Page 69 of Keeping Sarah

“Deacon is not boring,” I insisted.

“Maybe not, but he is a stickler for rules and protocols. You will find no such problems for Tantalus.”

I frowned. “It doesn’t matter what Tantalus looks like or does. I’m united to Deacon and Jac.”

Rex’s voice hitched up a notch. “Are you so sure about that?”

I didn’t like what he was insinuating. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m just saying, your aura no longer reads like a united woman.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked cautiously.

“When we met, I told you that ghosts can tell a united person by their aura—"

“Yes, I remember that,” I said, trying to get to the root of his answer. “But how could my aura change?”

“When a union is dissolved for whatever reason, the auras can change and evolve,” he said, much too casually. “Perhaps your newfound freedom here has done it, or maybe they dissolved the union since they cannot control you anymore. I don’t know.”

“They would never do that,” I said, offended at the suggestion, and hating the niggle of doubt he’d planted. “And they didn’t control me in the first place.”

“It was just a thought, Sarah,” he said in a placating tone. “I don’t know why your aura does not read as united. I’m only telling you what I’ve observed.”

Annoyance slithered through me, and I hope he felt it, as well. “We should get back to the manor so we can concentrate on finding our remnants. It’s too noisy to think here and it’s been a long day.”

“Whatever you want.”

CHAPTER 20

Jacaranda

“Istill can’t believe you’re going to Earth without me.”

Deacon chuckled and looked away, though he appeared very nervous about his upcoming journey to Sarah’s planet. “I never would have believed it, either. Not for the first visit. I thought for certain you would be by my side.”

I framed Deacon’s face in my hands and made him look into my eyes. “It’s going to work,” I assured him. “I know it will.”

“It will.” He exhaled a deep breath and nodded decisively. “I do not know what else I could do if it does not.”

“Itwill,” I said again, and smiled. “It’s a brilliant idea.”

Deacon laughed. “It is the idea of a lunatic.”

“You are not a lunatic.”

“Maybe not, but I am crazy about you,” he teased.

I laughed to try and keep his nerves at bay and gave him a quick kiss before releasing him. “For luck.”

“Go on, Deacon,” Omen said as she walked up to us. “I’ll take care of your companion while you’re gone.”

“Thank you, Omen. I will leave you to it.” Deacon walked ontoAllegiantand within minutes, they were off.

“He had better come back,” I said through gritted teeth as I watched the ship disappear into the atmos.

Omen gave me a sidelong glance. “How many times haveyoumade that trip to Earth?”

“Countless,” I grumbled. “But he’s never—"

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