Page 110 of Oracles Always Win

“Thething is…Therewill still be lots of empty rooms, even with my team.”Ileaned forward and watched them carefully. “Sowe’re thinking of opening it up to people who need sanctuary.Jakemight offer some art classes in the dining hall.AndI’dlike to create a bit of an art gallery in the foyer to showcaseJake’swork too.Butit is early days yet.Nothingis settled.Twoof the supes we saved from those cages have asked to stay.They’rewilling to help get things going.”

“Soit won’t be an inn?”Vanasked.

“Notin the traditional sense.”Ishook my head. “AlthoughIgot the sense it hasn’t really been an inn for a long time, so this isn’t that much of a change.”

Haydenlifted his eyebrow, then glanced atVan. “Didyou know about this?”

“No.FirstI’veheard of it.”

“Well,I’mtelling you both now,”Isaid. “Doyou have a problem with our plan?”Iasked the question, butIdidn’t really care.Ididn’t need their blessing, but it would be easier to do if they didn’t stand in our way.

“It’sa bit hypocritical, don’t you think?”Haydenmuttered. “Notto offer refuge to the peopleRobbiecontrolled when you plan on setting up a sanctuary?”

Ihuffed.I’dknown he’d say that. “I’mtelling you, the adults who lived out there weren’t innocent.Noneof them.Doyou want to separate the kids from their parents?Becausethose are the only onesIcould tolerate inWillowLake.”Ileaned back in my chair. “Ihadn’t planned on saying anything, but you knowIcan see people’s wishes, right?”

“Likeread their minds?Fuck.No,Ididn’t know that.”Haydenscowled.

“Isee people’s greatest wishes.”

Heblinked.Itwas easy to see what he was thinking, andIwanted to say—yes,Hayden,I’veseen your greatest wish.ButIrefrained.Hisface paled, but he rallied quickly. “Whyare you telling me this?”

“Becauseall any of those people are wishing is that they don’t get caught and punished for the shit they’ve done.”

Hayden’smouth gaped and his shoulders slumped.

“Fuck,”Vanmuttered.Herubbed his forehead. “I’mgoing to pretendIdidn’t hear that.I’mgoing to hope they take this second chance they’ve been given and make a better life for themselves.Somewhereelse.”

Haydendowned the rest of his beer and pushed his glass away.Thenhe got up and left the pub without another word.

Pawsjumped into the seatHaydenhad abandoned. “Thatwerewolf takes too much blame on himself.Robis an ass and so are all the rest of them.”Heflicked his tail back and forth.

Vanheaved out a breath but didn’t disagree.

“Sincethe bet aboutJakegetting his magic sorted is finished, we should make a new one,”Pawssaid, louder than was necessary if he was just talking toVanand me.Histail flicked back and forth, and his eyes gleamed. “Wecan place bets on whenHaydenfinally accepts he is the alpha.”

Vanrolled his eyes, but the people at the next table immediately started discussing how much each guess should cost and how they’d make sureHaydendidn’t find out.Iswore the cat grinned, happy with himself.

“Whoended up getting the money from the bet aboutJake?”Iasked.

Pawsflicked his tail aggressively.

“Youdidn’t tell him yet?”Vanasked, obviously amused by the cat’s attitude.

“Fine,”Pawsgrumbled. “Wedecided to give it toJaketo help with the cost of fixing the inn.Itwas stupid to have kept the bet going after we knew he was an oracle.Oraclessee the future.They’realways going to win.”

Ilaughed and reached over to scratch the grumpy asshole behind the ear. “Thanks, buddy.”

“Fuckoff,”Pawsmuttered, but even as he complained, he didn’t pull away from my pets.

“So,” the hellhound said, ignoringPaws, “tell me about this sanctuary idea you have.”

THE END