Page 78 of Taking Jenny
With Discord’s training, I held my own, but I could feel how much he anchored me, how much he made the world and everyone else around us fall away. As the tempo rose, so did the charge between us. Every unsaid word. Every forbidden thought. My body came alive in his hands.
In Tiger’s arms, I felt desired. But in Mal’s…I felt unleashed.
When the piece ended, he bowed politely to me before joining the rest of the room.
For a second, I stood there, alone and confused. I wasn’t sure why he had abandoned me, until a Ladrian in fine robes approached me. It was then I realized that Mal was giving me the chance to size up the hunters, and this man’s robes were purple with a gold sash. He wasn’t handsome, but that wasn’t because of the balding. It was because he was sneering. He also had the kind of face that was probably born ugly and he’d had to learn to weaponize it.
“Avatar,” he drawled obnoxiously. “So nice to meet you.”
I looked down my nose at him. “And you are?”
“Pleon. I will be joining the hunt tomorrow.” He looked me over like meat on a rack, which I supposed was what he was expecting. “Are you going to be like all the other avatars and start begging now, or will you surprise everyone and maintain this bravado until the end?”
I shrugged a shoulder, refusing to give in to his bait. “I’ve never been one for begging, Pleon.”
His eyes flickered over me, leering. “I don’t doubt it. In fact, I’d be curious to know if you have anything in common with your sister.”
My blood turned to ice, and it took effort to keep my expression neutral. “I beg your pardon?”
“I do not give pardons,” he mocked. “That is Justice’s job. Not that he gives any.”
“What sister, Pleon?” I asked, my voice tight. I had to learn what he knew.
“You bear a striking resemblance to the new queen in Halla,” he said arrogantly. “Since she arrived recently, I can only imagine she brought you with her. When Justice tortures her, what do you think he’ll do? Make her guess how we prepared your meat? Or make her eat it?”
My chest tightened, and I forced a smile. “You seem confused, Pleon. Should I get someone to take you home? Too much whickler?”
The music died between sets. Silence edged the room and all eyes were now on us.
“What?” he asked.
Much louder, I continued, striking out just as cruelly. “Are you the most hated member of the council, or the least consequential one? I can’t decide which you are, but I’m sure you’re one of those. Maybe even both.”
The guests near us snickered and gossiped to each other. Pleon’s complexion reddened, and he glared furiously at me. “I will kill you myself,” he threatened in a dark, heated tone. “But first, I’ll make you beg and—”
I rolled my eyes, feigning boredom. “Can we please get to the trial, so I can put you out of your misery?”
“You watch your tone, Avatar!” he hissed, eyes narrowed. “Or I will—”
“Bore me some more?” I asked, arching a brow.
His face twisted with rage. “I have killed two avatars in the past ten years, little girl. Strangled them. There is nothing like watching the light fade from someone’s eyes as she chokes on the last bit of air in her lungs.” He stepped closer, invading my personal space. “Don’t worry, I will make sure not to crush you when I do it. I’ve been practicing on other humans this week, so I know how to make it last.”
Bile rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down, replacing it with a cold, cutting smile. “No, you’re the kind of man who is too quick to satisfy anyone.”
He drew back to strike me, but another hunter caught his fist. “Pleon, you know the rules. You hit her now, and you’re not on the hunt tomorrow.” He smiled flirtatiously at me, then grimaced at Pleon. “Because you’ll bedead.”
“Ooh, please let him hit me,” I teased.
The new guy laughed, but Pleon was less than amused. He shook the new guy off and stomped away. “I’m Craven Filliate,” he introduced himself. “And you, Avatar, are an unusual woman.”
“Oh?” I asked, just as the music finally started again.
“Bold. Unwise. Quite possibly suicidal.” He inclined his head. “It’s rather foolish not to mind your tongue or your manners when in the enemy stronghold, and I have yet to see you do otherwise.”
I shrugged. “Foolish is the same as brave in the wrong circumstances.”
“Well put.” He held out a hand to me. “Care to dance?”
