Elias’s chest tightened. She really was such a pitiful and pathetic sight. It was hard not to feel a little sorry for her, even after everything she had done.

  Elias knelt in front of her. “We will, Queen Consort. We will tell everyone the truth, that your children had nothing to do with the scheme. They will not be harmed.” He placed his hand on her knee.

  She sagged and gripped it. “Thank you. Thank you.”

  “But you must tell us everything now. Everything you know,” Elias said softly. He did not think he needed to press her as hard as he had before. They had time, and he knew how to work her.

  “I …” She glanced between the three of them before her eyes finally settled on Elias. She leaned in close. “There are things I cannot tell,” she whispered. “I just cannot!”

  Elias’s eyes bored into her teary ones. “You will have to. For your children’s sake. We will tell the truth. But everyone will have questions about what happened. To properly clear their names, we need to know everything. Otherwise, your children’s names might be forever tainted. You don’t want that, do you?”

  To be honest, Elias was not sure how they could completely avoid that. Their mother’s behaviour would stain them, no matter what happened now. But still, he would do all in his power to clear their names, if the queen consort cooperated.

  “I vow to you that I will strive to ensure the truth is known by all about your children,” Elias pledged. “But you have to tell us everything. The entire truth.”

  She stared at him, breathing heavily. She swallowed, clearly still unsure.

  “If you tell us everything,” Gerard said, “I will ensure that your children are given proper positions in the kingdom. They will no longer be overlooked. You have my word.”

  The queen consort let out a breath. “Really?” she asked, voice hopeful. “You will make sure they are important? That they are seen.” She looked to Konrad.

  Konrad nodded. “You have my word as well.”

  She smiled through her tears. “Then I will tell you all I know.”

  Chapter

  Seventy-One

  Not missing a beat, Elias asked, “Who were the robed and masked figures? There was one of them here at the upper White Monastery. They were there when I was captured, and they accompanied me to the tower. Do you know who that was?”

  But despite her declaration to tell everything, she hesitated. “I vowed that I would not say.” Queen Consort Adelina looked between them. Then she lifted her gaze and stared at the closed door. “But for my children’s sake, I will tell you.”

  Elias held his breath as he waited for her to speak.

  She opened her mouth. Then snapped it shut.

  Konrad stepped forward. “You must tell us! Now!”

  Once again, the queen consort opened her mouth. A muscle in her cheek twitched. “They—” She sucked in a harsh, gasping breath. Her lips moved. Her hand clutching at Elias’s went rigid. Then she tore her hand back.

  “What—” Elias broke off.

  Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Elias’s mouth fell open. He reached out a hand towards the queen consort but didn’t know what to do to help. Gerard grabbed Elias, tugging him back and to his feet as she suddenly fell onto her side on the bed. She flailed, limbs spasming and kicking out.

  “Fucking flames! What is wrong with her?” Konrad asked.

  “Call for a healer!” Elias shouted. But he did not take his gaze from the queen consort writhing before them.

  The door flung open. Footsteps exited. Hopefully it was the guards running to get a healer. But others ran in, coming up behind him. Still, Elias did not look away from the sight of the queen consort.

  “Dragon gods! What the fuck is happening to her?” Luther shouted.

  Spit foamed around the queen consort’s mouth. Tears of blood dripped from her eyes. She contorted and choked. But the cause of her suffering could not be seen.

  Poison? But if it was, then when had it been administered? And honestly, Elias had not seen a poison act like this before.

  Then all of a sudden, she slackened, body going limp.

  “What …” Konrad trailed off.

  Juniper knelt and took the queen consort’s wrist in her hand. After several seconds, she looked up at them. “She is dead.”

  Moments later the healer monks and grand monk came running. But the queen consort was beyond their assistance. The grand monk accompanied the healers into the room, to assess her as best they could and determine the cause of death.

  Meanwhile everyone else waited in the sitting room. The others spoke, trying to make sense of what had occurred.

  But Elias wasn’t listening. He stared at the flames burning in the fireplace.

  Gerard sat beside him on the settee. “You all right?”

  “I can’t make sense of it.” Elias shook his head. “I just keep feeling that something bigger is at play. That something is going on. But I can’t work out what.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Elias didn’t speak for a second, trying to gather his thoughts. “There have been three attacks here at the White Monastery during this peace assembly.”

  He rubbed a hand over his face. “The first by Princess Lantana of Botanial at Prince Ash Rosewood and Lord Barrett Morton’s wedding, the second by Warden Flint of the Grey Mountains on Luther and Onyx, and now on us by the queen consort of Draconia and the empress of Voltaria and Zephyrias.”

  “What are you getting at?”

  “I don’t know!” Elias closed his eyes as if he could see the problem more clearly with his eyes shut. “But that is three attacks. There is no obvious connection between them. But in two of the attacks, the perpetrators clearly had been working with someone else, someone who has remained hidden.”

  Gerard seemed to ponder that for several moments. “You think whoever was behind this attack might have been working with Warden Flint too?” He sat up straighter. “Could they have been working with Princess Lantana as well?”

  “Maybe. Maybe it was those masked figures,” Elias said, but he wasn’t sure. “Our stepmothers did not seem to want to ruin the treaty like the others. So maybe not.”

  Gerard exhaled. “Whatever the case, it is not good.”

  “No, it is not. And now this perplexing and sudden death …” Elias looked up at the ceiling. “I’m baffled.”

  “It is confusing.” Gerard gripped Elias’s hand in his. “But whatever we have to face, we’ll face it together. We’ll work it out.”

  Elias smiled at him, a weak, tired smile. He leaned against Gerard, taking strength and comfort from his steady broad shoulder. “We will.”

  Moments later, the grand monk came in, thick brows drawn low.

  “What did the healers find out?” Konrad asked.

  “They think it must be poison,” the grand monk said. “Although, they have not yet determined which. We will continue to examine her and determine …” He trailed off.

  Hurried footsteps sounded down the corridor from a different direction. Everyone turned towards the doorway. The grand shield gripped her sword and drew. She and the warrior monks stepped forward. But it was the grand healer and Healer Doran who burst into the sitting room.

  “Your Majesties!” Healer Doran cried out.

  “By the Way of the Dove, what has happened?” the grand monk asked.

  “The dragon king is dead!” Healer Doran shouted.

  Elias’s mouth fell open.

  Gerard jumped to his feet. “What?”

  Elias rose too, holding Gerard’s hand tight.

  “No! That can’t be possible!” Konrad’s face twisted. “He was fine moments ago!”

  “How?” Luther asked.

  “We do not know!” Healer Doran wrung his hands. “We were sitting with him. Both of us.”

  The grand healer nodded.

  “He looked like he was just sleeping.” Healer Doran’s voice trembled. “Then I noticed he wasn’t breathing. I don’t know what happened! He should have been all right! I don’t understand!” He looked at Konrad. “Perhaps it was the strange magic, Your Highness.”

  Then Healer Doran froze. His eyes widened as he stared straight at Konrad. “I mean … Your Majesty.” He fell to his knees and bowed. “King Konrad. My life and my will, I pledge them to you. I live to serve you, King of Draconia.”

  The Draconian guards knelt. “King Konrad. My life and my will, I pledge them to you. I live to serve you, King of Draconia.”

  Konrad stood frozen, mouth agape. Gerard wore a similar expression to Konrad.

  Elias squeezed Gerard’s hand as hard as he could.

  Whatever we have to face, we’ll face it together.

  Epilogue

  Gerard’s world had fallen apart. His father, the dragon king, had died. Konrad, his eldest brother, had become the dragon king, the ruler of Draconia, overnight. The peace accord at the White Monastery had turned into chaos, where no one trusted anyone. And Gerard now spent his days in endless meetings and negotiations.

  But as he walked beside Elias along the stretch of beach, Elias’s slender hand in his, he found that for at least one brief moment, he could breathe and the weight of everything lifted from his shoulders.

  They walked towards the water, gazing out over the waves roaring and crashing on the shore. Soon the sun would set. But for the moment, sunlight sparkled on the pale-blue water. If he flew out over the sea and just kept going, he’d reach Draconia.

  He glanced at his husband beside him. The stunning man with white hair and violet eyes stared ahead. Elias definitely needed a break from everything too.

  He avoided his father almost completely. Which was easily done, as the emperor had practically, if not officially, stopped ruling the kingdoms. He spent all his time locked in his quarters, unwilling to face the truth. Which was that his beloved wife had planned to murder him and his son and seize complete control of their kingdoms.

  Prince Matteo had come to the White Monastery. Although not technically emperor, he had taken over the ruling of both kingdoms.

  Uptight and straightforward, the heir to the combined Kingdoms of Zephyrias and Voltaria had been greatly displeased at his mother’s plotting. Now he focused on ensuring the kingdoms ran smoothly, that all those who’d plotted with his mother were dealt with swiftly and unmercifully, and that the peace treaty went ahead.

  Prince Matteo, at least publicly, did not appear too devastated by the death of his mother and half-siblings. Although, Gerard imagined it must have taken a toll. And he seemed to have no qualms about working with Elias, despite Elias having killed said mother and half-siblings.

  Elias often met with Prince Matteo and assisted him, but personally he had no aspirations to be the ruler of Zephyrias or Voltaria.

  “He will be a better ruler than me,” Elias had said with a shrug. “And it always looked like a rather unpleasant job. He can have it. I’d rather be the only known lightning archmage in the kingdom.” He’d laughed. “Now people will admire me for my beauty and my amazing magical powers.”

  Which was true. Everyone was rather in awe of Gerard’s husband now, whispering and pointing. Elias relished the sudden respect he’d gained. He never played the fool at all now, often seeming to show off his extensive knowledge and learning.

  They’d managed to keep the news of Colette’s powers quiet. It helped that only Senta had been there to witness that. Well, the only one still alive anyway.

  “This was a good idea to come out here and get away from the White Monastery. Even if we could only do so for a few hours,” Gerard said. Unfortunately, Gerard and Elias had more meetings planned for later that night. “But why were you so set on us coming to this beach?”

  Gerard hadn’t had to fly them here. If Elias had wanted some time off together, there were places closer to the monastery they could have gone and that wouldn’t have forced Elias to brave riding him.

  Elias smiled. “I asked the grand monk which was the nicest beach on the island.” He gestured to the sand and water before them. “He said this was it.”

  “And why did you want us to come to a beach? It’s lovely, of course. But we’ve never really gone to beaches together. Do you particularly like beaches?” There was still a great deal he did not know about his husband.

  Elias released Gerard’s hand. He walked along the beach.

  Gerard followed Elias’s lovely swaying hips. He’d fucked Elias that morning before they’d had to rise for the day. It didn’t stop him wanting to fuck Elias now. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of shoving his cock in that delectable arse.

  Elias glanced back at him, flicking his long white hair. “You’ll see soon enough.”

  Gerard chuckled. He glanced around, looking for some clue as to what Elias had planned. But seeing nothing, he just watched Elias’s walk, admiring his figure.

  He is mine. My husband. My love.

  Elias came to a stop. Gerard came up behind him, wrapping his arms around Elias’s waist. He held his warm body close, buried his face in his throat, and inhaled his scent.

  Gerard pressed a kiss to the top of Elias’s head. “Well?” He looked in front of them. The sandy beach seemed to widen at this point. But otherwise, it did not look any different from any other part of the beach. “Are you going to explain now?”

  “No,” Elias said, voice melodic and light.

  Gerard huffed.

  “I’d rather show you?” Then Elias lifted his hands in front of him, and his fingers wove in the air.

  “What are you⁠—”

  But Gerard did not have time to finish his question. Elias raised his hands to the sky. Light danced on his fingertips before lightning shot up into the air.

  Gerard’s arms around his waist tightened. His mouth fell open as he watched the lightning dance. His scars tingled.

  But he did not feel even a hint of fear. Not anymore. All he felt was awe and wonder at his husband’s abilities. He’d seen Elias’s power several times since they’d fought together. He knew in his core that Elias would not hurt him. Well, not hurt him again, anyway.

  Then Elias flung his hands forward, aiming at the ground. Lightning struck the sand. Gerard jumped. Elias’s laughter rang out as the lightning disappeared. He walked forward.

  Gerard released his hold and walked beside Elias. “Want to tell me what that was about?”

  Not answering, Elias stopped a few paces away. He knelt, and Gerard knelt opposite him.

  Elias leaned forward and brushed at the sand. “It worked!” he cried out. A smile split his cheeks.

  “What wo—” Then Gerard cut himself off.

  Because between them, the tip of a fulgurite poked up from the sand.

  Elias clapped his hands. “Now that you have me, I can make you all the fossilised lightning that you want!” Then he paused. “Although, maybe it isn’t as special now, when they can be made whenever you want them.”

  Gerard smiled. He reached out and took Elias’s hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed Elias’s fingertips. “You made them. How could it not be special? My hoard will be filled with fulgurites made by you.”

  With a laugh, Elias leaned forward and kissed him. Gerard cupped his cheek, returning the kiss. As one they moved away from the fulgurite. That sticking in your back probably would be unpleasant.

  Gerard lay back on the soft sand, pulling Elias on top of him.

  Elias straddled Gerard’s lap. He undid the sash wrapped around his waist. Then he pushed the blue robe off his shoulders, revealing pale skin that shone in the fading golden sunlight.

  Gerard slid his hands up the smooth skin of Elias’s torso. He wrapped a hand around the back of Elias’s neck and pulled him down for a slow kiss.

  “But you’re still fully clothed!” Elias protested against Gerard’s lips.

  “Well, you best remedy that, then.”

  Elias undid the buttons of Gerard’s coat. They had to break apart, and Gerard had to sit up to remove it from his shoulders. He then pulled his tunic over his head. The sun warmed his skin. Meanwhile Elias already had moved on to Gerard’s belt, trousers, and boots, removing them and casting them aside.

  Gerard lay back naked on the sand. Elias shoved his own shoes and tights off before once again straddling Gerard. They kissed, and Gerard caressed Elias’s silken hair with his hand. He pressed kisses to the naked skin of Elias’s collarbone.

  “You’re so beautiful,” Gerard whispered.

  “You are too.” Then Elias shoved Gerard back. He smiled and trailed his fingers down Gerard’s body as he moved back, until he straddled Gerard’s calves.

  Elias’s hands slid up and down Gerard’s thighs. Gerard gasped as Elias’s magic hands zapped his skin. His muscles tensed and vibrated.

  Then Elias wrapped a hand around Gerard’s cock and stroked.

  Gerard cried out. Elias skilfully stroked his prick from base to tip, squeezing, and then swirling a finger around the head. Meanwhile Elias’s other hand continued to glide along Gerard’s leg. Pricks of lightning danced across Gerard’s skin. He gulped in air as his gut tightened. He tilted his head back.

  Elias’s hand gripped the base of his cock. He leaned forward. Sweet, warm wetness surrounded the tip. Gerard looked down. Elias’s glossed lips stretched around his prick as he took Gerard down. His violet eyes watched Gerard. His cheeks hollowed.

  Gerard carded his fingers through Elias’s hair as Elias’s head bobbed up and down, taking him into his mouth over and over. Gerard’s dick glistened with spit.

  Then Elias removed his hand from Gerard’s leg and rubbed against his taint.

  “Fuck!” Gerard cried out as Elias zapped. He squeezed his eyes shut.

  The dual sensation of lightning tingles and delicious wetness unravelled Gerard. His feet kicked at the sand.

  Elias’s suction increased. The zapping intensified. Gerard’s balls pulled in tight. Pleasure coiled tighter inside him. His mouth opened as his orgasm approached.

  Then, all of a sudden, Elias’s warm mouth disappeared. Cool air brushed against his slick dick. The zaps and Elias’s touch pulled away.