankfully, I’m not,” Onyx replied.
Luther walked down the tunnel, ducking his head to avoid a low beam. The torchlight danced on the red walls ahead of them, but further along, only darkness could be seen.
Onyx followed. “Although, I have to point out that the magic word ‘open’ isn’t that hard to figure out.”
Luther smiled back at Onyx. “Unless you carry the family bloodline, that wall will not move no matter what magic words you say. Be careful, Onyx. If we separate, there is no way out of here for you. You’ll be trapped forever in these castle walls.” Luther brushed a cobweb aside.
“Pfff,” Onyx said. “Your castle is made of brick, which is made of clay, which I can control. If I want to get out of here, it will listen and move for me.”
“Huh,” Luther said. “I guess that’s true.” This castle really wasn’t that defendable against earth elementals. Luckily, the Grey Mountains armies never reached this far into Draconia.
“So are there places like this all over the castle?” Onyx asked. “Secret tunnels and passages?”
Luther nodded as they turned a corner. “We need places to hide our hoards. Although, some keep them outside of the castle in caves and caverns and whatnot.” Luther shrugged. “They like to feel like they’re wild dragons or something. Or they’re just worried their hoards will be easier to find within the castle. But since I started my hoard when I was six, this spot is where it’s remained.”
Perhaps he’d need to relocate it when he moved to Limestone Castle.
“That sounds actually really cute,” Onyx said. “A six-year-old dragon with a little hoard.”
