There would be no more discussions of hoards. No more friendship. No more opening up and revealing the fears of one’s heart. No. There would be no more of any of that.
They would be husbands. They would do their duty and fulfil their roles.
Elias had always been certain that a political marriage was all he would get. It turned out he was right.
Chapter
Fifty-Three
How could I be so easily duped?Gerard clenched his jaw.
He marched down the corridor, passing servants and warrior doves still on duty. He spotted a few dignitaries and nobles. But anytime he thought he might pass one, he took a corner to avoid them. He could not greet or make small talk. Not now. Not when his world had imploded.
He sucked a breath through his gritted teeth. His boots echoed loudly on the floor. He curled his fingers into fists, nails biting into the flesh of his palm.
How could I have been so completely deceived?
Gerard had always been straightforward and honest by nature. But as the dragon warrior, he’d been involved in diplomatic meetings and constant negotiations. He thought he’d developed a sense for when an individual could or could not be trusted.
He’d met dishonest people. Plenty of times! Sometimes someone was obviously duplicitous and dealing with them left a bitter taste in your mouth or a foul smell in yournostrils. Other times, it was more subtle. Something just felt slightly off about them. Or there was an inconsistency in their manner or speech that gave them away.
But Elias was not like that at all.
Elias was like a cool evening breeze after a sweltering summer day. He smiled, laughed, and sparkled through life. He brightened every room. The air smelled sweeter after he passed through it. Gerard’s concerns always lightened in Elias’s presence. Elias made Gerard believe, made him hope for things he’d long ago given up on.
Like the hope that anyone could ever care for or desire me again.
Gerard exhaled. What had he been thinking? Of course Elias could not desire him! Of course Elias would see him like everyone else saw him. Gerard had been a fool to think otherwise.
Vile. Repulsive. Dragon wretch.
His footsteps slowed. He turned to the window. And for a moment, he took in his face in the glass. Even in the weak reflection, he was a ghastly sight. The eye patch sat over his right eye, surrounded by damaged skin. The remnants of the lightning attack—of Elias’s attack.
The man really was a magnificent actor. He’d fooled Gerard completely. Gerard really had believed him to be a weak lightning sorcerer when Elias could do the things he could …
Gerard lifted a hand, hovering his fingers an inch from the skin of the right side of his face. Gerard had seen Elias’s capabilities first hand. He’d felt them. Felt the convulsing agony of them. And now he’d forever bear the scars of their encounter.
Elias was a lightning archmage. Gerard still had trouble comprehending it.
People had mocked and teased Elias for his weak powers. And Elias had let them. No doubt Elias must have laughed at them behind their backs as he made fools of them.
And he’d made Gerard the biggest fool of them all.
Gerard dropped his hand. Had any of it been true? Had there been a moment where Elias had felt maybe an inkling of affection for Gerard?
He closed his eyes. Unbidden, images flickered before him, Elias striding out to him at the Tournament of Dragons, sucking his cock afterwards in his tent, the wedding, the wedding night. Elias had been so fucking convincing.
Could it really have been just an act? Or was there some truth there too?
Or was Gerard being desperate, looking and hoping that Elias might care for him, when he so clearly didn’t?
He took a step back and began to walk once more.
But why pretend he wasn’t repulsed by Gerard? Why pretend he liked Gerard at all? Why would Elias manipulate Gerard’s feelings like he had? What could Elias achieve by making Gerard fall for him?
Gerard ground his teeth together. Because it was true. He had started to fall for Elias.
Elias had cried when his cover had been blown. But no doubt that was all just some act too.
