Page 33 of The Prince and the Ice King

Excitement and new things to learn and be enchanted by were what made age irrelevant. Jack saw it in Wynn’s face as he explained the plumbing and various machines throughout the castle that he’d created. Shayla looked the same. The others did too, just from watching Reardon listen and engage with fervor.

It had been a very long time since Jack felt the age he’d lost.

Before long, more time had passed than he intended, and Reardon headed to the hall for lunch. Jack wasn’t surprised to see him meet up with Barclay, though Shayla and Wynn joined as well, along with a few others from the washing room.

Jack couldn’t tear himself away, following Reardon from one part of the castle to another. Though others went their separate ways, Reardon stayed with Shayla, taking his cloak to the tailoring room. His excitement never seemed to fade, and he entered the spacious chamber covered in fabric and various things being made or mended, and he made friends there too. He was far from being deterred by the few cold shoulders or distrustful glances he received.

“What are you doing?”

Jack flinched, a burst of icy wind pulsing from his body.

Josie stood in the corridor behind him with her delicate arms crossed and a golden eyebrow raised.

“What I always do when someone new enters the castle.”

“Lies,” she dismissed. “You watch some, yes, but not like this. You trust your people. You trust me and your court to let you know if anything is amiss. You’re supposed to be taking audiences with the prince, not prowling.”

At least she was keeping her voice low, but Jack still slid the stone from his spying spot back into place as he turned to her. “Our audiences will resume tomorrow. I wasn’t in the mood this morning.”

“He’s getting to you already? I’ll have to get to know him better, then. Maybe tonight.”

“No.” Jack stomped toward her. “You know the rules. And make sure everyone else holds to them as well. Not at night. Not yet.”

“Please, Jack. None of your people would dare betray our secrets before the designated time. Two weeks for anyone new.” She rolled her eyes, finishing with a mockery of Jack’s voice, “Only then can they prove trustworthy.”

Two weeks was bareminimum. Josie had pushed for only one once, but that first frozen statue on the lawn… she’d been in the castle six days before her betrayal.

A week wasn’t enough.

“I’m allowed vigilance,” Jack said.

“You like him.”

“I’m keeping my eyes on him.”

“Because you like him.”

“Because I’m concerned and waiting for the ax to strike!”

If possible, Josie’s golden eyes rolling at him showed even more exasperation than her original blue. “Prowl away, then. I think I’m goingto go help the tailors.” She turned to head down the corridor that would exit her right outside the tailoring room’s door.

Jack bristled, but then promptly removed the stone again to watch her knock and go inside, keeping her distance as needed, but engaging Reardon far too pleasantly. She even dared to glance wickedly over at Jack with a wink.

Josie often spent time in the tailoring room, inspecting the newest creations, but she was an awful traitor. She looked as sincerely enamored with Reardon as everyone else, however, when he asked if she’d ever tried making gold thread.

Jack could only watch for so long with his sister there, goading him, but after leaving Reardon alone, he eventually wondered where he was again, and found him at dinnertime back in the hall. Nigel and Caitlin had joined the group, Caitlin the only one who remained frosty toward the prince. Those who had yet to cross his path kept their distance, but more and more people were treating him like one of their own.

Jack and the other court members didn’t go to the banquet hall outside the welcoming ceremony—not until the grace period lifted. If the offering proved to truly belong after two weeks, then they were brought into the fold, not before.

Reardon was swindling everyone after only one day!

It had to be a swindle. Only charlatans won people over this quickly.

Barclay knew him, though—a commoner, best friends with a prince. It made Jack wonder. After dinner, the pair went to Reardon’s room, merely sitting on his bed, talking about their day as any true friends would.

The sun had set, but Jack barely noticed, until he shivered as he stood watching from the same spot he had last night.

“Did you want to talk about something earlier?” Barclay asked. “Something specific?”

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