“That’s where you come in.” Tivar stuck the Crown on his head and smiled even though it was dull and lifeless. “As the King, I make decisions, and you must obey. Since you're an abundant male and can have a child, you’ll have mine. I’ll secretly coronate the baby later so the Crown will live. He’ll be too young, and I’ll rule in his stead.”
Edur froze on the floor. “I-what?”
“You’ll give me a son. What luck you’re an abundant male, eh? You’ll have my baby, and that will solve the issue.”
Perhaps brothers did touch and work each other off in secret with their hands even though he’d been having doubts. Even if it was true, he knew damn well siblings didn’t marry and have children.
“I-I can’t marry you,” said Edur. “Brothers don’t do-”
“We’re not getting married, and you don’t need to be married to have a child. It won't be an issue if the child is born out of wedlock. I can say I had a lover who died in childbirth.” Tivar shook his head. “See? This is why you need me to teach you these things.”
“We can't do that. I'm not-I can't have a baby with you.”
“It’s necessary now to save Iceland and ensure I have what should be mine. If I’m not a Cleel by blood, I was born before you. I was still raised for this, and I deserve it. Besides, sex feels much better than masturbating. You’ll like it, and you’ll see there isn’t anything wrong with it.”
“But…” Tivar had never mentioned them having actual sex, and he knew how that worked between males. The thought of doing it with his brother, blood or not, made him feel dirtier than when he’d worked off Tivar. There was something wrong because no one else did it.
Maybe big brothers weren’t supposed to touch their little ones either. Perhaps that’s why Edur didn’t like it anymore.
Tivar’s expression darkened. “You said you’d trust me.”
“But it's wrong!” Edur practically shrieked.
“It’ll save the lands.”
“Coronate me, and you can do the actual ruling.”
Tivar slowly shook his head. “I thought I could trust you, brother. I had a feeling Elswere would use you to take me down. What did he write to you? Hmm? What did Mother say? You were planning to shove me aside, weren’t you? You and Mother were going to get rid of the adopted son and put you on the throne. She must have had lords go to help Elswere escape.”
“No! We weren’t! Elswere never wrote to me. She never said anything like that.”
Tivar flattened his ears. “What did you plan? He’ll rule for a bit and hand it over to you when you’re a little older? You’ll forgive him for treason and let him live at court again with his wife and their brat? I can’t believe you’d be such a snake after everything I’ve done for you.”
Edur’s throat tightened. “I swear, I wasn’t planning anything!”
“You disappoint me, brother.”
“I didn’t do anything! I wouldn’t betray you, and I don’t even want to be King. I want Iceland to live, but I don’t care about being on the throne. I thought it was yours, and y-”
“You certainly won’t be on the throne, and I’ll have Elswere, his wife, and his son dealt with as soon as possible. Push your heat. The sooner we have a baby, the better.”
Tivar stood as Edur went cold and wrapped his tail around himself. He was serious. He expected his little brother to have his child.
“I want to go to bed,” whispered Edur. “I’m tired, and it’s almost morning. We-we should bring Mother here and stick together. She’ll tell you there was no plot, and you-”
“I’m sure she’d do anything for her little boy. Of course, she’d want her real son on the throne. I was just a replacement for her dead baby.” Tivar flung the Crown across the room, and Edur flinched when it hit the wall and clattered on the floor. “Do you want to live or should I get rid of you too?”
More tears poured down Edur’s cheeks as he huddled against the side of the bed. “Tivar, y-you’re scaring me. You s-said you’d keep me safe.”
“Do. You. Want. To. Live?” Tivar leaned forward.
Edur wanted Mother more than anything. She’d know what to do, and she’d fix everything that had been flipped upside down. “Y-yes.”
“Then get on your back, lift your damn legs, and give me a baby.”
“B-but-”
“Even if you don’t push the heat, there’s still a chance you can get pregnant. I’ll fuck you every day until you give me what I want. You said you trusted me, and your refusal shows you lied. This will ensure the Kingdom and my proper place. I deserve this, and even though you’re a snake, I still made sure you were safe.” He leaned down to grab Edur’s arm. “Get on the bed. NOW!”
