To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(86)

Realization flashed, and Eli’s jaw clenched. “You killed my mother.”

Fredrick smiled.

“You killed half your family and mine in a decades long tantrum because Dracor didn’t make you king. No wonder He turned from you!”

“It was mine!”

Eli stalked forward. “No, it wasn’t. You’ve been listening to Rashalee’s lies too long. She’ll tell you anything so you’ll give Her what She wants. And She wants to destroy Tamryn and the Dracasan family!”

Anger writhed across Fredrick’s face, and he pulled the shadows to him, wearing them as if they were a cloak. “You reject the goddess and all She offers!”

“I will not destroy Tamryn.”

Fredrick growled, a deep primal sound that cut at Eli’s soul. “If Auburn doesn’t leave as your queen, then she doesn’t leave at all. She will pay the price for you disappointing Rashalee!”

“Only a coward drags innocents into their fight.” Eli’s hand fisted around his sword. “This is between you and me.”

A smile drenched in darkness twisted Fredrick’s face. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’ll deliver you to Rashalee one way or another.”

Throwing his head back, Fredrick screamed as shadows engulfed him and he leapt into the apse.

Golden light burned around him, blinding him as it tore through the shadows. He threw himself at Auburn, snatching her around her waist as he pressed a dagger into her back. He yanked her out of the apse, and forced her down the aisle, the golden light dimming the farther from the altar he dragged her.

“Scream,” he whispered against her neck. “I love the taste of your fear.”





Chapter 52





Squeezing Auburn, Fredrick forced the air from her lungs. Her teeth chattered as the cold of Fredrick’s shadow cloak sank into her, but she focused, looking for a way to escape.

Eli drew his sword and dagger.

“Make another move, and someone else you love dies in your arms. Drop your weapons.”

Eli laid them on the ground and lifted up his hands, showing he was unarmed.

“Back away and let me out.”

When Eli didn’t comply, Fredrick’s dagger bit into her flesh. She yelped as blood crimsoned her gown, then whispered a prayer to Dracor. A whisper of the golden glow filled her.

Prince Eli backed down the aisle, allowing his cousin to pass.

Fredrick half-carried and half-dragged Auburn toward the exit as a trail of her blood stained the pristine marble floor.

Pain stole through her from the cold and the bite of the dagger. She steadied her whirling thoughts and focused. As long as Fredrick held her, no one would risk injuring her to get to him. Not the palace guards. Not the Knights. Not Eli.

Fredrick would kill her once he got beyond the palace. He would do it to punish Eli, to push him over the edge and into Rashalee’s vengeful arms.

Auburn would not let Fredrick win.

Stealing herself against the pain, she thought about all that Leopold had taught her and brought her foot down hard on Fredrick’s instep. He yelped and loosened his hold on her. Auburn leapt forward, and Fredrick lunged after her. The cold and pain slowed her, and Fredrick grabbed the hem of her dress and yanked her back.

“Fredrick!” Eli yelled.

Fredrick placed his dagger against Auburn’s throat as he eased toward the doors.

“He’ll kill me no matter what,” Auburn said. and a thin trickle of blood stained the front of her dress.

“This isn’t about Auburn.” Eli stepped over his sword and dagger. “It’s about me.”

“You either join Rashalee, or I kill Auburn and your grief will drive you to Her.”

“If you kill her, I won’t turn to Rashalee. I won’t be king, but I’ll see to it that there’s a Dracasan worthy for Dracor to bless.”

Fredrick laughed, a hollow sound filled with hate. “You won’t give up the throne. Lie to yourself if you like, but I know the truth.”

Eli opened his arms wide. “You’ve been listening to Rashalee’s whispers too long to know any truth.”

“You love her. You won’t marry another and sire an heir. Cursed just like your father and mine. Tamryn will die along with the Dragon God’s bloodline.”

Eli’s face hardened. “If you kill her, I will spend the rest of my life working to make Tamryn a place she’d have been proud to call home. No distractions. Nothing will interfere.”

Fredrick licked his lips as he glanced from Eli to the door.

“You and Rashalee know how determined I can be. I may not use the Dragon God’s methods, but I will see that His light shines brightly in Tamryn.”

Fredrick tightened his hold on Auburn.

“And I will sire an heir to make sure Rashalee never gets the throne. Rashalee is the goddess of vengeance. She knows the truth in my words.”

Black dots pricked Auburn’s vision as she struggled to draw breath.

“I will spend the rest of my life bringing the light of justice to every one of Rashalee’s dark corners. I will be relentless. Your only chance to stop me is to kill me, and the only way you will get me is if you free Auburn.”

Fredrick’s eyes turned wild as strange shadows passed across them. Then he nodded. “A trade. Her life for yours.”