Page 19 of Dead Crown
The lie and the truth hovered on Lumi’s lips, but he couldn’t force out either one. He felt like a madman scrambling to snatch dropped items while other things he’d picked up fell back to the floor. He needed the facade to hide behind so he could fix his blunder.
“Getting hard doesn’t mean you truly want it, but maybe we could both have some things we want.” Prince Jaki rubbed his thumb along Lumi’s jaw as they held eye contact. “You could have safety with me. No one will touch you in that way, including me, and I’ll make sure you’re protected.”
If he admitted the truth, Prince Jaki would shield him? No threats of prison or the noose for the treason he’d committed?
“You could have those things with me, and no one will be able to reach you here.” The Prince hovered his lips above Lumi’s cheek. “If you want that, come to my room tonight. If not…”
He paused, and the unspoken words hung in the air. He wasn’t going to give Lumi much more time, and he was offering far more than he’d ever expected or deserved. Lumi’s eyes stung as the Prince turned without another word or glance and headed to the stairs.
Bit by bit, he disappeared as he took the steps down. Lumi remained rigid by the window as he imagined doing as the Prince said. He could go there tonight, admit everything, and beg for his protection. It was hard to tell how much the Prince knew, and he was trying to spare the half-brother he secretly lusted after.
But what if Lumi still wasn’t safe with him? Ifheever got a hold of Lumi again…He had to return tohimbecause no other option existed. Andhewould find a way to get Lumi back and punish him for being a traitor if he dared to seek safety with Prince Jaki. Nobody had saved him before, and no one could now. He’d learned to release that foolish hope years ago.
Prince Jaki probably couldn’t shield him for long, and the King wouldn’t believe it if Lumi explained why he'd come. Lumi didn’t want to die in a lot of ways, but he particularly didn’t want to die at that court. His life started there, and it shouldn’t end there.
He turned to face the glass and rested his forehead against it as he willed the cold on his skin to freeze all of the pieces back into place.
Why couldn’t he have gotten the one thing he’d wanted and enjoyed it for a bit more? He was supposed to have another year. He focused on deep breaths while he stared outside. TheCastle grounds, the roofs, and the walls were dusted in snow like usual. Paths and the walkway of the wall were shoveled daily in a never-ending battle against the eternal winter.
A cart came toward the gate which slowly rose to admit it. It was probably stuffed with the best and biggest vegetables scrounged from various farms or imported from other Kingdoms. Or perhaps it held smoked meats. Meanwhile, in the city, the people paid more money for smaller vegetables and poor-quality food because it was too expensive for a shop owner to import everything from elsewhere. Lumi had gone walking in Havaska not too long ago. Every time he went, it seemed to grow worse, and he was surprised that so many held on there, unwilling to leave home.
While the court glittered and gleamed, and he could have a glass of wine and a meal at any time, the common citizens struggled. Every year, the greenhouses put out less and less. Herds of wild and domesticated animals thinned. More stillbirths happened. The living animals didn’t fatten up like they used to. Meat grew more expensive. The taverns served weaker ale.
Even those who supplemented their food with personal plots in little glasshouses had less to eat. The soil they dug up from certain areas wasn’t growing much, and even though they had soil transported in, it wasn’t working.
He almost could have laughed at the fact that they had literally bought dirt. The very land was dying, and it turned out that adding dirt from another Kingdom wasn’t going to solve the problem. The only thing that could aid them now was to buy grains, meat, and such from other countries, but the King couldn’t feed the whole country. Feeding everyone would drain the treasury in a snap, and they’d be in the same pinch. If they owned East Forest and its abundance like Reesing had intended, it would've been different.
The court still tried to pretend it wasn’t happening. The only other option at the moment was to get up and leave for good. Living elsewhere meant being a commoner. Except for Lumi who couldn’t leave Iceland.
He rammed in the last few scattered pieces of his brain and straightened up while his heart thudded. His carefully crafted image was weak, but he was sure he could get through a final evening. Just like in the past three years, he could not dare to think of what the future held. He was as free as he’d ever be, and he needed to enjoy it now. It was all that existed as the minutes trickled away.
***
Since he’d be gone soon, he figured he’d use up his last two trick beans. They jiggled with energy in his pocket until he asked a lady what was behind her ear. With one palmed, he let the energy go.
The lady giggled and gushed when he pretended to pluck a magnolia from behind her ear.
He held the last bean behind his back and let it sprout into another when he approached the Prince at the High Table. Surprise flickered in Prince Jaki’s eyes as though he’d expected Lumi to ignore him and stay away after earlier.
Lumi hadn’t remained alive through stupidity.
“I tried to find a better flower.” Lumi slid into his lap and tucked the magnolia behind the Prince’s ear. “It still pales compared to you.”
“With the way he talks, you’d think he has to butter us up and work for cock here.” King Elswere snorted and downed his glass.
Lumi caught a whiff of honey whiskey. “I should put in effort to get what I like.”
Prince Jaki let out the barest of sighs and lifted his hand slightly with only his thumb tucked. That likely meant the Kinghad been through four glasses. While Lumi was more concerned with keeping up his crafted act and lies, the Prince must have been terribly tired of the King’s drinking while he tried to figure out whatever.
He certainly didn’t need a parent to take care of him anymore, but watching the King get drunk most nights couldn’t have been entertaining.
Lumi looped his arms around the Prince and leaned in. “Hmmm. Magnolia and lavender.” He brought his face closer to the Prince’s neck. “Maybe I’ll make things better tonight.”
“In what way?”
“I can use more than my ass.” Lumi let his tongue flick out to lick his neck. “Maybe I’ll let you in on all my little secrets.”
It was surely the neck lick that had the Prince’s cock thickening under Lumi’s ass. “We’ll see.”
