Madly & the Jackal Read Online Free PDF Page B

I let the magical influence on our appearance fall away.  Recognition appeared on my father’s face as Jackson’s true features emerged. 
    His mouth dropped open a tiny bit and his eyes shifted to me and then widened.
    “Madly!” he exclaimed quietly, pausing for only a fraction of a second before pulling me into his arms for a bone crushing hug.
    “Daddy, are you okay?  What is going on?” I asked into his neck.
    “Madly, what are you doing here?  How did you get in here?” he asked leaning back to frown down into my face.
    “Jackson and I made it through the shield during the prison system reset when the alarms were off,” I answered proudly.
    My father’s frown deepened.
    “That was incredibly dangerous,” he said in a disapproving tone before he turned a glare on Jackson.  “And incredibly careless.  What were you thinking?”
    The question was not addressed to me, but to Jackson.
    “Sir, there was no talking her out of it.  You know how stubborn she can be.  But also, we both knew that our best chances to save Atlas lay in our combined strength.  We knew we needed to be together.”
    I held my breath at Jackson’s blatant insinuation, bracing myself for the firestorm that would rain down on our heads if my father picked up on it.  Thankfully, he seemed too distracted to really digest what Jackson had implied, and for that I was relieved.
    “Daddy, you always told me that Atlas had to come first, that it was part of who we are as royals.  I just did what I thought was right.  And you know I could never have lived with myself if something had happened to you or Mom or Truly when I hadn’t done everything in my power to help you.  That’s not who I am.”
    His expression softened and he cupped my cheek.
    “I know, sweetheart.  You’ve got the heart of a royal already and I’m so proud of you.  I just worry about you.  You know that.”
    I smiled up into his anxious eyes.
    “I know, Daddy, but it had to be done.  Now we can figure all this out, find a way to make it right.”
    Jackson cleared his throat.
    “Speaking of that, sir, what can you tell us about what’s been going on down here?”
    “We still don’t know much, only that a royal has control of the fourth bracelet and—”
    His explanation was interrupted by a knock at the study door.  Immediately, I conjured the magic that altered our appearance, all my muscles bunching in readiness.
    “Who is it?” he called in a voice like thunder.
    “It’s me, Hennessey,” came the masculine reply.
    I saw Daddy’s shoulders slump a tiny bit, his relief evident.  I felt myself relax as well.
    “It’s just Aaron,” he explained quietly before addressing the interloper.  “Come on in.”
    Jackson and I watched as the heavy door yawned open and Aaron Saint, Aidan’s father, stepped quickly inside, closing it firmly behind himself.  I was struck once again by how much Aidan favored the elder Saint, with his sandy hair and soft hazel eyes.  I used to imagine growing old with Aidan, watching him transform into an even greater likeness of his father, but now I just smiled at the resemblance.  I had no desire to grow old with anyone other than Jackson.
    Aaron’s eyes flickered uneasily from Daddy to me to Jackson and then back again before lingering on my father.
    “I’m sorry to interrupt.  I didn’t realize you had guests.  I can come back when you have a free minute.
    My father clapped one big hand on Aaron’s shoulder when he stopped at his side. 
    “Aaron, it’s Madly,” he confessed, tipping his head in my direction.
    For a single heartbeat, a frown flickered over Aaron’s brow before his expression turned to one of skepticism.  With a smile, I let my magic fall away again and watched as his face adopted a look of stunned disbelief.
    “Madly, my God!  What are you doing here?  I mean, how…”
    He trailed off, shaking his head, clearly at a loss for words.
    Before I could respond, my father