Page 66 of Reluctant Rebel

“It’s nothing,” Jinx replied, not looking away from the pedigrees. Her mouth moved silently as she read over the names on the page. Giving her head a small shake, she finally looked up. “What now?”

He focused on her for a moment longer, making sure she was okay before stating with a determined edge, “Now we save as many as we can.”

27

“And it turns out Queen Eronia had an almost identical painting aboveherbed. That’s where Brax found the notes about the legacies,” Jinx said as she made her way toward the training hall with Phaedra.

The pixie had volunteered to escort her because the others were busy getting things set up for her birthday party. She couldn’t believe they were pausing in their search for a megalomaniac to celebrate her birthday. She had entirely forgotten all about it. Birthdays weren’t a big deal when she was a kid, and she’d only acknowledged her last four birthdays because Sabre and Gage insisted.

“Wow. So, the late queen was an evil genius, huh?” Phaedra asked with a skip. “I never did like her.”

“You knew her?”

Phaedra scrunched her nose and shook her head, sending her curls bouncing. “No. But I did meet her a couple of times. And I spied on her a lot. She was a bitch.”

“Sabre is a bitch,” Jinx pointed out as they turned a corner.

“But Sabre is the fun kind of bitch,” Phaedra said with a grin. “Eronia was the mean kind.”

“Well, she certainly did her best to turn one of her sons into a mean bastard,” Jinx muttered as they approached the Horde’s indoor training centre.

“Enough shop talk,” Phaedra insisted, adjusting her skirt higher on her waist and flashing more leg. “Party time.”

Jinx flashed her a knowing grin. “You look great. Draven will be drooling.”

Phaedra winked. “That’s the plan. After you. But remember, this is a non-surprise party, so don’t claw me when everyone jumps out.”

“Everyone?” Jinx said doubtfully. “This is a small thing, right?”

Phaedra cackled. “This is Sabre we’re talking about. Her biggest love language is acts of service.”

“Oh no,” Jinx mumbled, backing away from the door.

“Oh yes,” Phaedra stated, giving her a shove.

Knowing that resistance was futile, Jinx wrapped her fingers around the cool door handle and pulled. It opened with a metallic groan. Darkness greeted her, along with the scent of multiple bodies. She stepped inside, her eyes struggling to adjust even though she was a shifter. “Hello?” she called out, her voice echoing.

Suddenly, the hall erupted in a blaze of light, and a chorus of voices shouted, “Surprise!” Jinx blinked rapidly, momentarily stunned by the transformation before her.

Once filled with weights and weapons, the training centre now pulsed with life and colour. Strings of twinkling lights crisscrossed the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the space. Balloons in shades of deep purple and shimmering silver bobbed gently in the air, their ribbons trailing like colourful vines. A long table draped in a midnight blue cloth stood at the centre, laden with an array of mouthwatering dishes and a towering cake adorned with sparklers.

Jinx's eyes widened as she took in all the familiar faces beaming at her. Sabre, Eric, and Gage stood at the head of the table with wide grins on their faces. “Happy birthday, Jinx!” they exclaimed in unison, rushing over to embrace her. She hugged them all tightly, feeling overwhelmed with love and gratitude.

“I can't believe you guys did all of this,” Jinx said.

“We wouldn't miss celebrating your birthday for anything,” Sabre replied warmly.

“Yeah,” Eric agreed, grinning wide. “Even a plot to take down the royal family.” He winked, making her laugh.

Brax came next, squeezing the breath out of her. “Happy birthday, Jinx.”

“Thank you, Brax,” she said, squeezing him right back. “I thought this was supposed to be small. There must be close to fifty people here. I’m sure I don’t know this many people.”

Brax looked sheepish when he replied. “I enlisted some of the Horde to help set up. And now I can’t get them to leave. They saw the cake.”

“Aren’t you their General?” Jinx asked slyly.

Brax shrugged. “Like they listen to me when it comes to cake.”

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