Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Deacon

A fter we all showered and cleaned up, Sarah crawled back onto the bed and was out cold, exhaustion claiming her. I met Jac’s gaze and nodded to the door. We left her to sleep and went for a walk in the forest near my father’s cottage.

“We did not have a chance to discuss things privately before the union,” I pointed out, “and I feel I should have asked you about it in private, first. For this, I apologize. I—”

“Stop.” Jac chuckled and stood still so he could face me. “Just stop. I can’t tell you how happy I am about all of this. I don’t know if there are words for it.”

My heart and mind were at ease from his words. “You mean that?”

“I do. More than you know.”

“I am happy, as well,” I admitted freely. “I love you and I love Sarah. Being united with both of you is something I would have never thought possible—it never would have occurred to me to even ask for it.”

He tipped his head curiously. “So, this really was Sarah’s idea?”

I nodded. “She brought it up. I had no influence on the matter in that regard.”

“Damn.” Jac smiled handsomely. “She is full of surprises.”

We walked on, following a dirt pathway. “Speaking of surprises, there is one in particular that I wish to keep you informed of, since it is in regards to our consort.”

“Okay.”

I exhaled a breath. “Given that she is the last living conduit that we know of—wait, how did your mission with Volatile go?”

“He gave me a partial list of his children,” Jac said, his annoyance clear in his voice. “He wants to know I mean his children no harm, so the list consists of his older children. Those he believes can defend themselves, just in case I am being nefarious. Which I understand, considering Volatile thought I came to his island to assassinate him.”

Surprise rippled through me. “Are you serious?”

Jac speared his hand through his loose hair. “Yes. He was under the impression that you are hunting Bateens, and that I had murdered Silence in prison.”

“Moons above,” I exclaimed, shaking my head incredulously. “How did you clear up the misunderstanding? Did he hurt you? Threaten you—”

Jac gave me a wry smile. “He didn’t so much threaten me as we had a discussion while he held a Doxunon aimed at me.”

I grimaced. “I believe that qualifies as a threat.”

He shrugged, nonplussed. “I get it. If I were him, I would have worried about the same thing. But we discussed everything, and he seems to see reason. Mostly.”

I frowned but understood Volatile’s concern. “Very well then. It is likely we won’t need his other children anyway. As I was saying, since Sarah is the last living conduit we know of, and Omen is understandably convinced she is the contra, Sarah wants to take a test. The conduit test of Motherhood.”

Jac’s gaze narrowed at me. “I thought that was dangerous.”

“It is, but—”

“Nope.”

“Jac, we must be open to—”

“Nope.”

I touched his shoulder, but he shrugged me off, anger bristling off him in waves. “Jac, this must be open for discussion.”

He stopped and spun around on me. “I will not discuss anything that is going to put Sarah at risk, Deacon,” he said heatedly. “Never again. Case closed. I can’t believe you , of all people, would be okay with her doing something like that.”

“Why me of all people ?”

“Between the two of us, you are the cautious one. I’m the rebel who goes off, half-cocked.”

I smiled at his characterization for each of us. “Perhaps that is the past, and we have traded roles.”

“Don’t get cute with me,” he snapped irritably. “I am dead serious. She can’t do it.”

“Do you lack faith in our consort?”

His jaw clenched as he shot daggers at me with his eyes. “How dare you say that to me.”

I tried to remain reasonable when he was being anything but. “It is only a question, brought on by your refusal to even address the topic.”

“Fine, you want me to address it?” He came to an abrupt halt once again, forcing me to do the same, and jammed his hands on his hips as he glared at me. “Here goes—I’m not willing to risk Sarah’s life on if’s and maybe’s and some mystical whatever. I am not sure why you are.”

“She stole my voice, Jac.”

He frowned. “Yeah, when we were talking before she left for Earth—she stole both our voices,” he reminded me.

I shook my head. “She did it again . When she first arrived and we were having sex, during the act, she stole my voice accidentally.”

Jac took a beat to think. “That doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”

“Ode Hrimp had told us that she likely only borrowed Silence’s power to steal voices from the blood transfusion after the battle, but if that were the case, then it should have left her body by now. She didn’t borrow it—she owns it now,” I pointed out. “And Silence can still steal voices—I asked her. So, Sarah did not steal the power, either. It is simply that she can do it now, irregardless of the transfusion. If she could no longer do it, then I would agree with you that this is, at best, a guess at her abilities. But the fact that she can still steal voices tells me that she is more powerful than anyone thought, and that likely means she is the contra. The conduit to end conduits.”

His brow furrowed as he became angrier. “I don’t care what the conduits want her for, Deacon, I want her for us . Why do we have to add this stuff with the faith into the mix?”

“It is a part of who she is, Jac,” I said, trying to get through to him and past his fears. “I do not believe we can divorce one from the other. Yes, the Mother Test is dangerous, but Omen says she will reap significant power that will help to keep her safer, should the other conduits try to stir up trouble again.”

He closed his eyes in frustration for a moment and blew out his ire. “What kind of power?”

“Omen is not sure,” I replied honestly. “From what I gather, the test amplifies their innate abilities.”

“I don’t like this,” he grumbled.

I huffed out a humorless laugh. “I did not expect you would. I am not sure that I do, either. But I believe in Sarah, and so does Omen. I think you do, too.”

“I’m not doubting her bravery or her willingness to do this. It’s nothing like that. It’s just that, there are conduits who trained for years for the Motherhood Test, and they still died during it, Deacon.” He gritted his teeth, and anxiety flickered in his violet eyes. “I can’t lose her.”

Dread infused his voice, and he sounded like the boy I remembered from my childhood, making a portion of my heart wrench for him with all he’d already lost. “I know, Jac. Neither can I. Loving a woman like Sarah Hollinger is a dangerous proposition for two controlling men like us.”

“I’m not controlling.”

My brows rose. “Oh. Sure. Whatever you say.”

“You’re a dick.”

“What’s that old Earth saying?” I asked in an attempt to lighten the mood between us with humor. “You are what you eat?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Well done, using one of theirs against me. Next thing I know, you’ll be quoting movies at me.”

“You tried to make me watch one of those once, and I became motion sick.” I grimaced at the memory. “I do not believe I will be trying that again.”

We began walking again, this time quietly as we headed back toward my father’s cottage. Eventually though, Jac broke the silence. “Do you really believe she can do it?”

I gave him a reassuring smile. “If anyone can, it is our Sarah.”

He thought for a moment before speaking again. “Since she’s united to both of us, will she take either of our last names?”

“Huh.” I considered what he was asking. “I had not thought to ask. Perhaps the three of us should form our own last name, like in the old days.”

Jac smirked at me. “Your dad would kill your classed ass.”

“He has other things on his mind these days,” I said, reminding him of Silence and his new children.

“Have they named the twins yet?” Jac asked.

“Not that I am aware.” An onworlder engine roared ahead of us, signaling someone’s arrival, so we jogged the rest of the way to find out who had come to visit. I smiled the moment I saw the other man. “Offhand! How good to see you!”

One of the few living Ladrians on Halla, he had a weathered look to him. His gray and brown uniform was tattered at the edges but was otherwise in good repair. He had not trimmed his blue hair in a few months, I assumed. It was shaggy and choppy in parts. His tan skin’s sheen had an unusual, mottled appearance—green where the suns’ light hit it, but inconsistent.

The elder smiled and nodded at us both. “It is good to see you, Deacon, Jacaranda. I am glad to see you are well.”

“Are you?” I asked, concerned.

He hesitated. “Mostly. I’m dealing with some trouble on my property.”

“The conduits?” Jac asked.

But Offhand shook his head. “Rex Terian, actually.”

My heart froze at the name of the once favored son of a classed family, who’d turned into a power hungry warlord with a cruel and sadistic streak. “What about him?”

The elder man’s lips pursed. “He’s been making noise about what belongs to him.”

“I had heard he was stirring up trouble.” I did not say more, in hopes Offhand had more information than my father.

“Well, yes.” Offhand frowned. “He is running his own city he calls Faithless. It is pretty sizable, too, almost as big as Yesanol. He keeps pushing out the edges, trying to steal more land for it. If he gets his way, one day, it will be bigger than the capitol. Or perhaps it will be all of Halla. I don’t know what his ambitions are at this point, but I’m sure he’s up to no good.”

Gods, why now? “He is encroaching on your property?” I asked.

“His goons keep coming by. I don’t think he’s ready to make a move on me yet, just making noise. You know his type—always looking for more than what he should have.” Offhand huffed and kicked the dirt. “Damned Terians.”

“The rest of the Terians aren’t so bad,” Jac pointed out. “Just Rex.”

“As you say,” Offhand dismissed. “I was wondering if your father had heard anything. Thought I’d stop by.” He gestured to his rucksack. “Got some presents for the twins.”

“I am sure your visit will be welcome, Offhand,” I said with a smile and waved toward my father’s cottage. “Do not let us keep you from it.”

He nodded before he left to knock on Father’s door.

Quietly, and with concern in his voice, Jac asked, “What are we going to do about this new bit of information?”

I understood his worry about Rex trying to gain even more power, because it matched my own. “We make sure Sarah is well-prepared for the Mother Test.”

“With Rex now in the mix, you don’t think we should focus on that?”

“The best preparation will be to ensure Sarah is strong enough to deal with Rex, as well. It is the only way,” I said firmly. Because if Rex ever discovered the depth of Sarah’s powers, he’d set his sights on her.

Jac exhaled a harsh sigh. “I trust you on this. You knew him better than I did. We will get Sarah ready for whatever lies ahead, even if that means the damned Motherhood Test.”

I nodded and we walked toward my ship. My confidence in my plan was little more than a mask. With Rex Terian around, I had no idea what was in store for any of us.