Page 64 of Claiming Sarah

“You have found yourself with some power, so from one powerful person to another, you may find that compromise works better than shields.”

I had never thought of it that way. As I mused on the idea, Deacon and Jac walked into the dining room, their eyes on me. I wasn’t sure what had happened since I’d seen them last, but by their expressions, it wasn’t good. They both looked…haggard.

Concern gripped me. “Guys, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Jac muttered as he sat next to me.

“Later,” Deacon said, shaking his head to indicate he didn’t want to discuss the issue right now, either.

I huffed, annoyed they wouldn’t tell me what was wrong right then, but I assumed it was because Rex was with me, which had been the source of their annoyance since we’d arrived on Faithless. “Fine,” I said, then flashed them both a smile. “We have some exciting news—”

Deacon narrowed his gaze as he cut me off. “We, as in you and us, orwe, as in you and Rex?” His voice dripped with judgment.

“Sarah and I have come to anarrangementof sorts,” Rex said, his voice dropping to a purr, which I knew was to goad my companions.

And it worked, because Jac glared at Rex and growled, “What kind of anarrangement?”

“Rex is going to help us hunt down the last remaining conduits,” I replied quickly, hoping to keep things civil when both Jac and Deacon looked as though they wanted to stab a bone knife into Rex and kill him all over again.

“Oh, is he now?” Deacon asked sarcastically. “Why would Rex do anything to help us? What does he get in exchange?”

Rex’s brows rose. “You assumeI’mgetting something out of this?”

“I know you,” Deacon snarled.

“That you do, Deacon, that you do,” Rex replied in a too intimate tone before continuing. “You see, the conduits have tried to assassinate me on a few occasions, and if I were to help you…neutralizethem, then I’ll no longer have anything to worry about.”

“We don’t need your help,” Jac said, his jaw clenched.

“Oh, but you do,” Rex countered smoothly. “I happen to know that those loathsome conduit females have built a new temple, one in the swamp nearby. They are trying to rebuild their powers once more, so they may supplant the new Mother—”

“Queen,” I corrected him.

He smiled serenely and nodded once, acceding to my request. “The newqueenand come after me again. They have been operating in that temple for close to a month.”

Deacon leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “And how do you know all of this?”

Rex shrugged. “I have someone on the inside.”

I smiled at Jac and Deacon, but they were less than impressed by the new development.

Jac finally broke his intense stare with Rex and shifted his gaze to me. “Sarah, are you really trusting that he has a spy with the conduits, when Justice Bateen could never get one himself?”

I frowned at both of my men. “How else would he know about the temple? Why would he lie to me?”

“I’m just spit balling here,” Jac said facetiously. “But maybe to get you to trust him so he can get in your panties?”

Rex chuckled. “You do turn a phrase when you’re in a mood, don’t you, Jac?”

“I turn a bone knife even better,” Jac shot back.

A flash of discontent wavered over Rex’s face, before he went back to his usual smirk. “Regardless of your doubts, my boys, I am deeply motivated to put an end to the conduit women who would end me. Seems only fair.”

I gently reminded him of the other part of our agreement. “But, they’re going to have a choice. Right, Rex?”

“Right, right. The choice.” He sighed, leaving me with the distinct impression that he didn’tlikethe choice.

Too bad.I smiled again at my doubting companions and explained. “Rex is going to help us find them, and if they want to fall in line under my authority, then he will leave them to my custody and I will ensure that no harm will come to him from them.”

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