Page 9 of Choosing Jenny
“You don’t want me to answer that question,” he tossed over his shoulder.
He was probably right.
We left the hidden hangar and walked through the forest at the rear of Mal’s estate. There were paths through it, but every once in a while Longshot would trail away from us, only to return minutes later. I wasn’t sure why, but he was the wary type, so I assumed he was checking for guards or spies or something.
With no malicious folk in sight, we emerged from the trees and crossed the sprawling lawn toward Mal’s mansion. Being early evening, I was surprised to see Sam at the terrace table. Mostly, we used it for brunch. But she grinned the moment she saw Surge.
When we all stepped onto the terrace, Sam stood up and greeted Surge. “Hey, you,” she purred in a seductive tone.
“Hey there,” Surge replied, his eyes never leaving her.
“Productive trip?” she asked.
Sam was not looped in regarding all of our high crimes and misdemeanors, and in an effort to keep our secrets secret, Surge kept his reply vague. “Not as productive as I would have liked, but still good. And you?”
She hesitated, her smile faltering. “Well, I’m okay. For now…”
Jenny, halfway to the table, narrowed her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
Sam’s lips pursed as she seemingly gathered the courage to say whatever was on her mind, her voice wavering. “Vine, the nice house manager lady, she says there’s a rumor going around that you cheated at Illiapol.”
“Oh, that.” Jenny waved a hand dismissively and sat at the table, while the rest of us did the same. “I can’t control what people say about me, and currently, I have more important things to worry about.”
Longshot nodded in agreement. “Indeed. I will head to the palace to get an update regarding both Illiapol and Malice. Excuse me.” He and Rhonda slipped away with quiet efficiency, leaving the rest of us on the terrace.
Sam looked around. “No Credo?”
Surge sighed heavily as he sat down. “No.”
“I’m sorry, Surge,” Sam said gently. “I know you wanted to help him. Do you think it didn’t work because he was too old?”
I wasn’t sure if we should tell her Credo was dead, but that wasn’t my decision to make.
“It doesn’t matter why it didn’t work,” Discord cut in. “We still have to save Aphonic from the curse.”
Surge exhaled a deep breath, as if preparing for backlash. “You’re not going to like this—”
“What now, Surge?” Discord snapped irritably. “What reason could you possibly have tonothelp her?”
“Discord, I know she’s like a mother to you—”
“You knownothing,” she hissed.
“I know it would be smarter to wait until Justice has her taken to Halla.”
She shot to her feet, her expression furious. “Are you out of your tiny little mind?” she yelled. “Why in the hell should she have to suffer any longer?”
Surge stiffened. “Because sneaking myself into the palace, performing a long and arduous and loud de-spelling, then somehow sneaking her out of the palace is going to get me, her, and anyone else involved killed! I know you love her, Discord, but stealing Justice’s consort from the palace won’t save her. It will sign her death sentence. And I know you don’t want that. So just listen to me!”
Discord ran her fingers through her black hair. It was strange. I had never noticed her blue roots before, but wehadbeen very busy, so I imagined it was hard to keep up with her hair coloring routine.
Her jaw tightened, but she sat back down. “Then what do you propose? And do not tell me to wait until she is on Halla. I don’t want to hear that out of you ever again.”
“Discord, it’s the only way—”
“Then make a new way.”
“You’re being illogical.”
