Page 22 of Claiming Sarah

He closed his eyes in frustration for a moment and blew out his ire. “What kind of power?”

“Omen is not sure,” I replied honestly. “From what I gather, the test amplifies their innate abilities.”

“I don’t like this,” he grumbled.

I huffed out a humorless laugh. “I did not expect you would. I am not sure that I do, either. But I believe in Sarah, and so does Omen. I think you do, too.”

“I’m not doubting her bravery or her willingness to do this. It’s nothing like that. It’s just that, there are conduits who trained for years for the Motherhood Test, and they still died during it, Deacon.” He gritted his teeth, and anxiety flickered in his violet eyes. “I can’t lose her.”

Dread infused his voice, and he sounded like the boy I remembered from my childhood, making a portion of my heart wrench for him with all he’d already lost. “I know, Jac. Neither can I. Loving a woman like Sarah Hollinger is a dangerous proposition for two controlling men like us.”

“I’m not controlling.”

My brows rose. “Oh. Sure. Whatever you say.”

“You’re a dick.”

“What’s that old Earth saying?” I asked in an attempt to lighten the mood between us with humor. “You are what you eat?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Well done, using one of theirs against me. Next thing I know, you’ll be quoting movies at me.”

“You tried to make me watch one of those once, and I became motion sick.” I grimaced at the memory. “I do not believe I will be trying that again.”

We began walking again, this time quietly as we headed back toward my father’s cottage. Eventually though, Jac broke the silence. “Do you really believe she can do it?”

I gave him a reassuring smile. “If anyone can, it is our Sarah.”

He thought for a moment before speaking again. “Since she’s united to both of us, will she take either of our last names?”

“Huh.” I considered what he was asking. “I had not thought to ask. Perhaps the three of us should form our own last name, like in the old days.”

Jac smirked at me. “Your dad would kill your classed ass.”

“He has other things on his mind these days,” I said, reminding him of Silence and his new children.

“Have they named the twins yet?” Jac asked.

“Not that I am aware.” An onworlder engine roared ahead of us, signaling someone’s arrival, so we jogged the rest of the way to find out who had come to visit. I smiled the moment I saw the other man. “Offhand! How good to see you!”

One of the few living Ladrians on Halla, he had a weathered look to him. His gray and brown uniform was tattered at the edges but was otherwise in good repair. He had not trimmed his blue hair in a few months, I assumed. It was shaggy and choppy in parts. His tan skin’s sheen had an unusual, mottled appearance—green where the suns’ light hit it, but inconsistent.

The elder smiled and nodded at us both. “It is good to see you, Deacon, Jacaranda. I am glad to see you are well.”

“Are you?” I asked, concerned.

He hesitated. “Mostly. I’m dealing with some trouble on my property.”

“The conduits?” Jac asked.

But Offhand shook his head. “Rex Terian, actually.”

My heart froze at the name of the once favored son of a classed family, who’d turned into a power hungry warlord with a cruel and sadistic streak. “What about him?”

The elder man’s lips pursed. “He’s been making noise about what belongs to him.”

“I had heard he was stirring up trouble.” I did not say more, in hopes Offhand had more information than my father.

“Well, yes.” Offhand frowned. “He is running his own city he calls Faithless. It is pretty sizable, too, almost as big as Yesanol.He keeps pushing out the edges, trying to steal more land for it. If he gets his way, one day, it will be bigger than the capitol. Or perhaps it will be all of Halla. I don’t know what his ambitions are at this point, but I’m sure he’s up to no good.”

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