Page 52 of Oracles Always Win

“I’venever worked in construction,”Gagesaid, as if that might still need to be clarified.Helooked like he was regretting drawingJeremy’sattention.

“Fine.Don’ttell me.”Jeremyfrowned atGage. "Youknow…I’vealways wondered if you have a secret demon name like in the paranormal booksIread.IfIfigure it out, will you be at my mercy?CouldIcommand you to answer my questions?”

Nowit wasGage’sturn to frown atJeremy. “Whatdo you think?”

“Whydoes pop culture get everything wrong?”Jeremymuttered to himself as he pulled a small notebook from his back pocket and a pen from behind his ear.Heflipped open his book to a blank page and looked expectantly atGage. “So… what’s up with all the gifts then?Oh, oh, oh… are you guys mated?Arethese like wedding presents?”Jeremyeyed us with undisguised curiosity. “Doyou have mating marks hidden somewhere?”

“Matingmarks?”Iasked.

“Yes.”Jeremygrinned as he stroked his hand over the strange tattoo and stripe of pastel green hair by his temple. “Whentwo supes love each other very much, theEternalMagicwhacks them with the magical mating stick.Andthen they get awesome things like matching tattoos and a long life together.”

Therewere a lot of thingsIdidn’t understand about what he just said.Ilooked atGagefor help.Hesighed.

“Ihadn’t planned to talk to you about that yet.Youalready have enough to think about.”

WhenIstared at him, waiting for an explanation, he just nodded.

“Okay.”Herubbed his forehead. “Hereis the short version.Fatedmates are two beings who are destined for one another.TheEternalMagicwill eventually bind their life forces together.WithJeremyandAdrian, for example,Jeremy’slife span was extended to matchAdrian’smuch longer one and, providing nothing unforeseen interferes, their lives will be entwined until their natural deaths.”

HadJeremybeen joking when he suggestedGageandIcould be that to one another?Becausethere was no way.Gagewas… well,Gage.Sexy.Strong.Powerful.Peopleprobably flung themselves at him on the regular.Fateor theEternalMagicor whatever you wanted to call her wouldn’t saddle someone like him with someone like me.Iwas happy to be a temporary diversion for him, but the idea it could be more was laughable.Iglanced back atJeremy.

“Nope.Notmating gifts,”Isaid with certainty.

“Theyare offerings,”Adriansaid. “Right,Gage?”

“Offerings?Likewhen people leave offerings at altars and stuff?”Jeremy’smouth dropped open. “Holyshit,Mr.Dimples, are you starting your own cult?”

“No.”Gage’sflat denial didn’t deterJeremy, who whistled to himself and scribbled something in his notebook.

“Ireally need to research this,”Jeremysaid when he finished. “Howis theWi-Fihere?”

“Youcan do that later,”Adriansaid.

“Fine,”Jeremymuttered. “Sowhat’s the plan?I’venever been to one of your potlucks before, butAshandDillonmentioned this was the place to be on aSundayafternoon.”

“Noplan.Justfood and eating and…”Ishrugged.

Sallysidled up to us, having just placed her plate of fresh oysters on a tray of ice.Shebrought the same thing every week, and it was a bit of a running joke with the others since they were considered aphrodisiacs.Isuspected the joke was connected to the nickname my grandfather had given her.

“Jake, honey,”Sallysaid. “Isthere something you need to say?Orask?Orannounce?”

Ishook my head. “Nope.”

“Oh,Ijust thought….”Sally’sforehead wrinkled.Sheglanced atGage, then back to me. “Areyou sure?”

Gageleaned over until his lips were almost touching my ear.Thewarmth of his breath tickled my neck.Ishivered at the delicious sensation.

“She’sasking if you know you are an oracle and can see under the glamour,” he said quietly.

Mygaze snapped toSally, then back toGage. “Sheisn’t…”Idropped my voice to a whisper. “Human?”

Gageshook his head.Apulse of something—a magical power maybe?—surged up around him as he glanced around the room.Thenhe met my gaze again.Hegently took my hand in his.Hebrushed his thumb over my palm as if he was worriedIwas about to freak out and he wanted to soothe me.

“What?”Iasked. “Justsay it.”

“Noone here is.”

“Iswhat?”