Page 115 of Choosing Jenny
“It’s a planet that is constantly at war,” Mal explained. “The people who inhabit it, they would not know what to do if peace broke out. There is no real life to be had on Ostinerr. Only war.”
I frowned and shifted my gaze back to woman sitting across from me. “That doesn’t sound like much of a break, Discord.”
“It’s the best way to blow off steam,” she said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “You land—assuming you don’t get shot down—find allies fast, and hope they don’t shoot you either. Then you fight. Could be anyone. Tourists, mercenaries, soldiers, random bloodthirsty locals. It’s always a surprise. You take their heads as trophies or…other parts. I’ve got a collection in my armoire. Would you like to see?”
It sounded like a real live action video game with gruesome prizes. I quickly shook my head. “I’ll pass but thank you for the offer.”
“Ostinerr is like the real games of Rysenpol,” she went on to explain. “No blunt-edged weapons, no throwing pulled punches. There, they truly honor the goddess of death. When you go to Ostinerr, you fight until you can’t fight anymore, and then you pray to Rysenoc that you can escape. Sometimes she hears your prayers, sometimes she doesn’t.” She shrugged.
That sounded…awful. “The games everyone keeps talking about,that’s what it is? A way to honor the goddess of death?”
Tiger nodded. “The games are fighting tournaments, gladiatorial style. People can die in them, but these days the weapons are blunted to help prevent it, or at least slow down the deaths—”
Mal scoffed. “The weapons are blunted to make sure the games don’t end prematurely. It drags the competition out, which helps the gambling halls make more money.” Then he shifted his attention back to his friend. “Discord, you nearly didn’t return the last time you when to Ostinerr. Are you sure about this?”
“Aphonic said she could not be the avenging warrior queen I deserved in the fight against Justice. So,” she stood up, “perhaps I should be my own avenging warrior queen. If I go to Ostinerrand win enough battles, I could return with my very own army to help fight him. And Iwillwin, Malice.”
He didn’t argue or try to dissuade her. Instead, he stood and hugged her. “Ostinerr will tremble before you, Discord. Of that, I am sure.”
“Thank you. And congratulations on your impending union,” she said to all of us. “I will return before the games, so don’t do it until I’m back, understood?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Mal drawled.
We said our goodbyes to Discord, and with her, Longshot and Surge gone, things were quiet. Until Tiger tentatively asked, “So about that…were you two serious? You want to unite? All three of us?”
I smiled at Mal then turned to Tiger. “I do.” The words felt strange to say, terrifying and permanent, but I didn’t regret them. There was nothing I wanted more than these two men in my life. Forever.
Mal’s gaze softened. “I do, too. If you want to, that is.”
“Yes,” Tiger quickly replied, his voice tight with emotion. “I’ve wanted that from the start.”
A giddy laugh slipped out of me. “What are the odds that the two men I would fall in love with were on an alien planet all along?”
Mal chuckled. “About the same as me falling for a human and an Orne.”
I sighed happily. “I suppose love really is just about taking a chance, isn’t it?”
They both nodded, before Tiger asked, “Had the two of you talked about uniting before you announced it to our ruler?”
Mal laughed and I grinned. “No, but when Mal said it, I knew it was time to say what I’d been thinking for a while now.”
Mal nodded, though his expression turned more serious. “I’d been considering it from all angles, but I was still hesitant, fortwo reasons. The first was, what would happen if Justice decided to hurt either of you, to hurt me? But I decided I cannot be so afraid of losing something that I let that fear stop me from having it. You and Jenny are my joy. I am done letting Justice Bateen take anything from me. Never again.”
“What was the second reason?” I wondered, enjoying this softer side to Mal.
He shrugged, looking sheepish. “I was scared shitless of committing to anyone.”
I snorted a laugh, and Tiger smiled at him. “Big tough guy afraid of uniting?”
Mal sighed. “I have been alone for a long time. Sharing my life has never come easily to me. There will bechallengesassociated with this.”
“Speaking of challenges…” Tiger began, his tone tentative. “What about children?”
They both looked to me.
I thought for a moment and answered honestly. “I want kids, but not for a while and definitely not until Justice is dead. Like super dead, not-coming-back-dead.”
“I’ll kill him myself,” Tiger said darkly.
