Chapter 8
Erich
One hour prior
I sat on the couch in the family room, a glass of scotch in my hand with the fire roaring in front of me.
I slowly took a sip, savoring the taste.
Prior to this last trip to Asach, I had been home for a month, the longest stretch I’d had without travel in a long time.
I didn’t miss it. But I was no closer to being honest with Jaq about my feelings.
We spent just as much time together, but anytime I tried to begin a conversation, it was as if he had a sixth sense for what I was going to say and he found a way to distract me or to outright kick me out of his room.
“Hey. I didn’t expect you to be here.” My brother, Cort, came into the room sans his entourage that usually followed him around. The family room was generally off limits to everyone who wasn’t family. His bodyguard was no doubt outside the door.
“I’m surprised you’re here,” I said.
He sat down and let out a long breath. “Yeah. I don’t get breaks very often. It seems like every minute is scheduled. I had to schedule a bathroom break today.”
“Oh, it must be tough to be king,” I teased. I knew that it actually was. But I also knew he had a whole team of people to cater to his every whim. He simply had to say the word and they would bend to his will.
“Fuck off,” he said. “Weren’t you supposed to be in Asach for another few days? The reports I got back about the party said that everything went well.”
“Yes. The trip was fine, I suppose. It was nice to see the king and his family. I just wanted to be home.” And in Jaq’s arms.
“Is that all?” Cort asked.
I grimaced, my back tensing until my back teeth ached. “If I can speak candidly…”
“Of course. You don’t need to censor yourself around me.”
“Well, in most cases I wouldn’t, but this is about your in-laws.”
Cort winced. “Ah. Yes. Them. Would it help if I told you they weren’t my favorite people?”
I snorted. I doubted that asshole former king was anyone’s favorite person.
“I couldn’t stand to spend another minute looking at Jaq’s father and wanting to throttle the man.
I doubt I was subtle about my dislike for him, and I avoided speaking to him as much as I could while I was there. I hope that doesn’t cause any issues.”
Cort waved a hand in the air. “That is fine. King Damien isn’t unlike us.
He understands and respects the crown, but he doesn’t live and die by the stupid fucking rules that have dictated our lives since the beginning of time.
He knows Jaq deserves better than what he has received from the former king.
Any diplomatic issues usually stem from the former king, and we have to listen to his thoughts less and less.
I pay no attention to the things he says to me. ”
I had a feeling I didn’t want to know what the former king had said to my brother. Knowing that we’d housed his illegitimate son for the past five years, he probably had a lot to say.
“He’s a piece of work,” I said, and I took another sip.
Cort raised a brow. “Yes. Yes, he is. I’m surprised you care so much.”
“Jaq isn’t allowed back there, is he?”
Cort let out a long breath through his nose.
“Not officially. And Damien would never deny him access to his home country if he were to choose to return. However, if it had been left up to the former king, Jaq would have been barred from the country and his citizenship revoked. A rumor I have from a person who doesn’t exist is that the former king had the paperwork all ready to go to have his citizenship dissolved.
Even going so far as to remove records that he had been born. ”
I clenched my fist. That was so unfair and utterly ridiculous. What kind of person would ever consider doing that to their child?
I suspected something as vile as that, yet hearing the words was like a punch to the gut. No wonder Jacques didn’t trust anyone and didn’t want to put down roots anywhere, when the one place he should have been able to do all of that treated him like garbage.
“I think he’s happy here,” Cort continued. “He seems to be enjoying his work. He has his classes, and the kids love him. Obviously, Thomas and I are doing everything we can to make him stay. We aren’t above using the children as bribery.”
“Why not give him a title?” I doubted it would help, but it was the best I could come up with.
“I’ve tried. I’ve drafted every sort of document with every version of a title there is, but anytime we even start the conversation, he shuts it down.
That’s when he starts to talk about some job leads he has someplace.
I have no doubt he could get a job anywhere, and I know he has looked.
He always seems to have one foot out the door.
We can convince him to stay, but just barely, and we use the kids as leverage. ”
“Thomas’s pregnancy couldn’t come at a better time,” I said. I swirled the amber liquid around in my glass, wondering if something stronger would be necessary.
“I saw on Jaq’s computer the other day that he was actively applying for jobs other places,” Cort said. “I wasn’t snooping. At least, I didn’t mean to. I came back from a meeting early and wanted to see the children.”
“He—” I stopped myself. It was up to Jaq if it was okay for me to reveal our relationship. I was not ashamed of him, not even a little bit. But if he didn’t want people to know, I would respect that.
Besides, we didn’t have a real relationship. We just fucked sometimes, and I was the one who had caught feelings. He had not treated me any differently since day one, still refusing to call me by my given name half the time. He referred to me as Prince Erich or His Highness. It was maddening.
“I think if he had a reason to stay—a person—he might decide to make a home here. His brother and nephews aren’t reason enough. Hell, even Wes and Gus’s kids love him.”
“They do.” He was an easy man to love. Even if it did take me three years to figure it out and almost five before admitting it to myself.
“Dad loves him. He practically adopted him as one of his own. Almost like an additional son-in-law. He is part of the family. Unofficially, of course.” Cort smirked as he said the words, his gaze focused on my face like he was gauging my reaction.
My brother’s lips quirked, and I knew then that he knew. Still, I wasn’t going to say anything.
“Well, I’m going to head to bed,” I said. “It’s been a long day. Long week. And for real this time, I want to stay home for a month. Maybe three. Maybe a year. I’ve grown rather weary of traveling.”
“Let’s see what we can do.”
“Thanks, brother. Have I told you lately you’re doing a great job?”
“No. I haven’t heard that.”
“Good,” I said.
“Asshole,” he shouted back at me as I left the room.
Instead of heading toward my own room, I took a sharp turn and walked quickly toward my brother’s wing where Jacques’s room was.
Usually I was more stealthy, using the servants’ stairwell to make my way toward his room.
But tonight, I didn’t care who saw me. It was time for him and me to finally talk this out.
He needed to know how I felt. If he didn’t feel the same, well, then that would be the end of it. But at least I would have told him.
The door to his suite was slightly open, which was odd. I looked around and didn’t find anyone there. I pushed my way in and called out his name. He didn’t answer.
The bathroom door was closed, so I lifted my hand and knocked.