Burying the strange feelings, Eli held Auburn close as he kept his face expressionless. He breathed in the exotic scent of her, letting it soothe the ache in his chest as he twirled a lock of her hair around his finger.

He stared at the copper strands and bit back a curse. The last thing he needed was emotion clouding his judgment. Prince Eli prided himself on his cool detachment, and it annoyed him that he was struggling to maintain it.

Forcing himself to concentrate on the issues at hand, he thought again of everything he knew about Fredrick and Premal. Eli was certain the two were connected, but he hadn’t figured out how.

That worried him. If Fredrick was plotting something, Eli’s informants should have already learned about it. But his cousin’s machinations had caught the prince off guard, and that worried the prince more than anything. Intrigues rarely surprised Eli. He’d survived the game too long for that.

After his mother’s assassination, his father and been so consumed by grief that he hadn’t protected Eli from the worst of court politics. Without meaning to, King Garrett had thrown his son into the game. Prince Eli had been far too young, he’d learned quickly, and he played to win.

A key component of winning was understanding your opponent, what they wanted, and how far they’d go to get it.

Eli had learned none of that about Premal or Fredrick. With Tamryn across the sea, it was almost impossible to learn more about Fredrick. Premal, however, was a different matter. Eli may not have spent a lifetime cultivating an information network in Qumaref, but there were still ways to learn things.

While the prince wouldn’t be able to hide his intelligence gathering from Premal, Eli could use that. There were mundane ways to discover a great deal. Records of taxes paid, shipping manifests, merchant documents. Given what he knew about Premal, the more the sultan’s adviser had to hide, the more aggressive he’d become if Eli’s informants got too close to discovering anything.

It risked Premal’s wrath, but the game had already escalated to assassination attempts.

As Eli considered his plan from several angles, Auburn slipped off the sofa and glided across the room to pour two large glasses of water. After taking a sip of one, she nodded and crushed fresh mint leaves into each. Gathering up several plump pieces of ripe fruit, she placed them on a tray and brought them back to him.

Eli took a glass of water and drank. There was little he could do about Premal that evening, but he could hone skills that might be useful later.

“Up for helping me work on learning more of the Qumarefi language?” Eli asked as Auburn settled beside him.

“I’d be happy to help.”

“I see you’ve been reading my books. Tell me what you think about the ones on Qumaref.”

“What I think?”

“You’re educated, insightful, and well versed in the realities of Qumarefi royal society. I can think of no one better to offer a critique on them.”

Her cheeks colored.

“Is my assessment incorrect?”

“No, but no one’s ever said such things to me.”

“Then they’re fools.” He thumbed over her lush lips as she curled up in his arms.

The scent of her intoxicated him, and the heat of her teased his flesh and ignited a desire he hadn’t imagined himself capable of feeling. He shifted and resettled her to hide the evidence of the effect she had on him.

She discussed one of his books in her native language, and as he listened to her, Eli appreciated again what a perfect companion she was. Intelligent, kind, and insightful, she even knew how to disagree with him in a way that made him listen.

She’d be an excellent adviser if he could keep an emotional distance from her. Yet, as she sat beside him, he could think of little other than his need for her. He wanted to carry her to the bed and feel her warm, soft and yielding beneath him. See her face overwhelmed with pleasure as she cried his name.

He caged the thoughts, but that was becoming increasingly difficult. His iron will was being tested, and he wasn’t sure how much longer it would hold. He fought for what he wanted, and the only thing stopping him from getting it was that he wanted Auburn to be happy.

He knew how much the promise of a son meant to her. She deserved a good husband to give her that child even if that husband ended up being a Knight of Valor. Auburn could do a lot worse than someone that would care for her and protect her.

But would a Knight love her? Put her needs above all else when he’d already devoted himself to Dracor? Eli didn’t know, but the thought of another man even kissing Auburn made his chest constrict and his fists ball. He was terrible at denying himself what he wanted, and up until now, it hadn’t been a problem.

The prince swallowed back the emotional maelstrom and reminded himself he was supposed to marry Lady Daniella. Not only would it be a good political match, but the prophecy said Duke Calloway’s daughter would become the next queen. The duke had only one living child, legitimate or otherwise, and Eli had used his spy network to make sure of it. Last thing he’d wanted was for his plans to fall apart because of a bastard no one knew existed.

Eli would make his mother’s sacrifice to mean something. Unless Dracor chose another before then, he’d take the throne and rule Tamryn when his father died. Eli had spent half his life maneuvering to make that happen. He’d further his claim by marrying Lady Daniella and leveraging the nobility’s belief in the prophecy and Duke Calloway’s political clout.

Even as he thought about it, a cold ache settled in Eli’s stomach. He gazed down at the woman in his arms and knew what he’d have to give up when he returned to Tamryn. The quiet comfort, the heat of desire, the warm companionship. He’d lose all of it and the woman he foolishly loved.

He was a prince. He wasn’t supposed to love his wife. Marriage was a business arrangement for royalty and breaking that rule had almost destroyed his father. Lady Daniella was elegant, competent and politically savvy. The lands she brought to the arrangement were the perfect complement to his, and as his wife, he’d see to it she fulfilled the prophecy and became the next queen.

He’d been happy with that arrangement when he’d left Tamryn.

But his life before coming to Qumaref felt cold and alien. Daniella wouldn’t be waiting for him or happy to see him when he returned home. She wouldn’t care what Eli did or what happened to him as long as he met the obligations of their partnership.

He’d need to rule effectively and oversee their lands and the people on them while she managed the houses and staff. She would offer council if he asked for it, but she’d give it as a calculating business partner rather than a concerned lover.

He couldn’t imagine Daniella soft and eager beneath him. She’d do her duty and live up to her end of the arrangement, providing him with an heir and a spare. But that’s all that would ever be between them.

He thought of Auburn willing to risk her life for a son she’d only seen in a vision. Willing to risk him learning about her secret visions to keep him safe. She was the one he wanted to come home to, the one he wanted in his bed, the one he loved.

Could he have Daniella as a wife and Auburn as his mistress?

Assuming he was discreet, Daniella would permit it. Would expect it. Being his mistress was better than being a Qumarefi slave. If anyone so much as thought about lifting a hand to her... Eli sucked in a breath and steadied his temper.

But Auburn deserved more. She deserved to have her son.

As his mistress, the rules of the Dragon Church and royal succession would bind her. Those rules forbid royal bastards. Eli wasn’t sure how the church controlled such things, but they’d continue to do so. There was too much at stake with royal succession for them to do anything else.

Damn dragon blood. Probably as much a farce as the prophecy, but most people believed the monarchs of Tamryn all had a drop of dragon blood in their veins. It was why Dracor would only bless one from their line to ascend the throne.

But the Dragon God hadn’t chosen Eli or Fredrick.

Given what he’d learned from Rolland, it was unlikely the Dragon God would ever bless Fredrick. Dracor was the god of justice and righteousness. Whatever Fredrick was plotting, Eli doubted the Dragon God would approve. As the prince was sure Dracor didn’t approve of his own machinations.

If not him or Rolland, the Dragon God would bestow the crown on one of their children.

Staring down at Auburn snuggled up in his arms, he wanted better for her than that. He wanted her to know joy and happiness without forever questioning the motives of everyone around her.

For a moment, he forgot about royal succession, Premal, and his cousin as he basked in the warmth of her. The heady scents of vanilla and jasmine filled him, and Eli smiled as he listened to her lilting words. He was happier here with her than he’d been since his mother’s death.

If he married Daniella and Auburn agreed to forgo her son to be his mistress, would he be as happy as he was now?

The answer brought a curse to his lips.

Damn the Twins.

Everyone spoke of the power of the Dragon God, but He hadn’t undermined Eli’s plans. Wasn’t making Eli give up everything or suffer an agony so acute that a day in the Qumarefi sun felt pleasant.

“Are you okay?” Auburn’s cornflower blue eyes fixed on him.

“Just thinking.”

“I’m willing to listen.”

“It was about you.”

“You look sad.” She squeezed his hand. “I hope I haven’t upset you.”

“Trying to figure out what I’ll do with you when we get to Tamryn.”

She bit her lower lip. “You said I’d be free.”

“Of course you’ll be free. I’m thinking more about what you’ll do and where you’ll go once we get there.”

“I’ve worried about that.” She focused on her hands. “Probably not a lot of use for a dancer or a musician, but I can read and write a lot of languages.”

Fear pinch her forehead, and he couldn’t halt his words. “I still worry about you being alone in a strange city. Would you want to stay at the palace with me?”

Her fear vanished, and a genuine smile curved her lips. “I’d like that very much.”

He kissed her temple. “Then you’ll stay with me.”

She turned in his arms and gazed up at him, her lips inches from his as her thigh brushed over the evidence he’d been trying to hide. The heat of her breath whisper over his cheek, and he smelled the mint leaves.

“You’re tempting a very bad man.” His mouth hovered over hers.

Auburn’s eyes fluttered closed, and she tipped her lips closer to his.

He leaned down and touched his lips to hers in a soft, tentative kiss.