To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(87)

Eli held his palms up, showing he was unarmed.

“Eli, no!” Her efforts rewarded with another trickle of blood. “No, Eli, please.”

“Raise our child to be a good king, Auburn. He will be the last of the Dracasan line, and Tamryn needs him.”

As Eli uttered the words, a brilliant golden light emanated from the altar. The light grew, blinding in its brilliance as it centered on Eli then exploded through the temple. Gold dragons appeared around the sanctuary, in the stone pillars, and reflected through the marble floor as Dracor marked His chosen.

The golden glow burned away Fredrick’s cloak of shadows and the strange darkness that clouded his eyes.

Fredrick howled as fury contorted his face.

Throwing Auburn to the floor, he launched himself at Eli. “You will not take Her from me!”

Eli reached for the dagger in his boot, but Fredrick plowed into the prince and knocked them both to the floor before Eli could reach it.

Panic flooded Auburn as Fredrick raised his weapon. Yanking the dagger from her skirt pocket, she sucked in a breath, aimed, and threw it at Fredrick.

The blade lodged in his back, and Fredrick howled as Eli rolled hard to his left, knocking Fredrick off him.

Auburn ran toward Eli as Fredrick tried to call the shadows to him, but they couldn’t form in the presence of the golden light.

Grabbing Eli’s discarded sword and dagger, Fredrick barred his teeth in a feral grin as he rushed toward Eli, raising the prince’s sword to kill him.

Eli rolled across the floor, and Fredrick’s blow missed by a finger’s width.

The prince shoved himself back to his feet, armed with the dagger he wore at his ankle. The blade glowed with the same golden light that emanated from the altar.

Fredrick threw his dagger at Eli, burying it in the prince’s arm and forcing him to drop the dagger.

The dagger skittered across the floor as Fredrick cornered Eli against the overturned pews.

Grabbing the golden dagger, Auburn slipped under Fredrick’s arm as he raised his sword and buried the blade in Fredrick’s stomach. Months of training took over as she pushed the blade up under his rib cage and into his chest.

Fredrick screamed as the golden glow intensified, filling the entire sanctuary and pouring into him through the dagger. He howled as darkness shattered his body, desperately trying to escape the brilliant light.

But there was nowhere to hide. The light filled every corner of the temple, washing away the darkness and shadows in the holy light.

Auburn thought she heard a woman shrieking as the brilliance incinerated the shadows.

Clutching her side, Auburn crumpled to the stone floor. Eli wrapped her in his good arm, holding her against him. She closed her eyes and let the golden light infuse her. Warmth flowed into her, and she smiled as she gave herself over to Dracor.





Chapter 53





The light still surrounded her, soothed her, and Auburn wanted to lose herself in it. Instead, she forced her eyes open. “Eli-”

“Right here.” He kissed her temple. “Now and always.”

Auburn touched a hand to her side, but there was no dagger wound. Nor were there any marks on her throat.

“Dracor’s light.” Eli sucked in a breath. “Overwhelming. Beyond my comprehension. It was as if I saw the world through Dracor’s eyes.”

“Does that mean...”

There was a loud pounding on the door. Once. Twice. A third time, and the heavy doors sagged forward on their hinges.

Eli’s arms tightened around her then relaxed as Sir Leopold and a huge contingent of Knights led the captain and palace guards into the temple.

“You’re late,” Eli said.

Sligo knelt beside Fredrick, but the shadow guard didn’t unsheathe his blade.

Sir Leopold glanced at Fredrick and motioned for two of the Knights to cover the body. “Late or not, looks like you did just fine. Maybe more than fine.”

Auburn closed her eyes and leaned against Eli. “It’s over, isn’t it?”

“Depends on what happened.” Leopold fixed his faded blue gaze on Eli. “Fredrick...”

“Is dead,” Eli said. “We’ve won this round, but Rashalee won’t give up.”

“Thinking we might have a powerful tool in our arsenal against Her. Let’s see your chest.”

Eli opened his mouth to speak then nodded instead. Shifting Auburn to the side, he unbuttoned his shirt. A gold dragon blazed across his chest, the blessed mark still filled with a whisper of golden light that had illuminated the church.

Leopold dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

The rest of the Knights did the same, and so did the palace guards.

“Your Highness,” Leopold said. “Chosen of the Dragon God. May you lead Tamryn with justice, wisdom and compassion.”





Chapter 54





Leopold and the Knights spent the next fortnight sifting through the documents Fredrick had left behind and tracking down those that had been involved in his plots. They were making progress, but Eli knew it would take a long time before the Dragon Church finished.

It would take time to ferret out who Fredrick had been involved with Fredrick and prove their wrongdoing, but the prince would take the time. He could be patient, and his control was legendary.