Page 22 of Bred By the Emperor

“Yeah.”

“What if she’s lying?”

“She’s not.”

“You don’t know that.”

“The fuck I do.” I’m so angry and heartsick that I’m not making sense.

“Dad, you’ve known her for, what, twenty-four hours?” He throws both hands in the air.

“Twenty-four of the best hours of my life.”

Kenton makes a wordless sound of furious despair. “I cannot believe you would say that to me. Your son. What about Mom?”

“She’s been gone for a decade!”

“She’s still my mother!”

Lili steps between us, gently forcing us both back a step. “I am not trying to replace her, Kenton. I would never even dream of it. Your father has grieved her for a very long time. It’s time to acknowledge that he is still a man, and a living one. It’s not fair of you to ask him to live the rest of his life alone just because you can’t stand the sight of him loving another woman. You are grown. Start acting like an adult.”

She’s right, but her message doesn’t hit the right note. Kenton’s mouth crumples into a sneer.

“If the evidence continues to point toward Kellimar and your wife…” He hesitates, glancing slyly at me. “Remember that treason is punishable by death.”

The room becomes so quiet I can hear Lili’s quickened breathing.

I don’t think. I just swing. My fist connects with Kenton’s jaw. His head snaps back. Blood pours from the corner of his mouth. “What was that for?”

“Threatening my wife.” I shake out my aching knuckles. “No one is arresting Lili. No one is questioning her. It seems that some of you have forgotten who the emperor is in Enovar.” I let the silence stretch. “Allow me to remind you that it is not the boy standing there pretending he’s suddenly in charge. It’s me, and me alone.”

Kenton pales.

Finally the councilor speaks into the tense silence. “If the Empress cannot be questioned...” He takes a careful breath. “Perhaps the marriage itself should be dissolved. At least temporarily.”

“Say that again,” I demand darkly.

“An annulment would give us time to resolve this matter and assess Princess Liliviere’s suitability for the role of empress…” He swallows hard. “To protect the throne, sir.”

“Absolutely the fuck not. My wife isn’t going anywhere.”

The entire room unconsciously takes a step backward. Interesting. For a moment, I forgot they fear as much as they respect me.

“Except to prison,” Kenton mutters. I’m done letting that little shit get under my skin. I shrug. He bristles immediately.

“If my wife goes to prison, I’ll go with her,” I grit out like a lovesick fool. I have to consider the possibility that my son is right, and my wife has been lying to my face all along.

Liliviere turns pleading eyes to me. The adoration shining there almost cuts my knees out from under me.

Kenton groans and buries his face in his hands. “Oh, for God’s sake.” Then he pulls himself straight and snaps at the four guards flanking the door. “Arrest Princess Liliviere. My father’s judgment cannot be trusted. For the sake of national security, keep them separate until we get to the bottom of this.”

Now, of all times, my son asserts his leadership. I watch helplessly as the guards lead my wife away.

Chapter 15

Liliviere

Ididn’t expect my wedding to end with me thrown into a prison cell—but then, pretty much nothing has gone the way I expected it to ever since I met Malakai.