Prince and Bodyguard

PRINCE AND BODYGUARD PERILOUS COURTS BOOK FOUR TAVIA LARK Copyright © 2023 Tavia Lark All Rights Reserved Cover Design by Trif Book Design No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form without written permission from the author, except for brief quotations in a book review and similar legal uses. If you want to print out your favorite quote and stick it on your fridge, that’s totally allowed. Pirating is not. All characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real persons is purely coincidental. Content Notes: This book includes accidental sexy sensation-sharing, very on-purpose sexy sensation-sharing, and blindfold play. It also includes an on-page execution and an off-page murder staged as a suicide. www.tavialark.com ❧ Perilous Courts Prince and Assassin Prince in Disguise Prince and Pawn Prince and Bodyguard Prince and Betrothed Prince of Agony Let’s keep in touch! New Release Newsletter: TaviaLark.com/List Bonus Content: Patreon.com/TaviaLark Tavia’s Lark Nest: Facebook.com/Groups/TaviaLark Table of Contents Prologue: Fourteen Years Ago Chapter 1: Vana Chapter 2: Daromir Chapter 3: Vana Chapter 4: Daromir Chapter 5: Vana Chapter 6: Daromir Chapter 7: Vana Chapter 8: Daromir Chapter 9: Vana Chapter 10: Daromir Chapter 11: Vana Chapter 12: Daromir Chapter 13: Vana Chapter 14: Daromir Chapter 15: Vana Chapter 16: Daromir Chapter 17: Vana Chapter 18: Daromir Chapter 19: Vana Chapter 20: Daromir Chapter 21: Vana Chapter 22: Daromir Chapter 23: Vana Chapter 24: Daromir Chapter 25: Vana Chapter 26: Daromir Chapter 27: Vana Chapter 28: Daromir Chapter 29: Three Letters Epilogue Hello From Tavia Lark More From Tavia Lark ❧ PROLOGUE Fourteen Years Ago Vana Tellik traces the words inscribed in the poetry collection. Mother gave him the book for his birthday three months ago. Vana has only read part of it, saving the poems for special days, drawing out the pleasure of each discovery. To Vana Kaiskara Tellik, for his fourteenth year, the inscription reads. Vana is his own name, and Kaiskara is his birthplace. Most people in Draskora or Kaiskara carry their city or village in their name, but as a member of Kaiskara’s ruling family, Vana’s name reflects the entire island. Tellik is Vana’s house and family—though not for much longer. Two weeks from now, Vana will be on a ship to Draskora, caught between the sea and a storm of strangers. House Dire wants a new son, and House Tellik will give up one of theirs. Mother continues speaking, but Vana barely hears her. His mind stopped working properly when she revealed the purpose of her visit. He traces his name again. Mother stands at his great window, gazing out over the gray-blue waters of the bay. She turns away from Vana as if ashamed. But if her shame were that great, she wouldn’t be doing this. She and Father would send someone else. Vana sets the book of poems down. Its small sound against the table draws Mother’s attention, and she turns, silent. Her white robes are luminous in the morning light, her long hair nearly as pale. Her emerald green eyes are so bright they seem to glow, just like Vana’s and so many others on the island. “Mother,” Vana says, rising. His loose silk trousers flow around his ankles. “Why must you send me? I don’t want to go.” “Because House Dire asked for a child of Kaiskara,” Mother says. “Because Kaiskara will not survive a war with Draskora, so we must have peace instead.” “It isn’t my fault Auntie rebelled.” “Of course it isn’t, but your father is the duke of Kaiskara. Our island’s safety is our responsibility, no matter the cost. Our hands are bound.” “But why does it have to be me?” Vana’s heart sours with the unfairness. “House Dire never said it has to be a child of House Tellik. You should send Irenka Miraz. She loves songs about dragons best. Or Bazil Pavelka. He always talks about how he wants to travel.” Vana doesn’t name his sisters or brothers. They all have Tellik magic, except for his younger sister Arla. She’s too young and sweet to send away. Mother only shakes her head. “We have no choice.” “I don’t understand.” “I pray you never do.” Mother approaches Vana slowly, like she fears he might run. “I pray you never know a heartbreak like this.” Vana bows his head, defeated. Sighing, Mother cups Vana’s face. Her hands are soft and warm, but her words are hard. “King Imrik will adopt you and grant you his magic. You’ll have to be strong, because you’ll be Vana Dire, never more Vana Tellik.” Her eyes flash. “But our homeland will always be part of you. Your name will be Vana Kaiskara Dire, and your father and I won’t send you to Draskora unprotected.” Vana looks up, pulse quickening. “What do you mean?” “You’re not yet eighteen, but exceptions can be made,” Mother says. “We’ve arranged a tournament a week from today. The champion will be your bloodguard.” Vana had thought himself beyond surprise, but Mother’s words stun him once again. The bloodguard tradition is as old as Kaiskara itself: a bodyguard bound with blood magic to their ward. They share each other’s pain, so the bloodguard always knows when their ward is injured, and the bloodguard can fight more freely with their pain halved. They always know where the other is, and the bond lasts until death or severance—which legend says may be worse than death. Vana always knew he would have a bloodguard, just like his parents and oldest siblings. Mother’s bloodguard waits outside Vana’s door right now. Sometimes Vana wondered who would be chosen for him. By tradition, every Kaiskaran noble hosts a tournament on their eighteenth birthday, and the winner becomes their bloodguard. It’s a test of strength, endurance, and determination. In practice, noble families usually sponsor their chosen cadets. The other combatants are paid handsomely to ensure the correct champion wins. But all of Vana’s potential cadets are his own age. They’re too young