Page 153 of Evil Hearts

Chapter Two :Xuag

“ E xcuse me, sire. This can not wait. Aleena, please go.”

I growl in contempt at the scragly fuck that is my advisor. Doesn’t he fucking know not to interupt me when I’m balls deep in one of my slaves?

“This better be worth your goddamn life or I’m going to rip your fucking head from your shoulder, Urzog!”

Sweat beads his ugly, shit brown forehead and I feel a modicum better as he squirms.

“I’m sorry, sire but this is important. Queen Lilith has accepted your betrothal to her daughter, Princess Kyliana. The princess is set to arrive any minute,” he says, backing up hastily out of my reach.

“What do you mean she’ll be here any fucking minute? Do they have no gods damn idea how to approach a betrothal the right way? It should’ve taken at least a week!”

Urzog flinches under my outrage but doesn’t leave, much to my displeasure.

“I know, however, given the circumstances it’s best to get this on the road. You only have six months to take a bride or you’ll be forced to concede the throne to your brother. The sooner she gets here, the sooner we can get this over with and you can get back to your duties.”

A growl escapes me at the thought of anyone intruding on my fortress.

“I don’t like others in my space unless they are serving me so this broad better get used to it quickly and not cause trouble.”

Urzog blanches at my demand and clears his throat.

“Um, Sire? She’s the daughter of Queen Lilith and the chosen Huntress of the queen. I don’t think she’s going to submit to you easily. It may be best to stay to yourselves aside from the required courtship outings.”

I whip my head around, narrowing my eyes.

“What the fuck do you mean ‘required outtings’? I was never told I’d have to do that bullshit.”

“I... I’m sorry your highness. I thought your father would’ve explained it. I wish he’d had more time before his accident. When you are betrothed, you are required to have two outings with her a week for the duration of the four week engagement. They are to be used to acclimate her to both your land and you.”

“And if I decline these…outings?” I growl.

“You would forfeit your crown due to a technicality,” Urzog says, his voice barely above a whisper as his instincts war within him to flee me as I get upset.

Huffing in aggravation, I pull on my pants, tightening the strips of leather that hold them closed and choosing to withgo a shirt and shoes. It’s my kingdom, if I feel like only wearing the bare minimum I will and I dare someone to say something about it.

Urzog and I make it to the entrance just as a portal opens and what I can only describe as a sexy warrior steps out. Her black leather pants and matching leather crop top with nothing but thin leather straps holding it together match my own. Her hair is long and black as the night with braids woven down the sides and boots that look like they are from the human world.

Her pouty lips and metallic grey eyes are making my dicks perk up in my pants so that I have to adjust them to avoid being uncomfortable. She has a machete strapped to her hip and a single leather bracelet wrapped around her wrist. She looks like a wet dream come to life and I can’t help but to drink her in while she waits for me to address her.

“Sire, this is Princess Kyliana. Princess, this is King Xuag.”

Her liquid silver eyes watch me as if she is evaluating me and though I don’t mind her eyes on me, I’m not used to a woman that doesn’t fall at my feet.

“Princess, aren’t you going to bow for me? It is etiquette after all,” I question, knowing she will have to fall in line like everyone else. Surprise and fury rage through me as a smirk lifts her lips and a laugh slips from her lips as if I’ve just said the most hysterical and ridiculous thing.

“Is there a problem… Princess?” I ask, my fury barely contained at this show of disrespect.

“Oh, just that you think I’ll ever bow to you. I am royalty in my own right and your betrothed. You are treating me as if I’m beneath you, which I am not. Maybe it’s you who should bow since I am to be your queen in a month’s time.”

She crosses her arms as if waiting for a petulant child to follow instructions. This spoiled wench will learn her lesson and we’ll see just how many times she’ll bow for me today.

“You will bow, Princess. You are beneath me and even when we marry you will remain beneath me in every meaning of the word. Now bow!” I bellow, rage flooding my veins.

She loses her smile and approaches as if she is about to give me the respect I deserve. Slinging her arm bag and swinging, she punches me in the face, a look of pure rebellion gracing her perfect features. I touch my fingers to my bottom lip and pull them away, a spot of purple dotting them. This fucking bitch split my lip. Me. The fucking king. I will have her goddamned head on a pike for this shit.

I raise my hand to strike her back but Urzog steps between us.

“Your Highness, I’m sure she didn’t mean it. This behavior is nothing some punishment can’t fix. I’m sure she’s just exhausted from the portal. Allow me to handle this, please.”

His slimy smile rubs me the wrong way and I find myself wanting to give him whatever punishment he is planning to give her. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s handled a punishment for staff and taken advantage of the situation and I’ve had to pay off at least a dozen pregnant women to convince them he is dead so they won’t raise their children near him.

“Arietta, take the Princess to her room. You know what to do for now,” I say, nodding her dismissal as she ushers the spoiled princess from the room. My resident witch knows that my second preferred method of handling these situations is to lock them in their rooms for the remainder of the day and reinforcing the door and windows with magic. My first favorite way is to rip their heads from their shoulders but since I’m betrothed to her, I can’t do that. That woman will learn to bend under my will or she will find herself in a very difficult situation.