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His jaw drops. “I’vebeen avoiding her? I sleep beside her every fucking night! And where the hell are you and Pace? Too obsessed with keeping her safe to bother realizing she’s in that big, stupid bed waiting for you.”

“You know what I mean,” I say, avoiding the accusation. “You don’t come to the exams, you weren’t even remotely interested in her last sonogram, and whenever you aren’t in bed with her, you hardly touch her.”

“Hey,” he points the sharp tip of the knife at me, “that’s on you. You’re the one who created a buffer around her bigger than the palace’s security fence. I’ve just been following orders.”

“For sex, Wick, not for all of the other things she needs right now. Like support, help, conversation, the decisions she’s about to face as the baby gets closer.”

His lip curls disdainfully. “Oh, like picking out baby furniture? Or maybe selecting a nice wallpaper for the nursery—something that’ll cover the blood stains still on the wall.” Herolls his eyes. “Because no thanks. She can call one of the girls in the Court to come do that.”

“You haven’t even been around when we read up on the baby’s progress and how her body is changing.” I grab a strawberry. “Dude, you haven’t even asked what piece of fruit the fetus is now.”

He drops the knife with a clatter and flattens his palms on the butcher block. “Tell me, Doc. I’m dying to know. Mango? Coconut? Pineapple?”

“Eggplant,” I smirk.

His lips press together. I can’t tell if he’s pissed or just trying really hard not to laugh. “That’s a vegetable.”

“Technically, it’s a fruit,” I tell him. “It has seeds and comes from a flowering plant, which makes it a?—”

“Great.” He lifts the tray, everything arranged nicely. In contrast, Father is lucky to get a bowl of soggy oatmeal once a day—just enough to keep him alive. “I’m all caught up.”

My face falls at the utter determination in his eyes. “Well, if you insist on going in there, then I’m coming with you. Maybe we can find out something useful for once. He needs to understand that keeping him alive and safe comes with conditions.”

“Fine,” Wick says, eyes narrowing at me as he lifts the tray, “but don’t be a dick about it.”

I don’t remembera time when Danner didn’t always look pale and wrinkled, like he may be a step from death’s door. He’s always looked old, and it’s no different now when I unlock and open the door from the outside with the key. He’s sitting in the recliner near the window that overlooks the back of the estate. Acopy of the monthly Financial Times sits on a table next to his chair, along with a cup of tea.

“Afternoon, boys,” he says, mid-rise.

“Don’t get up,” Wicker says, striding into the room. He sets the tray on the small kitchen table that’s been pushed against the wall, and starts unloading the plates. “I know you like salmon, so I had the cook save you a piece from last night’s dinner.”

“Thank you, Whitaker.” His cloudy blue eyes glance over to where I’m standing in the corner, arms crossed over my chest, watching. “I didn’t expect you to come see me, Lex.” He chuckles. “Chaperoning your brother?”

“Just came in to see how you’re doing,” I say, deciding to play the game. Being rude to Danner will get me nowhere. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine, overall.” He stretches out his right leg. “Muscles a little tight, and my digestion likes to act up before bed.”

It’s no secret Danner is lactose intolerant. “Any problems with your sciatica?”

He smiles. “Turns out not having to carry things up and down a staircase all day saves the back.”

“Father shouldn’t have had you doing those things,” Wick says, dropping into a wingback chair. “You’re not a pack mule.”

“Keeps me spry.” I notice that his hand shakes when he lifts his teacup. “I assume Pace is well.”

“He’s fine.”

“And your Princess? She should be about twenty-one, twenty?—”

“Twenty-two weeks,” Wicker finishes. I shoot him a glare, but he continues, “Fetus is about the size of an eggpl?—”

“The Princess’ condition is none of your concern, Danner,” I snap, cutting Wicker off.Jesus Christ.How can he be so diligent about Father’s interrogation, but Danner apparently gets all the information?

Rookie moves.

Danner meets my gaze. “You’re right, of course. I’ve lost the privilege of taking care of her and you.” He looks between us, a sad smile on his lips. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but I’ve hoped that finally having an heir would soothe your Father’s temperament. He tried desperately for years to have another child, but every attempt was futile. As you know, there’s so little about a King’s world that’s beyond his control. But the creation of life? That’s in the hands of a higher power. Verity and you boys were his last chance. Everything he did was out of desperation.”

“Don’t.” My voice is hard. “His actions arenotdefensible.”