Page 93 of Empire's Curse

Before she could ask more about curses and magic, he curled the scroll until it was closed and placed it on the center of the table. Leaning forward on his elbows, he murmured, “I take back what I said. I’d rather not talk about curses and magic, when I can speak to you on other matters.”

“Other matters?”

“Like our upcoming wedding.”

She hadn’t given the wedding much thought—other than what she needed to do and how she would deal with Wang Yanlin—but that was only because she didn’twantto think about what it meant to be married to Drakkon Muyang. What it meant to be a married woman. If she was making the right decision for herself, her future, and her family. All of it swamped her with anxiety and unrelenting pressure. It was better not to think about it, and yet …

Now that he brought it up, her chest tightened in apprehension. She would be married soon. To the beautiful man sitting across from her.

She didn’t know what to think or feel anymore.

“Are you looking forward to it?” he asked when she didn’t say anything. “Is there anything in particular that you would like at the wedding? Any particular poets you like? Certain traditional dances you would like to see? Specific types offoods and drinks?”

Those were all the things she hadn’t even thought about. Back home, weddings were a big deal in her village, but she was sure the emperor’s wedding would be grander than anything she could come up with. She didn’t even know where to begin. It was overwhelming to think about: décor, music, poetry, dances, food? She had thought it would all be taken care of by someone else.

Muyang touched her chin ever so softly, jerking her back to reality. He held her face for a fleeting moment, studying her with dark eyes that seemed so unreadable, and then released her gently. “Don’t stress so much about it. If you’d rather not think about the preparations, that’s fine. I just wanted your input on it, since I know for some women they like to be involved in the process.”

“I—Thank you, Your Majesty.” She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear and stared down at the polished tabletop. There was a warm, fluttering feeling in the pit of her belly at his consideration for her. “I’d rather have someone else prepare everything. I’m not too picky about the planning stage of everything, and I trust your people to do a good job at it. The only request I have is that my family be present and be taken care of during the entirety of their stay here.”

“That’s already been taken care of. Your family is currently en route to the capital and should be here shortly—hopefully just on time for the wedding. I was planning on having them stay here until the end of the festival. How does that sound?”

She couldn’t help the giddy excitement that coursed through her veins at those words. Her family would be here,finally. It had been such a long, long time since she had last seen Mother, Father, Grandmother, Lanfen, and her twin brothers Ran and Qianfan. She could imagine her family being angry at her for leaving so abruptly, without taking their worries into consideration, and throwing herself headstrong into this situation. But she could also see the opposite: of them beaming with pride at the prospect of their daughter being married off to the emperor, of all people. At the new status they would gain because of her. At the wealth, prosperity, and stability they would now have in their lives.

Mother had often worried about Daiyu not marrying after Heng’s death and had insisted multiple times to find a suitable husband. She had even brought suitors to their home, but Daiyu had refused each and every one of them. She was sure that her mother would now be happy that she would be wed soon.

“Thank you, Your?—”

“Muyang.” He leaned closer until their faces were inches apart. The corner of his soft mouth rose ever so slightly. “When we’re alone,” he murmured, his words seeming to caress her in a way that made her shiver, “I want you to call me Muyang.”

She swallowed. She could have easily backed away in her seat, broken this connection between them, but she didn’t want to. She fought with the urge to press closer to him, to feel the warmth of his breath more firmly against her face—against her mouth.

“I can’t,” Daiyu whispered, eyes darting from his lips to his eyes and to his perfectly sculpted face. He was too close, too warm, tooreal. Too wickedly beautiful for her. “You’re the emperor.”

“Must I command you, my wife-to-be, to call me by my name?”

“I don’t want you to command me for something so small. In fact—” She hesitated, not sure if what she was about to say was treasonous. But he nodded as if waiting and wanting to hear more, and she blurted, “I would rather you not command me for anything.”

“You wish to be equals with me?” That sinister gleam was back in his eyes and for a moment, she thought he would close the distance between them and lock his lips with hers. But he didn’t, only smiled that roguishly beautiful smile of his. “Some would say that’s very daring of you. Others would call for your death at such a traitorous wish.”

“And what would you say?”

“That when it is just you and me, Daiyu, you can be whatever and whomever you wish to be. If you wish to be my superior, my equal, or whatever else your heart desires, then I will comply.” Hestudied her expression, the way her face lit up like he had burst a flame beneath her skin. “So say my name.”

“Muyang.” The name tasted so foreign to her tongue, but it feltright. Like she had finally bridged the last gap between them. Like there was nothing more holding her back from falling into his cruel arms. She wanted so badly for him to hold her, totouchher, and yet she held herself back.

Muyang’s grin slid back in place. “You’re so lovely when you say my name, sweet fiend.”

“And you …” She licked her lips, not sure if she was allowed to speak to him so causally, “And you are so infuriating when you call me that name.”

“You still seem to hate the fiend nickname, I see.”

“I doubt anyone would enjoy it.”

“I enjoy it.”

“Because it’s not your nickname.” A hesitant smile graced her lips. “Muyang.”

“What nickname have you picked out for me? I hope I’ve graduated frommonster.”

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