To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(12)

Auburn swallowed as fear iced her limbs. She stepped back to stay out of the man’s reach. “I’m sure you have far more important things to do than make another man’s slave late.”

The guard leered at her. “Don’t belong to the sultan anymore. Looks like your new master doesn’t want you, sending you out here alone when you should be warming his bed. I wonder what Premal would pay for you.”

“She belongs to Prince Eli.” Sligo appeared from the shadows, sword and dagger drawn. “He exacts a high price if angered.”

The guard backed away from the armed and dangerous man.

Sligo nudged Auburn forward. “Prince Eli is waiting for you.”

Auburn sucked in a quick breath and hurried past the palace guard. When they’d rounded a corner and put more distance between them and the Qumarefi, Auburn risked glancing over at Sligo. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Thank Prince Eli.” Sligo paused and scanned the hallways before hurrying her along the corridor. “Is the Premal he mentioned the same man that sat on the other side of the sultan last night?”

“You’re well informed.”

“I have to be to keep His Highness safe. What I haven’t figured out yet is why a rich and respected Qumarefi lord wants you so badly. He has many slaves of his own.”

She pinched a lock of her red hair. “Makes me different.”

“If that’s all he cared about, Premal’s vast wealth could buy him another slave with red hair.”

“A prize from the sultan’s personal stock.” Auburn lifted her shoulders and let them fall. “Rare and exotic, if ugly.”

Sligo raised a brow. “You’re not ugly by Tamryn standards.”

“I’ve heard it whispered people in Tamryn have hair the color of the sun.”

“Some do. Tamryn is a large kingdom with many races of people.”

Auburn sucked in a breath and pressed a hand to her heart. “Will Prince Eli really take me with him?”

“He said he will, so he will.”

She glanced at the bodyguard. “You heard that?”

“Couldn’t leave him alone with a potential assassin.”

“I’m just a slave.”

“Not anymore.”

She interlaced her fingers. “Let’s get housekeeping taken care of so we can get back before His Highness wakes up.”

“He never went to sleep.”

“But-” Auburn said.

Sligo shook his head. “You’ll learn. Now let’s get to housekeeping before Premal sends someone else after you. I’d rather not kill anyone today.”

Auburn’s eyes widened, and she hurried through the palace.





Chapter 8





As Eli paced, quiet steps outside the door had him curling his hand around the hilt of his sword.

Auburn slipped into the room with Sligo beside her, the snick of the door’s lock the only sound they made.

She studied the bed and frowned.

Sligo nodded. “As I told you.”

Relief flooded Eli, and the tension in his shoulders eased. “Took you longer than I expected.”

Auburn’s head snapped towards him. “I have arranged everything to your liking.”

Eli glanced at Sligo.

“Nothing we couldn’t handle, Your Highness.”

Stiffening, the prince’s hand tightened on his sword. He’d been wise to send Sligo with Auburn. She was his to protect, and he would see it done. Always.

“Are you all right?” Eli walked over to her and stroked her cheek.

She closed her eyes as she leaned into his touch. “Sligo made sure all went well.”

“I’d prefer if you stayed in these rooms while I’m away. Most of my staff will be with me, and I want you safe.”

Eli wrapped her in his arms, and Auburn laid her head against his chest. He tightened his arms around her.

She felt so warm and so right, as if she belonged beside him. A strange feeling, and he had to remind himself she was using him to get to Tamryn just as he was using her for information about Qumaref.

“Is there anything I can do while you’re away?” Auburn asked.

He tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’ll think about it.”

Sligo nodded to Eli and disappeared back into the shadows.

With the illusion of being alone, the prince gave into temptation and stroked Auburn’s hair, the silken strands sliding between his fingers. The scent of her filled him, rich, exotic and wholly female.

His demons howled and strained against his control. Eli could carry her to the bed, and she wouldn’t resist. He could satisfy his unrelenting need for her, and she would comply because she saw pleasing him as her duty. By the gods, he wanted her, but not because she felt obligated.

The thought cooled his desire, and he forced himself to pull away from her. Walking back to his pile of notes, he flipped through them and tried to busy his mind with something other than thoughts of her.

Auburn studied him, confusion pinching her brows. Eli wanted to offer her an explanation, but he wasn’t yet ready to pit his logic against his desire. Not when it came to her.

She fidgeted, and he glanced back at her.

“There’s something you should consider,” Auburn said. “Something I haven’t heard you mention.”