To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(51)

“Let me get you aboard the flagship. Once you’re safe, I’ll be more effective at finding her.”

Glancing toward the large ship, it resembled an island of calm in the chaos. If he were Leopold, he’d try to get Auburn there if she’d survived. If... His stomach tightened, and he said nothing as he pulled up the hood of his cloak and followed Sligo.

They navigated through the crowd, and as soon as the guards on the flagship realized it was him, they raced down and escorted him aboard the flagship.

The captain bowed low. “Your Highness. I was not expecting you, so I put Sir Leopold and his companions in your suite. I will have them moved.”

“His companions?” Eli sprinted to his cabin.

He threw open the door, and Auburn, Leopold and Ndrek turned to stare at him.

Relief flooded him when he saw Auburn, and he almost fell to his knees. “Are you all right?”

A genuine smile lit her face as she ran over to him, and the feel of her arms around him bolstered him and kept him on his feet. “Sir Leopold and Ndrek made sure I was safe.”

Eli held her, stroking her hair as his heartbeat returned to normal. Fear stoked his anger as he turned a hard stare to Leopold. “What happened?”

“I promised to keep her safe, and I did.” Leopold rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. “Nothing left of the ship though.”

Eli’s arms tightened around Auburn. “Had anything happened to her...”

“We wouldn’t be looking at war,” Leopold said. “So what in the seven hells are you’re doing here, anyway?”

Eli’s impassive mask slipped, and anger tightened his face. “I’m down here to make sure you didn’t underestimate an enemy. Again.”

Leopold’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Eli closed his eyes and schooled his face back into its emotionless blank slate. Drawing a breath, he filled himself with the familiar scent of vanilla and jasmine. His anger and panic quieted.

“Those enemies are why you shouldn’t be here.” Leopold’s words were little more than a growl.

“Then neither should Auburn.”

“You are supposed to go the opposite way of trouble, Your Highness,” Ndrek said. “Especially when the ramifications to Qumaref and Tamryn are so great.”

“I’m a prince of Tamryn. I don’t flee at the first sign of trouble.” Eli raised a brow at the Knight, his words hardening to ice. “I remember some of my childhood lessons.”

“Only the ones you want to remember.”

“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.