Aleric opened his mouth and paused. “I’m working on it.”
“Which means you haven’t made enough headway.”
“Where’s your brilliant idea? I don’t even know if anyone in court is on his side besides the physician. Is it just the one we know, or are there others? The family here are all cousins, and they’re leeches. If Father dropped, they'd shed a tear or two to be polite and get over it in a week. I can’t even say if my half-brother is a part of this. If he is, he’ll know what happened when his lover is found dead, and you’re gone.”
Zacharie not knowing what was going on sounded reasonable. Still, killing Lord Gautier seemed like a better idea in some ways because if he was a rapist, he needed a sword through the gut. The realm was better off without such filth, but Jaime tried to see it from Aleric’s point of view instead of simply imagining the lord dead in a puddle of his own blood.
“Can you answer a question without getting mad? I won’t think you’re lying. If your Father doesn’t believe it-I’m not him. I don’t care what anybody else says. I want to hear it from you. And yes, I know it might be hard, but I need a yes or no. I won’t tell anyone either.”
Aleric squinted. “What are you talking about?”
“Did Lord Gautier get you alone and-he has a rape accusation pinned on him from a past lover in Moria-”
“He didn’t rape me.”
“I’m not going to call you a liar-”
“I’m not lying. Neither he nor anyone else has ever raped me. I now suspect that the charge against Gautier was true, and we were stupid to believe him. I don’t think he’s done anything here in Soleil. Not to my knowledge.”
“You were quite insistent you’re not a bottom.” Jaime had figured last night that after an incident, someone might never put themselves in that position again because they’d feel too vulnerable. When Jaime had entered him, he’d said it had been too long. He might have missed sex in a particular way even if he wouldn’t do it again in most cases.
“Like I can’t decide what I am?”
“I’m not saying that. I just thought you’re afraid to do it or-”
“He didn’t rape me,” repeated Aleric.
“You were nasty after we fucked, and I didn’t do that to violate you. I thought last night maybe you sort of felt that I kind of did because an abundant male has to bottom during sex for the heat fever, and you only did it because of the fever, but you wouldn’t do so normally. You could have also been pissed for telling me you’re a top and then begging and acting…er, a bit different toward me.”
A bit different. That was the understatement of the century, and Aleric knew it since a little pink touched his cheeks.
“You also wouldn’t tell me anything last night,” added Jaime.
“I’m telling you now because you won’t go away. I don’t feel like you raped me because you didn’t. I had heat fever, and you dealt with it. It was humiliating because I threw my phallus at you and-Nobody has ever raped me, including Gautier. Okay? Just because he may have done that to another man doesn’t mean it happened to me. Do I need to swear on my Mother’s grave for you to believe me?”
“No.”
“Then stop asking.”
Chapter Thirteen
Aleric almost wanted to shake Jaime. Luring Gautier out to permanently take care of him was ridiculous. He’d have a good chance to flee over the border into Moria and escape. It didn’t mean Aleric would be entirely safe.
At least Jaime finally seemed to believe him and stopped nagging. In fact, it was almost sweet that he’d offered to fuck up a man for hurting Aleric. Not that it mattered. If Jaime knew the real truth, he’d stop giving a shit at all.
Aleric had only told him anything because Jaime was right about one thing: he was new. Since he didn’t know everything and barely knew anyone at court, it was quite likely he’d listen. He’d even figured out the question of who on his own despite Aleric dancing around the answer and refusing to reveal it. If Jaime was going to be stubborn and stay, he did need to know.
He believed Aleric. For now. He’d see how long that lasted. Gautier might try to get to him.
If Jaime knew the full truth, he’d latch onto a certain part, and that would definitely change his attitude. Aleric still remembered Father’s disappointed expression as if he'd pulled the wildest tale out of his ass.
Father’s expression had hurt worse than Zacharie yelling at him and calling him a pig. Selfish. Asshole. Liar. And also fuckingselfishlyingpig all in a single run-on word because Zacharie had practically worked himself into a froth and hadn’t been able to pour out the insults fast enough.
“You need him too?!”
Jaime started to speak as they headed for the stables, and Aleric shushed him. He’d tell Jaime to go away and findsomething to do with himself, but he’d be a pain in the rear about it and hang around anyway.
He wished he’d forced down more of his breakfast since the short walk was making him tired. After the long trip downstairs, Gautier clasping his shoulder like they were old pals had ruined what appetite he had. It was absolutely disgusting every time he touched Aleric, and he damn well knew it too.
