The Wild by M. J. Padgett

Author:M. J. Padgett [M. J. Padgett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MJ Padgett Books LLC
Published: 2023-04-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jude O'Ryan

“You don’t think it was him, do you? The one attacking the animals and people all over the kingdom?” Wren asked. Jude knew her tones and expressions well enough to know she didn’t believe it but had to ask.

“Unless he was hiding claws somewhere, then no,” Jude said. “Besides, with the number of guards tailing him, there’s no way he got out without someone seeing. Whatever that was, it seemed like it barely had enough control over the prince to emerge. I doubt there’s enough to leave the grounds, attack your father or anyone else, then return unnoticed.”

Wren sighed and redirected the horse Jude had brought along for her, just in case. He knew she felt awful for lying to the prince, but taking him anywhere without a full guard was insanity. She needed to know they were safe, that she could handle whatever came, and for her, that meant having Jude and a small group of his men tailing them, waiting for danger.

The blasted bear, though. It was all he could do to keep from killing it himself, but he knew he had to trust Wren’s instinct. It had never been wrong, not yet, and there was no reason to believe it would go wrong. He hoped.

“Any other leads?”

“None, really. I’ve heard your father improved greatly.”

“He did. He was even joking with the twins this morning. Saoirse is thoroughly traumatized, but the rest seem to be handling it well. Lark adores the servant’s house.” Wren chuckled. “I suppose she’s easier to please than I remembered.”

Jude smiled, then asked, “Do you think you’ll get to see them often? Saoirse seems to trust you more than the others. She never really spoke to me.”

Wren sighed again, this time with less frustration. “I don’t know. I hope so, but I can’t leave his side for long.” She glanced at the prince, still unconscious. Jude studied her as she watched him in the back of the cart. She’d never looked at him that way, which tortured his already broken heart, but it was for the best. It was better this way. Right, somehow.

Still, he couldn’t stand watching her watch him.

“I can feel the Fae magic in him,” he said, then cleared his throat. “It tingles when I get close to him, like ice, which makes sense now that I’ve seen that thing he becomes.”

“Does it hurt you?” she asked, concern evident in her hesitant motions and narrowed eyes.

“No, not at all. Whatever was at your farm sent a chill down my spine I won’t soon forget, but it didn’t hurt.”

“I don’t know what my family will do now that everything is gone.” She didn’t dwell on the thought long, likely unable to process such a horrible thing, and asked, “Do you think it hurts him?”

He had no real answer for that, but he assumed it was not fun in any way. “I don’t know. I imagine it is taxing, considering his health is often poor and he’s weak. It’s probably quite a fight to control it, whatever it is.

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