Page 31 of Abducting Sarah

The entire conversation was making my head spin, as was Deacon’s acceptance of the situation. “Why? It’s evidence of his betrayal of you. Why wouldn’t you want the kid dead?”

“It is not the child’s fault,” he pointed out. “I am loyal to my father. He raised me—”

“Hebetrayedyou!”

Again he nodded, but slower this time. “He did. For love.”

My heart swelled for him. His compassion and his forgiveness were remarkable. But then, I asked, “What about your mom?”

“She turned her back on him at his beheading,” he said, quieter now. “It was the deal she had to make with Justice—if she turned her back on my father, then our family was able to keep our lands and our titles. If she had not, then Justice would have taken our properties and stripped us of everything. I do not malign her for her choice. But I do not have to like it, either.”

“I can understand that.” I thought about everything he had just told me, and it had rattled me. I wasn’t sure what to think about anything. So, I changed the topic. “What happens when we land on Orhon?”

“It will be night, so you will get to see the city lights. They are quite pretty.”

“No, I mean as far as the mission goes.”

“Currently,Sovereignis docked withAllegiant, so once we enter the atmosphere,Sovereignwill leave and head for the royal prison, where Jac and his crew will rescue Silence.Allegiantwill land at my family’s estate, and I will introduce you to my family as Star Qvia, my consort from Yesanol. I have already sent word ahead and they are interested in meeting you. Being from Yesanol is the perfect story, as no one from Ladrille cares about the high society of Yesanol—”

“That seems snobby.”

He grinned. “Get used to it. My cousins might be that way toward you, but I doubt my mother will be. Regardless, we will wait there until Jac sends word—”

“Why go there at all?” I wanted to know. “Seems strange to me.”

“My mother will have heard her son was united. If I do not bring you to her, she will be insulted.”

I smirked. “Mothers are mothers, no matter the species, huh?”

He looked confused. “Yes, that is what makes them mothers.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Turn of phrase. Go on.”

“After we receive his message, we will meet in Halla’s dark orbit once more. From there, we will go to Halla, and your new life as a conduit between the living and the dead will begin.”

Oh, joy.

CHAPTER 10

Jacaranda

The comforting hum of my cockpit did nothing to alleviate my suffering. I could still smell Sarah, still feel her. Those lusty moans replayed in my mind repeatedly. The way her body rolled and moved and throbbed…what should have made for a great pomp only made me twitchy.

I need a fight. Anything to take her off of my mind because she is forbidden to me in every way that mattered.

Part of me hoped that retrieving Silence would be complicated. But I knew that it wouldn’t be. Despite Sarah’s thoughts on the matter, taking Silence from the prison would be easy. The royal prisons were in disrepair, and the guards were underpaid. With Deacon’s money, bribing them would be a breeze.

Why won’t this erection go away and why does it feel like it’s got Sarah’s name on it?

I rolled my eyes at my cock and readjusted in my seat to be more comfortable. I had never been with a woman, human or otherwise, that made me want her moreafterthe sex. The issue was, most of the time, I didn’t get to know them beforehand. But I had stalked Sarah for days.

Deacon needed to know I had the right woman before I took her. I had gotten to know Sarah’s most intimate predilections, her patterns. The way she petted every dog that she passed in the city. The time she bought an ice cream for the little girl who had dropped hers. She was quick with a smile or a laugh. Most importantly to Deacon, she was a conduit. Most importantly to me, she waseverythingI’d ever wanted.

My cock ached in my fatigues. “Simmer down, fucker,” I muttered out loud.

Cocks were stupid. They didn’t know what was best for themselves and being in love with my employer’s new consort was most certainlynotthe best for my dick. It was a one-way ticket to an execution.

“Sovereign, are you there?” Deacon asked on the comms.

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