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’svoice 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 fromeverything 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 beautyandmy 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.
