Page 76 of Claiming Sarah

“Petty?”

I tried to explain. “I just mean, there’s so much going on that’s so much more important, and I shouldn’t let my jealousy get in the way of my union with Deacon and Jac, right?”

“I do understand,” Omen said, sympathy lacing her tone. “You miss your family. Perhaps after all of this is over, you can go to visit with them.”

Just knowing that was a possibility, I smiled instantly. “That’s a great idea. I should do that.”

She smiled, too. “And, whatever we face ahead of us, Sarah, know that no torture will happen in your name, I promise. Not from me, anyway.”

I winced. “You noticed I was uncomfortable with the whole torture thing, huh?”

“Your foot has not stopped tapping since it was brought up.”

I immediately stilled my foot. “Sorry.”

CHAPTER 23

Jacaranda

“The swamp is too tight near the temple for you to park this ship there,” Rex advised, pointing to the map in the café. “We would do best to park here and walk the rest on foot.”

“Why are you trying to separate us from my ship, Rex?” Deacon asked, his defenses already high.

“Because your ship is too big to park between the tight trees by the temple,” Rex said in a reasonable tone, before adding, “You know, you were better at following orders when you were younger.”

Deacon seethed. “I don’t take orders onmyship.”

“You were good at following orders, save for one—”

“Deacon.” I stepped in, already tired of their verbal cock fight and we’d only just arrived. “Rex is right. Look at the map.”

I pointed to the alleged location of the conduit temple. It was invisible from the overhead, due to the trees, or so Augur had told us. Whether I trusted her information was up for debate.

“There’s no way we’re needlingAllegiantthrough all of that,” I said, trying to be the voice of reason. “Drift is a great pilot, but he can’t make trees disappear from our path.”

Deacon visibly gritted his teeth. “Fine.”

Deacon left to speak to Drift about the new plan of action. Not that he needed to leave—he could have called him on comms, but I assumed he wanted separation between himself and Rex.

“Are you sure I’m going to need all this gear?” Sarah asked about her rucksack. “How long is the walk to the temple from where we’re parking?”

“Two hours, tops,” Augur said. “Less, if the swampfolk don’t bother us.”

“Swampfolk?” Sarah asked, her eyes bugging out at the word.

Omen jumped in to explain. “The creatures in the swamp, whatever they might be. There’s swampfolk, waterfolk, airfolk, it’s all conduit shorthand for that which lives in a specific environment.”

I hadn’t spent much time in swamps, so I was curious. “Augur, what kind of swampfolk should we expect?”

“Could be anything.” Augur shrugged. “Could be nothing. Though, if you hearnothing, run. Run, and don’t look back. Ever. Same if you ever see me running.”

Sarah’s brows leapt for her hairline at Augur’s unhelpful description. “Oh. Goody.”

Based on Rex’s suggestion, Drift opted to park near the edge of a wet forest. When the cargo bay door opened, the stink hit first. It permeated everything, like the stench had a mind of its own and was coming for our bones.

I couldn’t stop from wrinkling my nose in disgust. “Augur, does that smell right?”

She smiled and breathed deep. “Home sweet home. Come on.”

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