The bright light of the hall made it difficult to see into the passageway, and Auburn stood in front of the sultan to shield him further. She prayed it was enough for Pandhuka to escape to safety and send reinforcements.

Eli stepped through the door, and Auburn followed him. Fear slid through her at the greed twisting Premal’s face, followed by anger. She’d led Eli into Premal’s trap, and Auburn would do whatever was necessary to make sure the prince escaped.

Premal stared at the darkness behind them, but if he saw the sultan, he gave no indication. Sweat beaded Premal’s brow and color flushed his cheeks. Blood stained the hem of his trousers, and his sleeve was torn. Perverse delight darkened his eyes, and he reminded Auburn of a wild mongrel thrown a piece of steak.

Calm and collected in his pristine black suit, Eli raised a brow. “So this is where the sultan keeps you when you aren’t licking his boots.”

Anger reddened Premal’s face. “Your words are worthless and come from a man that takes council from a slave.”

Eli only raised a taunting brow.

“I knew you’d come. Knew you’d try to sneak away rather than stand and fight. You’re proof Tamryn is nothing. A shadow of a sleeping dragon.”

Eli stepped between her and the adviser, blocking her from Premal’s view.

Premal thrust out his hand and growled at Auburn. “Come. Now.”

“Stay behind me.”

“He’s not giving the orders!” Premal snapped his fingers at the guards. “Give me the girl and kill the Tamarian.”

Eli crouched in front of her as the four men closed in on him. Darting to the left, he deflected a blow from the man farthest down, pivoted, and buried his dagger in the man’s chest. The prince then jabbed upward as Leopold had tried to teach her. The blade slid under the attacker’s ribs and pierce his heart.

The man clutched at the dagger, stumbling back as blood coated his shirt and pooled on the ground at his feet. Eli spun away and grabbed the dagger he wore strapped to his left ankle. He dropped back into a fighting stance as the three remaining guards paused and reassessed the threat the prince posed.

Auburn swallowed back the bile burning her throat as blood slicked the floor and filled the room with its sweet coppery scent. She’d never seen a man die before, but by the gods, she wouldn’t let Premal kill Eli.

As Eli faced off against the guards, Premal lunged at her. Auburn sidestepped him, dancing out of his reach and closer to Eli.

The guards glanced toward Auburn, and the prince threw his dagger into the throat of the man closest to him, then sprinted forward and ran the same guard through with his sword.

The man stumbled back, slipping on his own blood as he clutched his belly and screamed.

Auburn covered her mouth with a hand as Eli spun around and drew the dagger from his right boot. He was now several steps away from her.

Recognizing her vulnerability, Auburn leapt backward, trying to get to Eli. The guard closest to her lunged at her. She dodged around him, but Premal was behind the guard, and he grabbed her hair and yanked her to him.

He squeezed her hard, forcing the air from her lungs, but she swallowed back her scream and kept her face a mask. She didn’t want to break Eli’s concentration.

The prince’s gaze moved from the remaining two guards to Premal and back to the guards.

Auburn fought back her revulsion as Premal crushed his lips to hers and forced his tongue into her mouth. Letting her body fall limp, she refused to show fear or use her training to please him.

Premal’s grip on her tightened, bruising her as he shoved her against the wall and ground his body against hers.

Anger mixed with fear and the concoction burned through her, squeezing her thoughts and silencing her reason as Premal dug his fingers into her flesh.

She had to focus. Had to escape. To save herself and Eli.

Premal’s dagger crushed against her hip, and memories of Leopold’s teachings flooded her.

She had to get the dagger.

Steadying her breathing, Auburn searched for an opening.

“Stroke me,” Premal said.

When she didn’t comply, he grabbed her hand and shoved it against his rigid member.

Despite her fear, Auburn stayed rag-doll limp in his arms and let out a bored sigh.

Premal shook her hard enough that her teeth rattled. “You will learn how to treat your master!”

“You are not my master.”

Premal snarled and slapped her, sending her sprawling across the floor. He then grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back to her feet.

She tasted blood in her mouth and her vision blurred, but she refused to respond.

Eli cursed and slipped around one of the remaining guards to get to her, but the second one slashed at him, forcing the prince to halt and defend himself.

“Enough!” Premal bellowed. “Drop your sword or I will kill her!”

Eli glanced from Auburn to Premal and back to the men closing in on him.

By the gods, she couldn’t believe Eli was considering giving up his weapon. They’d kill him if he did, and she wouldn’t let him throw his life away.

Sucking in a breath, Auburn summoned her courage and elbowed Premal hard in the gut. Surprised, he released her, and Auburn grabbed the dagger on his belt. Turning with the grace of a dancer, she buried the dagger in his stomach.

Premal’s eyes widened as he stumbled back. Blood gushed from the dagger wound and soaked through his silk tunic.

Anger, fear, then panic contorted his face. He clutched at the dagger as he backed away from her and staggered down the hall.

Auburn stared at the blood on her hands. Premal’s blood.

Premal’s two remaining guards glanced at Eli then charged toward Auburn.

She stared at them, detached as she watched Eli bury his sword in the back of one man then slice his dagger across that man’s throat.

The man’s garbled scream helped Auburn recompose herself enough to dodge as the remaining guard lunged for her.

An arrow embedded itself in the last man’s chest. As he stumbled away from her, fire engulfed him.

Sligo stepped from the hidden passageway and lowered his hand crossbow as Ndrek and Sir Leopold sprinted down the hall.

Eli pulled Auburn into his arms. He stroked her hair as a shuddering breath escaped him. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

Auburn stared up at her prince and touched his face, his shoulders, his chest, reassuring herself that he was alive and well. Then she buried her face against him and held him tightly, her whole body trembling as her fear ebbed and relief flooded her.

Eli tightened his hold on her.

“We heard the commotion and didn’t see you fighting your way out,” Leopold said as he lowered his sword. “Ndrek thought Auburn might’ve snuck you out. Looks like he was right.”

A whisper of a smile curved Sligo’s lips as he pulled the daggers from the dead bodyguards, cleaned them, and handed them back to Eli.

Auburn glanced back to the servant’s passage. “Did you see...”

“The sultan passed me on my way to you,” Sligo said. “I don’t know if he survived. I recommend we regroup at the flagship.”

Leopold shook his head. “This trade agreement isn’t worth war.”

Eli tightened his arms around Auburn. “Some things aren’t worth risking.”

Sligo glanced toward the great hall as the sounds of battle whispered past them. “Let’s leave quickly. Qumaref may not be friendly depending on who wins this.”