A Prince's Hostage

By Xander Tracy

This thief has only one chance to steal the prince's heart...

 

Elliyan was never anything more than a thief. A good one. So how can he pass up the chance to steal the priceless signet necklace worn by Rayne Baalor, the crown prince, when he first lays eyes on the stunningly handsome man? Unfortunately, he misjudges the prince as simply another clueless royal and suddenly finds himself locked in a prison cell. But instead of having Elliyan hauled to the nearest gallows, Prince Rayne intends to make use of his special talent for breaking through the magic of blood wards. Rayne wants Elliyan to break through his father's wards, kill the brutal king, and save their kingdom from ruin. Elliyan can either agree to be Rayne's body slave until Rayne can get him close enough to the king...or he can hang. Although he's held hostage by the threat of a noose around his neck, Elliyan soon finds the prince as intriguing as he is attractive. There are worse fates than serving—and seducing—a man of Rayne's power and wealth, or at least until Elliyan can finally escape. Only the more time he spends with the prince, the less he wants to escape...

 

Rayne knows his father has turned into a dangerous, unpredictable tyrant whose paranoia has dragged the kingdom into an unwinnable war. He would set things right himself, but his father's ward magic is fueled by the blood of Rayne's sister and nephews and will redirect any harm meant for the king toward them. But Elliyan's unique immunity to wards gives Rayne the perfect chance to save the rest of the royal family and the kingdom. Only the prince didn't foresee coming to like the charming rogue as a friend...and something more. The man is mischievous, smart, and more than eager in bed. Soon the prince fears he's turning into a love-struck fool for his hostage, the man he bound to his side by the threat of a noose. If the prince risks his heart, he risks the kingdom. But keeping his desire to himself is no longer an option once Elliyan is past the wards Rayne has set around his heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wolf Hill Publishing
• Release date: Jul 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201000226

Book preview

Table of Contents

Cover

Table of Contents

Look for these titles from Xander Tracy

Title Page

Copyright Warning

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

About the Author

Also by Xander Tracy

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A Prince’s Hostage

Xander Tracy

Copyright Warning

EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/).

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Published By

Wolf Hill Publishing

1643 Warwick Ave., #124

Warwick, RI 02889

A Prince’s Hostage

Copyright © 2018 by Xander Tracy

ISBN: 978-1-947135-77-2

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First electronic publication: April 2018

~ Dedication ~

To Damien and T.J. Happy trails!

CHAPTER ONE

Elliyan moved through the market square, taking in the sights and smells around him: the crofters with their tables piled high with produce, the fishmonger carts wafting past with steaming shalefish on the coals, the sounds of vendors hawking fresh pork and candles, and children and animals squealing and running about underfoot. He dodged a mud-spattered little girl just in time to avoid her muddy hands staining his fine brocade breeches and velvet coat, but he smiled at the joy in her laughter as she shouted after her brother, who apparently was a goose face. Elliyan let out a sigh of pleasure at being in one of his favorite places on such a fine, sunny day. It was a beautiful thing, the crowded marketplace. A perfect place for a thief to ply his trade.

Even if it was such a far sight beneath him that it was practically a bore.

He passed a farm cart laden with grapes and wines, keeping his eyes straight ahead on the poulterer’s stand where a woman in a bright, feathered hat was arguing over the price of duck eggs with the frazzled woman behind the counter. Elliyan smiled as the woman stormed off in a flourish of hat feathers. He popped a grape into his mouth and slid a pilfered flagon of dark red wine deep into the pocket of his coat. Yes, the market was a wonderful place, indeed.

A stir at the gates drew his attention. A cluster of people surrounded three uniformed men in the opening, chattering and waving at them. The prince’s pikemen.

That was never good. What could they want here in this backwater market square? Elliyan dropped the empty grape stem and wiped his hands on his pants as he began to wend his way over for a closer look. Just a look—nothing that would draw any undue attention. Prince Rayne Baalor’s soldiers were very dangerous men.

As he walked, he listened idly to the chatter of the townspeople around him.

An entire battalion—just outside the city—

—biggest horses I’ve ever seen—

The prince! He’s here himself! In our little market!

Elliyan kept his head discretely turned away and watched the three soldiers at the gates from the corner of his eye. A moment later, the three men entered the square. They stood out from the townspeople like hornets among honeybees, walking abreast in the dark gray uniform of the prince’s soldiers. The two on the ends bore pikes whose blades glinted in the late morning sun. Between them, the third man walked with only a sword belted at his side, his uniform covered with the royal blue surcoat of House Baalor.

Prince Rayne.

Elliyan found himself captivated. He’d never seen the man in person, but it was clear he was looking upon him now. Prince Rayne Baalor was the embodiment of the word regal. He bore his father’s aquiline nose, a profile Elliyan saw every day whenever he spent—or picked up someone else’s—coin. The prince’s body, too, was handsome, lean in that way that came from physical work—with a core of steel and not the softness of a spoiled aristocrat. He wore his dark hair shaved close, and even from this distance, Elliyan could barely just make out the fresh knot of red scar tissue just above his right temple. Training injury? A bit lower and the prince might not be walking the market today. Elliyan wondered if the man who’d inflicted the scar had survived.

Elliyan found himself reacting to the man’s presence in ways he shouldn’t. At least not in public. Willing his body not to react, he kept his eyes fixed on the soldiers instead as they turned and headed in his direction.

A flicker of red, there and gone, drew his gaze back to the prince. Elliyan continued to watch the man, and as he moved through the crowd, Elliyan saw it again. The faintest shimmer of red around the man’s body.

Prince Rayne was warded? Interesting. Elliyan was one of the rare few who could see and disable protective spell wards, but he’d never seen a full-body one before. What was the prince carrying that was so precious that he’d bear a full-body enchantment to protect it?

Elliyan let his gaze slip down to the heavy gold chain that the prince wore around his neck, bearing an enormous blue sapphire that fell against his surcoat. Could that be real? Elliyan had thought it merely part of the prince’s dress uniform, a paste bauble in the color of House Baalor that matched the king’s royal medallion. Why would the prince go to market wearing something so obscenely valuable?

Elliyan let out a breath. He wouldn’t. The idea was preposterous. It would be sheer folly to wear something like that out where anyone might steal it…

The familiar sensation in his hands began to burn, the need to feel the necklace between his fingers. To ascertain for himself if it was as valuable as it looked. To slip it from the prince’s very neck…

He clenched his hands at his sides and tried to look away. He had learned the hard way that there were rules to be followed. Choose your target with care. Better to abandon a mark than to risk capture. Haste is the enemy of success.

Following the rules increased one’s odds of success, which, to a thief, meant wealth, prestige, and most importantly, avoiding the gallows. Elliyan had learned the rules early, and he cleaved to them like a faithful lover. Good thieves were rarely risk-takers, and Elliyan was a very good thief.

The rules had kept him alive. Had kept him in the finest silks and velvets. Had bought him the handsomest men money could buy. He was careful. He never tarried long at any one court when there were so many rich ones to rob.

That was why he’d recently left the rich capital of the kingdom of Sessnia for a tour of the outer provinces. Lie low for a time. Spend some coin. Sleep in the sun without fear of finding some lordling’s dagger between his ribs. In the rural western province of Green Hold, Elliyan was safe. He was also utterly, excruciatingly bored.

He needed a challenge like some men needed a drink, or a bet, or a woman.

A priceless gem around the neck of a prince under a spell ward and armed guards was a challenge fit for the gods.

Choose your target with care. Elliyan shook off the thought. His palms itched with the need to feel that sapphire sliding off the prince’s neck and into his pocket.

Rayne was the worst target he could possibly choose.

He had to have him.

He sighed and followed the prince and his men into a tavern—the exact opposite of careful.

Inside the dimly lit pub, Elliyan glanced around. He saw Rayne at a rough wooden table across the room. He’d put his back to the wall and was scanning the crowd in the casually deliberate way of a man accustomed to danger. There was no way to get close to him in here, no way to find out if the gem was real without tipping his hand. And amid pikemen, no less.

Better to abandon a mark than risk capture.

Elliyan seated himself at the bar and ordered an ale, just one more merchant or minor lord on market day spending his coin. He couldn’t abandon the prince now, and besides, he was only watching. He may never have a chance to make his move. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t sit nearby and have an ale.

He nursed his drink and watched the prince and his men out of the corner of his eye as they ordered meals and flagons of wine. They ate fast, which Elliyan was grateful for, as he didn’t want to have to order another ale and ruin his concentration. Or his coordination.

A moment later, Rayne finished his wine and stood up with a faint grimace. I need to stretch my legs before we head out, he said to his companions. Go and get the horses. And settle the bill with the barman.

His men murmured their assent and got moving as he headed outside. Elliyan’s heart rushed into his chest. The prince was leaving… alone?

He laid a coin on the sticky wooden bar and slipped out the side exit into an alley between the tavern and the spice shop next door. The tight, dark corridor reeked of stale piss, but

Reviews for A Prince's Hostage

[Rosinanta · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Short intriguing story with clever (!) and lovable characters. Clean work.