“Wait? You requested him specifically?” I asked, confused.
He nodded.
“Why?”
Hudson moved up behind me, tugging me back from Jude slightly. “Yes. Why me?”
Jude looked past me as he spoke, “During one of Ryan’s weakened states, her mental guards fell. I was able to see her history fully. I was able to see you.”
I gasped. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were not at a point you could have really heard me,” he confessed. “I contacted Franco at once. And then I left. While I want you happy and healthy, I found it difficult to let go. It was best I not be here when the Guardian came. The two of you needed time to connect. You did not need me there, trying to come to terms with it all.”
“Jude,” I said, my voice barely there. “Thank you, and I’m so sorry I hurt you.”
“Deep down, you knew I was not for you. That your mate was still out there, looking for you.” Jude eased closer, ignoring Hudson as he did. He took my hand in his. “Your feelings for me, while strong, were not as strong as they were for your mate.”
I thought about what he was saying and took a long breath in, wondering if Maddy had the same thing happen to her with Hudson. Any small nugget of jealousy I had faded away, understanding what it was like to be in that position. A trickle of knowledge came over me.
I lifted Jude’s hand. “Your mate is out there. I know it. Like Hudson, you think she’s no more, but that isn’t so, Jude. You’ll find one another.”
“I am seven hundred years old, Ryan,” he said, no emotion to his voice. “I am too old to believe in false hopes and I know she is gone. I felt her death.”
“Don’t believe everything you feel, man,” said Hudson, drawing me into a hug from behind. “The Powers mess with our heads. We’re chess pieces to them. Nothing more. It’s a big game to them. I’m with Ryan. I think your mate is still out there. Take it from me, giving up hope is the last thing you should do.”
Had Hudson really just given Jude a pep talk?
Shona nudged me. “He has a great ass and under all that sarcasm is a nice guy. Total keeper.”
Jude watched us and nodded. “Yes, Ryan, I believe he is a keeper.”
Hudson grunted. “Enough with the warm and fuzzy shit. How about a beer, Jude?”
“Beer is rather low-rent, is it not?”
I sighed.
The peace was short-lived.
Shona laughed.
Hudson cleared his throat. “I ate the last undead guy that pissed me off.”
“Try it, wolf,” goaded Jude.
“Men,” I said, making Shona laugh.
She looped her arm through mine. “Let’s go see if there is any more ice cream.”
I smiled. “Sounds good to me. Think they’ll get in a fight when we’re gone?”
“Nah, they’ll have to answer to Tess for messing up her cleaning job.”
I smiled, knowing things would work out just fine.
THE END
Be sure to be on the lookout for the next installment of The Guardians, Ruling Jude.
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