Episode 77: Letter (Jasmine)

She was going to murder Jericho. He was the worst person in Elesaran history, the root cause of all the world’s problems, reaper of souls, tormenter of bodies.

His body was hot and damp against hers, their skin pressed together where her back met his chest and abdomen.

Evil. Why was he so hot.

Why did he hate her. Did he want her to suffer? Was that his purpose in life?

She groaned.

He comforted her, like that would help.

Oh hey Jazz, I see you’re being tormented with excruciating pain, but it’s okay right? Because I love you, and I’m here for you.

Him being here for her was why they were here now, suffering.

Someone came in with an envelope.

Jericho got up and walked toward the servant, Baltasar.

Where did he think he was going? What happened to all that here for her talk?

He brought her the envelope and a glass of water from the servant.

The envelope was written in a hand she didn’t recognize. She peeled the envelope open and read the contents of the letter. It was from her great aunt.

She read it, and groaned again. Jericho was behind her in an instant.

If he said he was here for her again, she was going to shove that envelope somewhere creative and painful. Possibly a nostril.

Maybe she’d tell him she was here for him, too.

Ha.

She passed him the letter. “Ionia. She wants to visit.”

He read the letter and then set it on the bedside table and focused his hands on her stomach. While he slid around her he kissed her cheek. “Do you mind?”

“I’m curious,” she admitted, because she was. “She’s supposed to be dead.”

“We can invite her.” Jericho settled himself behind her and leaned her torso against him.

Way too hot.

Jericho looked at the letter again, scanning.

Ahhhhhhhhgh.

This time she didn’t moan. She funneled all of her hatred of the entire universe into one little angry not-moan of agony and suffering.

“Did she say how many rooms she needs?”

Which one of them was currently in labor and which one just didn’t want to remember the contents of a letter she’d just read?

“Her, and two sons and four daughters,” Jaz said.

She hated him.

What kind of mastermind was he?

“Rooms will be ready,” he said. She had a bad feeling he was going to start reminding her about the here for her stuff again, so she barked out, mid-moan, “Should we warn anyone or see how it goes? They may only want sanctuary.”

“I can send someone to the Dells as well,” he offered, his tone lighter. “Unless you’d like to visit right now.”

His hands found the center of all the torture in her back. All that misery, in one little knot right on the small of her back, and his hands worked it out. Relief.

“The baby would get lost,” she joked. The palace in the Dells was enormous and maze-like.

“Do you need anything?” he asked, continuing to massage her back. “Are you comfortable?”

He was amazing. They were going to have a beautiful baby boy. Together, a second child.

She couldn’t decide who she loved more, Jericho or their son.

She leaned against his warm body, reveling in the comfort of everything that was Jericho, turned her face up towards his, and kissed him.

“I have everything I need,” she promised.

She did too. Two beautiful kids, one on the way. An amazing husband. A loving, supportive kingdom.

Life was a beautiful thing.

Childbirth was one of the most important things anyone could experience, and she was experiencing it here, in one of her favorite places, with one of her favorite people.

Another wave of agony ripped through her.

She hated him. Horrible, selfish monster.

What was he thinking, doing this to her?

Why hadn’t he talked her out of this?

He kissed her head, and held her.

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