Page 65 of Princess

“What if I become the hunter and kill our food, while you change diapers?”He looked completely serious.

“What if I hunt and you change diapers?”I countered.

“Is this a negotiation?”he asked.

“No because you’re not getting out of diaper duty.And you don’t have time to hunt.”

“It was worth a try.”

“Grab a diaper and cover.I’ll show you how to do a poor job of it as soon as she finishes eating.”

Noises came from Nikayla’s stomach followed by loud gas and the smell of poop.

“We need a nanny,” King said.“If not, I’ll make time to hunt.”He placed his hand on his heart as a promise.

“Watch it or I’ll will one of the guards to interrupt and tell me there’s been a catastrophe that needs my attention.You’ll be left alone withyour daughterand then what will you do?”

“Call the other guards to save me,” he said.

Nikayla finished nursing and I went through the finer points of diaper changing.

“What is that gunk?”King asked when he saw what was in her diaper.

“Axel told me it’s part of the process after a baby is born and not to worry about it.I’ll let you do the cleaning.”

“With what, a bulldozer?”King asked.

“Haha, grab one of the cloths stacked in the cabinet in the bathroom and get it wet.This will be good for you.”

“You’ll need to make this a command or it won’t work.”

“Sure thing.I command you to clean every dirty diaper Nikayla has from now until she’s potty trained.Does that work for you?”

“I take it back.I’m happy cleaning this one.”He winked at me before entering the bathroom.

“You know this is disgusting, right?”he asked when the job was about half finished.

“She’s staring at you and listening to your words,” I reminded him.

King looked up from his task.And changed his tone.Not baby words but softer.“Okay, not disgusting, but definitely, not sweet either.”

She sneezed.

“What did you do?”I asked.

“I didn’t do anything.Is it normal for babies to sneeze?”

“I have no idea.When you’re done, could you find Axel and send him here?Afterward stop at the kitchen and bring my food up.I’m starving.”

King went fast after that.Her diaper looked a little less secure than the ones I’d done, but I knew mine needed work too.I was more worried about the sneeze.

I studied Nikayla after King left.She didn’t look sick, but she’d been passed around to the women on the ship.I shouldn’t have allowed it.I examined her chest and back then her arms and legs looking for any sign of illness.

King entered the room carrying a large tray of food.

“Where’s Axel?”I asked.

“He’s doing doctor things.He said sneezing is normal.”

---