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At last—at last!—the clock chimed, and I rushed into the garden, my small bag banging against my knee as I raced to the gate.
Jude leant against it with a scowl on his face when he saw that Polly had not followed me. He was dressed in far more precisely than I’d ever seen and a half-smoked cheroot hung from his lips.
“This way, my lady,” he gestured me to the unmarked carriage. “She’s in a black mood because her heat is near.”
“How—”
“Oh, I’ve seen that look on many faces that have been summarily dismissed by her. I’ll get you back and then I have to take her to see him.”
If I didn’t know my sister so well, his vague conversation would have irritated me. Instead, I smiled at the thought of either my alphas sitting through Jude’s half-incomprehensible mutterings.
“She don’t like it, you know.” His voice suddenly clear.
“What?”
He slumped in the seat across from me and with his hands stuffed into his pockets, he looked bored except his eyes shone bright in the dark carriage. “She doesn’t like it. Being an apex. She doesn’t like herself.”
I clench my jaw, irritated that he would charge me with something so heavy as this, but he looked over burdened by the thought of my sister being unhappy. “Jude. You make her happy.”
“I can’t give her a knot. A knot would—”
“For Goddess’ sake, what does it matter?”
He opened his mouth to respond.
Then the horse screamed, and the carriage swerved and toppled over.
My head cracked against glass, and I knew I’d been cut.
“Jude?” I reached out.
“Here. Stay down,” he whispered. “I’m going to see what happened. Keep quiet.”
He pulled himself out of the carriage with ease and I heard when he landed on the ground. Then there were raised voices, but I couldn’t locate the beta’s voice amongst them.
A shout had my head jerking to the left from where the sound came. I didn’t want to move, but something told me that staying where I was—stuck in the carriage—only put me at a disadvantage. Yet… Jude’s final command had me staying still.
“Here! Let me help.”
I looked up. I didn’t recognise the man who held out his hand. “I—”
“No, no need to fear. I’m not here to hurt you. Just to get you safe out the carriage.”
“I don’t think you can pull me up,” I tried to stall. “Where is Jude?”
“The big beta? He’s here. I’m sure he’d feel better if you weren’t trapped.”
“I’ll stay here until he comes.” My instincts screamed not to trust him.
“Trying to be nice. But if you don’t come out now, I’ll make this uncomfortable for you.”
I shrank back against the squabs, feeling naked without the pistols Pax had given me. I should have brought them, should always keep them on me.
“I won’t leave until I’ve seen Jude.”
The stranger cursed and left. But he returned too quickly, another with him. He dropped down, filling the confined space with a stale, unpleasant smell that, to my shame, had me cowering in the corner. He raised a hand as if to strike me, and when I whimpered, he laughed. “You’re coming with me. Whether you like it or not.”
I spat in his face. “Don’t come near me. I am Lady Paxton, and my mates will see you in prison if you dare lay a hand on me.”
