Page 100 of Seducing Jenny
“He ate so many, he gained three percent bodyfat,” Discord said.
“I didn’t gain three percent bodyfat.” Mal scowled at her. “I gained a layer of laskies, and it took two months of hard work in the gym to get it off.” He finished the cookie and his eyes rolled back in his head. “Totally worth it.”
“Any word from Longshot?” Tiger asked, as he grabbed a small plateful of cookies for himself.
Surge shook his head, his brows furrowed. “No. I’m starting to worry about him.”
Sam gently placed her hand on Surge’s arm in a reassuring gesture. “I don’t know Longshot very well, but he seems capable of taking care of himself.”
Mal’s expression turned more serious at the mention of Longshot’s absence. “Oh, he is. But the palace has its own way of doing things, and we never really know what they’re up to. Surge is right to worry.”
Sam sighed, thoughtful, then turned her attention to me. “How are you, Jenny? After your seizures, I mean.”
It took me a few seconds to figure out what she was talking about.Oh right. She doesn’t know everything that had happened to me, as well as in the lab with Grass.
I gave her an easy smile. “Better, thanks. Sorry to worry you.”
“Epilepsy?” she asked.
“No, I was dehydrated.”
“You looked pretty hydrated, covered in Surge’s blood.”
We all froze, unsure of what to say to her.
But Sam smiled like she didn’t care. “Look, I know there are things going on here that I’m not privy to, and that’s fine. I don’tmind not knowing. I was hired for my looks, not my mind, and none of you really know me, so why would you trust me? And I know my employment here is on a temporary basis, which is also fine. I’m just glad I don’t have to go back to Earth just yet. I’m not looking to rock the boat. So, whatever is really going on,” she shrugged, “I hope you’re all careful, because everyone here seems great.”
Surge smiled and kissed her cheek. “You seem great, too.”
Sam blushed, eyes shining.
Mal checked his driver, frowning. “No message from Longshot either. Maybe I should go to the palace—”
“After we sprang you from Credo’s island?” Tiger asked, both appalled and incredulous. “You’d go right back at best! And at worst, we’d go with you for being accomplices!”
Mal’s eyes flickered with apprehension. “Whatever is going on with Longshot…it doesn’t feel right, Tiger.”
“Tiger is right, Mal,” Discord said, chiming in. “Longshot can handle himself. If you go to the palace, you’d be flaunting your freedom in front of Justice, and he won’t tolerate that. Not even from you.” She considered her words. “Notagain, anyway.”
Mal exhaled a harsh breath, frustration rolling off him. Discord absentmindedly clutched at the pendant on the necklace she wore sometimes. The pendant was some kind of carved green stone that shone in the sunslight. It looked like an old fashioned scales of justice.
“Your necklace is beautiful, Discord,” I told her.
Her gaze drifted back to me. “It’s the amulet of Enatu.”
“So it’s symbolic?”
She nodded. “Enatu is the goddess of balance. She keeps the world in check, so to speak.”
“And how does she do that?” I asked, intrigued.
“She balances excess with loss,” Discord explained. “Overabundance of crops, she will send a blight. If the crops are dry, she sends rain.”
“She sounds very powerful.”
“That is why I worship her,” she said, releasing the pendant. “All the warlords and their families do.”
“Warlords care about balance?” I asked skeptically.
