Page 87 of Claiming Sarah

“Not too bad, all things considered,” he said, his tone a bit too smug. “You?”

“No injuries to speak of,” I replied.

Rex glanced at my companion, and I didn’t care for the devious glimmer in the other man’s eyes as he asked, “Deacon, how about you?”

“Fuck off, Rex,” Deacon snapped.

The ghost almost smiled. “What has you so agitated?”

Deacon’s jaw clenched. “You know exactly what.”

Rex tapped his chin. “Hmm. I’m guessing that would be when I took your consort’s body for a spin? She’s much more limber than you might think. You should—”

“Stop right there, Rex,” I warned him in a low growl.

“Oh, come now,” Rex scoffed. “You can’t be that sore about it, Jac. I kept her alive.”

“I’mnot.Heis,” I pointed out, jabbing a finger Deacon’s way. “Just leave it be and keep walking.”

But Rex wasn’t one to pass up a chance to rile my companion’s temper, and a cunning smile curved his mouth as he taunted Deacon. “So tell me, dear boy, are you mad that you couldn’t keep her safe yourself, or are you mad that you will never know Sarah as intimately as I do now?”

Deacon’s hand shot to his bone knife, but before he could draw it, the flock of jem’hora were back. They dove near the three of us and blocked the path. They flapped in place, studying us much too intently. We stopped following the others, because they gave us little choice in the matter.

“Sarah, your friends are back!” Deacon shouted out.

She turned around and saw us, and the birds. She hobbled back to us, wincing with each step she took. “I don’t know if I can control them again. I’m in too much pain—”

“Let me help you.” I moved toward her, but one of the jem’hora moved between me and Sarah, clearly protecting her. The bird’s eyeless face stared at me. “Tell it I’m just trying to help you.”

She put her hand out and the bird nuzzled her palm. After a moment, she said, “Try again.”

This time, the jem’hora moved away, opening up the pathway again. I picked Sarah up, taking away most of her pain, and she quieted down for a moment, closing her eyes as she snuggled against my chest. The birds flew high above us, blotting out the moonslight.

“There, I think we’re going to be alright. But you two,” she gestured at Rex and Deacon, “stop your bickering. That’s what attracted the jem’hora in the first place.”

“Fine.” Deacon sullenly stomped to the head of the group.

Rex began to speak, but Sarah put up her hand to stop him and said, “Not a word from you, either. Go.”

To my surprise, and relief, he left for the middle of the pack.

Omen joined us a moment later. “Looks like your jem’hora are staying with us this time.” She pointed toward the sky.

Sarah glanced up at the black birds and smiled. “I told them to keep an eye on us, in case the drecks were to come back. Or if anything else wants to try and harm us.”

“Smart thinking,” I said.

“Are you mad like Deacon?” she asked softly, glancing up at my face, looking more worried with me than she had with our companion. “About the possession, I mean.”

“No.” I met her gaze, feeling my heart tighten in my chest at the thought of losing her. “You found a way to stay alive. It’s all I care about. I don’t like that it was Rex, let me be clear about that. But I understand why you did it. It was the right thing to do.”

A tense smile curved her lips. “You really do think I made the right choice?”

I nodded emphatically. “Without question, Sarah. We walked into an ambush. You didn’t have a better choice.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck the best she could and hugged me. “Thank you for understanding. I needed that from someone.”

“Of course.” But I turned to the ghost by our side, needing to ask the question. “Omen, why didn’t you offer to possess Sarah, after the stabbing?”

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