Page 86 of Choosing Jenny
The confirmation made my stomach lurch. “So, everything everyone has been saying about Justice is true?”
Aphonic rubbed her fingers across her forehead. “Quite likely, though I’ve been down for a spell, so I cannot confirm other rumors.”
Discord stepped forward, her eyes sharpening with purpose. “I don’t know how much time we have left before Noc senses the curse is broken—if he can. But I do know one thing.” She looked straight into Aphonic’s eyes. “We’re going to kill Justice.”
Panic flashed across Aphonic’s face. “You can’t. He’ll just have Noc—”
“We’re working on that problem,” Discord said, cutting her off. “But it shouldn’t be me who executes him when the time comes, as much as I want to. I want that honor to go to you, Aphonic.Youshould be the one to exact whatever revenge you want on him. You have more than earned it.”
“I can’t do that—”
Discord wasn’t deterred, and I could see the vengeance glimmering in her eyes. “I will train you. I will make certain you have all the knowledge and strength and weapons. If you want me to help you do it, I am more than happy to do so.”
“I do not mean it that way, Discord,” Aphonic said firmly, despite her weakened state. “I know what my companion is. I know what he is capable of. He’s always been…a challenge. When my family sold my union rights to his family—”
“Um, what?” I blurted, unable to keep my mouth shut after hearing that.
Aphonic offered a polite smile. “It is a very old custom which has fallen out of favor with most families.”
Thank god.“That sounds…awful.”
“Because it is.” Her voice remained calm, but her words held weight. “As I was saying, I knew who and what Justice was but I had no choice in the matter. Even after Thunder tried to kill me, leaving was never an option for me. If I had left, Justice would have been within his rights to do whatever he wanted to me.”
I was stunned into silence as she continued.
“Execution would have been a mercy. Justice owned me, and his creativity is nightmarish. Compared to what he was capable of, this curse has been a pleasant dream.”
She cleared her throat like she could erase the horror that had just slipped out. “Which is why, since I was cursed, I’ve looked forward to living out my days on Credo’s island on Halla.”
Which explained why Aphonic had not looked happy when her ghost returned to her body.
“You can’t be serious,” Discord said, her tone dismayed.
“I am tired, Discord.” Aphonic sighed, emphasizing the point. “I’m not the sort of person who can do what you do. I do not have violence within myself—”
Discord grabbed her hand. “But you can learn—”
“I do notwantto learn it.” Aphonic’s voice trembled but she remained firm. “To feel that level of coldness…if I allowed it to root inside me, it would consume every part of me. I cannot accept your gift, Discord. I am sorry I cannot be the avenging warrior queen you deserve. I want peace. Not vengeance.”
A tear tumbled down Discord’s cheek. “After everything Justice has put you through, I thought…you would want that.”
The disappointment in Discord’s voice was crushing. It thickened the air, heavy and suffocating. I found it difficult to breathe around the weight of both of their grief.
Aphonic squeezed Discord’s hand, looking at her with such affection it hurt to witness. “I am, and will forever be, grateful to you and to your friends for what you risked to help me. I remain in awe of you, Discord. You have always made me so proud of you, and once again, you are my savior.”
“Once again?” I asked, my voice cracking at the thought.
Aphonic turned her head toward me and smiled. “When Justice had me beaten, Discord slaughtered the guards who had done the beating, then nursed me back to health.”
I had heard the story before, but it was hard to think of Discord nursing anything aside from a hangover.
Discord’s voice dropped. “Then…what will you do?”
The older woman sighed deeply, as if that breath carried a lifetime of sadness. “Credo’s island is the only safe haven left to me. Unless Noc knows the curse was broken, I’ll feign catatonia and let them send me there. I will live out my days with that kind man, Credo, far from my companion.”
Of course she doesn’t know.The memory of what we had found in Credo’s island home flashed in my mind, and the knot in my gut grew. That was something Aphonic needed to know. “Justice had Credo and his caretakers slaughtered.”
“What?” she gasped, her hand pressing to her throat.
