Page 46 of Keeping Sarah

“Hey,” she said softly, her gaze not meeting mine.

“Wanna join the party?” I asked her.

“I’m at the party,” she said, as if I were daft.

“Are you?” I asked, knowing I was prodding her.

She finally looked up at me, a flash of annoyance chasing across her features. “I’m standing right here, Jac.”

“Yeah, but you’re nothere.”No, her mind was far, far away somewhere.

She almost glared at me, but then I felt someone behind me and turned. I was instantly relieved.Omen, thank the gods.

“Good afternoon, Sarah,” Omen said, beaming as she took in her attire. “The dress fits you well.”

Sarah’s face flushed. “You and the other conduits didn’t have to go through so much trouble on my account.”

“Nonsense. Our queen deserves the best of everything.”

Sarah huffed at the compliment. “I mean it, Omen. I appreciate the dress—I love it, actually—but this was a lot of work.”

“The other conduits were too cowardly to come find you after the Rex situation, and I think they felt really bad for it, which they should,” Omen said. “So they wanted to do something to make up for it.”

“Oh. That actually makes me feel a little better about it.” Sarah gave Omen a half-smile. “I don’t mind a gift given out of guilt.”

Amusement twinkled in Omen’s eyes. “Then prepare yourself, because some of them were talking about making you a wardrobe as penance.”

Sarah chuckled, and the natural sound coming from her set my mind at ease for the time being.

Omen focused all of her attention on Sarah and asked, “The union. Did it…trigger anything? Concerning what we talked about?”

I frowned, but neither woman explained the meaning.

Sarah looked just as lost as I was. “What?”

“You remember—you told me before—the thing about getting united and how it made you miss your sisters, because it was a small union and not your big fantasy wedding with your sisters there.”

Sarah’s eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared. “I don’t needanyone,” she snapped, then she stomped away.

Omen looked stricken at Sarah’s outburst, and glanced at me in contrition. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I know,” I assured her. “She’s not…” I shook my head. “I’ll be right back.”

I followed Sarah, who was marching toward her cottage. “Wait, Sarah. Hang on.”

“Leave me alone,” she yelled.

But I grabbed her wrist, forcing her to stop and face me. “Sarah, talk to me. Please.” The words sounded as desperate as I was beginning to feel.

She flinched away. “I’m fine!”

I didn’t want to press her on the matter in front of everyone, so I let her go. She stomped away and into the cottage, but footsteps behind me alerted me to someone else’s presence.

“She isnotfine,” Deacon said in a low, worried tone.

“No, she is not,” Omen said firmly, having joined us out of concern for her queen.

When I turned to face Omen, she looked just as dark and desolate as Sarah had. “What is going on? I know you told me the thing about addiction, but is that whatthisis?”

---