Page 41 of Claiming Sarah

I gave her a pointed look. “If humans were as good at their penal codes as they are at judging others for their traditions, then perhaps your crime rates would fall.”

“Harsh, but true,” she admitted, and sighed.

The guard returned with an usher. “Abaris will take you to your viewing box.”

We all climbed out of the carriage. Our escort, Abaris, was a handsome young man wearing only pants. His bare chest was not yet corded with muscle—too young yet—but he had the softer version of a muscular body.

He held out his arm for Sarah to take, while his smooth voice flirted, “This way, Contra.”

She smirked at me, before taking his proffered arm. Leda, Omen, and I followed closely behind. We maneuvered through the crowd and up the stairs to the second floor, where Abaris delivered us to a private box. There were a dozen in the oversized arena—I was surprised we warranted one, until I remembered that Rex likely knew we were there.

That thought made me take a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to chase away my anxiety. As I did, I spotted a friend in the seats nearby.Still living, too. A miracle.I waved him over, relieved to see a familiar face. He grinned as he approached. He was my height, my build, but forty years my senior, with wrinkles and a dull blue sheen on his yellowing skin. His hair had fallen out years ago, leaving him completely bald, even down to his tail.

Sarah leaned close and asked, “A friend?”

“A very good friend,” I said. When he walked into our box, I shooed Abaris away. “Tact! How good to see you!” I shook his hand as Sarah joined us. “This is my consort, Sarah Hollinger.”

The old dog blinked as he looked at her, then he smiled like he was unsure of how to react. “Understand, little one, I mean no disrespect, but,” he looked up at me in shock, “you united with ahuman?”

I grinned, completely unashamed. “I did, as well as Jacaranda Cozz.”

He laughed. “You lucky bastard!” He hugged me, his bare and boney tail wagging. “And now you’re in a box seat at the Faithless arena…how did this come to pass?”

“Strange days, Tact,” I said, not sure how to explain things. “Are you staying here now?”

“I travel between worlds, you know how it goes.” He shrugged his meaty shoulders. “And you? Are you living in Faithless?”

“No, I’m here on Halla visiting with my father and handling some family business.”

“Of course, may he find peace on Halla.” Tact bowed his head respectfully. “Your father got a raw deal from the Bateens. That’s part of the reason I don’t stay on Orhon much anymore. I’d rather be in this cesspool of a city than most places on that cursed rock."

"Why do you call it cursed?" Sarah asked.

"I cannot imagine a more terrible place, little one.” He shuddered visibly. “It is rife with two kinds of Ladrians. Those who are treacherous and out for only themselves, and those who don’t do anything to stop them.”

“Which are you?” she boldly asked.

He laughed, the sound gruff. “Neither. That’s why I had to leave.”

She smiled up at him. “I think I like you, Tact.”

“That’s high praise coming from a human. Must be my lucky day.” He winked at her and glanced back at me. “So, Deacon, where is your other companion?”

“Jac will be fighting today. He is being prepared.”

Tact’s brown eyes widened. “Then I should be betting on him. I’ll be right back.” He dashed toward the gambling office.

Sarah looked after him in amusement. “Are all your friends so cheery?”

“Not all. But Tact was my father’s sergeant in the army. I have known him my whole life. Good man.”

She sweetly squeezed my arm and kissed my shoulder. “Nice to know you and Jac aren’t the only ones around here.”

I smiled at her, wishing I felt like a good man. But the closer we came to Rex, the worse I felt about everything. “We should take our seats—”

“Deacon Ladrang, you son of a dreck!” someone shouted behind me.

I whipped around to see who spoke of my mother that way. But I laughed as soon as I saw the culprit. “Cin!”

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