Chapter 257
Chapter 257
Elara’s POV
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I felt my heart skip a beat as Thorne’s gaze locked onto me. I froze, a terrible knot forming in my chest. Would he recognize me? Would he see through my mask?
No. He couldn’t. Not yet. Not when I’d gone to such lengths to stay hidden.
Thorne’s frown deepened as his eyes scanned me, unable to pierce the mask that shielded my identity. But something about me must’ve seemed familiar, as though he’d met me before.
Had he? I hoped not.
“Put the boy down,” Thorne’s voice was low, dangerous. He took a step forward, his tone a growl. “Or I’ll toss you into prison and skin you alive.”
“No!” Judith cried out, his voice sharp with panic. “Don’t! Don’t do this to my—”
I cut him off quickly, my hand over his mouth, praying he wouldn’t reveal too much. “Don’t say it,” I whispered urgently in his ear. “Don’t say I’m your mother.”
The boy’s tear–filled eyes blinked up at me, his small body trembling. The sight twisted something deep inside me. But Thorne, he…he wouldn’t let anyone hurt this boy. I saw it in his eyes–the protective fury.
Why? Why was this man so tied to Judith?
His voice was colder now, laced with something darker. “What is it you want?” His glare burned into me. “Money? Ransom? Speak, or you won’t leave here alive.”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. I had to keep the act going. “No, My King, I wasn’t trying to steal him. I just saw him here, alone, and… I came in to keep him company. I meant no harm.” My voice wavered, deliberately deeper than usual, rough with a false rasp.
“Alone?” Thorne’s gaze turned icy as he shot a look at the maid standing by the door.
The maid’s knees buckled as she dropped to the floor, her face pale with fear. “Forgive me, My King,” she stammered. “I didn’t mean to leave him alone. He–he wanted cake, and I…‘
“Are you so careless with the young master’s safety?” Thorne’s voice was sharp as a blade. “You will be punished for this.”
The maid sobbed, shaking with terror.
I watched it all unfold, my chest tight, conflicted. He wasn’t the same child I’d known. Thorne had changed- hardened into someone who commanded fear with just his presence. At eight, he’d been different. But now? His very stance could make grown men quake.
“Don’t punish her!” Judith broke free from my arms, rushing to Thorne’s side. He grabbed Thorne’s hand, eyes wide with fear. “She didn’t do anything wrong. I asked her to get the cake for me,” Judith insisted, his voice trembling. “And… I don’t want you to hurt her, or this lady,” he added quickly, glancing at me with a shy
Chapter 257
smile. “I like her.”
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I couldn’t help the surprise that flashed through me. The little boy was sharp, even if he hadn’t quite caught on to my true identity.
Thorne’s cold expression softened for a moment, his gaze shifting from Judith to me. “Beautiful?” he muttered, a skeptical edge in his voice. “How can you tell? Her face is covered by a mask.”
Judith just smiled, unbothered by Thorne’s questions. “I can feel it… She’s the prettiest woman in the world.”
I felt a light flush creep across my face, but I didn’t let it show. “You flatter me, young master.” I gave a quick curtsy, hoping to keep up the charade.
Thorne’s gaze shifted from Judith to me, his eyes narrowing. “So, you’re a guest then? What’s your name?”
“Elara. From the Obsidian Pack,” I said, forcing the words out smoothly.
“Can anyone vouch for you?” His suspicion was thick, a wall I could feel pressing down on me.
I hesitated. I didn’t have anything to prove who I was. Not here. Not now.
The door swung open, and Medline hurried in, her eyes darting to Judith before she turned to Thorne. “I can vouch for her, My King. I am her nanny.”
Thorne eyed her, skeptical. “A nanny?” His tone was dismissive. A bow, a curtsy–she had done neither. Instead, she stood there with that same disdainful expression, like she didn’t care about playing the part
of a
servant.
“Yes, My King,” Medline said, though she barely bothered to lower her voice. “I’m very good with children. Let me take him, and we can calm him down in another room.”
She reached for Judith, but the boy recoiled, tears welling up once again.
“No!” Judith shouted, his little body trembling with the force of his emotions. “I don’t want her! I hate her!”
Medline’s face twisted in anger, her lips curling into a snarl. “What is this nonsense?” she spat. “You little-”
“Pah!”
Judith’s small form was a blur as he spit directly at Medline, landing a wet splatter on her cheek.
The room went silent for a beat before Medline’s shrill scream shattered the stillness. “You filthy little brat!”
Thorne’s eyes flicked to Medline, narrowing dangerously. “What did you just say?”
Judith didn’t hesitate. He darted straight into Thorne’s arms, burying his face against his shoulder. “I don’t want her! She’s scary. She makes me sick.”
I couldn’t suppress a quiet chuckle at the scene unfolding before me. Judith had always been sensitive to people he didn’t like, and Medline had long since earned his ire.
12:31 Sat, Sep 20
Chapter 257
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“Don’t worry, kid,” Thorne murmured, his voice softening for a moment as he patted Judith’s back. “I won’t let her take you. Stay close.”
He turned to face me, his expression hardening again. “And you,” he said, his voice colder than ice. “Don’t even think about approaching the boy without my permission. And keep your obnoxious nanny out of sight.”
He moved past me, carrying Judith in his arms as the boy clung to him tightly.
“Shit!”
Medline wiped the spit off her cheek, fury radiating off her. “That boy has no manners! Just like you!”
I glared at her, my voice low and steady. “He simply says what he thinks.”
She sneered, muttering under her breath, “Now what? The King forbids us from getting near Judith. How are we going to get him out of here?”
I frowned, frustration gnawing at me. This wasn’t going as planned. I needed to rethink everything.
Taking Judith by force wasn’t an option now. Thorne was too strong. Too dangerous.
But there was still hope. Thorne didn’t seem to know that Judith was his son. And as long as that secret stayed hidden, I had a chance.
But how long could I keep this up?
I needed a new plan. Fast.
Thorne entered Cael’s room, still holding Judith in his arms. Despite his stoic demeanor, he couldn’t hide the soft spot he seemed to have for the boy.
Vessa and Cael were seated at the table, sharing a meal with their daughter Leira. Cael’s gaze locked on Thorne as soon as he stepped inside. “Who’s this? Your bastard child?”
Judith’s face flushed, his tiny fists clenching in outrage. “I’m not a bastard!” he snapped.
Cael chuckled, clearly amused. “A tough little pup, huh? But seriously, who is he? I’ve never seen you with a kid before.”
“He’s not my son,” Thorne replied, rubbing his forehead. “I found him on the street. He was abandoned, and I’m keeping him for now, I’m telling people he’s mine to keep him safe, but that’s all.”
Cael frowned, confused. “So you don’t know his parents?”
“No,” Thorne admitted, shaking his head. “He won’t tell me.”
Cael raised an eyebrow. “But the kid does look like you…”
Vessa eyed Judith closely. “Can you take care of him?” she asked. “I mean, tuck him in and all that?”
Thorne gave a rueful smile. “I’ve got no idea how to do any of that.”
12:31 Sat, Sep 20
Chapter 257
Vessa laughed. “You’ll figure it out, ‘Dad.”
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As the night went on, Thorne, Vessa, and Cael discussed the boy’s future. Judith sat quietly at the table, behaving with surprising grace for his age, but his eyes were sharp, dartin
