Page 110 of Keeping Sarah

“Fine is not good enough. It is an important job,” I said, voicing my concern. “Are you sure he is the right man for the task?”

Jac smirked. “Are you questioning a command I gave my crew?”

“No.” I treaded more carefully with my words. “I am merely asking because this is a critical moment and I need to know Tiger, in his youthful enthusiasm, will not fuck it up.”

“He won’t, Deacon,” Jac assured me. “I trust him.”

“You must,” I said, and laughed. “I cannot believe you are loaning himSovereign.”

Jac looped his arm around my neck and brought me close. “He’s got this.”

“And you have got me, it would appear.”

Jac grinned a silly grin, but his voice was rough with emotion when he replied. “Yeah. I do.”

I leaned against him for a moment, then ruffled the top of his blue hair, mussing it.

Jenny smiled gregariously as she approached. “You two are adorable. I get how the three of you work now.”

Elizabeth, who had not smiled at our interplay, said in a more reserved tone, “I’m still figuring it out.”

“What is there to figure out?” I asked. “We are in love.”

“Obviously. But I mean, thethreeof you.” She looked unconvinced. “I don’t…is that a normal thing? For Ladrians?”

Father smiled. “It used to be. Their union is a bit old-fashioned for us, but I have come to realize the three of them together are perfect for one another.”

“Old-fashioned?” she asked, not quite believing him.

Father said, “I am familiar with some of human history, but I am aware such knowledge is not commonly reciprocated, since your kind do not know we exist. Would you like to know more? Part of my work in the army was to educate our cadets on things such as history and culture. I would be more than happy to give you a primer.”

Elizabeth brightened considerably. “I would appreciate that very much, Valor. Thank you.”

“Right this way.” He gestured toward the path that led around his house, and the Hollinger sisters joined him for a tour and a history lesson, with Silence and the babies following closely behind.

Sarah came up to us, her face lined with regret. “I should have realized Valor and Silence couldn’t move to Faithless with us. I’m sorry. I feel like I dangled something in front of them that they can’t have.”

Jac shook his head. “It’s my fault. I should have picked up on it.”

But I sighed and smiled at my union. “It was a kind gesture from you both, but a good reminder for us to stay focused on the real agenda. Protect Silence and the twins. Get battle-ready. Defeat Justice. Once he is no longer a threat, they can live wherever they want to live.”

A worried look passed over Jac’s features. “With them here and us in Faithless, things are going to get complicated.”

Sarah glanced around before looking at us again, her eyes flickering with an idea. “We can use my old cottage for a handful of conduits to stay here at all times to defend them. They can rotate between Faithless and here, four at a time.”

“I cannot think of a better system,” I said, loving her kind heart. “Thank you, Sarah.”

Her sweet brown eyes glistened for a second, before she blinked away tears. “There is something I need to know, before all of this happens.”

“Anything.”

She exhaled a breath. “Did you tell my sisters anything about our parents?”

My nerves surged, and I gulped. “I, eh, I thought it would sound better coming from you.”

She pursed her lips. “You chicken.”

Jac quickly translated, “She means you’re a coward.”

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