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.”

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.”