Page 58 of Claiming Sarah

A lie.I wasn’t sure how I knew it, but it was definitely a lie. I smiled sweetly and sipped more of the sweet nectar before asking, “So why do you call us filthy conduits?”

His mouth dropped open in surprise, before he smiled to cover that show of emotion. “Please understand, when I speak of them, I do not intend to imply you, as well. You are the contra. You are above them.”

“But Iama conduit.”

“Aspecialconduit,” he reiterated. “Not a filthy one.”

I arched a brow. “Is that why we haven’t seen Omen around here?”

He damn near squirmed in his seat. “I am not comfortable with them roaming freely in my home, Sarah.”

“Why not?” I pressed.

He looked me directly in the eyes. “They want me dead, so I want them dead.”

I found that interesting, but also solvable. “Why not try to broker peace between you?”

“There will never be peace between us,” he said in a suddenly terse tone. “They do not hate me for who I am—they hateme forwhatI am. A powerful Terian who came to Halla and made something of himself. According to them, I made myself too important, much like the ruler, Justice Bateen, on Orhon. Conduits do not like competition.”

I smiled and sat back, matching his confident posture. “But I am the contra. I have no competition.”

“Precisely why you’re here,” he said.

I shook my head. “No, I’m here because you sent Leda to me, and I do not own slaves.”

A slow, devious grin appeared on his face. “I thought that might crawl under your…” he looked down at my dress’s hem, “…skin.”

Now that I knew Rex better, his tactics didn’t surprise me. “You sent her as a test to see who I am?”

“I thought that would be obvious by now.”

“And according to you, who am I?”

His grin became a shrewd and arrogant smirk, showing me his calculating side. “A beautiful woman who knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. The impressive contra who killed Mother Portend, alleviating much of my stress after that bitch had sent assassin after assassin to execute me in my own home after I had done nothing wrong. And, according to Helios, you are now theMotherof conduits, which surprised me as much as it delighted me.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

He leaned closer to where I sat. “Because Mothers have untold powers, and I like having powerful allies. The enemy of my enemy can be my ally, if she wants.”

“Funny word, that.”

He frowned. “Ally?”

“Untold.” Wanting to prove a point, I raised my hand and watched as the steam of his voice was pulled from his throat and entered my palm. “What do you say to that?”

He tried to speak and could not. Panic flashed across his expression. It was the first time I had seen Rex off his game. His eyes were wide, and when he realized he’d shown a vulnerable side, his alarm gave way to a seething anger that flickered in his gaze, that I’d gotten the upper hand when he’d least expected it.

Satisfied I’d conveyed an important message, I gave him his voice back.

“What was that?” he snapped.

I gave him a sweet smile, but my words were anything but. “Don’t flatter me, thinking that will get you anywhere with me. I’m not some classed girl who needs her ass kissed. I am not a dignitary who needs their ego stroked. Tell me what you want from me and why I should be allies with you, Rex. Do not waste my time with further flattery. And do not call me Mother. I do not like that title. You may call meQueenof conduits.” For the first time, I found myself truly embracing what felt like my destiny.

“Your queendom is rather miniscule, no?” he said, the challenge in his tone unmistakable. “Just the one follower.”

He was referring to Omen, and I wasn’t at all offended by his insinuation. “Things can change in the blink of an eye, Rex.”

“Yes, they can,” he agreed.

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