Ruled by her Daddies (Harem of Daddies)

Isn’t it selfish to bring them into this?

“We know that you will sacrifice yourself to keep us safe. Well, you’ve done that once and we lost you for eight years. So this time, you’re not getting a choice,” Caleb told her. “You’re coming to Escana with us.”

“You can’t just kidnap me! Someone will notice. They’re going to wonder why you’re carrying me around like a giant burrito. What if I tell your bosses that you kidnapped me?”

“Well, burritos are my favorite food,” Aleki told her. “We’ll just tell them it’s a fetish I have. Burrito kink. Could become a new thing.”

“Aleki, can you be serious! This isn’t the time for jokes.”

He stiffened and turned to her. The car’s internal lights had gone off, so she only had the light from the streetlamps outside to try to make out his features.

“No, you’re right. This isn’t a joke. It wasn’t a joke eight years ago when you fucking walked away to protect us. It’s not a joke now when you’re trying to do the same thing.”

A tear dripped down her face. “I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you guys because of me.”

He wiped the tear gently away. “Don’t you think we feel the same? We want you with us. Where we can protect you. Take care of you.”

“But won’t they find out where I am once I try to leave? I don’t even have a passport.”

“Wolfe is taking care of all that, as well as picking up some things for you,” Caleb told her. “You’re going to travel on a different passport. We’re flying on a private plane.”

“You have a fake passport for me?” How’d they do that so quickly?

“Baby, not our first rodeo,” Aleki told her gently. “You need to start trusting us to take care of you.”

“What about the princes? Will they be all right with you bringing me back to Escana? What if I put them in danger?”

Aleki burst into laughter. “First of all, the security of the palace is run by us. And we have shit locked down tight. Second of all, the princes are both well-trained and extremely protective of women. They would hang us by our balls if we left you here. Thirdly, they won’t interfere even if you tell them we kidnapped you.”

“What?”

“There’s something we haven’t told you about Escana,” Caleb told her. “Actually, several things. But they have some traditions that are closely guarded and sacred.”

“Like kidnapping?” she squealed.

“They call it bride stealing,” Aleki said cheerfully.

“B-bride stealing?”

“In Escana, harems are normal. Encouraged even,” Caleb told her.

“H-harems? Like one man and multiple wives?”

“Actually, it’s the reverse,” Aleki informed her. “In Escana men form the harem. Then they go searching for a woman to be the center.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You’re serious? That really happens? It’s legal?”

“It’s not just legal, it’s a sacred part of their culture,” Caleb told her. “Escanaian men are very protective of their women. They figured out hundreds of years ago that keeping their women safe was their job, and it was made easier if they shared the responsibility. They cherish them. Adore them.”

“Discipline them when they’re naughty,” Aleki added.

Her heart raced.

“When the harem finds a woman they want as theirs, they can approach her guardian,” Caleb told her. “Or they can call on the ancient law of bride stealing.”

“They just take her?” What sort of place was this?

“Yes, but it’s not as bad as it sounds,” Aleki said.