To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(81)

A shadow that was seeking her.

She bit her lip as she thought about the young woman that had called for help, but Auburn shook off the guilt. Mrs. Fields would be okay. The girl would be okay. The shadow wasn’t hunting them.

Auburn had to get away. To escape the darkness.

If Eli lost her and their unborn son...

She knew how he’d responded to losing his mother. If he lost her and their child, Rashalee would win. She would destroy the royal family, and Tamryn would no longer be a beacon of hope and light.

Auburn would not let that happen.

Shaking off the thoughts, she focused on escaping.

The Tamarian palace was set up differently than the one in Qumaref, but all great dwellings needed staff. And they put that staff in the same place: an area where they could serve without drawing too much attention.

Auburn emerged from the passage and slipped through the halls as the dark presence stalked her. Sucking in a steadying breath, she remembered the visions. She needed to get to the gold dragon.

Even as panic nipped at her, she kept her head down and her pace brisk but not too fast. She didn’t know who was a friend and who wasn’t, and she needed to draw as little attention as possible. Easy enough as few noticed servants.

She found her way down to the kitchens, and the bright light, laughter and warmth made it a difficult place for the shadow to find her. Difficult, but not impossible.

She had to find the gold dragon.

Pausing, Auburn took in the organized mayhem as servants moved through the kitchen, talking, laughing, and being chased after by the cook. The older woman appeared as if she was used to sampling her wares, and her flour-spotted cheeks and stained apron whispered of hard work despite her good humor.

After several minutes, the cook noticed her. The activity quieted as the servants studied Auburn, landing first on the ornate dragon necklace and then taking in her clothes.

“You look lost, m’lady.”

“A little.”

“Andrew.” The cook waved her hand, and a boy of about ten scampered over to them. “Please help the young miss find her way. Palace is big. Easy to get lost.”

The boy nodded, and Auburn followed him across the busy kitchen and out the other side. She peeked over her shoulder as the servants returned to their work.

The shadow hadn’t followed her into the kitchen, but she could still feel it searching for her.

She sucked in a breath and forced back a shudder as she glanced at the boy.

“Where you looking t’go, miss?” the boy asked. “I know the whole palace inside and out.”

“I need to find the gold dragon.”

“Lotsa gold dragons in this place.”

Auburn bit her lip. She hadn’t thought of that. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember the place from her vision. “Tall white columns. The entire ceiling is gold with stained-glass windows that reach for the heavens.”

The boy frowned. “Sounds like the Dragon God’s chapel. Not sure anyone’s allowed to go there anymore. Been closed off forever.”

Auburn shook her head. “I need to find the gold dragon.”

“Might be the Dragon Church your looking for, but that’s real far away. Not sure I can get there.”

“Then let’s start with Dracor’s chapel,” Auburn said.

Andrew shrugged and skipped off with Auburn on his heels.

The boy knew his way around well, and they were soon deep in the palace, far from the heavily traveled hallways, the royal apartments, and the servants’ areas.

She urged Andrew to hurry, and the two of them raced through the empty halls to the heart of the palace.

By the time they reached the temple, Auburn’s breath was coming in sharp bursts, and the boy had sweat dotting his brow.

“Here we are, ma’am.”

Andrew took her hand and led her into a beautiful temple, its pillars cut from the same alabaster stone as the palace. Dragon carvings twined up and around the pillars as soft light from the soaring stained-glass windows bathed the chapel. The arches cresting the ceiling were gold and shaped into dragons.

A whisper of dust clung to the air, and there was no scent of beeswax or candle-drippings. No one had worshipped here in a long time.

But it was softer here. Warmer. A faint gold light illuminated the front of the temple, and as it whispered over her, Auburn’s fear quieted.

This was a place of refuge. A place of light. She and her unborn child would be safe here. At least for the moment.

Auburn took Andrew’s hand. “Do you know who Prince Eli is?”

The boy’s eyes widened. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You must find him and tell him to come here. Tell him I’ll be waiting for him here.”

The boy nodded and raced out of the chapel.





Chapter 48





Eli sensed something was wrong the moment he entered the royal apartments.

He sprinted to his study and threw open the doors. There was no warmth, no homecoming. Just the same empty room that always waited for him.

Auburn was gone.

Fear clawed his throat as he darted out and headed back towards his suite.

The captain of the palace guards clicked a salute, drawing Eli’s attention. While the man’s uniform was pristine, sweat beaded his brow and worry pinched his face.

The prince’s fists balled at his sides, and he forced himself not to punch the captain. “Where are the two guards I stationed with my fiancée?”