Page 108 of Keeping Sarah

Sarah’s forehead scrunched as she thought about his question. “No, I don’t…I haven’t had my period since I got here. That’s concerning.”

“That happens for humans sometimes,” I said, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from her cheek. “I’ve heard that their cycles can stop entirely on Orhon, but I’m not sure about Halla. Has something to do with our moons and our gravity, the water, our extended day cycle, all that. It throws off the balance. You should check with Ode before you freak out.”

She cringed. “You could tell I was freaking out already?”

I smiled at her. “Being the guy who stole you from Earth in the first place, I am quite familiar with that look of panic.”

She took my face in her hands and kissed me. “Never thought I’d be so happy to be stolen.”

I laughed. “Never thought I’d be happy I stole someone.”

CHAPTER 30

Deacon

Omen tossed a glare toward Abyss as we walked to our ships outside the gates of Faithless a while later, after breakfast. “You realize I’m going to have to build a whole new foundation, since you ripped my house off, right?”

Abyss smirked. “Do you still plan to live in that old shack, now that the rest of us will move to the city?”

“It wasn’t an old shack,” Omen argued. “It was my ship under a glamour guise, so it onlylookedlike an old shack. And I don’t know if I will move to the city.”

Sarah glanced at Omen with a smile. “It would be strange if the commander of my silverguard were to live so far from the city, wouldn’t it, Omen?”

Omen stopped walking and stared. “You…you wantmeas your silverguard commander?”

Not sure I was following, since I’d never heard the term before, I asked, “Silverguard?”

Sarah nodded and looped her arm through mine as we walked along, with her sisters trailing behind with the rest of the crew. “I thought about some rebranding for the conduits, so people don’t think of them as strictly religious figures anymore,” she explained. “And since they all look intimidating but very pretty in their gray conduit robes, I thought I would stick with the color scheme, while making them sound like protectors, instead of priestesses.Silverguard.” Then she glanced up at me with a bit of uncertainty. “Is that hokey?”

“Hokey? I am not familiar with that word,” I said, patting the hand she’d rested on my forearm. “But I like silverguard. It sounds regal, in some way.”

Before we boarded, she stopped and turned to Omen. “If you want the position, it’s yours. Do you—"

“Yes!” Omen said before she could finish, beaming with excitement. “Thank you, Sarah.”

Sarah’s expression softened. “Think of it as gratitude for always sticking by me.”

Omen bowed her head. “You have always given me reasons to do so, Queen.”

“Okay, ladies, that was a nice moment, but we need to get back to Valor’s because he is probably freaking out right about now,” Jac said as he walked past us bySovereign’sonramp.

“He’s right,” I said before I kissed Sarah, since she’d be flying with Jac. “I’ll see you at Father’s.”

We let my gauntlet driver spin our names to see who got Sarah in his ship, while Omen would transport her sisters. Jac was a lucky bastard in that respect. The trip back to Father’s was not short enough for my liking, but at least I was able to nap on the ride.

After we arrived back to my father’s, I caught wind of what had been discussed onSovereignwhen Sarah came off his ship saying, “…said there was very little fire damage. In fact, Xylicsuggested I could take the manor as my residence, once the repairs are made, but I’m not sure. It’s a big place.”

Jac fell into step beside Sarah. “With a place that big, maybe others would appreciate it more.”

“Like whom?” she asked curiously.

Jac eyed Father, who had just stepped from his cottage. He looked haggard and annoyed as he asked, “And you couldn’t have sent a message to let me know you’re alive?”

I chuckled at my father’s umbrage. “You would have thought any message I sent you was some coded thing, telling you we were in danger. I thought it best you see us in person instead.”

Father huffed. “Next time Faithless is having riots, you message me, got it?”

I inclined my head at him respectfully. “Of course, Father.”

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