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12

Lenna

T he Badassery Suite was in full bloom with all the badasses in town.

After Ciaran confirmed that Marcus would indeed provide them with the two navias Hope had requested, the ten habitants had arrived at some conclusions.

First, that they probably would need a hell of a lot of myster to drink in the navias, as well as dice and cards to play CoreCode while they were en route.

Second, that they didn’t have to pack much, as they could Give themselves most of the things they needed.

Third, that they would leave for the seaside where the navias would meet them as soon as they agreed on the remaining key points: who would be the five strivers for the five ordeals, and who would travel in each navia.

“I will get the Core feather,” Hope said, as if it was a decision already settled, and they were not in the middle of a debate.

“I can’t think of anyone more suitable for the Core Cardinal’s ordeal than the heir of the Organ House, to be honest,” Ayla said. “Even if we have no clue about what that ordeal will ask from you.”

Lenna looked at Jake, who believed for centuries that he was the heir of the Organ House—and he was , for however long the Fifth only knew—until Hope was born a quarter of a century ago. Lenna still didn’t know exactly how old Jake was, and she wasn’t sure it mattered much, anyway. Very fucking old, probably. He was very fucking sexy, ruthless, and sharp, too. That was what mattered, at the end of the day.

“Whatever it is. I will get that crystal feather.” The confidence Hope spoke with would have sounded arrogant, were it not because Lenna couldn’t imagine a situation the woman wouldn’t survive. Hope was survival. In its purest, rawest, full-of-blades-and-braids form.

“The Healing ordeal is mine,” Ciaran said. Of course it was.

“Being the heir of the West House, surely the West Cardinal has to give you some advantage in her ordeal,” Sasha said, shrugging. “She would have to be a royal bitch to kill the heir of her own house.”

“I don’t know how tough the ordeals are actually going to be, but if they are as difficult as you two said . . .” Lenna lifted her eyebrows, looking between Ciaran and Jake before continuing, “The more leverage we have in the ordeals, the better our chance to tell the tale.”

“Which is why I will do the Harming ordeal from the East,” Jake said. “No one here dominates Harming as I do, both as a wielder and as a receiver.”

No one argued with him. Except Raoul, who had still been unconscious, they had all seen Jake in action at the Beftac Center.

Lenna pursed her lips, reaching for his hand until his palm met hers. She squeezed it, hoping he would feel everything she wanted him to. The knot in her stomach didn’t come from the memories of Jake creatively Harming dozens of roixers. No.

It came from knowing the Organ Mandor had tortured him countless times with the Red Lawful Stab. And from the fact that what Jake felt when his inner magical balance was tilted was precisely that: pain. Which is why it didn’t stop him from using his Giving and Taking or Harming and Healing unevenly. Because pain was nothing to him.

As distressed and outraged as this made Lenna feel, if anyone in this room knew about Harming and being Harmed, it was Jake.

It was also Jake who stroked her skin, and Lenna just wanted to get this conversation done so she could talk to him, caress him, look at him. Even if all those stupid actions were fucking useless to protect him from being hurt again. She clenched her jaw to keep from cursing the Organ Mandor out loud, as that would sure as the Fifth deviate the conversation for even longer.

“The North ordeal should be mine, then,” Ayla said. “Unless you want to do it, Lenna?”

Both twins belonged to the North House, and even if Lenna had been the heir before, the Mandor had taken her heirloom and passed it to Ayla.

“You’re the Northern heir, Ayla. Plus . . . you donated your South Petal to me, so you wouldn’t stand a chance in the South Cardinal’s ordeal.”

The green eyes of her twin were serious. “I wouldn’t. I can’t Take anymore.”

“So, the Taking ordeal from the South Cardinal is mine, then,” Lenna said. She had mastered Giving and Taking before the other two powers, and she felt comfortable using them. Out of the five ordeals, this would have been her second choice. She wanted to have a non-dead sister, though, especially now that Ayla wasn’t a politically correct, ass-licking asshole anymore. She would have to be good enough at her second preferred option to survive.

“Five panoms for five ordeals. That’s settled. Now, the other question: who must come on this crusade?” Hope asked.

“What do you mean?” Brendon frowned. “You panom lot are not leaving us boring mortals in this house to rot for weeks or months until you come back.”

“Absolutely fucking not,” Sasha agreed.

“It will not be safe for you,” Hope said, looking at Nina.

Indianna shook her head. “Hiding in a safehouse with no panoms that can moure us in or out, without powers for us to bring supplies and food we need, is not safe either. This safehouse is not designed for beings who aren’t panoms.”

“We could leave you plenty of stock,” Ciaran said. “And I could make adjustments to the mouring conditions to enter and leave the house, but then—”

“It wouldn’t be safe,” Hope finished.

Sasha smiled, happily nodding. “And we don’t want to bore to death here, wondering all the fun you’re having but unable to leave these four walls.”

Brendon snorted with a grin. “Exactly. We would much rather end up dead with you.”

“What about you, Raoul?” Hope asked.

“I’m not staying here by myself, that’s for sure.” His blue eyes flickered with amusement. “I would like to be with Nina and Indianna, if possible, as I still need treatments and healing every now and then.”

Jake Gave two floating orbs in the middle of the Badassery Suite. Inside one of them, three miniature figures of Nina, Indianna, and Raoul appeared.

“I will go with you,” Hope said. Lenna wasn’t surprised to hear that. Hope always seemed both protective and caring towards Nina, as if she was her own sister. Considering how concerned she was about the safety of certain non-panoms during the crusade, the closer Hope was to them, the better protected they’d be.

Hope turned to look at Ciaran, and he seemed puzzled even before the dark-haired woman opened her mouth again. “Are you coming with us, Ciaran?”

He put his metallic hand above his heart as he inhaled deeply and nodded. “Always.”

Hope and Ciaran’s miniatures appeared inside the orb with Nina, Raoul, and Indianna’s.

“That’s a very fair split,” Lenna laughed. “Jake and I go to the other navia. Sasha and Brendon, are you coming?”

Sasha squealed, running towards Lenna and holding her arm. Lenna grinned, kissing her friend on her tanned cheek. This would be fun. Perhaps deathly-as-fuck too, but still fun.

Jake Gave the four miniatures inside the other orb, and Lenna didn’t miss the mini Jake touching the ass of the mini Lenna.

“Well, I don’t want to hear Jake and Lenna fucking all day,” Ayla said.

“And night,” Jake clarified.

Ayla Gave her own miniature to the other orb.

Lenna sighed. “Definitely not very fair split. Six of you, four of us.”

“But you will have more courtrades on board than us,” Ciaran reminded her. He was one of the courtrades needed to move the navia and hide it from plain sight.

“And I will bring another reinforcement to our navia,” Jake said. Lenna looked at him, cocking an eyebrow. Jake gave her a reassuring nod. Whatever.

“Ayla, Nina, Raoul, Indianna, Ciaran: we will find our navia at ante meridiem in the North Petal meeting point,” Hope said. “Jake, Lenna, Sasha, Brendon: your navia will be waiting for you at the East Petal. Do you mind letting Marcus know, Ciaran? Or I can send him an ink.”

Ciaran closed his eyes briefly, twirls of shadows spiraling up his ankles before they vanished. “My whispers are on their way.”