Chapter 305 - On the Other Foot *Harsh content warning* (1/2)

Jaden laughed uncontrollably as she tried to keep up with the prince. He held her hand tightly in his as he ran through the streets of the night market. ”You have to stop! We need to go back! It's already been an hour or longer since your guard called!” She panted from behind him. ”Besides my feet are starting to hurt!”

Russ spun around, not slowing at all as he ran backward. ”Then I'll carry you back!” He sent her an overexaggerated pout. ”Come on, this is more fun and freedom than I've had in nearly a year!”

She slowed her pace hoping it would also slow him. ”Then we can come back out tomorrow evening!”

He narrowed his eyes at her. ”Fine, we'll go back IF you agree to go shopping with me tomorrow and let me buy you a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Those you're wearing are just for looks, casual office wear at best.”

”Russ...” She frowned in irritation. ”I already told you-”

He quickly flipped back around. ”Suit yourself. So where to now? We still haven't gone this way.”

”Ok, ok! Please, can we just go back!” She hated the whɨnė that echoed in her voice, but she really was tired and sore.

They had just stepped through the main doors of the Embassy when Peg rushed toward them. ”Thank fuċk you're back! I was just about to call dad!” He grabbed Russ's arm and headed back in the direction he'd come from.

”What's going on, dude? Where's Ry, couldn't he help you?” Russ asked as he glanced back to Jaden, who followed cautiously behind, a bewildered expression plastered to her beautiful face.

Peg sent him an irritated glare over one shoulder as he continued forward. ”Ry is the fuċkɨnġ problem!” He pushed open the door to the bar with irritated force. He then pointed to the other end where Andy was perched on a barstool patting the massive man's back as he sat bent over the counter with his head rested against the bar. ”I haven't seen him this drunk in over 520 years!”

Russ froze in his tracks. ”Wait, no! I can't help you deal with him if he's drunk.”

Peg narrowed his eyes as he studied Russ, all the answers he'd been unable to get from Ry written there, on Russ's stricken features. ”Even more reason for you to help, if you ask me...” He tightened his grip on Russ's wrist and all but dragged him toward the others.

Andy and Peg shared knowing nods as they neared. Andy shook Ry. ”Look Russ is here. They're back.”

Ry's head popped up with a slight wobble from the table finding Russ almost instantly with his blurry vision. ”Where the hell were you?! I was worried sick!” He moved to stand but stumbled back down.

Andy hurried and scrambled off the stool and over to where Jaden stood. She leaned toward the girl and whispered. ”I'm so sorry you have to witness this. He's typically not like this, but he and his 'friend' here in town had a fight tonight...” Her voice lowered even more. ”Apparently about him...” She held up her hand and pointed at Russ from behind the hand.

Jaden didn't say anything as she watched Russ and Peg wrestle the giant man up and fight to balance him. His unsteady focus stayed trained on Russ the entire awkward journey to the room. She felt guilty as he occasionally yelled at Russ for staying out so long and ignoring his calls and messages, calling him reckless, immature, and ignorant.

”Fuck it! I'm not hauling his big ȧss any farther!” Peg growled as he nodded toward the sofa. ”Let's dump his big ȧss there!” Russ didn't reply as he struggled against Ry's heavy frame that seemed to lean more into him. The second Ry was on the sofa Peg threw his hands up as he backed away. ”Kid, I'd love to tell you how I'd love to help and all that other shit, but I don't, I'm not going to, and I don't envy you the experience!” He shook his head as he took Andy's hand and headed to the door. He paused as he was about to shut it. ”If you need any help tonight, call dad!”

Russ's brows went up. ”Is he really that bad?!”

”Yes!” Peg barked as he slammed the door shut.

Russ ran his hand through his hair as he glanced from Ry's slumped-over form to Jaden. ”I'm sorry about this...”

She shook her head. ”There's nothing to be sorry for. As I said, I'm tired. I think I'll go take a shower and call it a night...”

Russ nodded his attention moving back down to Ry, whose eyes were closed and his head was laid back over the back of the couch. ”Yeah, good idea... Let me know if you need anything...”