Page 10 of Bred By the Emperor

“Princess Liliviere is trying to talk him around to the idea.”

“He’s here?” I ask in surprise.

“Yes, he needs to sign the wedding contract for it to be legally binding.”

Goddamn paperwork standing between me and my bride. “Good. She’s got ten minutes to convince him before I barge in there and steal her away again.”

“With all due respect, sir,” my advisor says, “that’s kidnapping. You don’t need any more bad press.”

“Malakai the Monster doesn’t ask permission to take what he wants,” I answer stubbornly. “I’m certainly not waiting for an old man to decide that I’m good enough for his granddaughter.”

My assistant extracts a silver flask from his inner pocket and takes a long draw, his throat working as the alcohol burns down his throat. Then Kenton grabs the flask and drains what’s left.

I’m driving everyone around me to drink, and I can’t bring myself to care. I stare at the clock, forcing myself to wait the ten minutes I promised.

After that, I’m not holding back another second.

Chapter 9

Liliviere

My grandfather finally woke up from his nap when he was dragged into a helicopter and brought to the imperial castle. He looks at me as though I have announced my intention to marry a fire-breathing dragon. Which, in fairness, is a decent description of my husband-to-be.

“I just don’t understand,” he says for what feels like the millionth time, expressing the same disbelief and skepticism as everyone else. “Why can’t you marry the son?”

“Because I don’t want the son.” How do I explain that Malakai has been present in my life, one way or another, for years, whereas Kenton is relatively unknown to me?

“But he’s younger. Closer to your own age.”

“Yes, that is true.” Inwardly, I sigh with waning patience. There is a couture lace gown waiting for me to change into the instant my grandfather signs these stupid papers.

“And considerably less terrifying.”

“I like the terrifying one.” I fold my hands primly in my lap and blink innocently.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Lili...”

Across the room, Julian makes a choking noise that suspiciously resembles laughter. He quickly turns it into a cough. Grandfather glares at him. Julian instantly becomes fascinated by the wallpaper.

“I am trying to be serious,” Grandfather says.

“So am I.”

“No, you most certainly are not.”

“I assure you, I have never been more serious in my life.”

He leans back in his chair with a long-suffering sigh.

“When your parents passed, they entrusted care of both you and the kingdom to me. I did not foresee having to convince my granddaughter not to marry the man the newspapers call Malakai the Monster.”

“He’s not a monster.”

Grandfather’s eyes narrow. I haven’t seen him this alert and aware in weeks. Ordinarily, he is happy to sit back and let me make decisions on behalf of the kingdom. He just wants to do his crossword puzzle and nap. Most of the time he can’t be bothered to actually run the country that he is king of. Now, when I’m in a position to make a crucial alliance, suddenly he has opinions. It’s hard not to be frustrated.

“Liliviere.”

“What?”