Page 42 of Dead Crown
“You still look like a cow.” Tivar gestured at Lumi’s stomach and his chest. “Your pecs are swollen too. I can’t wait until you’re thin again.”
Jaki wouldn’t say that. He’d be horrified about a child with his half-brother, but he probably wouldn’t be that crass and insult Lumi’s appearance even if he grew bigger than a snow bear. Hepictured himself as a fat, white mookie with black and pink spots while it chewed on grass. Tivar thought he looked fat and still wanted more kids? He’d always insult Lumi.
Tivar rolled his eyes. “Oh, for Elira’s sake. You better not turn into one of those weepy pregnant men. I swear. Now you look like a crying cow. Make yourself useful and suck my dick.”
Lumi almost envied Tivar. Not quite, because his older brother was a piece of shit, and sick in the head, but there were a few things to be jealous of. Tivar didn’t have constant pressure on his bladder, and he wasn’t waking up once or twice to piss every damn night. He didn’t grow overheated. He also didn’t deal with sensitive nipples, an itchy belly from the stretched skin, or the occasional leg cramp.
He could also stand straight, look down, and see his toes. Lumi wouldn’t dare make remarks about his body, but Tivar also didn’t have to hear that he was fat, his swollen pecs were ugly, or the stretch marks on his belly were gross.
Thankfully, Tivar often went out once a week. Lumi knew he went to a whorehouse because he’d come back smelling of booze and scents for ladies or men, and he’d be drunk off his ass. He usually didn’t care to fuck when he returned since a whore had drained his balls. Tivar had kept the habit for years even when trying to get his fake brother pregnant, so he must have liked a change of holes.
When Lumi was alone, he felt better, and he could truly appreciate the little life more. He talked and sang to his belly or read to it from his books. All of the little movements and kicks excited him because it was like the baby was listening and cared about what he told it. Some people said babies could hear in the womb, and he was sure his child grew more excited at certain songs he sang.
Tivar didn’t like touching his belly to feel the kicks. He said it was strange and unnatural to him even though he seemed totruly believe it was his kid. Lumi was happy to keep another little bit to himself for the most part.
Since he carried high, Tivar was sure it was a boy, although everyone said different things and could be wrong or right. Birth was the only way to know. By the ninth month, Lumi felt as if he’d pop like a soap bubble, and Tivar called him a sow.
He wouldn’t even fuck Lumi anymore and insisted on blowjobs only.
Chapter Nine
“I sent the court home,” Tivar told him one day when Lumi guessed he was a week or two away from giving birth.
Lumi shifted as he tried to get comfortable, an impossible feat. His back kept aching no matter how he sat or lay. Standing by the side of the bed and pacing a few feet alongside it didn’t help either. “Why?”
“It’s getting too expensive to feed them. I’ve picked a High Mage who will coronate our boy and keep it a secret so the Crown will come back to life. Once I’ve defeated Elswere’s side to unite the country and save it, I’ll reveal that I have an heir and say my Mistress died to the general public. In the meantime, I need money to pay the men, and the court’s too big to keep up since it’s a massive drain to feed so many mouths. Heating the place alone is too much. There are a few servants to do the bare minimum, and that’s it. I let the rest go.”
If a court was getting too expensive, Lumi imagined the citizens were suffering immensely. He had no idea what state Lilling was in, but it couldn’t be good. The twisting that started in his gut wasn’t from the baby doing his afternoon exercises. It was easy not to think about it much since he never left the room and saw the outside world.
He knew the truth, and he’d seen enough in Havaska.
He imagined the servants who had been sacked and forced to return home where they would need to scramble to find new employment. If they did, they would still suffer because food wasn’t plentiful, and what existed was priced quite high.
“Who will take care of us if you go to war?” asked Lumi.
“I’m not going. I’ll stay here. Commanders and lords can do the general leading, and we’ll send doves as needed.”
That wasn’t smart at all. A lot could happen by the time a dove flew to its recipient. Lumi kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t like he had a brighter idea, and no one could be told to take care of a mystery guy chained up in the King’s bedroom with a baby.
Tivar sat on the bed and noticed the baby’s foot pressing against the side of Lumi’s stomach. “It’s like he’s trying to burst out of your gut.”
“Your son’s just trying to say hello.” Lumi forced a smile. “He hears his other Father’s voice, and it makes him happy.”
“I’ll be happy when I can look at him properly and not as a moving bulge. Hurry up and have him.”
“He just needs to cook a little more,” said Lumi. “I can’t make him come early.”
Normally, he wouldn’t say anything that could be counted as refusal or disobedience, but he was only stating facts, and Tivar didn’t grow angry.
“I’ll be glad when I can fuck you again too and not feel like I’m humping a sow.”
“It won’t be long now.” Lumi tried to ignore the tightness in his throat. He might as well start oinking since he felt like a pig. Of course, Tivar wanted the heir and not the changes that came with the one who had to grow it for him.
Lumi had mentioned to him how birth could be messy, and babies didn’t come out squeaky clean after a couple of quick pushes. Tivar brought him extra sheets, blankets, and a couple of pillows to help his back to be ready for whenever labor started. Lumi had asked nicely and mentioned that if he had some comfort, it would make the situation less stressful for the baby too.
“Try not to make too big of a mess,” he whined as if Lumi had control of it.
He knew his time was close when a dull ache started deep inside him one morning. He spent longer than normal on theprivy as his body cleaned itself out the best it could. His appetite was gone, and it was best to stop eating while his insides shifted to make way for the baby. He put down a few of the extra sheets on his side of the bed because he wasn’t sure when his water would break.
