Page 108 of Oracles Always Win

“ThankMagic,”Gagesaid. “It’dfelt like we’d bonded, but it is good to have the confirmation.”

“Youdidn’t tell me you were worried,”Isaid. “Ithought it was a done deal.”

“Whenwe said those ancient words andIsaw the tattoos,Ithought we’d bonded… but it didn’t happen the wayAdriansaid his bond had.”HetouchedTeague’sarm. “SoIdon’t need to negotiate with him and offer immortality?”

Teagueshook his head. “It’salready done.”

“You’restuck with me forever.”Igrinned atGageas warmth filled my chest.

Fromthe corner of my eye,Isaw the death mage nodding.

Ajoyful smile broke over my demon’s face.Thenhe picked me up and swung me around in a circle.Isquealed and laughed, clinging to him.Aroundus, people hooted and clapped.

“Immortality?”Iasked.

Henodded. “Isthat okay?Iguess we never talked about that, did we?”

Igrinned at him. “OfcourseI’mokay with it.Forevermeans forever, doesn’t it?Butit reminds me of somethingIasked you before.Howold are you?”

“Doesit matter?”Gage’scheeks darkened.

“What?Areyou old enough to be my grandpa or something?”Iteased.

“IsuspectIam a little older than your grandfather was,” he said. “Iwas born in my grandfather’s village, which is close toHadrian’sWall.Ionly mention that becauseIwas born the same year theRomansstarted building it.Mygrandfather used to say it was an omen thatIwas destined to be a powerful guardian.”

“Wha—”Iblinked at him. “LikeHadriantheEmperorofRome?ThatHadrian?”

Hemerely nodded, although the tension around his eyes betrayed his apprehension.Didhe really think that would make a difference to me?

“Youlook pretty amazing for a fossil,”Iteased.

Heswatted my ass, in one of the most playful gesturesI’dever seen him do.Iloved it.Itwas like tethering had lifted all the stress and worry from his life and he could finally relax.Perhapsfor the first time in his long, long life.

“Ican’t believe you lived all that time without finding someone special.”

“Iwas waiting for you,” he said simply.Hissincerity made me light and warm.Thisis whereIwas meant to be, with this man.Always.

“Ilove you.Iam so happy you found me,”Iwhispered. “Sowe’ve bonded, likeAshandDillonorJeremyandAdrian, right?”Ijust needed to make sure.

Gagelooked atTeague, who had been watching us with a bemused smile on his face.Atmy question, the death mage narrowed his eyes as he stared at the air around us.Heshook his head. “It’sa little different, but the results are the same.BecauseGageis going to be both your mate and your tether, theEternalMagicappears to have jumped the gun a little and already tied your lives together when the tethering process was initiated.”

“Butwe have both?”Gageasked.

“Yes.”

Gagehugged the mage. “Thankyou, my friend, for telling us.”

Imarveled over that news for the rest of the night.I’dalready known we were bonded, but hearing someone say the words was reaffirming.

Thestars twinkled brightly in the sky by the timeGageandIfound our way back to his little bedroom.Theothers on his team had either set up tents or gone toLevi’smotel, so it was just us inside tonight.

AlthoughRobbiehad escaped, without a pack, he wasn’t considered a threat any longer.Iwasn’t sure thatIagreed, butIstill had a lot to learn about supes, so maybe they were right.Atany rate.Gagedecided that with the threat from the wolf pack neutralized, his team should get some rest rather than stand guard over us again.

Mystomach swooped in anticipation whenIsaw the bed.Thecovers were still mussed from earlier—something that was probably irritating the hell out of my sexy demon— but me,Icouldn’t wait to make them even messier.

Epilogue

GAGE