Page 49 of Keeping Sarah

His lips pursed. “I want to be completely sober when we deal with this guy.”

“That is a good idea, though banwine might soften the blow of having to humble ourselves to one of them.” We lifted off, and I ordered the same beverage from the replicator and sat with him. “You do recognize this is a gamble, yes?”

His violet eyes snapped to mine. “I’m not stupid, Deacon.”

“I never—"

“Yes, you did,” he said harshly. “If you actually think you needed to ask that question, then you think I’m stupid.”

I huffed out a breath and tried to think of what to say. “I do not.”

“Then why ask it?” His gaze narrowed on me as he took a drink from his cup.

“Because…I do not know. Perhaps I hoped you had come up with another plan or it would trigger the thought of another option…” I dragged a hand along my jaw, hating how helpless I felt. “Maybe I had hoped it would makemethink of another solution. To be honest, I think I was asking myself the question.”

He frowned. Even when he frowned, he did it handsomely. I was fortunate to have him for my companion—he was far better looking than I was. Less polished, perhaps, but more rugged and masculine. And it came naturally to him. I could tan, lift weights and build my body, but I could never match his raw maleness.

I had made my peace with those differences when we were younger, though my own jealousy did spark now and then. It was a good reminder to not let my body get too soft.

Jac asked, “What are you thinking?”

I smiled at him. “Just how lucky I am to have you.”

The corner of his mouth pinched upward. “You’re trying to distract me from what we’re about to do, aren’t you?”

“Is that so bad?” I stroked his thigh beneath the table.

“Your timing could not be worse,” he said, not unkindly.

Knowing that was true, I withdrew my hand. “What is wrong now?”

“We’re going to ask amagicianfor help, Deacon,” he said gruffly. “Does there need to be more?”

“I suppose not.” I sipped my water with herbs and sighed. “Iam, though.”

He stared at me in confusion. “You are what?”

“Lucky to have you.”

Jac half-chuckled and shook his head. “I’mthe lucky one. Look at you.”

I grinned, enjoying the lightened moment, even if it was only temporary. “I cannot. I am too busy looking at you.”

“Should I guess by the laughter that seeing a magician isn’t as bad as Omen made it out to be?” Sarah asked as she walked into the café and sat with us.

“No,” Jac said, his expression back to being serious. “It’s terrifying and we are trying to find ways to distract ourselves by flirting.”

“Ah.” Sarah nodded thoughtfully. “Hopefully, the magician will sense what’s wrong, kick Rex’s remnant out of my body to help his friend, and we’ll be off before he decides he wants more of my blood or hair—"

“What?” Horror stiffened my spine.

“This guy helped me when I was with Rex. Helpedus, I mean,” she explained. “He thought Rex had full control of me and was doing what ghosts do with the living. He helped us get back to Rex’s manor with magic. The cost was some of my blood and hair.”

“I thought you said they were friendly,” Jac pointed out in a low growl.

“They were—the price of help almost seemed like a matter of courtesy or protocol, I dunno.” She shrugged, seemingly unconcerned while Jac and I were beside ourselves with this new revelation. “So, there’s a chance he might want something like that again, which I’m fine with, but I don’t want him asking for anything of yours.”

I held a hand up for her to quiet down. “Consort,wewill give him whatever he wants, if it will fix you.”

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