Page 143 of Courting the Dragon Prince
A knock sounded on the door.
Reluctantly, Onyx pulled back.
Luther frowned. “Lady Larimar said we wouldn’t be disturbed. And she’s a scary woman to disobey.”
The knock sounded again, more urgently this time.
“Your Highnesses.” Lady Larimar’s voice sounded through the closed door. “I’m sorry to disturb you. But this couldn’t wait.”
Onyx jumped from the bed and raced to the door, pausing just long enough to tug on a robe. He yanked the door open. “What is it, Lady Larimar?”
“I’m so sorry to disturb you, Your Highness.” Lady Larimar held several pages of what appeared to be letters in her hand. “But I thought you’d want to know this straight away. I searched your uncle’s rooms after you retired to see if I could find anything that might be informative.”
“What did you find?” Onyx knew it couldn’t be anything good.
“Letters to someone. But it is unclear who.” She glanced between Onyx and Luther, who sat up in the bed. “But it is very clear that your uncle was working and plotting with another to destroy the treaty.”
ChapterSixty-Five
Luther and Onyx stepped out of the meeting chamber, Grand Monk Ferdinand following.
“It is truly terrible what you have both been through.” The grand monk shook his head. “I cannot believe that Warden Flint would attempt treason, regicide, and nepoticide. I am just glad that he didn’t succeed and that Your Highnesses are both all right.”
That morning, when Onyx and Luther had arrived at the White Monastery, they’d alerted Luther’s father to what had occurred. King Alaric had immediately organised an emergency meeting with the other heads of the royal houses, a handful of advisers, and the grand monk to discuss the recent events.
“And to find out that Warden Flint has been plotting with another …” The grand monk’s bushy white brows lowered. “It is terrible. Truly terrible. I have always known there are those who oppose peace.” He trailed off. “But I had not prepared myself for the violence and the lengths a depraved individual might go to.”
Luther listened with only half an ear to the grand monk. Instead, his gaze followed the others as they left the meeting chamber. He studied those from Draconia, Botanial, Voltaria, Zephyrias, Necros, and the Grey Mountains, trying to ascertain if any behaved suspiciously.
Everyone else seemed to be doing the same as him though. They glanced around furtively as if wondering who amongst them they could trust and who was the enemy who’d be willing to kill to destroy their chance at peace.
Honestly, Luther had no idea how he would even go about spotting a traitor. He’d had no inkling that Warden Flint would betray them. Neither had Onyx, and Onyx was his nephew. They’d been close. If Onyx couldn’t see the man was a traitor, what chance did any of them have at finding those plotting against them?
Unfortunately, the identity of the individual Warden Flint had been corresponding with had been unclear from reading the letters. Warden Flint and his co-conspirator had written in such a way that their identity had been hidden.
And even though Onyx and Luther had pored over the letters for hours after Lady Larimar came to see them, they’d not discovered much else of use. Everything had been alluded to rather than explicitly stated. The main useful information that they had learnt from the letters was that Warden Flint had been plotting with at least one other person. But the letters were so vague that more individuals might be involved.
But what were these plots, and who were these plotters, and how would they uncover them? They’d brought the letters back with them to the monastery so others could look through them. Hopefully someone would pick up on something they’d missed.
Striding from the meeting chamber, Luther’s father and his eldest brother, Konrad, spoke heatedly in lowered tones. Konrad’s gaze followed the necromancers as they walked down the high-ceilinged corridor.
Luther could easily guess who Konrad thought had been plotting with Warden Flint. Although, Luther was not sure. The necromancers were creepy and their methods questionable and fucking repulsive. But did that mean they did not want peace? Did that mean they wanted war?
“We must all keep our eyes open,” the grand monk said, voice solemn. “We all must remain vigilant and alert.”
Luther nodded.
“Of course, Grand Monk,” Onyx replied.
“Stay safe, Your Highnesses,” the grand monk said. “May peace guide your steps.”
“Yours too,” Onyx said.
The grand monk bowed to them and left.
Luther and Onyx headed in the direction of the Draconian rooms. Limping, Luther leaned on his cane as they walked. Onyx stood close to him as if ready to reach out and grab Luther if he so much as wobbled.
“You all right?” Onyx asked.
