Page 51 of Seducing Jenny
“Oh. Damn,” she murmured, looking startled.
I found my voice once more. “Silence…isalive?”
“Yes,” Tiger confirmed.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “And you didn’t think to tell methat?”
Tiger grimaced. “At first, I didn’t know if we could trust you, and Silence’s life was at risk. And then…things got chaotic.”
“I’m sorry,” Jade added. “Are you…do you still want to be with her?”
“No.” I shook my head. “It was never like that. Silence was a reward Justice offered to whoever pleased him. She and I…we were betrothed—”
“What!” Jade shouted.
“There was no love between us,” I quickly added. “She was gentle and kind and I have always held Silence in high regard. Still do.” Then, realization hit. “She’s with your sister, isn’t she?”
Jade nodded slowly. “That’s why Sarah was brought to Halla in the first place. To help protect Silence and Valor’s child from the ghosts.”
I stared at her, dumbfounded. “All this time…” I ran my fingers through my hair, contemplating the sheer messiness of it all.
That was the one thing none of our reports ever explained.WhySarah had come to Halla, why she was helping Deacon Ladrang, why she had become queen of Faithless. The mystery had angered Justice, but no one could discover those answers. Sarah and her people had done an excellent job of covering their tracks.
“Are Silence and Valor raising their child on Halla?” I asked.
“Children,” Tiger said. “Twins. A boy and girl.”
I laughed, stunned and delighted. “Gods. I must meet them. How did this happen?”
Tiger grinned. “It’s a long story…”
And as he told it, a piece of my heart was mended. I’d never been able to mourn Silence properly. Everything had happened so fast, from her pregnancy confession to her imprisonment had been just a matter of days.
She had been Justice’s source of pride, a beautiful, submissive, kind young woman. But when he learned she’d dishonored him with Valor, his rage had been terrifying. He’dwanted me to execute Valor myself. Wanted me tohatehim. But I couldn’t. Not for falling in love.
When I refused to attend the beheading, or be any part of it at all, I thought that was the end of it. Months later, the council was told she’d died at the hands of Jacaranda Cozz, which hadn’t made sense. He was a known smuggler, yes, but never a killer.
Still, the report had come from Justice himself. No one questioned it.
That lie had haunted me ever since, but now? Now I knew the truth. And that truth was a balm I hadn’t known I needed.
Silence was alive. And I would never have haunting nightmares of her death ever again.
CHAPTER 15
Tiger
“How much time have you spent on Halla?” I asked Mal, as I took control back fromCheesecake. Jade had called ahead to Faithless, then retreated to the captain’s quarters again, citing her headache’s return.
Mal dropped into the copilot seat. “Aside from being stuck on Credo’s island, not much. I’ve never even been to a proper funeral.”
I was surprised. “Really?”
“No need.” He shrugged. “No relatives, no one to burn.”
I ached for him. “I’m sorry, Mal.”
“It’s fine, Tiger love.” He reached out and affectionately ruffled my hair. “Don’t feel like you have to tiptoe around the subject for my sake. I know I can be a little callous about death when it pertains to family. It’s not from indifference, just a lack of experience.”
