Lucy at Peace Read online

  Jamie was disgusted. “Why’s father holding back on my extension to stay longer on the Other Side?”

  “He wants you home. Why is your sweet grain yellow? It looks sickly.” She pointed to the bowl of corn Britta brought over from the Other Side.

  “That’s the color corn is where I’m from,” I informed her. I knew from Jamie’s initial surprise that their corn was a vibrant peachy-orange color.

  She wrinkled her nose at the food. “Mm. How great.” She turned to Jamie, harrumphing loudly. “I just don’t understand why, Jamie. Why? Why won’t you stay in Tonttu? Jeremias was your brother, too. Losing the heir to the Tonttu throne is a tragedy. We should be united as a family, showing the Tomten our throne is secure. Father sent me here to bring you home. We need you.”

  “But the throne isn’t united, and it’s certainly not secure.” Jamie chewed, keeping his angry retorts muted so as not to enter into an argument meant for his father. “I’ve already explained to father by way of a message left at the gate to Undraland that when he chose not to acknowledge my bride, I chose not to acknowledge him. All of you were invited to our wedding. None of you came.” He took a drink of his water, not because he was thirsty, but to calm the venomous words he did not want to spew at his younger sister. “While I understand your fear of the Other Side, no ceremony was offered to me in my own homeland. Father won’t acknowledge to the people that I’m married. Can’t you see how that would divide our family? And I can recall the last words Jeremias spoke to me. It was just before Father kicked me out. You know what Jeremias said?”

  Jeneve looked sulky as she poked at the corn. “He told you that you were dead to him. You know he didn’t mean it. He was always flying off the handle and saying things he didn’t mean.”

  I knew the story from hearing Jamie torment himself with it when he’d heard of Jeremias’s death not too long ago. I wanted to tear her a new one, but I knew Jamie preferred we let him handle his family’s nonsense. Jeneve scoffed at everything Britta or I did, so I did very little to compensate. Britta was practically a statue, but underneath her fixed stare at her plate, I could see hurt mingling with a deep dislike for Jeneve.

  Instead of letting the argument escalate in volume, Jamie lowered his voice. I had great respect for him whenever he did that. “I let you into my home as a courtesy. You’ll do well to remember that and respect my decisions. I’m very sorry Jeremias died. I have not spoken to Father’s favorite child since I left the palace to live among the people in Tonttu. He said I was dead to him then. What difference is it to me if he’s dead now?”

  “Jamie!” Britta admonished her husband, breaking out of her motionless position at the table. “You mustn’t say such things. Losing the heir to the throne is tragedy enough. Flawed though he was, Jeremias was your brother.”

  “Jens is my brother.” Jamie kissed Britta’s temple. “And you are my wife. Anyone who dismisses either of you is dead to me. I made my peace with Jeremias leaving my life long ago. I do not wish to relive the heartbreak.” He closed the matter for discussion, and I had yet more respect for the man I considered an older brother. I hadn’t known I’d needed one to teach me things and help me to be a proper adult, as opposed to a girl who tore Jeneve a new one for being such a pill. I loved Jamie for a thousand reasons. That he was a kindhearted man who made it his business to set a good example for me to follow was only one in a sea of things I adored about my favorite prince.

  I love you, too, Jamie said, fishing the territorial thoughts out of my head.

  Your sister needs to be taken down a notch.

  Jamie’s lips curled into a small smile as he forked a bite of chicken. You’re my syster, he said as he hugged me in his mind. No one else.

  Jeneve’s pinched nose scrunched in distaste whenever her brother kissed Britta or was sweet to her in any way. That his hand was rubbing her back reminded Jeneve to ramp up her complaining as she straightened the long sleeves of her deep purple gown. “Father will be displeased if I return without you.”

  “Has he changed his position on acknowledging our marriage?”

  Jeneve sighed, stabbing at her carrot. “You know he hasn’t. Britta’s common. Below that, actually. You were promised to Freya, so now Jokull’s stepped up and made her an offer for marriage. They’ll be wed before the next harvest moon. Freya’s father is quite ill, you know.”

  “I didn’t know,” Jamie replied. “So Jokull will inherit the Nisse tribe when the Nisse King passes?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Screw adulthood. While Jamie mulled over this new political development made to unite the Nisse tribe with the Tonttu, and then take over the Nisse, I made a mistake and opened my mouth. “Britta’s nothing like common. On the Other Side, she’s my right hand. You won’t talk like that about her again in front of me. I don’t care who your dad is.”

  Jeneve straightened, glaring at me across the table with her beady dark brown eyes, all pretense of sucking up to me because of my title forgotten. “Do you know who you’re talking to? Do you understand the power my family has here?”

  I put my fork down and geared up to tell her what I really thought of her father’s rule, but Jamie intervened. “Jeneve, you’ll not speak about my wife so rudely. I’m a member of the Tonttu throne, as well. You’ll do good to remember that Britta belongs to the throne now, too.”

  Jeneve scoffed, and Britta looked like she wanted to crawl under the table. “Your mistress will never be recognized by Father. Your marriage isn’t real!”

  “I’m no one’s mistress!” Britta said while keeping her eyes on her plate, finally finding her voice. “We’re properly married on the Other Side. I’m a wife, not someone you can so easily dismiss.”

  Jamie postured. “You can send my condolences to the family. Wish Jokull the very best of luck, since he’s next to inherit the Nisse throne. But speak like that about my wife again, and it’s the last you’ll see of me, Jeneve. I’d caution you not to test me on that. I’m the only brother who never shamed you for your little affair with—”

  “You won’t speak of what you don’t understand!” Jeneve shouted, her face crimson. She glared at Jamie, judging that she’d hit a wall, and then switched her focus to me, who because I liked Britta, was now on her hit list. “Must be nice to let yourself go like that. I mean, what is that, your third helping?” Jeneve said when I helped myself to more mashed potatoes. “I guess being a widow has its perks. It doesn’t matter if anyone finds you desirable anymore, since your husband’s dead.”

  I’d endured my fair share of catty women, but that little comment quickly climbed up the list of unforgiveable offenses. Jeneve was taller than me (as was everyone in Undraland). She had a flat stomach and wide hips that made her deep hued gown hang gracefully on her like a purple waterfall. Though I wanted to strangle her, I followed Jamie’s example and refused to argue with her childish attitude. But under the table I sucked in my stomach, and I despised myself for falling for her taunting.

  Jens took the bowl in front of us and slapped two additional scoops of potatoes onto my plate, glaring at Jeneve the entire time. “Lucy can eat whatever she wants. She’s a perfect size, and you’ll shut your mouth when you’re sitting at a table that isn’t yours. You’re just mad because Jamie’s happy, I’m happy, and you never will be.”

  Jeneve reared back with venom at the ready. “You live with your charge indecently.”

  “I’ll take that over marrying you any day,” Jens jabbed unkindly. “And there’s nothing going on between Lucy and I. She’s my charge, and she’s got no family to stay with her. In those circumstances, what would you have me do? Leave my charge alone? You know I can’t do that.”

  Jeneve glared at me, though I’d barely spoken since we’d sat down. I really hated that I had to pretend to be the grieving widow in Undraland, and couldn’t actually be with my boyfriend, who was right next to me.

  Oh, Jeneve’s a spoiled child. Jamie grumbled in my head. You’re a good size, liten syster
. Have some more chicken. Jamie took a leg off the platter and set it on my plate.

  I sighed at the sweet men I was lucky enough to be stuck with and dug into the next round I didn’t really have room in my gut for.

  Jeneve begged Jamie to sit on the couch and have a drink with her after the meal ended, and after Jeneve had squeezed in another fat jab at me and a slight on my outfit. I didn’t even have to fight back; Jens was geared up to strike on my behalf. I had to lightly step on his foot to remind him not to get too worked up.

  Eventually, the atmosphere cooled down as the meal ended, and Jeneve donned a sugary sweet tone to cover over every rude thing she’d said while I cleared the table. “I think we need something to wash down that interesting sweet grain you brought over from the Other Side. I can still taste it.” She blanched and stuck her tongue out to show her disgust. Then she reached into the bag Stina had sent over for her and pulled out a bottle of expensive Gar. It was the designer balsamic vinegar for rich foodies who care about that kind of thing. Jens loved when I cooked him dinners with the stuff. I really couldn’t tell the difference between the expensive bottles and the cheap crap, but whatever.

  Jamie sighed as he leaned into the couch, resting his head back as the visit stretched on beyond what any of us could endure gracefully. “That sounds nice.”

  “A little something to share,” Jeneve said with a hint of eagerness about her.

  “You? Sharing? I don’t believe it.” Jens was standing near the window and peering out, always on guard duty. I knew he wouldn’t be able to relax until we were back in our house, far away from Undraland. “What’s the angle? If what you’re sharing’s your opinion on anything, you can keep it to yourself. Ain’t nobody want a piece of that.”

  Jeneve cast Jens a withering look reserved for your brother’s annoying best friend. “It’s a bottle of Gar. I wanted something from the Other Side, so Stina sent this over for me. It’s my way of being supportive of your new home. Your new lifestyle.” She spoke the word “lifestyle” as if Jamie had chosen to become a serial killer who wanted to join the circus, instead of, you know, getting married to a nice girl. Jeneve wrinkled her nose in disdain when her eyes fell on Britta. She displayed the fancy balsamic vinegar bottle with pride. “Nothing but the best for my brother and his… partner.”

  Jamie shot her an incredulous look. “You never give me the best of anything or support me in anything. Why now?” It wasn’t a criticism; it was a genuine question. “And Britta’s my wife. You can say the word, you know.”

  She gave a dramatic sigh, and I picked out of Jamie’s head that this was her usual routine when she was looking to gain the upper hand in a manipulation scheme. Jeneve tossed her brown braid over her shoulder. “Because still I love you, even though you’ve disgraced our family name. Because Jokull’s a pain now that he’s got a little bit more power. I miss having someone around who isn’t trying to climb their way to the top. You’re perfectly content at the bottom.” When Jamie reared back at this series of slams, she held up her free hand. “No! That’s not how I meant it. I just mean that there’s no agenda with you. It’s nice.”

  “I don’t know.” Jamie was wary of her sudden shifts that kept her mood up and down, sweet and vindictive.

  “Come on, Jamie. Do a shot with your sister. I came all the way out here to make amends and bring you home to the castle. If you won’t come home with me, at least have a drink with me so I know I still have a brother in my heart.” She poured out two shots. “Jens, let’s bury the hatchet. Too much animosity between our families. So you turned me down and wouldn’t marry me. Bygones.”

  Jens raised a thick eyebrow at her offer. “I try not to drink with psychopaths when I’m on the job.”

  “But what could possibly happen to you in Tonttu? So father burned your house to the ground because he assumed you were behind the attack on the portal. He won’t try to kill you while I’m here. Relax a little.”

  Jens paused, and I knew he was trying not to lash out at Jeneve. When he finally spoke, it was with a barely reined-in calm. “I’m still Lucy’s Tom. You understand.”

  “Sure.” Jeneve’s shoulders deflated.

  Jeneve turned to me, of all people, and held out a glass of the sweet vinegar as an offering. “You look like you need this. I mean, if I rolled out of bed, threw on men’s clothing and couldn’t even care enough to match my shoes, I’d be a walking disaster.” She laughed, like the whole thing was a hilarious joke. “I’m just kidding! Here, take a shot.”

  It really didn’t cut me. I promise it didn’t sting too badly. I knew Jeneve was just pissed the guy she liked didn’t want her back, but I wished she’d leave me out of it all the same.

  Jens jabbed his finger toward the front door. “Outside. Now.”

  “You can’t kick me out. It’s not even your house.”

  Britta, who had been silent for some time, straightened. “No, but it is mine and Jamie’s. You’ll not speak that way to the closest thing I have to a sister.”

  My heart did a full-on girl swoon whenever Britta called me her sister.

  Out of nowhere Jeneve clenched her fists, her nasal voice rising to a manic shout. “I will not leave until I at least have a drink with my brother! I won’t move from this spot until we reach an understanding!”

  “Fine.” Jamie held up his hands. “Jeneve, of course I’ll have a drink with you. Then you can take word back to father that I’m very much a married man, and I won’t be coming back here until my lovely wife is granted royalty status.”

  Jeneve lowered her voice and handed him the shot she poured. “You know that won’t happen. You don’t even wear the color of the Tonttu throne anymore.” She gestured to her dress. I tried to picture Jamie in the deep purple hue, but he came out looking like the artist formerly known as Prince, not an actual prince. Big difference.

  Jamie straightened. “If my wife isn’t recognized by Father, then you’ll know where to find me. I’d rather face a world of Huldras than have tea with Father.” He downed the shot, shivering at the liquor-like effect the vinegar had on him.

  I felt the burn, and something… strange. Something that felt like blackness settled inside Jamie. It was heavier than thin Gar, and had a baser feel to it as it trickled through him. Almost like liquid metal. I listened to Jamie assess the shot with curiosity. I wondered if it was a special kind.

  Jeneve smiled like she’d just accomplished some big triumph by getting her brother to take a drink. She didn’t even drink her shot, though she’d thrown quite the fit about it. “Britta?” she offered, extending her glass to her sister-in-law. “Bygones?”

  Britta kept her polite smile fixed in place. “No. Just… no.”

  Jeneve was visibly put off at this, her hand on her hip and her chestnut brow furrowed. “Lucy?” she said by way of an offering to me. “A toast?”

  “I’m good, but thanks. When you tell your dad about Jamie’s life here, make sure you mention how happy he is.”

  Jeneve’s coiled smile was somehow cruel and laced with motive. She looked over to Jens again. “Jens, just one drink. Please? You humiliated me when you turned down Father’s offer for my hand. The least you can do is have a little drink with me. Take a breath with me. You work so hard, Jens the Brave.” The way she cooed his name was with a little too much persuasion to feel genuine. She reached out to touch his arm, stroking his tensed muscle with a cat-like grin.

  I generally didn’t mind the blushes and flirty looks other women gave my boyfriend. I understood completely; Jens was hot. He had been unswervingly faithful on the Other Side, too. But Jeneve’s advance had a note of proposition to it that made my hackles rise on instinct.

  “Have a good night, Jeneve. Make sure to tell your dad he’s a waste of royalty, and his kingdom would thrive, were it not for his pathetic rule.”

  Jeneve gasped, scandalized. “You’ll not speak against my father’s throne! He could have you hanged for such treason!”

  Jens bit his nails, f
eigning fear. “Oh, no! Whatever shall I do?” He rolled his eyes and jerked his thumb to the door. “Out you go.”

  Jeneve postured like a true princess, waiting for the door to open for her and her things to magically find their way back to her hands.

  I was more than happy to accommodate whatever got her out of there the quickest. I opened the door and handed her back the bottle of Gar, though she tried to leave it with us. I pressed it into her hands. “You know, I think we don’t need any part of you in the house. Have a good one.” Then I lowered my voice. “And by ‘good one’, I mean don’t you dare talk down to Jamie or Britta ever again. You think your daddy’s scary? You don’t want to know the Vin Diesel wrath I could reign down on you if you’re a slitch to your brother or sister-in-law again.”

  After I shut her out, I turned to throw my arms around Britta, who needed some serious morale boosting, but Jamie was already on the job. He kissed her face like she was made of glass, each touch a promise to cherish her. “Never listen to her. I love you. I’m the lucky one in this marriage. I’m the commoner, just begging for you to look my way.”

  Britta and I both swooned, and my heart swelled at seeing my big brother be the best kind of man.

  Jens mussed my hair as he walked past, which was almost the same as Jamie’s undying declaration of love for Britta. Almost.

  It was a quick trip out of Undraland, followed by a quiet drive home. When we parked in Jamie and Britt’s garage, he kissed my cheek and hugged Jens. “Thanks for everything, guys. Have a good night. We’ll see you tomorrow for the game.” Jamie didn’t need to subtly kick us out. I could feel his desire to comfort and seduce his wife ramping up through the bond, and quickly shut the door to our shared psyche so I didn’t have to hear which parts of Britta he wanted to get closer to.

  Jens lazily wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we walked down the grassy path to our house not half a mile away. “Have I ever told you how much I love your body? I never ever want you to look like Stina or Jeneve.”