Jinx watched Josephine stare blankly at the holographic screen, a familiar, distant look in her eyes. It was a look Jinx had seen countless times—the look of someone trying to hold it all together while a storm raged inside.
"This?" Josephine asked, her voice flat, devoid of emotion. She took a slow, deliberate breath.
"Let's head back. No matter what, we must focus our minds on our tasks."
A scoff escaped Jinx's lips as she started to walk past her. "Oh, give me a break."
Josephine's head whipped around. "...Huh?"
Jinx kept moving, her tone bored and dismissive. "Stop pretending everything is okay, and stop just going with the flow, it's annoying."
Josephine's voice turned icy. "What are you saying?!"
Jinx stopped dead and looked over her shoulder, her gaze piercing:
"You're scared. I get that. But are you scared about the fate of Sunny and the others, or are you just thinking about yourself?" She finally turned to face Josephine fully.
"I know more about your race than you think, and well... that bite mark." Her eyes flickered to Josephine's concealed shoulder.
"You're lost. Your mind and heart are in a mess. Your heart is different, but your mind is being controlled by that bite mark on your shoulder."
'How... How did she know I have a bite mark?' Josephine's mind reeled in shock.
"Look here." Jinx sighed, the impatience clear in her voice.
"A time will come when you'll be given a choice, and it will be a difficult decision. That decision will be between picking Sunny or picking yourself." She stared deep into Josephine's eyes.
"Who will you pick? You don't truly love Sunny. You're just going with the flow, going with the mate bond. Besides, he's helping you and your people." She turned and started walking toward the starship.
"Can you, Queen Josephine, give up your life for Sunny?" she asked, without stopping or looking back.
"This?" Josephine was stunned, her voice barely a whisper. "What are you saying?! Is this the right time to start this?"
"You're right, it isn't the right time. But you're just being a coward." Jinx's voice was sharper now.
"If I may ask, why did you call Sunny and tell him about Ellen's disappearance? What if Ellen isn't with him? How do you think he'll feel? On the one hand, he's on the way to save his sister, and on the other hand, you told him about Ellen's disappearance..."
Josephine's fists clenched in anger. "What are you implying?!"
"What I am implying?" Jinx looked back over her shoulder, a bitter smirk on her face.
"You already have everything: mercenaries, battleships, the planet, and more. If he dies, nothing will happen to you, and the mate bond will disappear in a few months. You'll be free again." Jinx stopped just before the starship, turning completely to face Josephine.
"What I am implying is that you're being selfish! You need to decide. You must choose. Follow your mind or your heart. And you should know your heart isn't with Sunny... not yet, at least. So decide while you still have the chance." She sighed, shaking her head.
"I shouldn't even mention Ellen... When Sunny just announced she is his daughter, you, as his... 'wife', didn't even say a word. You simply went with the flow because he bit you."
Jinx walked back toward Josephine, her face cold and hard:
"You met Sunny just a few weeks ago! It hasn't even been a month yet! And now you claim to love him to the extent you do? You're following the mating bond! You are completely ignorant, just going with the flow and expecting everything to be okay!" she yelled directly into Josephine's face.
"Let's say you don't want him dead! Let's say you want him here with you! Of course, Sunny is the 'God of Wealth'! Having such a person with you is more beneficial! Have you ever sat down and thought about him?! Instead you're worrying about your place beside him rather than getting to know the man!"
Josephine stood there, utterly speechless, her eyes wide with shock.
"Look here! I know you don't care for Ellen, not even a bit! You are just doing what makes Sunny happy? But that isn't love! That is bullshit! If he is happy, you gain more! Now I ask you this, can you give up your life for any one of them?!" Jinx's voice was a furious roar that made passersby stop and stare.
"I... I?" Josephine was lost for words.
"Queen Josephine... while Sunny is out, you should use this time and think on this question. You might be wondering why I know so much about you... well, Star told me." Jinx turned and walked away.
"...You... can you give up your own life?" Josephine's question was a desperate whisper.
Jinx inhaled, stopping in her tracks. She exhaled slowly and looked at Josephine.
"I have done countless bad things in this life that I've lost count. If I can give my life for Ellen, I will gladly do that. She is the second person in their world that makes me feel like I belong." She remembered Sunny's words to Patrick.
'Maybe there will be a third.' She thought inwardly, but her words were loud and sharp.
"I don't care about that fearless brat! I will never die for him!" She hissed, climbing the stairs leading to the starship.
"Think about my words. You will only be a liability in the future if you don't make a decision. As things are going, my gut tells me the Wendigos are not our only enemies." She stopped at the entrance, her tone emotionless.
"Let's get off this dragon planet..." She said as she entered the starship.
Josephine stood frozen, Jinx's words kept ringing in her head. Other sounds blurred out, and only that one question remained.
'Can you give up your life for any one of them?!'
'Give up my life? What about my people? What will happen to them if I die?'
She remembered Sunny's confident words: 'I won't die.'
'And... am I just following the mating bond? Or am I just using Sunny?'
She stood under the sun, not moving, utterly lost in thought.
'He gave me his blood and resurrected me... was I drawn to him because of what I gained from him? Or because of what I hope to gain?'
She clenched her fists.
'Why... why am I trying to deceive myself? Sunny gave me everything, but some part of me keeps asking these questions: Is he doing it all for me, or is there another reason behind it? Does he truly love me, or is he just using me?' She unclenched her fists, the questions swirling.
'Are these questions the reason why I can't decide how I feel about him and Ellen?'