Page 113 of Choosing Jenny
She inclined her head. “Of course.”
“Longshot.” Justice turned his eyes to him. “I like your plan. Take whomever you like, barring Malice, along with you. You will have whatever ships and supplies you need. Go to Poscou or any other cursed planet you need to, but do not return to Orhon without Buster Dembeck’s and Surge Footwick’s heads. I want them gilded as trophies to mount in my throne room. A warning to anyone foolish enough to challenge me.”
“I swear, it will be done,” Longshot smoothly lied.
“What would you have me do with the Governor Regent of Yesanol?” Mal asked.
Justice made a sound of disgust. “She is Thunder’s girlfriend, which means Haze is her problem. I will let Thunder decide what to do with her. I want no part of their…thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“It is disgusting,” he spat, then grimaced. “When Haze acts out like this, Thunder comes down on her hard, and the pair fight…then theymake up, and I cannot abide the satisfied smirk Thunder getsafterthey make up.”
“Ah, understood,” Mal said, forcing an amused look on his face. “I will leave that family issue to you, Ruler. Is there anything else we can do here? I hate leaving a job unfinished. I feel as though someone should be punished for what happened here.”
“Don’t worry. They will be punished accordingly,” Justice assured him. “Thunder will handle the interpersonal issues of Haze, but I will rely on you to set fire to all of the yesanosh fields outside the city. I’m sure your little ship can manage such a feat.”
“If we do that,” Longshot said carefully, “the citizens will never forgive—”
“What do I care about that?” he snapped.
“Angry citizens bond with your enemies, Ruler.”
“Gods, it’s annoying that you’re so damned logical, Longshot.” Justice exhaled on a huff. “Fine. Set fire to half.”
Mal bowed his head slightly, playing the game. “Consider it done.”
The planet’s Ruler’s gaze then locked onto me. I had hoped to remain invisible, so my body tensed in response.
A devious grin curved his lips. “I hear congratulations are in order, Orne.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. “In regards to…?”
“Your impending union,” he drawled. “Calyx Uonsen is a fetching woman, and the fact that she’s willing to unite with an Orne, well, you should consider yourself lucky. Even if you weren’t her first choice, I am sure you are grateful to your clan master for such a blessed union.”
Calyx Uonsen had been Kapok’s betrothed, as arranged by Otolith. I was surprised to hear her name out of Justice’s mouth, and mine seemed to be glued shut. I cleared my throat to speak, but Mal beat me to it.
“I am afraid Otolith Wakamyn has been misinformed,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Tiger will not be uniting with her.”
Jenny stepped up next to Mal, her chin lifted determinedly. “No, he will not.”
“Oh?” Justice said, clearly bemused by the two of them.
Mal’s eyes flickered to me, before he looked to Justice again. “He will be uniting with me—”
“Withus,” Jenny clarified, her voice steady and sure.
My heart stopped entirely, before it thundered against my ribs. My tail tried to match my heart’s rhythm. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and prayed they were serious and weren’t just trying to get a rise out of the ruler.
“My ward and my Prima are betrothed,” Justice snapped. “And this is how I find out?”
“Apologies, Ruler,” Mal said, not sounding contrite at all. “It is a recent development, and I thought Buster’s escape was more pressing.”
“Nonsense,” he said, reclining back on his throne. He smiled, but there was something dark in his eyes. “We will throw the party of a lifetime for the three of you to celebrate this strangely traditional union.Afterthe games of Rysenpol, of course.”
“Gratitude, Ruler,” Mal replied, with a deferential dip of his head.
“Congratulations to you all,” Justice said, though his voice lacked any real warmth. “I’m off to tell my sister what her girlfriend has done in her absence.” He grimaced. “Wish me luck.”
