Page 77 of Dead Crown
“I didn’t know anything started at a young age.” Jaki stroked Lumi’s hair.
“It was touching at first. He said big brothers had to teach little brothers about stuff, and I-I had to keep it a secret. He said it was like going to the p-privy because nobody speaks of it. The morning at Lilling, he said I had to have his baby…”
Jaki’s arms tightened around his shoulders. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want him to find me. I don’t want to go back.”
“You’re never going back. I swear.”
Lumi sniffled as his tears turned the attic into smears of the past mostly hidden by sheets. The Prince’s touch kept him in the present.
Chapter Eighteen
Jaki laid Jacqueline on the bed by Lumi, and her eyes stayed closed. She’d fed earlier, and Lumi had fallen asleep right after. She’d remained awake, so Jaki had taken her into the sitting room.
He had clumsily managed to change her nappy. Dear Elira, he hoped it stayed on and contained the mess if she made one. Changing babies certainly hadn’t been a part of his lessons in his youth. He’d have to ask Lumi how to properly do it to make sure in the future. He’d walked her around and rocked her only because he wasn’t sure what else to do. He’d tried singing a little, and she hadn’t started wailing despite his lack of talent.
He was tired, but Jaki had a feeling he wouldn’t sleep if he lay down again. It was worth it. Lumi had to be far more tired.
It was past dawn, and he wondered if the courtiers were whispering about his absence. He wasn’t even sure if Father had attended dinner. Probably not. Jaki had slept in Lumi’s sitting room, unwilling to entirely leave him alone.
Father was awake and drinking tea in his sitting room when Jaki entered. He immediately looked away.
“Father, you didn’t know,” said Jaki. “I’m sure he doesn’t hold anything against you either, and Tivar’s had complete control of him for years. Lumi was even afraid to leave when I got him because Tivar said he wasn’t allowed to go anywhere. Do you have any idea how beaten down a person must be if someone is there to take them away, and their first thought is to refuse?”
Elswere took a deep breath. “You went into enemy territory by yourself to fetch him? You went intoTivar’shome alone?”
Jaki sat in the armchair across from Father. “Obviously. I took the risk, luck was on my side, and I got us both out.”
“Do you have any idea how stupid you were? You literally stepped foot into the enemy’s home and didn’t have a single other person with you? Any number of things could have gone wrong, and you wouldn’t be here now.”
“Yes, I’m aware of how stupid it was.”
“And you still did it!”
“I’m also aware I couldn’t tell you, and if I brought the whole army there, Tivar would have learned he was being invaded and killed Lumi. Lumi was more important, and I couldn’t let him stay there any longer. I hesitated long enough.”
Like Elswere had on things, but Jaki didn’t say so.
“I made my choice. Before that, I sent Lord Smith with a glamor to pretend to be his cousin who lives in West Iceland. He gave what information he could. The court’s now gone, and when I went, Tivar had gone out, and he’d left Lumi beaten bloody on the bed. He also took away Jacqueline and gave her to a servant. He wanted a boy, not a girl. He wanted someone to coronate.”
He explained how he got in and out with Lumi and their baby.
“How do you know if that baby is really yours?” asked Elswere. “It wasn’t just us-”
“I fucked him once not long before he left. He hadn’t taken his herbs to keep from getting pregnant. He always did before when he knew he’d likely be with anyone.” Jaki pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know we spent years thinking it was just you and me left, and Tivar’s fake. When Lumi first came here, I started to grow suspicious.”
“Why on Ymir’s dirt would you suspect a pleasure slave?”
“Tivar waited for years and did nothing,” said Jaki. “It seemed a bit odd to start with.”
“So? I’ve held too.”
“Because you don’t want me to fight. Tivar has no one left he cares about. All he gives a shit about is himself.”
“A man can be a coward. Besides, if he’d gone to war with us and won, it’d be obvious he’s the false heir because Iceland would die. At least this way, he can pretend.”
Jaki nodded. “True.”
