I DO NOT OWN THE SELECTION SERIES. SHOUTOUT TO LOGANPERDUE AND AVA NAVA FOR CREATING THESE CHARACTERS.

Schreave Palace. Sacramento, province of Angeles. The next day.

The next day, King Peter called the Baron of Yonkers and Miss Seraphina Shepherd into his office for an emergency meeting on how to deal with Emperor Benito's nuptial demands. Naturally, Phina did not take the news well.

"WHAT?" The girl from Whites screamed as Peter and Trayvon were equally pissed.

"Of all the shit Maxon pulled, this is a new low even for him!" The Baron exclaimed as he drank some scotch.

"He's buried in a tomb and the bastard is still screwing with me!" The King spat as he downed a shit of gin.

"I am not marrying that sack of wine, I won't do it." Phina declared as Trayvon heaved a sigh.

"It is not that simple Phina!" Trayvon declared as he stood up. "That pig has nukes and he is willing to use them. Benito's been running ram-shod all over Europe and we've managed to stay out of it until now."

"Hold on...what the Hell are you saying bro?" Peter asked incredulously. "Are you saying that you want to just hand her over to him?"

"I think we need to consider all our options and honoring the alliance is one." Baron Trayvon griped. If we want to avoid a nuclear war, it might be our only option...you know that I'm right bro." Peter slammed his head on the table as he saw the truth in what his brother was saying. Seraphina however, did not and she made her feelings known.

"Are the 2 of you freaking high?" Phina asked in pure rage as she turned on the King and the Baron. "You can't sell me off like a prized pig, you dumb sons of a bitch."

"Peter has to put Illèa first before his own personal well being and that is something his queen must do as well." The Baron clarified angrily. "If that isn't you, then you should not be queen."

"My God, you are a terrible minister of state!" Miss Shepherd yelled.

"And you are a prissy little bitch, so we're even!" Baron Trayvon yelled back. Peter finally had enough and slammed his fist on the table.

"Enough, both of you!" King Peter shouted as he stared both of them down with a glare of steel. "I can't even hear myself think with the 2 of you bitching at each other like a couple of snot nosed brats."

"I will throw myself off the palace roof before I marry that Italian swine!" Phina declared as she stormed out of the room and slammed the door.

"Peter...please tell me you aren't going to marry that priss...please!" Trayvon begged as Peter poured himself another shot of gin.

"Look...I need to figure out what the Hell I'm going to do about this Benito situation so could I have some space please!" Peter pleaded as Trayvon slowly walked out; leaving the king to his troubles.


Later that evening.

Savannah Burdne was relaxing in her room when she heard an all too familiar knock on the door. She opened it to see a weary looking King Peter.

"Peter, are you all right?" She asked as he slowly stumbled inside.

"No...Before he died, King Maxon II made a secret deal with Emperor Benito III. In exchange for an alliance with the Italian empire...Maxon was going to give Phina to Benito to be his empress." He explained as he sat on Sav's bed.

"Are you serious?" Sav asked in shock.

"I really wish I wasn't." Peter replied. "Now, Benito is going to declare war on Illèa if he doesn't have his bride."

"He has made such a threat?" Sav asked as he blood ran cold. Being a follower of politics as she was, the girl from Fennley knew damn well how unstable Benito was.

"With exacting clarity." Peter insisted as he held his head in his hands. "I just don't know what to do Sav...Phina is just not worth plunging the nation into a nuclear war." She gave her king a slight sigh before speaking.

"If I were you, I would follow my heart." Sav said as she held Peter's hand tightly. "Do you want everything in your life to be political, or do you want some freedom once in a while? Thats the question you have to ask yourself."

"But if I fight this, Benito might push the Italian army against me!" Peter replied anxiously. "I don't know if there is a girl worth going to war over, but I know it's not her."

"A deal from two people you had no choice in is not a good deal." She argued as she caressed his cheek.

"If Benito came to my door with sword in hand…would you stand with me…even if we might lose?" Peter asked gently as he placed his hands on Sav's cheeks to look her in the eye.

"Peter, I would put myself in front of the blade for you." Sav swore as she looked him in the eye. "Phina has a choice and she doesn't have to marry Benito if she doesn't want to."

"I won't." Peter decided with a determined look on his face. "I won't give her to that vile pig of man. I know you didn't sign up to war against a European superpower…I wouldn't blame you for leaving me to clean up Maxon's mess."

"I will help you Peter. Whether its cleaning up messes or defeating wars, we will do it together." Sav replied as she finally realized that her place was by Peter's side. She needed him just as much as he clearly needed her.

"I love you Savannah…" Peter whispered with tears in his eyes as he kissed her deeply on the lips. She kissed him back with equal passion as the King hoisted her up in his arms. Sav wrapped herself around Peter as he carried her to bed. They began to undress as the couple prepared to make passionate love.

WILL PETER STAND UP TO BENITO? WHO WILL HE CHOOSE AS HIS QUEEN? THESE QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED