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  Chapter 1

  I stood in the war room of my new palace with my eyes glued to the detailed map on the huge oak table in front of me. Two weeks had passed since I killed the leader of the barbaric Drolg, and I was already hungry for the next quest in my insane new life.

  It had been a serious adjustment to get used to being the king of the medieval-style world of Nalatria. My life back on Earth had been all customer service and scanning bags of chicken feed, and now I was standing with my Master of War and beautiful queen.

  Tanell’s piercing blue eyes were locked on the map, and I could almost see the hundred calculations going through her mind at once.

  Having my own harem of stunning women had been another unexpected addition to becoming king, but I was grateful to have them at my side.

  Tanell knew how every cog in the royal machine moved, and she had an extra spring in her step lately behind her cool demeanor. She’d been bound to the old king for so long, and he hadn’t recognized the impressive brain behind her stunning beauty.

  I didn’t take her for granted like he did, and I cherished every drop of knowledge she had to share with me.

  Palchur was not nearly as pleasant on the eyes, but he was another gift I’d been given to help run my kingdom. The Master of War was a wall of muscle and steel. His red hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and he rubbed his scarred temple. He wore a dark leather vest over a black shirt, and his navy cape didn’t hide the broad width of his shoulders.

  Palchur was exactly the kind of guy I wanted on my side, and he cracked his neck as his gaze bored into the map.

  I’d summoned them both to help familiarize me with the surrounding kingdoms. I’d already seen how wild and violent this world could get, and I’d decided it could be beneficial to ally ourselves with leaders and nobles of the other kingdoms.

  I hadn’t realized how controversial that was going to be.

  Tanell’s blue eyes finally left the table to look at me.

  “King Oberis never considered this,” she said. “I think he would have seen allyship as a crutch.”

  “Nothing weak about expanding your defenses,” Palchur said. “King Kenneth’s right. This is a move we should have made years ago.”

  “Palchur,” I said. “You can just call me Ken, remember? Especially when we’re not addressing each other in public.”

  “Ken,” Palchur said with a hint of a smile. “It still feels odd to address a king I actually respect so familiarly.”

  I grinned as footsteps padded down the hall, and my Master of Spies finally entered the room.

  Vannesh was a short, pudgy man with sweat beading above his thin mustache. His maroon robes were several sizes too big for him, but that was clearly a personal choice, seeing as everyone’s clothing was tailored to their exact measurements in the palace.

  Vannesh had quickly proven himself to be a kiss-ass to the powers that be, but he was also damn good at his job. His spies were spread out over every country on the continent, and his ability to retrieve information was second to none.

  “You took your time,” Palchur said.

  The squat man hurried over to the table and pulled out a silk handkerchief to dab the sweat from his brow.

  “Apologies,” he said in his nasally tone. “There was more information to absorb in my reports than I had anticipated.”

  “Your spies in the south have news?” Tanell asked.

  “Plenty of it,” Vannesh said as he pulled several rolled-up scrolls from his cloak pocket.

  He laid them down and smoothed them out, and I was impressed with how much information was neatly written on each one.

  “Give us the highlights,” I said. “What’s the word from the Haktorian Empire?”

  Tanell shifted on her feet, and I knew she was as eager to learn as I was.

  The Haktorian Empire was the largest on the continent and the furthest south. It was the one kingdom that was the hardest to obtain information on due to how rigorously the soldiers patrolled its border, but Vannesh had informed us of how the few spies who’d managed to slip in had reported odd rumors about the royal family. He’d reported that they hadn’t been attending their royal meetings and duties.

  “It appears my fears were correct,” Vannesh said.

  The Master of Spies would’ve usually been smug about that, but there was no hint of gloating on his face. That told me there was some unpleasant information to be revealed.

  “Go on,” I said.

  “There are murmurings of regicide,” he said. “Nobody has seen the king in months, and his generals have also been reported missing.”

  I thought back to when I’d accidentally killed the last king of Nalatria when my Chevy Malibu and I had been sucked into this new world. My car had straight-up squashed the old guy, and the law of inheritance had flung me into the role of king.

  “Has someone tried to claim his title?” I asked. “Wouldn’t they just kill him publicly and declare themselves king? Why would there be a need for secret slaughtering?”

  “Not every kingdom has the same law of inheritance as us,” Tanell said.

  That reminded me that I had an entire world’s worth of history to learn. I’d forgotten that not all the other kingdoms have the same laws we had here.

  “How many other countries have the law of inheritance like us?” I asked.

  “Only one,” Tanell said as she tapped a slim finger on the map. “The Kestran Kingdom holds the same law as us. To be honest, it’s rather outdated in my opinion.”

  “How does it work everywhere else?” I asked.

  “The other kingdoms follow royal family bloodlines,” Tanell explained. “The tradition of passing down the throne to the eldest, or specifically the eldest son in some cases.”

  She wrinkled her nose at her last words, and I suspected she didn’t approve of eldest daughters being skipped over for a claim to power.

  “Okay,” I said. “So the Haktorian Empire doesn’t allow for anyone outside the bloodline to claim the throne?”

  “Exactly,” Vannesh said with a nod. “The king had two children in line for the throne, but both his son and daughter have also vanished.”

  “That doesn’t sound good,” I said with a wary glance at Tanell.

  “Indeed,” Vannesh said. “It’s such a large kingdom that it will take a while before my few spies are able to gather more concrete information. But there are rumblings of villages slowly being taken over by one man and his self-built army.”

  “And we know nothing of this man?” Palchur asked gruffly.

  “Not as of yet,” Vannesh said with a shake of his head. “I’ll share updates as soon as they arrive.”

  I rubbed my head as I stared down at the map and studied the remaining kingdoms. The Haktorian Empire would remain a distant, quiet threat for now, but I’d make sure to keep an eye on it with the help of my staff and queens.

  “So,” I sighed. “My plans for allying ourselves with another kingdom. What are our best chances?”

  “I’ve thought about it for a while,” Palchur said. “I believe the Kingdom of Basttrum is our best bet.”

  I racked my brain to think about what I’d been told about the kingdoms when I’d first arrived in Nalatria.

  “I remember being told Basttrum had allies in other lands,” I said. “Something about you wanting to cut them off from other kingdoms?”

  “That had been King Oberis’ wishes,” Palchur said sourly. “He heard the king from Basstrum had struck up a trade deal with Kestran, and he took that as a threat.”

  “What are you talking about?” Tanell asked sharply. “He informed me Basstrum’s armies had been itching for a fight with us, and that’s why he considered attacking them.”

  “Apologies,” Palchur grunted. “But that’s not what he told us. He didn’t like the idea of other countries forming alliances.”

  “So, we haven’t actually been threatened by them in any way?” I asked.

  “Not at all,” Palchur said. “In fact, the royal family there is one of the most respected throughout the other kingdoms. Their military organization is excellent, and I believe they’d make powerful allies for us in the north. If this problem with the Haktorian Empire continues, I would recommend having our northern kingdoms as solid and united as possible.”

  Tanell’s face flushed as she pursed her lips, and I could see the hurt flash in her blue eyes.

  “I thought I’d been informed of all the royal plans,” she said as she clasped her hands together. “It seems I was wrong.”

  I knew how much being part of the planning was important to her, and she was so fucking good at working behind the scenes. It was an insult to her intelligence that she’d been left out of huge decisions like that, and seething anger at King Oberis rose inside me.

  “You will never be left out of my plans,” I told Tanell firmly, and then I turned to my masters. “Can we set up a meeting with the royals of Basttrum? Is there a formal procedure for that sort of thing?”

  Tanell cleared her throat and du sted herself off as she composed herself from the shock.

  “Not one that I’ve ever used,” she said. “I advise we send the king and queen a letter and ask for a meeting with them.”

  “I’ll ask Serra to draft one up.” I nodded. “I’ve got a feeling she’ll know exactly the right words to win us a meeting with the royal family.”

  “Good idea,” Tanell said.

  I stared down at the map and the kingdoms that made Nalatria seem so small. Teaming up with at least one more kingdom seemed like the smartest thing to do, and I hoped we were able to form an alliance before the threat of the south became more urgent.

  I had plans for pursuing trade deals with other countries. It didn’t seem to be something that the people of Nalatria had even considered, but the right deals could bring a lot of wealth to the kingdom.

  “What about the Kestran Kingdom?” I asked as I pointed to the large nation. “You said they’ve already allied with Basttrum?”

  “In a way,” Palchur said. “They have a trade agreement with one another for goods they have an abundance of. There is a trained guild of carpenters in Kestran, and they make the finest furniture. Basttrum is known for its blacksmiths, so the trade of steel and wooden items has been going strong between them for years. The king of Kestran is notorious for being fierce and unyielding, but he’d never attack another nation without reason.”

  “He sounds like he could be useful,” I said. “Perhaps an alliance with their trade partners would put us a step closer to getting in his good graces. What about the other countries?”

  “Nobody knows much about Valnar,” Tanell said as she pointed to the tiny country to the east. “It seems they have a completely different system for appointing their leaders. A public vote.”

  I raised an eyebrow in surprise. I hadn’t expected democracy to be something I’d see in this world.

  “Interesting,” I said. “I think that’s enough for me to think about for now. Thanks for all your help.”

  “My pleasure,” Vannesh said with a dramatic bow. “I’ll continue to update you as I learn more from my network of spies.”

  “Let us know if you need anything else,” Palchur said.

  I gave the two men a respectful nod, then led Tanell out of the war room to leave them to pore over the map. The small chandeliers flickered along the hall as we walked past maps that showed the old borders of the world. My head spun with information as we passed two armed guards who opened the hidden door that led back out into the main part of the palace.

  “I need some fresh air,” I said as we walked past the men.

  “Then let’s head to the grounds,” Tanell said.

  The guards swung the entrance to the war room shut, and the door vanished back into the stone wall. I studied my queen’s face, and worry still flickered in the depths of her blue eyes.

  “I’m sorry you were left out of some planning before,” I said. “I know that must hurt.”

  “You know we weren’t exactly close,” Tanell said. “He was a selfish old man, but I thought he at least kept me in the loop with the information he received from other kingdoms. I feel foolish.”

  “Don’t you dare,” I said as I grabbed her hands. “You’re fucking amazing, and I’d be lost without you by my side. I need you. You have my word that I’ll never keep information from you.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly, and a smile tugged at her lips.

  “Let’s go and get some fresh air,” I said. “I still can’t get over having a queen who’s as smart as she is beautiful.”

  Her cheeks flushed with pink as she slipped her arm into mine, and we strolled down the stone corridor toward the grand exit. Guards nodded respectfully as we passed, and I was grateful for the cool rush of air when we finally stepped down the wide stairs that led to the extensive grounds of my palace.

  Several gardeners were pruning huge bushes, and the sound of horseshoes echoed around the walls as stable hands exercised the animals. Tanell sighed deeply with a smile as she admired the pink roses that lined the path, and we strolled slowly along the walkway.

  “I’ve been checking in on your subjects,” she said. “It seems that many nobles and working people have very much warmed to their new king.”

  “Many of them?” I chuckled. “That seems like a diplomatic way of saying I’ve got a long way to go.”

  “That’s the way it is here,” Tanell said. “Nalatria has a long history of new kings appearing out of the blue. It takes a lot to win people over, especially for the older ones who’ve barely gotten used to the previous king.”

  “Have you found out what some of them like about me?” I asked. “Any notes on how things are running?”

  “They like how you get involved with the people,” Tanell said. “As many kings as we’ve seen, we’ve never had one truly get in among the subjects like you did with the villagers.”

  “I wouldn’t want to do it any other way,” I said with a shrug. “Sitting on a throne barking orders doesn’t work unless I truly understand what people are going through.”

  The beautiful blonde smiled at me, and her blue eyes lit up with warmth.

  “I could never have imagined such a king,” she said softly. “It still feels like a dream sometimes.”

  “You’re telling me,” I chuckled. “Luckily for us, it’s real.”

  We stopped on the path, and I pulled her gently by her waist until her body was right against me. She slid her arms around my neck and leaned in to press her soft lips against mine. Her warm chest crushed into mine, and heat sparked through my body as we kissed. I grinned as she slowly pulled back and bit her bottom lip.

  “There you two are!” Yori called. “I thought you were doing political planning, not getting cozy in the garden!”

  I snorted with laughter as I turned to see my other two women approach from the palace.

  Yori was as gorgeous as she was hot-headed, and I’d never met a woman as loud and brash as her. I’d recently slept with Yori and become as close to her as I was with Tanell, and I fucking adored her.

  She’d been claimed by King Oberis from her peasant village a year ago, and she’d spent her time with him hidden away due to her poor background. But I wanted to show her off every chance I got. Her black hair was tied back in a messy ponytail, and her dark eyes shone under the sun. She wore her usual casual shirt with dark pants, and her boots were often caked in mud.

  “I’m not sure kissing in public is something the king should partake in,” Serra said with a sniff as the two women reached us.

  The third member of my royal harem hadn’t exactly warmed to me the way the others had. She was a lady from high society and constantly seemed to look down her nose at everyone. I didn’t mind if she never wanted to sleep with me, but I hoped I could at least win her over to trust me the way the other women did.

  She was very tall for a woman, and her slim form was always draped with the finest materials and jewels. Her silver hair was in her usual updo adorned with rubies, and a golden ring was on every one of her slim fingers.

  “Ken can do what he likes,” Tanell said. “He is king, Serra.”

  “Still,” the silver-haired woman said. “There are virtues to uphold. We must consider optics.”

  Yori rolled her dark eyes, and Tanell coughed to hide her smirk.

  “I actually have a favor to ask,” I said to Serra. “I want to ally Nalatria with Basttrum. Could you maybe write a letter to ask for a meeting with the king and queen?”

  Serra’s perfectly arched eyebrows shot up.

  “I actually know the royal family,” she said with a hint of pride. “I studied with their daughter, and I attended her wedding two years ago.”

  “Perfect!” I said. “That gives us an emotional connection rather than just a formal offer.”

  “But why choose me?” Serra asked. “You didn’t know that I already knew them.”

  “Because you’re my expert on all things royal and noble,” I said. “You’ve mastered the etiquette and social rules I’ll never understand. You’re the best person for the job. If you’re willing to do it, of course.”

  I’d never had a task that fit her so perfectly, and I spotted how she carefully arranged her sharp features into casual disinterest.

  “I suppose I am the best person for the job,” she said as she smoothed down her skirt. “I could certainly write that for you.”

 

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