To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(85)

“Rashalee demanded...” Fredrick stopped. “Of course She did. There is room only for Rashalee. It was harder to kill her than my brother only because so many people were watching, worried she’d do something foolish as she wept for her infant son. A son meant to replace me.”

“Your mother loved you, and you betrayed her.”

“She betrayed me first, turned away from me when she birthed that brat. Rashalee was the only one there for me. The only one that cared after Dracor humiliated me. My mother was too busy with the baby meant to replace me when I needed her most.”

Eli swallowed hard.

Fredrick was in Rashalee’s thrall.

The prince had to figure out a way to get Auburn to safety, and he had to do it before Fredrick lost what little sanity he still had. “I won’t come between you Rashalee. Let me leave with Auburn, and the throne is yours.”

“You want more than a boring life in the country. I can give you Auburn, the throne, and your heir. Everything you’ve ever wanted, ever desired.”

Temptation gnawed, and the words escaped before Eli could stop them. “Auburn and the throne? How?”

“I have your attention. Good.”





Chapter 51





Don’t listen to him!” Auburn said from behind the altar. “He’s trying to trick you!”

Fredrick’s eyes narrowed, and a wall of cold blasted through the church. Eli heard Auburn’s teeth chattering, but she didn’t leave the safety of the altar.

“No trick. I can offer you all of that.”

Eli moved closer to the apse. “How?”

“You kill your father as tribute to Rashalee, and I side with you in ensuing milieu. I have numerous wealthy and powerful nobles that owe me a great deal, nobles that haven’t sided with you yet.”

“Kill my father?”

“Before the Dragon Church figures out what we’re up to, we’ll have won. The two of us together can destroy the Dragon Church and put you on the throne.”

There it was. What Rashalee wanted. What Eli once might’ve agreed to do. “And what do you get out it?”

Fredrick’s voice turned to a smooth purr. “A favor now and again. You’ll have all of Tamryn, the woman you love, and an heir. What’s the occasional favor?”

The temptation was strong. All Eli had worked so hard for was his for the taking. But not at the cost of his father’s life. Not at the cost of the Dragon Church and all Tamryn stood for.

“Don’t listen to him!” Auburn begged. “It’s all lies. He’ll offer you anything to get you to agree so he can weaken Tamryn for Rashalee.”

Fredrick prowled around the edge of the apse as he drew the power of the shadows to him.

“Be thankful I need you, little duchess, or you’d already be dead.”

“Duchess?” Eli asked.

“You’ll find out anyway. Haven’t even been home a day, and your little pet Jaelin is poking around records of missing children.”

Eli swallowed hard as he remembered all Jaelin had learned in Qumaref. “Premal was part of your religious order, but he betrayed you.”

“He captured Auburn and was supposed to hold her until she was of age. Then, I’d marry her in my rightful quest for the throne. But the idiot told me his men had bungled it and killed her. He’d been trying to get her for himself so the prophecy would see him become sultan. Except the sultan took Auburn from him.”

“Duchess,” Eli said again. “Duke Calloway’s daughter, the one that was murdered as a babe.”

“I couldn’t have the queen from the prophecy marrying anyone but me, and a proper Qumarefi seraglio would teach her respect, obedience, and subservience. Perfect plan.”

“You stole me from my family?” Auburn said. “Let them think they’d lost a child while I suffered the life of a slave, alone, among people who hated me?”

Eli heard the pain in her words, and his chest tightened. That was what giving into temptation brought.

“Nothing personal,” Fredrick said. “No one wanted to believe that prophecy, but everyone did. Eli planned to marry your sister because of it, believing she was Calloway’s youngest daughter after your death. He even had Jaelin make sure the duke had no hidden bastards. I was most put out when I learned you were alive and carrying the next Dracasan.”

Eli said nothing as he inched closer to Auburn.

He understood Auburn’s anger and hurt. He wanted to go to her, to wrap her in his arms and promise her everything would be okay.

And it would be okay, he’d make it okay. Whatever it took.

“What do you say, Eli? The throne and the woman you love for your father’s life.”

Eli swallowed hard. “You know I’d do anything for her.”

“No!” Auburn stood, the golden light from the altar haloing around her. “Fredrick can try to kill me, but I won’t be the reason for Tamryn’s destruction.”

“Just try, little mouse?” Fredrick grinned as he held a swirling ball of shadow in his hand.

Eli sucked in a breath. “What guarantee do I have you won’t hurt her while I set this in motion?”

“Eli, no!”

“You’re smarter than your father. But then, you spent your life paying for his choice.”