Page 7 of Bred By the Emperor

I shrug. “You’ll get used to it.”

“I have responsibilities in Kellimar. You should both stay and learn more about my country.”

“That isn’t necessary since you won’t be living in it anymore.”

“I’m starting to think this is a mistake,” she says.

“You and everybody else,” Kenton interjects. “My phone is blowing up. First, people thought they were sending me congratulations. Now everyone is up in arms. Kudos, Dad. Looks like you just started the Great War all over again.”

By the time we land in Enovar, my advisors have convened a meeting. More like an intervention.

“Your Imperial Majesty, we believe this is a grave mistake. First of all, there’s the age difference. Young Princes Liliviere is young enough to be your daughter.”

“Age is just a number. She wants this. I want it, too. Nobody else’s opinion matters.”

“Then there’s the optics of throwing over your own son.” Another councilor winces. “We did so much work to stop the people from calling you Malakai the Monster. Overnight, you have upended literally years of work.”

He’s right. This is madness. I’m destroying everything I felt for a woman I met a few hours ago. I can’t bring myself to care. This is the first time I’ve felt alive in ten years.

“How are the wedding preparations coming along?” I ask.

Dead silence. The council gapes at me in disbelief.

“No one is planning a wedding until the furor dies down,” says my head legal advisor. “You need to think this through, sir. If you marry anyone, the Gremalian queen is a far better choice. Let Kenton marry her. You cannot go around ordering people to get married on a whim.”

I point a finger at his weaselly face and say, “This is my empire, and I will do whatever the fuck I want. There is no force on this planet strong enough to stop me from marrying Princess Liliviere. Get that woman a dress and find a chapel. Now.”

“It’s the wedding contract that’s the problem. Her Highness’ advisors are refusing to sign off on it until there are stronger guarantees in place for the protection of Kellimar.”

“Fine. Give her whatever she wants.”

Everyone around the table gasps.

“This meeting is over. I have made myself clear.” Madness though it may be, Princess Liliviere is the only woman I want, and I’ll have her. Whatever it takes to get her into my bed as soon as fucking possible. Before I physically explode from need. One hand job isn’t remotely close enough to sate my pent-up physical desires. I need that ring on her finger. Immediately.

Chapter 7

Liliviere

Ipace the Enovar palace in frustration, registering none of the details that make this palace one of the most famed royal residences in the world. Much of the palace was destroyed in the attack that killed Malakai’s first wife, Queen Sarai. It is evident that he has been restoring the place as a monument to her.

Which is probably one reason I don’t really want to look at it too closely. How did I find myself in this mess?

I took one look at that man and had to have him. He seems hell-bent on testing my resolve, though. I gave him a hand job, not permission to drag me away from my home.

I pull up my phone and call my assistant, Julian.

“Where are you, Highness?” he explodes after picking up on the first ring. “Your grandfather said the emperor stole you? It’s all over the news!”

Julian has a dramatic streak. Ordinarily, I find this amusing. He is also usually very levelheaded in a public relations emergency. The fact that he is losing his cool means that this has already turned into a press disaster.

“I’m at Castle Enovar,” I tell him. “It’s true that I made an unplanned trip. The marriage negotiations this morning did not quite go as planned.”

“You are not marrying the emperor.” Julian gasps.

“I am. I will. It’s a good move for Kellimar and for me.”

“What happened to showing them around the country?”