Page 87 of Choosing Jenny
Discord nodded grimly. “All of them. He had Rex do it.”
Aphonic’s face crumpled as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Credo is dead?”
“Yes,” Discord confirmed to her. “Justice has grown impatient in his quest for godhood. I assume he thought gods don’t have fathers, or some cruel rationale. It doesn’t matter why. Only that we found the carnage ourselves. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to stop it. And I’m sorry I was not here to tell you sooner.”
I swallowed hard, needing to be honest with this kind woman. “Which means,thatmight be the peace you’re heading for, Aphonic,” I said solemnly. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
She was silent for a long moment before nodding. “He let Credo live there for a few years before he ended him. I suspect I’ll be afforded the same thing. Even just a few years of peace would be a mercy. Far better than this imitation of life. Until you come for me, that is. Once you remove Justice from power, come find me.”
“To rule?” Discord asked.
Aphonic’s laugh was surprisingly soft and sweet. “Moons above, no! I never had any interest in ruling.”
I cast another quick glance at Surge, who hadn’t yet come to. “Then why did your family sell you to Justice in the first place?” I wondered.
“They wanted their name associated with the Bateens forever. At one time, it was a guarantee of prosperity. Before Justice and Thunder, they were a good family.”
“But you said you knew who he was,beforeyou were united.”
She nodded slowly. “I did. I tried to tell my family. But they thought I was still in love with his brother, Volatile.”
She was in love with my father?I gulped. “Are you still?”
“I’ve not seen him for years. We were practically children when we…it was just a childhood infatuation, nothing more—”
“This is a discussion for another day. The one after Justice is dead,” Discord interrupted in a firm tone. “I will make him pay for what he’s done to you, Aphonic. I swear it.”
“Do not get yourself killed on some vengeance quest over me, Discord. Swear to me you will not take unnecessary risks in this fight.”
“But if I—”
“Swear it!” The queen commanded.
Discord did not speak for a few moments. She only scowled. Finally, though, she muttered, “I swear it.” Then she turned to me. “We have to rouse Surge and go before we are caught.”
“Aphonic, is there anything else we can do for you?” I asked softly.
She looked at me like she saw every piece of me, even the ones I hadn’t figured out yet. “You have done more than enough, Prima. I will never forget your kindness. Your actions bring honor to our people.”
I hoped she was right.
CHAPTER 29
Malice
“He doesn’t look good.” The tension and concern inside of me traveled to my voice as I caught the grimace on Longshot’s face.
“His body is growing a new organ, Executioner, relax.”
But I couldn’t ignore my worry. Longshot’s new hand was now just bone and viscera. No skin yet. The flesh was raw and exposed.
Longshot’s jaw locked tight as he hissed, “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine,” I countered. “You look like shit.”
He laughed bitterly. “Back atcha.”
Longshot suddenly screamed, his entire body convulsing with pain. I looked to Noc. The magician’s eyes rolled back as his hands hovered over Longshot’s limb, fingers twitching and cracking with residual energy.
