Page 61 of Oracles Always Win

Justas fire engines and police vehicles careened up to the inn, another deafening blast rang out from the far side of the building.Theair crackled in its wake.IgrabbedJakeand wrapped my arms around him, then spun us around so my body was between him and the explosions.

Theearth under our feet shook.Iglanced over my shoulder to see more black smoke blooming like an ink stain across the blue sky.Dustand debris sailed through the air high above the inn.Van,Hayden, and the others close to the building had been thrown forward.Theywere sprawled out over the gravel parking lot.Thatwas not a normal bomb.Thebastards must have used magic to enhance it.

Beforethey made it to their feet, a third boom echoed through the air.

Thebuilding swayed, almost as if each board rippled under the concussive force of the blast.Everyonestared.

Butthe building didn’t collapse.Notyet.

Chapter Twenty-One

GAGE

“Whatthe ever-loving fuck was that?”Jakechoked out in the aftermath of the latest blast.

IfNelsonhadn’t warned us…

Ipushed the unhelpful thought away asIcast my gaze over the scene.

Itwasn’t in my nature to sit back and watch others struggle.Theonly thing making me hesitate was thatI’dneed to let go ofJaketo do it.Islowly counted to ten before loosening my grip on him.Allthe blasts were happening behind the building, so he should be safe where he was.

“Stayhere,”Iordered him.

Hedidn’t agree, but he didn’t argue either.

Idashed forward to assist the people who’d been knocked off their feet.Witheach step away fromJake, my instincts screamed at me to get back to him, butIforced myself to move.Iran toward the woman and her children first.Thekids were screaming and crying, and the woman was shaking so badlyIfeared she wouldn’t be able to walk.AsIrushed forward,Simon, still in his cat form, was slinking toward the shrubs by the lake with his belly low to the ground.Hisears were pressed back, and his tail was still puffed up.

ThenIheard hurried footsteps behind me;Jakehad ignored my order.Iwas torn between being satisfied he was only a few steps away from me, so if something else happenedI’dbe able to reach him quickly, and being angry he was moving closer to the bomb site.

“Noway amIsitting on my ass while people need help,”Jakesaid when he caught me looking at him with a scowl on my face. “Now, get over there and helpEstherand her baby whileIhelp her other little ones.”

Withthe possible exception ofDavina, no one told me what to do.Peoplemight make suggestions or offer comments, butIwas not a follower.EvenwithDavina,I’dnever felt compelled to obey.ButwithJake’scommand,Ifound myself moving to the young woman he’d indicated.

Ichecked her for injuries, not thatIcould help heal her or anyone else now, not without a clear exchange, butIdidn’t want her to suffer, even ifIcouldn’t offer a new deal to her, or anyone else right now either.Peopletended to look poorly on those kinds of contracts once they were no longer confused and in shock.WhatI’ddone forJakewas only possible for my mate.

Luckily, no one had sustained any life-threatening injuries, so it wasn’t a big concern.

Withouta deal, healing this many people, even their minor injuries, would just deplete me.That’dleave me weak and incapable of protecting my team… orJake.I’dfeel bad if any of these strangers died, but my family was my priority.EspeciallyJake.

Ineeded him safe.Ineeded him alive.Ineeded to be strong for him.

Itsounded selfish, but this situation had made one thing clear: ifJakewas harmed, whatever controlIhad over my demonic side would shatter.

Despitewhat my team thought,I’dalways believed my day of reckoning was years away, but now… after only knowingJakefor a day,Iknew everything had changed.Allit’d take to break me was having something dire happen to him.

I’dnever survive without him.Myteam would have to put me down.

I’dlived for centuries, almost two millennia.Andsuddenly, after only one tiny, miniscule day, my entire life had changed.HowhadIbecome so attached to him in such a comparatively inconsequential amount of time?

Iwanted to grab him, use the last bit of my weakened magic to open a portal, and take him to another place.Asafer place.Aworld away from here with its bombs, rogue werewolf packs, and other supernatural assholes.

Myneed to help these people warred with my need to protectJake.Still,Iscooped the young woman and her baby into my arms and carried her across the road asJakewished.Hewas right behind me with her other small children.Assoon asIset them on the ground,Jake’spainting ladies swooped in and fluttered over the crying young woman and her family.

Afterall the survivors were safely deposited by the lake shore,Isought outVan.HaydenandJakewere right behind me.Justas we arrived, an old boxy car rushed toward us.Iturned to grabJakeagain, ready to pull him out of the way, but the car jolted to a stop before it hit us.Aman with messy brown curls exploded out of the car and sprinted to us.Hiseyes were pinched and his face ashen as he took in everyone.

“Van, thankMagicyou’re alive.”Theman threw himself at the police officer.

“Hey,Doc,”Vansaid, rubbing him on the back like he wasn’t sure what to do with an armful of frantic man. “I’mokay, butI’mglad you’re here.Thereare a lot of people who need you.”