Page 49 of Bloom
“He’s not-he doesn’t like seeing sick people.” Father didn’t look pleased with his younger spawn. “He never has.”
“Ah.”
“Pfft.” Fuck Zacharie. Aleric got comfortable on his side. “Goodnight.”
Chapter Eleven
Jaime gave Aleric the last two doses in secret the next day. Olivier seemed a bit off almost like he couldn’t believe Aleric was getting better.
Aleric mostly slept. With the fever receding and only eating small meals, Jaime wasn’t surprised. His body had been through a lot, and he wouldn’t regain his energy for a while. He wasn’t able to finish his midafternoon snack, although it might have been because he was miserable after Lord Monet wasn’t sure if Mighty would be rideable again.
He told his son what happened after he passed out. Some of the hair on Mighty’s back had fallen out. Olivier couldn’t figure out what the substance was, and he guessed it was the sap from a plant he wasn’t familiar with. It might have reacted with sweat which was why Mighty had grown more and more agitated. With Aleric riding her, his weight had put pressure on her back and ground the poison into her which hadn’t helped.
Jaime was sure Olivier knew exactly what it was if he was in on a plot to kill Aleric.
Andy the stableboy had vanished, and nobody in the area had seen him. Lord Monet had no idea who was responsible for the attack because Andy certainly wasn’t the mastermind. Someone had paid him off.
Aleric’s brow remained furrowed as he picked at his snack. Not only had he nearly died, his horse had been hurt and frightened. She might not be rideable again. What if she remembered the last time and associated it with pain? She might panic the moment Aleric or anyone tried to mount her.
They had no one to punish for that or trying to kill him. Perhaps guards would return with good news. At the moment,they had little to go on, and Lord Monet’s frustration was evident.
Except Aleric must have known more. Why he wasn’t telling Father was a mystery, and Jaime ached to ask him.
Aleric seemed more awake after a small dinner he’d slowly eaten. Lord Monet had finally left to go to his rooms and sleep in there. Jaime, sitting by the window, wondered if he could finally have any answers.
“Your Father appears to know nothing about Olivier. You do.” Jaime tilted his head. “Can you tell me what’s going on?”
“I’d rather not.”
“Why?”
Aleric, sitting up in bed with a cup of juice, side-eyed him. “Excuse me if I don’t go blurting out everything.”
Jaime spread his hands. “Am I supposed to stay half in the dark? What do you plan to do? Also, did you bring me here to use as some sort of guard with no prior warning? That’s kind of fucked up.” Aleric looked away. “Well? At least answer that last question.”
His voice considerably rose, and Aleric focused on the wall near the privy room door. “Don’t yell at me.”
“You did, didn’t you?” Jaime balled his fists on the armrests even though he’d said he wouldn’t get pissed. “How about if I just walk out right now?”
“You can’t leave unless I say.”
“Maybe I’ll go beg your Father and say it’s not fair I was dragged into this. You can deal with your brother on your own.”
He felt like shit for saying that when real fear flashed in Aleric’s eyes, and he wanted to take it back.
“Fine. Take your shit and get the fuck out. Don’t let the door hit your arse on the way out.”
Just like that? What the fuck?
“You’d really let me stroll out?”
“I don’t feel like hearing you threaten to leave. Do you want to go so badly? Bye.”
“You’re a prick for using people and then getting so nasty with them.”
Aleric pointed at the door. “Piss off. I’m not forcing you to stay here.”
“You’d be dead if it wasn’t for me.”
