To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(76)

Garrett’s eyes fell to their joined hands.

“I prefer the ceremony to be as soon as possible, and there must be a ceremony.”

“There must?” The king’s brow arched in an expression Auburn recognized well.

“The Rule of Succession.”

King Garrett’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Eli said.

Heat crept up Auburn’s neck, and she kept her eyes averted as the king studied her more closely.

“Come, walk with me.” The king offered Auburn his arm.

Eli’s spine was as straight as a fire poker, his eyes boring into his father. Sucking in a silent breath, he let go of Auburn’s hand, and his arm dropped to his side.

Auburn glanced up at the, feeling the blue of his eyes grow colder and harder as she laid her hand on the soft velvet of the king’s robe.

King Garrett’s arm was warm and the muscles thickly corded underneath her fingers. He was as tense as his son.

When they exited the chambers and the dragon doors shut behind them, King Garrett let out his breath. “Now we can speak freely, and you can tell me what’s going on.”

She glanced at the guards stationed around them.

Garrett patted her hand. “If you marry Eli, you’ll get used to them. Okay, you won’t, but you’ll learn to ignore them most of the time.”

She smiled.

“Now, do you want to marry my son?”

“Very much, Your Highness.”

“And why is that? Eli is a royal pain...” The king caught himself. “But you must already know that.”

“He can be, Your Highness. He’s determined and driven. Sometimes he forgets compassion isn’t a vice, but he’s a good man. Most of the time.”

“Not too many people see that.”

Auburn lifted her shoulders.

“He invoked the Rule of Succession.”

“I’m not sure what that means.” Heat crept up her neck and colored her cheeks.

“Looks like you might, but let me put it plainly. Am I going to be a grandfather?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“That explains Eli’s wish to marry you quickly.”

“You’re not angry with me, Your Highness? You don’t think I tricked Eli?”

Garrett smiled. “You’re making me a grandfather. Hard to be angry at you for that. And if you tricked Eli, then he definitely needs to marry you.”

His words sounded so much like Eli that she couldn’t stifle a smile. “I will do everything I can to keep Eli safe and happy.”

The king laid his hand over hers. “I remember when he was a boy and used to run through these halls.”

Auburn smiled and listened to the king reminisce. She wondered if Eli knew how much his father loved him or how highly his father thought of him even if Dracor hadn’t chosen Eli to be the next king.

As they completed their circuit and again came to the room with the dragons inscribed on the door, King Garrett sighed. “He’ll be angry, but I had to make sure you love him. He deserves that. Needs it.”

“I love him with all my heart,” Auburn said.

“And he loves you, or he wouldn’t be angry. He’s told you that, hasn’t he? That he loves you?”

“At least three times a day, just as he promised when he asked me to marry him.”

Garett chuckled. “You hold him to it. Sometimes the demands of Tamryn are so loud you can’t hear anything else.”

Before she could answer, the king opened the doors. Eli was still standing in the center of the room where they’d left him.

Garrett smiled and motioned for Auburn to join his son.

Eli slid an arm around her and held her close.

“You must fulfill the Rule of Succession,” the king said. “If I don’t see to it, the Dragon Church will.”

“Tonight then.”

“A week.” His father held up a hand to cut off the prince’s objections. “A week won’t matter with the child’s due date, and it’ll give the staff time to put together a real wedding. A small one, but a real one.”

Eli bowed, and Auburn curtsied beside him.

“And I expect a grand gala for the child’s birth. A welcome fit for the newest Dracasan.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

“The two of you need to get settled. We can talk later of the treaty.”

“You’ll be pleased with the results of my trip to Qumaref.”

King Garrett smiled at Auburn. “I already am.”





Chapter 45





Eli led Auburn through the palace, up a grand staircase, and deeper into the palace to the areas reserved for the royal family. It was warmer there, cozier, but it still felt strange.

As they rounded a corner, Eli slowed and pulled her against him.

A man stood in the hall checking his reflection in a polished silver urn. He was impeccably turned out in an elegant jacket and deep blue waistcoat that made his gray eyes appear blue. An expensive sapphire pin held his cravat in place. He smoothed his artfully tousled blonde curls, cultivating a careless appearance despite the time and effort it took.

Auburn sucked in a breath, straightened her spine, and surveyed the hall for a weapon. This was the man from her vision.