Chapter 41 Sinclair
I had Jayne call Joshua to take her home, then I stayed at the station with Jack. She had JJ to look after, and I didn’t want her getting worn out.
We probably could have gone back a few hours after Jayne left, but Larsen periodically came in to talk to us, checking details against my side of things. I twice had to text Jayne to confirm something, and once Jack had to reach out to Ezreal to do the same.
While we were there, I also heard from Luke. The truffle had just been a truffle. No trace of poison. For that, I was extremely grateful.
As it was, it was nearly midnight by the time he and I returned to the palace. Jack and I stepped out of the crawler and walked through the south entrance, weary but happy to be back. At least, I was. Jack had a cloud over him, no doubt because of his sister’s involvement.
I felt for the guy. There was no way this would stay out of the press. Soon everyone would know what had happened. And while his sister didn’t appear to have been directly involved, her children had been.
Something that never would have happened if she hadn’t returned to the North Pole. It was just an all-around unfortunate situation.
As we approached the corridor where the royal apartments were situated, he turned to me. “Thank you for staying. I’m sure you would have rather been with Jayne and your son.”
“True, but sometimes being a grown-up means doing hard things.” As soon as the words were out, I wished I’d phrased things differently. “I wasn’t referring to the situation with Janvier. I meant—”
“I know what you meant.” He gave a quick smile, but I could tell it was only to make me feel better. “Life is full of hard things sometimes.”
He looked a little broken. I’d never seen him like that. “I’m sorry about all of this. I really mean that. I can promise you that neither Jayne nor I will be talking to anyone about this, and I’ll make sure my parents and my aunt know not to speak to the press.”
He nodded. “Thanks. I’ll get an official statement out in the morning. Hopefully, this won’t overshadow JJ’s Naming Day, but at least it can proceed without worry now.”
“Yes.”
“Goodnight, Sinclair. Give my love to Jayne and JJ.”
“I will.”
We parted ways. I opened the apartment door as quietly as I could, hoping not to disturb Jayne and being careful not to run my crutches into anything.
Didn’t matter. I found her in the nursery, feeding JJ.
Spider looked like he was asleep sitting up.
Sugar was lying on the floor, zonked out so hard her little pink tongue was visible.
Jayne looked up as soon as I came in. “Hey. Welcome home. How did it go?”
I yawned. “Crispin was arrested for murder. He admitted to it after a few hours of questioning. Flora claims she didn’t know anything about it, but the police are still verifying that.
Janvier is in some trouble, but I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen to her.
According to your dad, her fate is up to him, as it’s a protocol issue and the sitting monarch is the final judge in cases like this. ”
She sighed. “How is he doing?”
“He’s not happy, as you saw. I don’t know your dad well, but that much is easy to see. I don’t blame him for being upset. It’s such a messed-up situation. And he’s right in the middle of it.”
“Yeah.” She looked sad. “I should talk to him in the morning.”
“You should. I think that would be good for him. I know he values your input. And I’m sure he could use someone with skin in the game to talk this out with.”
“I’ll text him first thing. Do you think Janvier knew Crispin was guilty? Did she ever change her stance on that? And was it ever explained why some people could read the redacted name and some couldn’t?”
“Janvier swears she believed Crispin when he said it was Percy, but she’s not the most impartial of sources, so no change there.
As for the redacted name, she said it was the last official royal duty she performed, redacting her own name.
In a burst of rebellion, she set the magic so that anyone who was a Frost would be able to tell it was redacted.
” Sin should his head. “That does not explain how my mom could read it.’
“Sure, it does. I was her donor when she needed a blood transfusion after being kidnapped.”
Sin’s mouth fell open. “I’d completely forgotten about that.”
“Makes sense, since she also picked up some of my winter elf powers. But it also means Flora lied to me when I asked her if she could read the name. She said she saw the name Holiday, the same as your dad and Ezreal.” Jayne frowned.
“I’m texting Larsen about that. And about how Crispin said he’d never met Flora. ” She snorted, then muttered, “Liar.”
“What would you like to see happen with your aunt?”
“Well, if my dad believes she’s innocent, then so do I.
” Still, she looked like the question had thrown her.
“As far as what happens to her … I guess I’d like to see my dad forgive her and for Janvier to be allowed to be part of the family again.
Not in a royal way—I don’t think that could ever happen—but it would be nice for him to have his sister back.
I wouldn’t mind getting to know her. For JJ to know her one day.
She is family. And after everything that’s already happened to her, it feels like she’s been through enough. So long as she really is innocent.”
“Definitely.”
Her brows bent. “Am I being too nice? I still have all these post-pregnancy hormones in me, and to be honest, sometimes I’m not sure I trust what I’m feeling.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think you’re being too nice. I think you’re being exactly who you are. You see the good in people. And she is your family, so why wouldn’t you see the good in her?”
“But, technically, Crispin is my cousin, and I certainly don’t see the good in him.”
“What about Flora?”
“That remains to be seen. She was nothing but nice to me, and I’m kind of wondering now if her nerves around me were because she knew we were related. If she lied about reading the name to protect her mother, I can forgive her for that. But not if she had anything to do with Delton’s murder.”
“Agreed. Will you reach out to her? Acknowledge your connection?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll wait to see what the verdict is on her. And how this news is received by the citizens, which is going to be interesting.”
“Which reminds me—your dad is going to put out a statement tomorrow.”
“Do you know what time? I’d like to talk to him before that happens.”
“No, but I’m sure you can speak to him before.” I leaned on my crutches, exhaustion settling over me. “If you don’t need me for anything, I’m going to bed.”
She glanced at JJ. “He’s almost done, so I’m only a few minutes behind you. Go get some sleep. It’s been a long day.”
“Long but ultimately good.” I leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
“I guess.”
“It was good because you and JJ are safe and the threats are behind us now. Naming Day is no longer something we need to worry about. And your dad will figure out how to handle this. He’s a smart man.
” I took a few steps toward the door, then stopped.
“Maybe he wasn’t destined to be king, but he’s certainly stepped up to the job. ”
She smiled. “Yeah, he has.”
She looked so beautiful with our son in her arms. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now go to bed. You look like those crutches are the only things holding you up.”
With a soft laugh, I headed for the bedroom. “So bossy,” I whispered.
“I heard that,” she called out.
I was asleep before she joined me.