To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(77)

He smiled at Eli, but the expression never reached his eyes. “Welcome home, cousin.”

“Fredrick,” Eli said with a nod.

The thick muscles in Eli’s arm tightened under her fingers.

“Qumaref must’ve been fun.” Fredrick leaned negligently against the table. “You missed your wedding.”

Eli shrugged once.

“Some might say that’s fortuitous. Couldn’t imagine being married to an ice queen, prophecy or not.”

“I’m sure that relieves Lady Daniella.”

Fredrick’s gaze flicked over to Auburn and slid up and down her body. “Not as pretty as Daniella.”

Eli tightened his hold on Auburn, his eyes narrowing in warning.

“I hadn’t expected you to take a mistress while in Qumaref, much less parade her through the palace.” Fredrick grinned. “Glad you’re finally enjoying the perks of being a prince.”

“Auburn is my fiancée, and you will treat her accordingly.”

Fredrick’s eyes widened, genuine surprise mirrored in the gray depths. “And Uncle Garrett is permitting it? She’s not a Tamarian noble. Her clothes look Qumarefi even if she doesn’t.”

“King Garrett has posed no objection.”

“The Dragon Church will. All the more reason we need to talk. I have a proposition you’ll want to hear.”

Eli nodded once and eased in front of Auburn as he faced his cousin. “It’s been a long voyage. I’m taking my fiancée to her rooms.”

Fredrick said nothing as he watched Eli wrap an arm around Auburn and guide her down the hall, the prince keeping himself between Fredrick and his fiancée.

Fredrick stared at her, his dark gazed fixed as if a hawk had spied a hare.

“He hates me,” she said in Qumarefi as she glanced back down the hall.

“You surprised him, and he doesn’t like surprises.”

Auburn glanced towards the guards and then back down the hallway. “He’s the one from my vision, the one who wants to destroy Tamryn.”

Eli held her close as he turned back towards his cousin and raised a brow in challenge.

Fredrick strode away.

Taking her hand, Eli guided Auburn further down the hall and opened the door to a luxurious study dominated by a large desk and high windows. The prince brought her over to a small settee nestled in the corner and sat beside her.

“What did you see in these visions?” Eli asked.

The warm sun chased away the shadows of fear and Auburn explained the vision. The darkness, the snakes, the gold dragon. She knew it was a warning but little more.

“Sounds like you saw shadow magic. Most likely Rashalee or Uzakiel, though snakes are most often associated with Rashalee.”

“I wonder what Fredrick wants to talk to you about.”

“I don’t know, but I doubt he’d kill me himself. He’d make it look like an accident, or try to.” Eli brushed his lips across her temple. “I’m even more concerned that we have to wait a week to marry.”

“You think Fredrick will try something?”

“Depends how desperate he is. I have no intention of leaving you alone at night until I’ve dealt with him.” Eli touched his lips to hers. “To the hells with protocol and propriety. My one indiscretion, and I’ll remedy it by marrying you.”

“Indiscretion?”

Eli lifted Auburn into his arms and carried her back to his rooms. “Welcome home.”

She slid her arms around him and laid her head against his chest as she studied the spacious suite. Heavy velvet curtains covered the windows, and a large four poster bed dressed in rich masculine colors dominated the center of the suite. It was a comfortable but practical space with a wide table and chairs, thickly cushioned sofas, and a large marble fireplace.

Opulence without pretension.

His lips found hers, gentle at first, but she could sense the need lurking beneath his cool exterior. Eli set her on her feet and kissed each of her hands.

“I love you,” he whispered, the words caressing her flesh and stealing through her.

“And I love you.”

“I have something for you.”

He walked over to a wardrobe, opened it, and clicked open a hidden compartment. Taking something out, he closed the wardrobe and brought a small navy silk box over to her.

Eli opened the box and withdrew a ring set with a large blue diamond surrounded by smaller white diamonds so brilliant they seemed to radiate light. Holding Auburn’s hand, Eli slipped the ring on her finger. “A bit late, but your betrothal ring.”

Her eyes widened as she stared at the exquisite and unfathomably expensive ring. “It’s beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you.” Eli touched his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. “How about a hot bath to warm you?”

Fighting back tears of happiness, Auburn nodded as she stared at the ring. She could feel the love it symbolized and knew he’d been saving it for someone special. Otherwise, he’d have given it to Lady Daniella. Actions, Sir Leopold had said, and Eli gave her those as well as his pretty words.

Eli ordered her bath, and after the servants filled the tub with steaming water, he helped her out of her gown and into the tub. Auburn sighed as she leaned back and let the hot water lap around her, soothing away the damp Tamryn summer and the lingering ache of fear.