Free Sunset: Pact Arcanum: Book One by Arshad Ahsanuddin Page B

themselves, maintaining the highest level of communication and teamwork during combat. Once a link is established, it lasts for life, so most Sentinels stick to stable peer groups.” He glanced at Nick, who was standing impassively at the edge of the observation deck. “Sometimes, when a peer group contains one or more very strong members, the link becomes partially active even while the group is dormant. In those cases, the composition of the team becomes fixed, bound together forever. That’s what happened with the two of us.”
    “Two?” Toby looked at Nick. “You, too?”
    “I would have been a Sentinel if I hadn’t been turned. My circumstances were special, so the link remained even after I was dead.”
    “What do you mean dead?” asked Claire.
    “I’m a vampire, Mom. I died and came back. I didn’t have any choice about it, not until the Grace gave me the opportunity to reclaim my soul.”
    She hesitated. “Do you drink blood?”
    “Yes.” He looked away.
    Silence stretched on for more than a minute as his family processed that information.
    “Nick,” Faith said finally, “I don’t want to sound selfish, but Scott said you only become a Sentinel if you inherit it from both parents.” She glanced at Toby, who was obviously wondering what she was getting at. “If you were one of these latents, does that mean we could be as well?”
    “Yes.”
    Claire’s protest caught in her throat; she made a choked sound instead.
    “I haven’t ever tested either of you for latency or allowed anyone else to do it,” Nick told his sister. “I didn’t want to know. I wanted to believe you’d be safe. But that’s not possible now that we’re in the open. We have to know the truth if we’re going to decide what to do next. Scott can test you for the Gift, if you let him.”
    “Why can’t you do it?” asked Faith, looking from Scott to Nick.
    Nick turned to look out over the white city again and then exhaled slowly, shakily. “Because I still don’t want to know. I can’t bear the thought of feeling the taint of magic on either of you. I never wanted you to be part of this world.”
    “You’re part of it,” Toby said. “Doesn’t that mean we are, too?”
    “You’re human,” Nick said, his voice ragged with emotion. “I want you to stay human. I want to watch you have a wife and children. I don’t want to worry that one day you might die protecting them from the monsters that walk the earth.” He turned to face them, and his expression was haunted. “I don’t want either of you to be forced into being soldiers. That would break my heart.”
    “Do it then,” Toby told Scott. “Test us.”
    Faith nodded. “Go ahead, Scott.”
    Scott came forward and held each of their hands, looking deep into their eyes. His lips moved silently as he cast a spell. Walking to Nick, he placed his hand on his best friend’s shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he told Nick over the link.
    Nick’s face twisted. It was his worst nightmare—one he’d had years to prepare for but never had the will to confront.
    “Both of them?” he thought, struggling to maintain control despite feeling Scott’s mind touch his in silent support.
    “No. Faith is human. Toby is Fire latent, just like you were.” Scott’s thoughts were sympathetic. “I wish I could give you better news.”
    I always knew it was a possibility. Nick closed his eyes. “I can’t do this, Scott. I’m not ready.”
    “Do you want me to tell them?”
    Nick opened his eyes and looked at his family, noticing their dread at his expression. “No,” he communicated to Scott. “ They’re my responsibility.”
    Nick stepped forward, trying to find the right words.
    “We know it’s bad.” Toby took the matter out of his hands. “Just tell us who it is.”
    “It’s you, Toby.” Nick watched his brother’s eyes widen in dismay. “You’re a latent Sentinel, element Fire.”
    Toby reeled backward, stunned. “What does that mean?”
    “The Gift