Page 60 of Oracles Always Win

Ihad to helpJake.Therewas no other option.

Thetips of my fingers on one hand transformed into the black talons of my demon form.Iswiped one wickedly sharp claw across my other hand.Aline of black blood bubbled up and pooled in my palm.

Atiny inner voice whisperedIshouldn’t do this.

Isilenced it.

Themagic in my blood would not have responded ifJakewasn’t meant to be mine.Thisjust confirmed whatIknew whenI’dfirst seenJake’spaintings of us together.Wewere fated mates.Ifwe weren’t destined to be together, my blood would have remained red, like anyone else’s.

Butit wasn’t red.Itwas as black as oil, filled with the power of my demon form.

ThankMagic, because that meantIdidn’t need to negotiate withJakebeforeIhealed him.Icould heal myself without upsetting my magic and nowIcould healJaketoo, because my magic recognized him as an extension of myself.

Withunsteady hands,Iswiped the black blood over each cut and abrasion onJake’sbody, pushing it through the rips in the denim of his pants untilIfound and touched all the gashes and holes inJake’sprecious skin.

“Whoa,”Jakemurmured. “Whatare you doing?Itfeels…Idon’t even know.Weird.”

“Justlet me help you,”Isaid.

Satisfactionand relief warred within me asJake’sbody expelled the glass and debris like my body had.I’dneed to have a talk withJakeabout whatI’ddone, butIdidn’t regret it.Thesharing of my blood with him wouldn’t harm the oracle.Itwouldn’t bind us together.Nottruly.Atleast not onJake’sside.

Andfor me?

I’dnever felt happier to enter into a one-sided deal.Jakewas the only oneI’dever be able to do this for.I’dmade my choice.I’dchosenJake.Andhe would be the only person for me from now until the end of my days.Jakemight choose to accept the bond, but even if he didn’t…Iwould accept his decision.Eventually.

Myteam would be horrified by whatI’ddone, particularly sinceJake’sinjuries hadn’t even been life-threatening.I’dhave to explain thatIdidn’t feel any strain on my demonic powers.Hopefullythat would appease them.Icouldn’t seeJakebleeding and not do anything about it.

“Therenow,”Isaid asIstood. “Doyou feel better?”

“Much.”Jaketwisted to look at the backs of his legs. “Whatdid you do?Whendid you grab a first aid kit?”

“Nofirst aid kit.”Ishook my head. “Justa perk of being a demon.”

“Thankyou.”Jake’sgaze held mine for a long moment, like he suspected there was more to it but wasn’t sure how to ask.

“Youshould sit.Youlost a lot of blood.”IguidedJaketo the boulder.Isat down and pulled him into my lap, still needing to feel him, to confirm he was healthy and safe.

Jake’seyes drifted back to the inn. “Whatdo you think happened?Wasit a gas leak?”

“Itwas a bomb.”

Jake, his eyes bulging, squirmed out of my arms and jumped to his feet.Hespun around to face me. “Didyou say bomb?”

“Yeah.”

“What…?How…?”

ThenVanemerged from the inn, walking behind the young woman with the three children andSimon, who was still in his cat form.Theyall appeared unharmed, thankMagic.Atthe same time,Haydencame around the side of the inn with the shaken and bleeding people who’d escaped the dining room through the doors to the back garden just before the blast.NeitherVannorHaydenreturned to the building, soIassumed these were the last of the survivors.

Theirarrival distractedJakefrom asking any more questions.Thatwas good becauseIdidn’t have any answers to give him.Notyet.Speculationsbased onNelson’sbrief texts weren’t definitive.Ineeded concrete, actionable information.

Theoracle trembled and let out a shaky breath as the group staggered across the expanse of the parking lot toward the shoreline.Hemoved to intercept them, but a few shifters rushed over to help, getting to the survivors beforeJakemanaged two shaky steps.Ashrained down on us until everyone and everything was coated in dull gray residue.Thestench of blood and smoke and fear filled the air.

“Jake, come here, sweetling,”Isaid softly, extending my hand to him.Hedidn’t notice the little endearment that’d fallen from my lips.Hewas still staring at the chaos around us. “Thefirst responders are almost here.They’llhave questions.”

“Idon’t have any answers,”Jakesaid, turning to look at me again with watery eyes. “WhatcanItell them?”

“Let’sjust wait until they come over and see what they want to know.”