The footmen bowed low and left the room. Two maids took their place and set about unpacking.
Eli took Auburn’s hand and pulled it through his arm. They left his suite, and he led her through the royal apartments, keeping them in the warmth and light of the sun as it dappled the thick rugs.
“When will the priestess arrive?” Auburn asked.
“Shortly. I may not be the king, but few are unwise enough to keep me waiting.”
“Is Sligo still with us?”
Eli nodded.
As they walked through the well-guarded halls, they talked about their impending wedding and Tamryn traditions, who they had to invite, and why. The way she repeated everything back to him, Auburn was attempting to memorize all of their names, titles, and why the person was important.
He smiled. She really was perfect.
Stroking a hand over her shoulders, he leaned down and nipped her ear. “We need to work on the nursery soon.”
The thought brought a smile to Auburn’s lips.
“And we’ll need to work on the gala my father demanded for the arrival of the next Dracasan.”
“It sounds overwhelming.”
“You can do as much or as little as you wish, but my father will want to have the child’s Blessing Ceremony at the Dragon Temple.”
Auburn listened as he explained the religious significance of the ceremony, and how it would be their child’s first step toward receiving the Dragon God’s blessing.
“What if I’m wrong and the baby is a girl?” Auburn asked.
“Protocol will be the same. Dracor grants His favor based on merit, not gender.”
“When was the last time Dracor crowned a queen?”
Eli frowned. “Now that you mention it, very few girls are born to the Dracasan line. Perhaps Dracor’s curse applied to the Dracasan family as much as it did to the dragons.”
Auburn tightened her grip on his arm. “Curse?”
“Only a legend. It’s said Dracor made the race of dragons in his image. When Rashalee corrupted them, filling them with pride and greed, Dracor cursed them to only ever have sons.”
“They would eventually die out.”
Eli lifted his shoulders. “I’ve never seen a dragon.”
“Maybe it’s true, or perhaps it’s just a warning. Will you tell me the whole story?”
He held her close. “Of course.”
They walked as he told her the legend, his path keeping them in the sunlight while his story kept her distracted as they waited for the priestess.
Eli fought back his growing impatience. He wanted his home safe for the woman he loved and their unborn child.
He was angry because it was his fault. He’d ignored Fredrick because his cousin hadn’t played into Eli’s plans, and now that negligence endangered Auburn.
The prince cursed himself, but there was little he could do about it now.
The Dragon God liked to bring home His teachings in ways Dracasans wouldn’t forget. Something Eli would warn his son about.
His son.
The thought curled through him, and he held Auburn closer. The prince would do everything in his power to raise his son well, to protect him, and to make him worthy of Tamryn’s throne. Fredrick had done everything in his power to end the Dragon God’s line and failed.
Now Eli would do everything in his to preserve it.
As the prince guided Auburn back towards his rooms, three women dressed in flowing white robes were walking towards his study.
The Priestesses of Thalia bowed their heads to him.
“Someone contaminated my private chambers during my absence.” Eli led them to his suite and nodded toward the lengthening shadows crawling along the walls.
The priestesses’ eyes widened as they followed his gaze.
“We will see to it, Your Highness,” the woman at the front of the procession said.
Eli paused a moment as he considered how much access Fredrick had to the royal apartments. “I need you to inspect the entire palace and cleanse it as appropriate.”
The priestesses nodded.
Eli said nothing more. The removal of the dark presence of Uzakiel or Rashalee needed no explanation.
As the priestesses began their preparations, Eli led Auburn to his office and sent for Mrs. Fields.
“Who’s Mrs. Fields?” Auburn asked.
“The housekeeper. She’s been here as long as I can remember.”
Auburn frowned.
Eli touched his lips to her brow. “As much as I would prefer to explore Aerius with you, we have to prepare for our wedding.”
“We do?”
“My father made us wait a week because he expects more of a ceremony than just the two of us and a few witnesses.”
“I’m not sure how to plan such a thing.”
“Which is why I called for Mrs. Fields. I want this to be as small and private as the king will allow. She’ll pull it together.”
Auburn smiled. “You are his only son. His idea of small may not be yours.”
Before Eli could reply, a middle aged woman with steel gray hair and lips pressed into a thin line entered and curtsied low.
“I need you to plan a small affair for the end of the week,” Eli said.
“Is there an occasion, Your Highness, or perhaps a welcome home celebration?” Mrs. Fields’ eyes swept over Auburn.
“My wedding to Princess Auburn of Qumaref.”
The housekeeper swallowed back her surprise.
Eli arched a brow. “Is there an issue?”
“Of course not, Your Highness.”
“My bride will also need a gown.”
The housekeeper only nodded.
Auburn laid a hand on the prince’s sleeve. “You’ve already given her enough to do. I can wear one of my dresses from Qumaref.”
Mrs. Fields paled and dipped her head. “I’ll see to it Princess Auburn has a dress fit for royalty, Your Highness.”
Eli nodded once. “She’ll also need a lady’s maid. An excellent one. And whatever else a Tamarian princess needs. Warmer dresses, fur-lined slippers, bags, and such.”
“Of course, Your Highness. Will there be anything else, Your Highness?”
“Not at the moment.”
Mrs. Fields curtsied and backed out of the room.
Auburn watched the woman leave. “She dreaded walking in here, and now I see why.”
“She’ll be telling stories about today when she’s ninety.”
“It’s men like you that make a servant’s life so difficult.”
Eli drew her close. “I told you I wasn’t a good man, but you love me anyway.”
She smiled and leaned against him. “What will you do as I get poked, prodded, and measured for a dress?”
“Dresses,” Eli said. “It’ll get colder.”
Auburn pulled his arms tighter around herself.
The prince glanced at the stack of correspondence cascading across his desk. His secretary must have stopped by once he’d learned Eli was home. “I have a lot of catching up to do, but that will wait until after we’re settled.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Marry me.”
Auburn smiled up at him, and Eli touched his lips to hers.
Pulling back from her took all of his strength. “While the priestesses are here and the sun is still up, I should see Duke Calloway and Lady Daniella. They should hear our news from me rather than through gossip or a wedding invitation.”
Auburn flinched.
“I’m ending a business arrangement, nothing more.”
A knock on the door had them both glancing up, and Eli bid the intruder to enter.
Mrs. Fields curtsied, as did an entire coterie of women.
Eli kept his face impassive as he motioned for them to enter. He lifted each of Auburn’s hands to his lips and kissed her palms. “Make sure my princess is well pleased.”
The ladies’ eyes saucered as they nodded.
Eli retreated to
his desk, and Auburn glanced back at him. “I’m not familiar with Tamarian fashion.”
“I will marry you in a bed sheet. Choose whatever makes you happy.”
The ladies circling her sucked in their breaths and exchanged glances, but a frown from him had them focusing on the task at hand. One showed Auburn swatches of fabric and drawings as the others took her measurements.
Once Eli was certain that the wedding plans occupied Auburn, he slipped out of his office and motioned to two of the guards in the hall. “I am holding you personally responsible for my princess. You will not allow her out of your sight.”
The two men snapped to attention and saluted.
Once they’d taken up stations outside his office, Eli paused at the doors to his apartments. Satisfied that the priestesses were working through the Light spell, the prince sent a runner to find Duke Calloway and hurried down to the stables. He had to do this, but he didn’t like leaving Auburn alone even with Mrs. Fields, the royal guards, and three Priestesses of Thalia watching over her.
Chapter 47
Auburn heard Eli leave, and a sigh of relief passed through the women with her.
“Quite an intense man.” Mrs. Fields smiled and patted Auburn’s hand. “But he’s smitten with you.”
Color touched Auburn’s cheeks. “And I with him.”
Mrs. Fields clucked her tongue. “Of course you are, dear, and he’ll want everything just so for the wedding.”
“It was King Garrett who insisted on the ceremony. Prince Eli wanted to marry me tonight.”
“At least one of them had sense in his head. Now, about the menus we can put together on this short of notice,” Mrs. Fields said.
After an hour of working with Mrs. Fields and the other women, a chill shivered down Auburn’s spine. The room felt darker despite the warm sunlight, and Auburn glanced towards the door. Eli hadn’t closed it behind himself, but the door was shut and the guards missing.
Mrs. Fields and the other women followed her gaze.
“Is it locked?” Auburn asked, her voice softer than a summer’s breeze.
The housekeeper shook her head. “Why would it be, dear? No need to worry about anyone barging in unannounced. They wouldn’t dare come into Prince Eli’s study without an invitation.”
There was one person that would. Auburn had one of the ladies help her with the fastenings of her dress.
She glanced at the closed door again. “Is there a servant’s entrance in here?”
Mrs. Fields frowned. “Used to be a bedroom before His Highness converted it to an office. He liked the light.”
Auburn could see Eli using that light to his advantage, letting it shroud him in darkness while he studied anyone opposite him. But not the kind of darkness that was lurking outside his office now. That was Fredrick’s purview.
She remembered the feel of it from her visions, the same visions that had warned her not to ignore it. Mrs. Fields could think she was crazy, but Auburn had learned long ago to trust her visions.
They had gotten her to Tamryn.
Sucking in a breath, she walked over to Eli’s desk and rummaged through the drawers. Mrs. Fields exchanged glances with the other women when Auburn found a dagger and slipped it into the pocket of her skirts.
The housekeeper talked about flowers, but Auburn ignored her and crossed the room to search for the servant’s entrance. Mrs. Fields’ lips tightened into a thin line, but she showed Auburn where the entrance was and how to open it.
As the door snicked open, a young woman screamed for help.
“We must go,” Auburn said. “There’s only darkness and snakes if we stay here.”
Mrs. Fields’ frown deepened. “No need to get all worked up. It’s just Becky. Always flighty, that girl, but I best go see what’s what.”
“I don’t have time to argue.” Auburn touched the housekeeper’s arm. “Be careful.”
Before Mrs. Fields could say anything else, Auburn closed the servant’s door behind herself and fled down the dim corridor. She didn’t know where she was going other than away from the shadow that lurked outside Eli’s office.
A shadow that was seeking her.
She bit her lip as she thought about the young woman that had called for help, but Auburn shook off the guilt. Mrs. Fields would be okay. The girl would be okay. The shadow wasn’t hunting them.
Auburn had to get away. To escape the darkness.
If Eli lost her and their unborn son...
She knew how he’d responded to losing his mother. If he lost her and their child, Rashalee would win. She would destroy the royal family, and Tamryn would no longer be a beacon of hope and light.
Auburn would not let that happen.
Shaking off the thoughts, she focused on escaping.
The Tamarian palace was set up differently than the one in Qumaref, but all great dwellings needed staff. And they put that staff in the same place: an area where they could serve without drawing too much attention.
Auburn emerged from the passage and slipped through the halls as the dark presence stalked her. Sucking in a steadying breath, she remembered the visions. She needed to get to the gold dragon.
Even as panic nipped at her, she kept her head down and her pace brisk but not too fast. She didn’t know who was a friend and who wasn’t, and she needed to draw as little attention as possible. Easy enough as few noticed servants.
She found her way down to the kitchens, and the bright light, laughter and warmth made it a difficult place for the shadow to find her. Difficult, but not impossible.
She had to find the gold dragon.
Pausing, Auburn took in the organized mayhem as servants moved through the kitchen, talking, laughing, and being chased after by the cook. The older woman appeared as if she was used to sampling her wares, and her flour-spotted cheeks and stained apron whispered of hard work despite her good humor.
After several minutes, the cook noticed her. The activity quieted as the servants studied Auburn, landing first on the ornate dragon necklace and then taking in her clothes.
“You look lost, m’lady.”
“A little.”
“Andrew.” The cook waved her hand, and a boy of about ten scampered over to them. “Please help the young miss find her way. Palace is big. Easy to get lost.”
The boy nodded, and Auburn followed him across the busy kitchen and out the other side. She peeked over her shoulder as the servants returned to their work.
The shadow hadn’t followed her into the kitchen, but she could still feel it searching for her.
She sucked in a breath and forced back a shudder as she glanced at the boy.
“Where you looking t’go, miss?” the boy asked. “I know the whole palace inside and out.”
“I need to find the gold dragon.”
“Lotsa gold dragons in this place.”
Auburn bit her lip. She hadn’t thought of that. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember the place from her vision. “Tall white columns. The entire ceiling is gold with stained-glass windows that reach for the heavens.”
The boy frowned. “Sounds like the Dragon God’s chapel. Not sure anyone’s allowed to go there anymore. Been closed off forever.”
Auburn shook her head. “I need to find the gold dragon.”
“Might be the Dragon Church your looking for, but that’s real far away. Not sure I can get there.”
“Then let’s start with Dracor’s chapel,” Auburn said.
Andrew shrugged and skipped off with Auburn on his heels.
The boy knew his way around well, and they were soon deep in the palace, far from the heavily traveled hallways, the royal apartments, and the servants’ areas.
She urged Andrew to hurry, and the two of them raced through the empty halls to the heart of the palace.
By the time they reached the temple, Auburn’s breath was coming in sharp bursts, and the boy had sweat dotting his brow.
“Here we are, ma’am.”
Andrew took her
hand and led her into a beautiful temple, its pillars cut from the same alabaster stone as the palace. Dragon carvings twined up and around the pillars as soft light from the soaring stained-glass windows bathed the chapel. The arches cresting the ceiling were gold and shaped into dragons.
A whisper of dust clung to the air, and there was no scent of beeswax or candle-drippings. No one had worshipped here in a long time.
But it was softer here. Warmer. A faint gold light illuminated the front of the temple, and as it whispered over her, Auburn’s fear quieted.
This was a place of refuge. A place of light. She and her unborn child would be safe here. At least for the moment.
Auburn took Andrew’s hand. “Do you know who Prince Eli is?”
The boy’s eyes widened. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You must find him and tell him to come here. Tell him I’ll be waiting for him here.”
The boy nodded and raced out of the chapel.
Chapter 48
Eli sensed something was wrong the moment he entered the royal apartments.
He sprinted to his study and threw open the doors. There was no warmth, no homecoming. Just the same empty room that always waited for him.
Auburn was gone.
Fear clawed his throat as he darted out and headed back towards his suite.
The captain of the palace guards clicked a salute, drawing Eli’s attention. While the man’s uniform was pristine, sweat beaded his brow and worry pinched his face.
The prince’s fists balled at his sides, and he forced himself not to punch the captain. “Where are the two guards I stationed with my fiancée?”
“We found them dead in the room next to your office, Your Highness.”
Eli took a step back. “Where is Auburn?”
“We don’t know, Your Highness. The whole palace is on alert for her.”
“Where’s Mrs. Fields?”
“We found her and the women accompanying in the room next to your office, Your Highness. I don’t believe Princess Auburn is among them.”
“I want to see for myself.”
The captain snapped a salute and led Eli to a sitting room a few doors down from his study. Mrs. Fields and her army of helpers were laid across the chaises as the three Priestesses of Thalia who’d been performing the Light ceremony tended to them.
To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1) Page 24