Page 53 of Seducing Jenny
I was relieved to hear that. “Ode Hrimp, Jac’s ship doctor, who has saved me more times than I can count—she’s the one who did it.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “A doctor? How?”
“She was pretending to check Sarah’s vitals. Just after she and Rex had separated. Ode circled around her, talking calmly the whole time, until she was between Sarah and Rex. Then she slammed a bone knife under his jaw and shoved it through his skull. It was over in seconds.”
Mal blew out another heavy breath. “You’re not just telling me that to soften the blow?”
I shook my head. “No. She did it fast. Ode isn’t sadistic or suicidal, and if she hadn’t acted quickly, he could have, andwouldhave killed her. So I think speed was the goal.”
He tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling. “Rex Terian, first killed by his trainee, then his ghost is killed by a doctor.”He laughed. “Well, at least he doesn’t have to worry about living down that embarrassment.”
I snorted a laugh. “Yeah, I guess not.”Cheesecakesettled in front of the manor as I parked. “Will you go wake Jade, while I finish up here?”
“Of course.”
He left me alone and I prayed to gods I no longer believed in that Mal would not take revenge on Ode. I felt guilty for telling him, but I would have also felt guilty fornottelling him. There was no good path forward between them. I didn’t want Ode dead, but I wanted Mal to know that I trusted him completely.
“Ready?” Jade asked from the doorway.
“All set. Let’s go.”
The manor, which was what everyone called Rex’s old mansion in Faithless, had been repainted a buttery yellow with a solar catch roof that glittered silver in the sunslight. Blue vines clung to the walls, like streaks of sky. It was so far removed from how dark Rex kept the place that I no longer remembered what it had looked like when he had owned it.
I pointed out the east side of the building to Mal. “See that path before the city forest there? That used to be a moat, where my boss Jac almost died.”
“They filled in a moat for a pathway?” he asked incredulously.
“They wanted to keep people safe from the deadly beasts that Rex kept in it.”
“But it’s a safety feature for the residents of the mansion.”
“It was a fucking death trap,” Jac said sharply as he joined us. He folded his thick arms across his muscular chest, looking intimidating as he narrowed his gaze at the man beside me. “You must be Malice Ripper.”
“Jacaranda Cozz.” Mal inclined his head. “A pleasure to meet you.”
Jac didn’t return the sentiment, despite knowing how Jenny and I felt about Mal. I supposed it would take time for that ice to thaw, as well as Mal proving that he could be trusted.
My boss shifted his gaze back to me and Jade. “Sarah’s waiting for you.”
Jac strode into the manor, and we all followed. The inside had been changed more than the outside. Everything was bright and open. Not the stately tomb Rex had enjoyed. Sarah sat in a large garden room like Volatile’s breakfast room, but hers had floral casual seating instead of a dining set.
Sarah beamed up at us and strangely, did not stand to greet us. She giggled as she took in Jade’s appearance. “You’re still Ladrian?”
She bent down so she could hug Sarah in the chair. “Still seems safer to be Ladrian, while the palace believes I’m on Orhon. Are you okay?”
Sarah nodded and smiled, but I didn’t believe her at all. Something felt…off.
“And this must be Malice,” Sarah said, shifting her gaze to Mal, more warm and welcoming than Jac had been. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Tiger and Jenny have said the most wonderful things about you.”
Mal gave her one of his charming smiles that appeared to be genuine, despite what he knew of Sarah’s involvement with Rex. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Sarah. Or is it more proper for me to bow? I’ve not met a human queen before—”
She laughed and waved a hand in the air before extending it to him. “A handshake is fine by me.”
He shook her hand. “Your home is beautiful.”
“Thank you. It’s still a work in progress, but so is everything when you’re rebuilding a city. Have a seat, all of you. There’s so much to discuss.”
We took the couch across from her, while Jac sat next to Sarah, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb absentmindedly. Her belly was still small, but on her tiny frame, it was noticeable.
