Page 42 of Emperor of Havoc

“Which does not mean my equal, nor does it automatically grant him power. Is that understood?”

The man nods slowly. “Perfectly. I trust you, Katarina-sama, same as I do your father.”

Good. That’s one more.

By evening, I’m exhausted. My feet ache, my head pounds, and all I want is a moment to myself. I retreat to the gardens, where the lanterns are starting to flicker to life. Furrcules walks beside me, occasionally swatting at leaves, his tiny growls breaking the quiet.

I sink onto a stone bench, leaning my head back and letting the cool night air wash over me.

This is what I’m fighting for. My father’s legacy. My place as the head of this family. I won’t let Takeshi or anyone else take it from me.

A rustle of footsteps breaks the silence, and I spot a dark figure emerging from the shadows and moving toward me.

Takeshi.

Of fucking course.

Furrcules growls and bares his teeth, stopping my fiancé a few feet away. Takeshi’s eyes swivel to the tiger cub at my feet before drifting back to me.

“Has he been fed recently?”

“Why don’t you come a little closer and ask him yourself?” I sign, a docile smile on my face.

“Once we’re married,” he murmurs, “I hope you realize that little death machine is out. I’mnotsharing a roof with him, much less a bed.”

“Shockingly,” I motion to him, “we’re on the same page there. You won’t, in fact, be sharing a roof with Furrcules, much less a bed. Becausehe’llbe in my bed, andyouwill be outside. Or in a ditch. Or…I don’t really care where.”

Takeshi chuckles quietly. “You put so much effort into this.”

“Into what.”

“Pretending you don’t daydream about my hands on you, and my fingersin you, and my cock pounding your tight little pussy after chasing you down and pinning you to the ground,every single timeyou look at me.”

My face goes crimson and I try to come up with a retort. But before I can think of anything, he just smiles at me.

“I hear you’ve been a busy bee today,” he murmurs. “Rounding up allies, whispering in corners. That’s cute, princess, but unnecessary. You’re fighting a war that doesn’t need to happen.”

“It does if it keeps you from taking what isn’t yours,” I sign back.

His expression doesn’t waver, but a flash of something sharp and dangerous flickers in his dark eyes. “You think you can stop me?”

“Are you admitting that you’re trying to do what I’m accusing you of?”

Takeshi stares at me for a long beat, his gaze unwavering. Then, to my surprise, he smiles. Not his usual smug grin, but smaller, like he’s genuinely amused.

“You’re bold,” he murmurs, almost to himself. “I’ll give you that.”

“And you’re arrogant,” I sign, standing to face him and stepping closer until we’re nearly eye to eye. “But not as clever as you think. If you were, you’d know better than to underestimate me.”

For a moment, neither of us moves. The air is thick with tension, the space between us shrinking to nothing. Then Takeshi leans in, his voice a low whisper.

“We’ll see about that,princess.”

I don’t flinch. I don’t blink. I hold his gaze until he finally turns and walks away, disappearing into the shadows.

Furrcules growls softly behind me, sensing my unease. I turn and reach down to scratch behind his ears, exhaling slowly.

“We’ll see, indeed,” I whisper, the words barely audible. Takeshi Mori may think he’s winning, but he doesn’t know me.

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