To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(70)

A whisper of relief curved Auburn’s lips as she speared her fingers through his dark locks. “And you wouldn’t look as imposing.”

He kissed her temple. “There is that.”

The man from her vision wasn’t Eli. His father, perhaps? His uncle? Maybe his cousin? Perhaps the vision would become clearer the closer they got to Tamryn.

She leaned against the prince and let his presence chase away the nightmare.

Eli stroked her cheek and wrapped a strand of her copper-colored hair around his finger. “While I don’t understand your questions, you asked them after a nightmare. I realize I haven’t told you much about my family.”

“I figured you aren’t close to them. You haven’t mentioned them much, and you tend to refer to your father as King Garrett.”

“Observant.”

Auburn smiled as Eli helped her change into a gown for dinner. He paused in doing up her laces to trail a finger along the smooth skin of her neck and nibble the top of her spine.

Shivering, she sucked in a breath, and the rich masculine scent of him filled her senses. “You were going to tell me about the Dracasans.”

He slipped an arm around her. “My father and I haven’t been close since my mother’s death.”

“Hard to lose your mother and your father.”

Eli lifted his shoulders. “My father is a busy man. Ruling Tamryn consumes most of his time, but he made sure I attended to my studies and my duties.”

“So you’d be fit to be king.”

“I have an aunt on my mother’s side, but she never lived in Aerius so I saw her very little. She wanted me to come out and stay with her after my mother died, but my father wouldn’t allow it. I needed to stay in Aerius for my studies.”

“A cold decision for a father. He should’ve given you time to grieve, time to heal. Any child that loses their mother needs that. Deserves that.”

“Royalty doesn’t get such luxuries.”

Auburn touched the hard lines of his jaw, and he clenched it under her fingers. “It’s not a luxury.”

Eli caught her fingers and kissed them.

She stared up into his deep blue eyes. “You look like your father?”

Eli nodded. “So does my Uncle Rexnord. He lives as his country estate, and it’s been years since I’ve seen him. His wife died when I was young, and he left the capital city. However his son, Fredrick, is popular in Aerius.”

Fredrick. The name sent a shiver down her spine.

“Proper response to him.” Eli held her closer.

“Did you ever figure out why he bribed Rolland to get you home quickly?”

Eli shook his head. “I don’t know Fredrick as well as I should. I haven’t decided if confronting him or playing dumb will serve me best.”

“What does he look like?”

Eli paused. “He’s fashionable. The gods gave him the looks of an angel, complete with curling blond hair.”

Auburn pondered his words, a frown pinching her forehead.

“I’ll figure out his game, but in the meantime, I promised to escort you to dinner.”

Eli slid her arm through his, then accompanied her to the dining area. Most of the attachés and other liaisons were already there, including Rolland.

Rolland’s eyes fixed on her as Eli pulled out her chair. Once Auburn sat, the prince took the spot beside her and glanced over at his attaché.

Rolland turned away.

“You already know Captain Fields, Sir Leopold, and Ndrek,” Eli said. He then introduced her to the handful of his attachés also at the captain’s table.

There were polite nods and smiles all around, but conversation lagged. Few had ever dined informally with Prince Eli.

Auburn did her best to ease the awkwardness, drawing the others into conversation then encouraging them to keep talking by giving them her undivided attention. By the time the second course was served, there was a steady flow of chatter and the occasional laugh.

When dessert arrived, Auburn’s rebellious stomach clenched, and her face turned green.

Pausing mid-sentence, Eli touched her hand. “It’s been a long evening. Perhaps we should return to our cabin.”

“You were discussing the finer points of the treaty.”

“It can wait until tomorrow.”

“I’ll see her to her room.” Leopold pushed away from the table. “Gives me a reason to escape all this treaty talk.”

“No need,” Eli said.

Auburn smiled as she touched the prince’s shoulder. “Please finish explaining. Best to get this sorted before we arrive in Tamryn, and I promise I won’t fall overboard. Sir Leopold will see to that.”

He stilled under her hand. “Not even close to the railing.”

She smiled, his concern warming her. “Promise.”

Eli nodded, jaw set, but he let her leave with Leopold.

The Knight led her up to the deck and paused beside her as she took a couple of deep breaths and rubbed her stomach.

Leopold rocked back on his heels and surveyed the horizon. “When you gonna tell him?”

“Tell who what?”

“Tell Eli. And you know what.”

Auburn paled. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”

“You haven’t lied to me before now. Don’t start.”