To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(56)

She hugged him as a brilliant smile lit her face.

“Sultan’s still waiting,” Leopold said.

Eli glared at the Knight as Auburn hugged the prince again then hurried off to change clothes.

As she slipped into the dressing room, Leopold glanced over at Eli. “Quite the trinket you put around her neck.”

“A gift.”

“Men give gifts like that to their wives and lovers. Not to ladies they’re trying to marry off to someone else.”

Eli raised a haughty brow. “Not that I need to explain anything to you, but things are different. I have no intention of marrying her off.”

“And here I’d thought you’d changed.”

“I don’t care what you think, but you can be assured I will take good care of Auburn.”

Leopold rocked back on his heels. “Royal crest, isn’t it?”

“My family’s crest, yes.”

“Does that mean you finally got some sense?”

Eli frowned, but before he could press Leopold, Auburn entered the room gowned in ice blue silk.

The prince couldn’t take his eyes from her. Her milk-pale skin looked flawless as the silk skimmed her soft curves and pooled around her. The curve of her lush lips, both sweet and beguiling, lured him in and made him want to plunder them as he tangled his hands in her copper-colored hair. And the necklace he’d given her blazed at her throat.

He swallowed hard and opened his arms to her. “You look amazing.”

Auburn slipped into them and laid her head against his chest.

“He’s right. You look real pretty,” Leopold said. “Nice girl, too.”

“He’s jealous he didn’t find you first. Only a woman of your patience and kindness could tolerate him.”

She touched her necklace and smiled up at Eli. “I’m very lucky. The gods have blessed me.”

“And you’ve had the strength to act on that blessing.” Eli offered Auburn his arm, and she took it. The prince laid his other hand over top of hers and led her out of their suite.

Rolland and several other attachés were waiting.

“We’re running late, Your Highness,” Rolland said, his eyes fixing on Auburn.

Eli offered no explanation as he led Auburn through the palace and down to the sumptuous dinner.

Pausing outside the grand hall, Eli glanced back at Rolland and lowered his voice so none of the other attachés could hear. “Is there a reason you never told me it would be within proper etiquette to bring Auburn to these dinners? I thought we’d settled where your allegiances fell.”

Rolland’s eyes widened.

Eli said nothing more as the guards opened the large oak doors, and the prince led Auburn into the great hall.





Chapter 34





The heavy scent of rich spices filled the room as haunting music drifted among the quiet hum of voices. Opulent silk pillows richly beaded in shining silver littered the floor. The long low table already overflowed with succulent offerings and chilled wines.

Steeling himself against the pungent aromas and growing din of the courtiers, Eli kept his face impassive as he tightened his grip on Auburn. He noted that there were fewer diners than there had been before the assassination attempts, but there were still far more people than he liked.

Eli preferred to take his meals in his rooms. Eating alone was safer, more enjoyable, and gave him time to think. He had to endure some things, and the prince took his seat beside the sultan.

The sultan grinned when he saw Auburn and his eyes fell to the necklace. “You are not yet married, no?”

“No,” Eli said.

“Unfortunate that Tamryn only allows one wife. It must make forging alliances more difficult.”

Eli tightened his hand over top of Auburn’s. “The same laws bind all Tamarians. It forces us to find other ways to make alliances.”

“I would be interested in knowing more about your Dragon God.”

“I’ll have someone better versed in His path discuss Him with you. I’m more familiar with the practical matters of dealing with the Dragon Church than the theological ones.”

“Yet your plan would bring the difficulty of dealing with this Dragon Church to Qumaref’s shores, yes?”

“Difficult, yes, but the people trust them. The nobility trust them. They can make unpopular things easier.”

The sultan grinned. “A double-edged sword then.”

“Aren’t all powerful allies?”

“True.” The sultan stabbed a hunk of meat with his green-glowing dagger and peered over at Auburn. A smile tugged his lips. “You are enjoying your gift, I see.”

Eli laced his fingers with Auburn’s. “Beyond measure.”

Color crept across her cheeks as she smiled up at the prince.

“Ha!” The sultan slapped his thigh. “They said her tongue was as fiery as her hair and her heart as cold as her eyes. You cured her of both.”

“I’m pleased that you trusted me with her, even if she would have been difficult for some.” Eli glanced at Premal and raised a brow.

“Slaves need a firm hand,” Premal said.

“I suspect Prince Eli has been giving her more than just a firm hand.” The sultan chortled, pleased with his own joke.