Page 56 of Choosing Jenny
I could see the mystified look on Longshot’s face. “That power…is that how you were able to steal Silence’s gift? You can just…take or control, whatever you need?”
“Noticed that, did you?” Sarah’s cheeks flushed a pretty shade of pink. “It was an accident, actually. I don’t know how much you know of our family—”
Deacon squeezed her hand. A warning.
But she held his gaze and pushed gently. “If we can’t trust them by now, who can we trust?”
His hand relaxed around hers and the tension eased from his stiff shoulders. “You are right. Apologies.”
She turned back to us. “Me, Jenny and Elizabeth—our father is Volatile Bateen.”
Discord dropped her coffee cup, spilling the contents in all directions.
Longshot raised his eyebrows, his shock genuine. “Is that how you and your sisters are conduits?”
“It seems likely, doesn’t it?” She shrugged. “Anyway, there was a battle, and I came close to death—”
Deacon beamed down at her, the pride in his eyes mistakable. “She cut her own throat to be able to kill the leader of our enemies. It was the bravest thing I have ever seen anyone do.”
She blushed again. “Anyway, Silence was kind enough to share her blood with me after that near death experience. Apparently blood types travel in families here, I guess.That’show I was able to get her power, Longshot. I took nothing from her. It was a gift.” She paused, then smiled. “An accidental one.”
He visibly relaxed. “So you cannot simply subsume powers?”
“No, not to my knowledge…” Her gaze narrowed on him. “Wait, you thought I could take powers the way I took Rex into me?”
He nodded. “The thought had occurred to me.”
“Well, rest easy, Longshot. I can’t do that.”
I wondered if she had ever really tried.
“Good to know,” Longshot said.
She studied him for a moment. “Doyouhave a power?”
He went completely still, and even Rhonda seemed to tense. “I prefer not to discuss what I can and cannot do.”
“That’s fine. I get it. If no one knows what you’re capable of, you remain unpredictable. A little mystery is good for everyone.” She smiled graciously at Longshot. “But on that note, your plan for getting rid of Justice is not as good as Discord’s plan.”
Longshot and I both frowned and turned to Discord, who was attempting to make another cup of coffee. The spill had been cleaned by the ship’s automated floor cleaning system, but Discord was at her wit’s end with the printer.
“This isnotcoffee,” she groused.
“You can tell it more or less bitter,” Deacon advised.
She sighed. “I did. Maybe it’s not the printer. Maybe it’s me.” She came back to the table with water with herbs instead. “I am not entirely myself right now, but that didn’t stop me from coming up with a better plan thansuicide.” She glared at Longshot. “Tell me why you think you’re the best candidate for our assassin.”
He easily ticked off the reasons. “Justice trusts me. I am on the council, which gives me plenty of opportunity. I have known Justice since we were young. He will never see it coming.”
“That is why my plan is better.” A sly smile curved her lips. “Because he will never see it coming in a million lifetimes.”
Longshot arched a brow. “Pray tell.”
“Once Surge heals Aphonic,” she said casually, “I’m going to train her surreptitiously.”
“You think Aphonic can kill him?” I asked her, not convinced.
“As I said, he will never see it coming.” She flashed a devious grin. “Particularly if we can keep her being healed a secret. Let Justice believe she’s a catatonic nothing, right until she shoves a knife into his eye.”
