“Only the ones that are useful.”
Leopold’s gaze fell on Auburn. “Say what you like, but I know what brought you down here, and so do the people trying to kill you.”
“Agreed. I’m ending the diplomatic mission, and we’re all going home,” Eli said. “Two assassination attempts are enough.”
“Not like you to give up,” Leopold said.
“Not like me to have something to lose.”
“More truth to that than there should be.” Leopold watched Auburn as she sat in Eli’s arms, the prince comforted by her closeness. “I wanna see justice done, but I’m not the one paying the price.”
“My family has already paid enough,” Eli said.
“I will not disagree, Your Highness, but justice does not have a home in Qumaref, and it should,” Ndrek said.
Eli laid his cheek against Auburn’s hair. “Dracor, the Dragon Church, and the Knights of Valor are the guardians of justice.”
“Justice is as much the responsibility of the Crown.” Leopold crossed his arms over his chest. “You already know that. Unless that’s another lesson you forgot.”
“How could I forget when living up to it has cost so much,” Eli snapped.
“Neither the Dragon Church nor the influence of the Tamryn Crown will touch Qumaref without your plan,” Ndrek said. “Both are much needed.”
“Your plan is very good.” Auburn snuggled closer to Eli. “Good for Tamryn, good for Qumaref, and a path to freedom for some who’d otherwise die as slaves. I hope you will see it through.”
Leopold hid a smirk and turned away.
Eli glared at the Knight as he hugged Auburn. Gazing down at her, his voice softened. “Your life is in danger. I can’t stand by-”
“No one is asking you to stand by.” Auburn linked her fingers with his. “Everyone in this room knows better than to ask that of you.”
“I won’t risk you.”
“My death won’t lead to war.”
“Don’t bet on that,” Leopold mumbled.
Auburn touched the gold dragon etched into the buttons on Eli’s jacket. “Perhaps with Sir Leopold and Ndrek here, Sligo can improve security enough that you can complete these negotiations. You didn’t want to spend two months sailing to Qumaref to leave without a deal.”
Eli’s jaw twitched as she repeated his own words.
“At least talk to Sligo.” Auburn laid her head against the prince. “He’ll give you the truth.”
Tightening his arms around her, Eli knew she was right. And his father would take more kindly to his social faux pas of ending his engagement to Lady Daniella if he came back with an agreement.
By not marrying Lady Daniella, his father would assume Eli had given up his aspirations for the throne. The prince wasn’t sure what his father would think of that.
Eli said nothing for several long moments as he considered. He knew what the right thing was, and yet... He sucked in a breath as he stared down at her copper hair.
Damn duty. Damn being born a prince. And damn Dracor for not choosing the next king. Eli closed his eyes. “We will stay, and I will get that trade agreement.”
Auburn hugged him.
“It appears as if I have added two more to my retinue.” Eli let out the breath he’d been holding as he glared at Leopold. “If the sultan knows you’re a Knight, he’ll demand to meet you. I’d rather he didn’t.”
“Me, too,” Leopold said.
“If he learns Ndrek is a mage, he’ll also be interested in him,” Auburn said.
“I’m less worried about introducing Ndrek than I am Leopold,” Eli said.
“Don’t blame you. Ndrek is good at making pretty with people.”
Ndrek bowed with a flourish.
“I will trust you to guard Auburn and protect her while I’m at the negotiations.”
“Couldn’t stop me from protecting her,” Leopold said. “And Ndrek’s not bad for a wizard.”
“Was that a compliment, Sir Leopold?” Ndrek said.
“Nope.”
Ndrek grinned.
Chapter 31
The group returned to the palace several days later without incident, and they settled into the cool comfort of Eli’s suite.
Leopold sprawled into an overstuffed chair. “Ndrek and me’ll keep an eye on Auburn. I’m guessing you got meetings to attend.”
“Tomorrow,” Eli said. “In the meantime, Sligo will give you a run down on Qumarefi security.”
“That means you’re kicking us out of your rooms.” Leopold glanced at Auburn.
“Hard for you to tour the palace in here.”
“You wanna come with us, Auburn?” Leopold asked. “Accommodations aren’t as nice, but the company’s better.”
Eli’s words dropped to a low growl. “Get out.”
Auburn squeezed the prince’s hand and smiled at Leopold. “Thank you for the kind offer, Sir Leopold, but I would prefer to stay with Prince Eli.”
Eli laced his fingers with hers. “You can see yourselves out.”
Leopold grumbled, but he led Ndrek out of the suite and closed the door behind them.
As the door closed, Eli tugged on Auburn’s fingers and pulled her into his arms. He tangled his hands in her hair as he touched his lips to hers. He’d meant the kiss to be soft, gentle, but the need that stole through him demanded more.
By the gods, he wanted her. Needed her. He deepened the kiss and claimed her mouth.
Auburn softened against him, her lips parting as she gave him all he asked. He stroked his fingers down her back, across the indentation of her waist, and over the swell of her hips. Touching, memorizing every detail of her.
Auburn was his.
To the seven hells with Daniella, the prophecy, and Tamarian politics.
He molded Auburn against him as he kissed her, as he touched and stroked her. He enjoyed the way his kisses left her breathless, and the intensity of his own need surprised him.
She spread her hands across his back, and his muscles bunched beneath her fingers as he pressed her softness against the hard wall of his chest. A quiet sigh escaped her, desire already stealing through her. He wanted to give her that and more, wanted to fill her with the golden bliss of shared pleasure.
Teasing his fingers along her heated flesh, he drank in her silken skin, the rich scent of her, and her soft moans. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her down on the crisp linens as her copper hair fanned over the plump pillow. He stroked down her sensuous curves, teasing over the soft swells of her breasts and trailing over the roundness of her hips.
As he eased his fingers back up, he found the fastenings on her dress and unhooked them. A moment later, he slid the garment off her, and he sent her underpinnings after them.
Color flushed her cheeks as he paused and drank in the sight of her milk-pale skin, rich curves, and the copper curls at the juncture of her thighs.
By the gods, she was beautiful.
Need burrowed into him, but he reigned it in as he stroked up along the outside of her thigh, reaching higher until he cupped her soft breasts.
His thumbs found her pert peaks, and she moaned, arching her back and filling his hands. Kneading her soft globes, he listened to her intake of breath as he leaned forward and captured her lips with his. She yielded to him, giving him all he wanted. The feminine scent of her filled him, and he grew drunk on the taste of her.
Stripping off the rest of his clothes, he tossed them to the floor.
She reached for him, and he came, filling her arms as he parted her thighs and eased his knees between them. Her breath tangled in her throat as he opened her to him, and his weight pressed her into the bed. The light sprinkle of hair on his chest teased her sensitive mounds, and he groaned as she wriggled against the evidence of his desire cradled against her belly.
He caught her lips with his and plundered her mouth as his hands stroked her.
Auburn dug her fingers into his shoulders as she clung to him, but
Eli gave her no quarter as he lavished sensation on her. Touching, caressing, searching for the places that brought soft sighs to her lips then exploiting them.
Desire flushed her skin, and she surrendered completely and totally to him.
She stroked down his back and grazed him with the tips of her nails as she teased over his hips and back up his abdomen.
By the Twins, he loved her and wanted to give her everything. As she gave everything to him.
Her questing hands ignited him, and his body responded. Eli grit his teeth to keep control. He caught Auburn’s fingers and pinned them above her head as he continued to explore her, stroking down her cheek, over her collarbone, and teasing her rosy peaks before dipping lower over her softly rounded belly.
Teasing lower still, he traced the curve of her hip and the smooth column of her thigh. He stroked the sensitive area behind her knee, and she writhed beneath him as she parted herself wider for him.
His eyes locked on hers as he teased up her thigh and over the curls at her apex. Dipping inside, he found the tiny nub secreted there and rubbed his thumb over it.
She moaned, her hands slipping from his grasp as sensation shot through her and she clung to him.
Capturing her mouth again, his lips and tongue teased her as his hand continued its ministrations. When he was certain she was ready, he eased a finger into her, and her velvety sheath tightened around him.
She opened herself further to his plundering hand, urging him forward.
Eli knew what she wanted, knew what he’d aroused in her. He slid his hand from her slickness and guided himself between her parted thighs, pressing into her and taking her completely.
She held him as he stretched her, filled her, and made her his. Her breathing hitched, then she moved beneath him. She was already learning the steps to this ancient dance.
Her throaty moan sizzled through him, and he met her, matched her, took them both further up the cliffs of passion.
His chest pressed against her softness as his arms encircled her. Taking her. Filling her over and over as the scent of vanilla and sandalwood, the sound of her pleasure, and the feel of her in his arms permeated his senses and left room for nothing but her.
Auburn tightened her arms around him, clinging to him as he heaped a rising tidal wave of desire on her. His steady thrusts drove them higher and higher, building, reaching. He plundered her softness until she soared beyond.
Gasping as she lost herself, her body arched beneath him as her passion exploded.
Her velvety sheath gripped him, caressing him in the most intimate of ways, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. Eli lost himself in her.
Falling back on the bed beside her, he gathered Auburn to him, their limbs still intertwined as he wrapped a blanket around them.
“I love you, Eli,” she whispered as she nuzzled against his chest.
He held her closer and kissed the top of her head as he watched her features soften with sleep.
“And I love you.”
The words swirled through the room, and he couldn’t deny them.
By the gods, he loved her.
A truth, a dangerous one.
He’d almost lost her. Eli closed his eyes as he waited for the waves of fear to quiet. He’d never wanted to be vulnerable again, never wanted someone to have such power over him again.
She’d crushed that plan, taking his queen and forcing him to rethink his strategy.
He didn’t care. She was alive and where she should be. Where he always wanted her to be.
With him. And safe.
Chapter 32
Negotiations resumed, and fear tightened Auburn’s chest as Eli donned a fresh silk suit. “Please be careful.”
The prince touched his lips to hers. “I will.”
Responding without thought, Auburn twined her arms around his neck and pressed close to him.
Eli groaned and crushed her against him as he plundered her mouth and tangled his hands in her hair. After several long moments, he broke away from the kiss and thumbed over her lush pink lips. “Promise me you’ll stay with Sir Leopold.”
“I will.” She gazed up into his brilliant blue eyes. “Sligo will be with you? And your normal security team?”
“Yes. Any more visions?”
Auburn shook her head. “But I’m still worried.”
“As am I.” He touched his lips to hers. “I’ll be careful. I have a great deal to live for.”
She sucked in a breath as Eli left their suite. He joined Rolland and the rest of his retinue, but there was no mistaking which one was her prince. She made the sign of the dragon over her chest and whispered a prayer for him.
By the gods, she was a fool, but she was a fool in love.
After Eli returned to negotiations, she busied herself with her normal morning tasks, caging her thoughts so they couldn’t wander. As much as she loved Eli, and as much he cared about her, he would marry Lady Daniella when they returned to Tamryn. He loved his country and his people too much to do anything else.
Pain wrapped around her heart, and she forced herself to concentrate. Eli was a neat man and tidying took little effort. Finishing, Auburn sent his boots to be polished and the wrinkles to be pressed from his suits. She then settled down with an epic poem written in Elven. It was beautiful but difficult and would occupy her mind.
She was ten pages into the story when Leopold stomped into the room and tossed a sheathed dagger onto the bed beside her. “You need to learn self-defense. We’ll start with a dagger and go from there. Not sure you’re strong enough to use a sword. Yet.”
Auburn put her book down, but she didn’t touch the dagger.
“Eli thinks he can protect you, and maybe he can. But if anyone gets past him, I want them to be in for a rude surprise when you kick their butt.”
“Qumarefi slaves are forbidden to touch weapons.”
“Good thing you’re not a slave anymore.”
“In the eyes of Quamerfi law-”
“Eli said you were part of his retinue. Word of a prince holds weight, even if that prince is Eli.”
“You don’t like Prince Eli much.” Auburn regarded the dagger before turning her attention back to the Knight.
“Nobility and the Dragon Church aren’t supposed to get along. Keeps us both honest. Though I like him better since his trip to Qumaref. See some of the same spark I once did.”
“You’re not what I expected from a Knight of Valor.”
“Good. Now pick up the dagger.”
Auburn swallowed hard, and Leopold waited. It was against Qumarefi law, whatever Leopold said, though she knew the folly of trying to convince the Knight to change his mind. And it would be good if she could protect herself, protect Eli should the need arise. She doubted the assassin had given up, or Premal, and there was her son to think about...
Her hands trembled, but she picked up the dagger.
“Now, come at me with it.”
She stared down at the sheathed blade and then over at Leopold.
“Like you mean it,” Leopold said. “These lessons I’m giving you might save your life. Or Eli’s. Now come at me.”
Auburn hefted the dagger, learning its balance. She left it sheathed and charged Leopold. He knocked her attack aside, the dagger skittering across the floor, but when he went to push her off balance, she dodged him and retreated to the other side of the room.
“You’re good at avoiding being hit, and I bet you’re a dancer with the way you move. I can work with that.”
“You can?”
Leopold grinned as he picked up the dagger and tossed it to her. “I’ve been training Knights a long time. No two alike, although I had one like you once. All graceful like. Hit damn hard, too, but she was hard as hell to hit back.”
“She?”
“You’ve heard the stories. The Dragon God doesn’t just choose men to serve Him. I’ve seen lasses channel the Dragon God’s power in amazing ways. But they had to believe they could do it, and
then they had to practice.”
“Practice.” Auburn stared down at the dagger without seeing it.
Leopold frowned. “You okay?”
“A young man, your son?”
“I don’t have a son.”
“His sword is lit with the fire of the gods. He looks like you, but younger, taller, stronger.”
“About enough of that.” Leopold snorted.
“His eyes are unusual. Violet.”
Leopold stilled. “My nephew, Sir Marcus.”
“He’s practiced with you for hours beyond counting. Practiced and now prepares for a horrible journey. To face something even worse than death.”
“I tried to talk him out of it, and I might yet.”
“He faces a creature made of bone, I...” Auburn shivered. “I have no name for it. He will have to choose. A fallen companion or the creature. Snakes pour from the fallen companion’s mouth and eyes. If he chooses that path, he will die, and the bone creature will live.”
“Hard choice,” Leopold said.
“He will have to make it. If he kills the bone creature, he will come home older, scarred, but still the chosen of the gods. And he must come home. The gods need him.”
“Gods have already asked a lot of him.”
Her eyes cleared, and she studied the dagger in her hand.
“Some vision.”
“Very clear, very urgent,” Auburn said.
“Wonder why you’re seeing it now.”
“I don’t know other than you must help your nephew come home.”
“Boy put his heart and soul into honing himself into a weapon brilliant enough to kill that lich. We’ll see that he comes home. Now it’s your turn to practice.” Leopold showed her how to hold the dagger.
Chapter 33
When Eli returned to his rooms that evening, Ndrek stopped him outside the door.
“As you requested.” Ndrek handed the prince a slim silk box.
Eli opened it and stared down at a gold necklace with two dragons twining around a large sapphire. The brilliant gem glittered even in the shadowed light of the hall.
A smile curved Eli’s lips. “Exactly as I directed.”
To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1) Page 16