Page 26 of Bred By the Emperor

“What is that?”

“I am asking you, for the sake of our marriage, to make amends with your son.”

Immediately, I bristle. “Kenton doesn’t deserve it.”

“He apologized to me for trying to ruin our marriage. He even helped get me out of that cell so I could tell you what I had figured out about who had aided the rebels.”

“I’ve taken care of that traitorous son of a bitch.” The very first thing I did upon landing was arrest her head guard and have him executed. The specific details might upset my lovely wife. She doesn’t need to know them.

“I don’t have any regrets about choosing you—I would do it again in a heartbeat, Malakai—but Kenton feels rejected and unappreciated. He did lead the response to the attack, and very successfully. Is it so difficult to apologize to him? We did pull the rug out from under him, after all.”

“He didn’t want to be standing on that rug in the first place,” I grumble, though I know she’s right. I’d rather carry her into the castle and spend the next week making love to my wife, but I suppose at some point she has to move into the palace at Enovar City. I can wait a few more hours.

If I must.

“Whether he did or not, we hurt him and we need to fix it.”

I swat her on the ass. “Go pack your things.”

She crosses her arms. “My people need me here.”

“So do mine.”

“It’s my kingdom,” she says.

“My empire.”

“My castle.” She lifts her chin, challenging me.

“We’re going to live in my palace. Get your stuff.”

“Our palace. And I have servants for that.”

“Great. Then what are we waiting for?”

Just like the first time we departed from this place, I throw her over my shoulder and carry her to the helicopter.

This time, Lili doesn’t protest…too much.

Upon landing in Enovar City, I seek out my eldest son. Kenton has been working nonstop. Throwing himself into the distraction of battle. I recognize the impulse well.

“I hear you were the one who finally listened to Lili’s explanation of how the rebels made a secret base camp inside Kellimar’s borders.” I close the door to the conference room behind me. “Thank you.”

He barely glances up at me. “Someone had to save her hide.”

“I owe you an apology.”

“Yeah?” He props one hip against the console table. “What for?”

“Stealing your bride.”

“I don’t give a shit about that. Not anymore. She’s pretty, but I’ve had prettier.”

“Why’d you do it then?” Now, he backs down. Took him long enough. Stubborn, like his father, this son of mine. Hates to admit it when he’s wrong.

“Because what she said to me at the wedding struck true.” He scrubs his face. “I was acting like a spoiled little boy. I didn’t want to get married—at least, until I saw her—and when she chose you, I wanted to break up your marriage because I felt like you were being unfaithful to Mom.”

“It’s been ten⁠—”