Page 73 of Oracles Always Win

Themacabre scene showed the pack lands being destroyed.Satisfactionwelled inside me at the thought of its destruction, andIhoped it would happen soon.SinceJakehad only been channeling visions for a year now, it was impossible to know how far into the future his visions projected.Theevent foretold here could be minutes away or decades.

“We’vegot a recording of it, boss,”Isaacsaid, lifting his phone as ifIwouldn’t know what he was talking about. “Butwe’ll grab more pictures in the morning after the sun is up.”

Inodded and stared at the drawing. “Anythingof interest?Besidesthe obvious.”

“Itis the view looking west, as if you were in the air following the road from the highway into the pack lands.”Nelsongestured toward a road at the bottom of the drawing. “LikeIsaid, the alpha’s house is here, and it appears to be used as the hub of all pack activities, from meetings to food prep.Besideit, over here, is a garage.It’sbeen converted to barracks for his enforcers.”Nelsonpointed to the drawing as he spoke. “Ididn’t count the smaller shacks around the estate, but this appears to be consistent with whatIobserved.They’reused for couples or families.”

“Weshould getDillonhere,”Adriansaid. “Helived there for a bit.”

“Doit,”Isaid.

Itallied the smaller buildings.Ifeach contained two or three people,Robhad a sizable pack.Andeach and every one of those people thought it was a good idea to follow that asshole.Unbelievable.Itdidn’t speak well for the education system here;I’dhave to revamp it afterIbound myself to the land.Irefused to be tied to a place filled with idiots.Iwould kill the peopleIwas supposed to protect within weeks, if not days.Ihad no tolerance for stupidity.

Asif sensing my thoughts about binding here, the inherent magic of the place fluttered over me in an enthusiastic rush.Ilet my magic seep out and brush over it, like petting an excited puppy.

Somepart of me still worriedIwas seeing things inWillowLakethat weren’t there, but the eager energy in the magic went a long way to easing my worries.ThepaintingsJakehad made of our future also went a long way to easing my worries, butIstill shuddered to think what would happen ifIwas wrong.

I’dnever been so indecisive or paranoid, butIcouldn’t help myself.Therisks were too high.Iwouldn’t forget the way my father had looked at me that last time, after he’d made that same mistake.Irefused to give anyone else a similar memory…

Myfather had ensuredIknew how quickly demons could turn dangerous, even before he tried to kill me.Hehadn’t been a violent man, at least no more so than any other man of that era.Notuntil the end, at least.Theneverything changed.

Buthe often told the story of how he’d barely been able to escape with me.Howhis own father had planned to kill him.Howmy own life would have been forfeit.Allbecause my grandfather, a tethered demon, couldn’t tolerate another demon in his territory.Instinctmade it impossible for us to coexist.

Overthe years,I’dcome to suspect there was more to the story than what my father had told me, but by that time it’d been too late.AndIcouldn’t risk askingTeagueto summon him soIcould have my answers.Aftersuch a terrible last day, my father could easily come back as a vengeful or malevolent spirit.Icouldn’t risk it, not just to answer my personal questions.Ijust wishedI’dasked him earlier, beforeIhad to kill him.

Afamiliar pang of guilt and regret reverberated through me.Iwiped my hands together; likeLadyMacBeth,Icould still see the blood there.

But, looking at my past now, it was difficult to believe every single being in my species would eventually try to kill their offspring.Itmade us no better than wild animals who turned on their young.Itwas primitive and unsettling.AndIrefused to follow that well-worn path.

Iwas determined to be better than that, but a demon’s nature wasn’t always ruled by logic or compassion.SoIalso didn’t take any unnecessary risks.Ididn’t have any offspring… at least none with my blood in their veins.Inmany ways, the members of my team were like my children.Myfound family.Undermy care by mutual choice.

But, in the end, would that be enough to save them?

“Theattack,”Nelsoncontinued, unaware of the dark turn of my thoughts, “appears to start in the south.”

“Canwe tell who the attackers are?”Iglanced to the left side of the drawing, whichIbelieved should be south, based on whatNelsonhad said. “Isit our team?”

“Nah.”Isaacshook his head and gestured to a different part of the drawing. “Lookat these…Itlooks like there might be bears, trolls, or goblins in the mix.”

Isquinted at the area he’d indicated.Itwas difficult to interpret whatIwas looking at, but he was right.Itdidn’t look like anyone from our team.Thebeings appeared to be bulky and round, andIagreed withIsaacthat they were likely bears, trolls, or goblins.Iwas mildly disappointedIwouldn’t be the one to tear the pack apart, butI’dlive with it.Itwas better this way.

Mydemon blood had been boiling and surging through my veins since the attack on the inn.Itwouldn’t take much for it to erupt.I’dneed to tether soon ifIwanted to avoid losing complete control.Howironic would that be?Finallyfinding my place, only to have my demon go on a rampage.

“Theothers will be here by daybreak,”Isaacsaid. “TeagueandDaviejust texted a few minutes ago.Theyare coming here straight away.Thesituation at the morgue has been dealt with.AdrianandJeremyare heading to their room at the motel to rest for a few hours.It’stime forNelsonand me to take our shift.”

Ilifted my eyebrow and stared at the centaur.Hedidn’t look away or stammer like most people would.Isaacwas the newest member of the team.Itwasn’t his role to tell people what to do or when, butIdidn’t disagree with what he was suggesting.Imight need to start giving him more responsibility.Helooked like he spent all his time baking in the sun rather than paying attention to anything, butI’dalways known he had intelligence and depth.Iwouldn’t have invited him onto my team otherwise.

“Good.We’llhave a team meeting then.”Inodded. “Untilthen, protect the drawing.”

Itmade my eye twitch to have to say that because whatIreally wanted was to wash away all the dirt and soot and ash.Ihated seeing thePinkLadyin such a mess.Seeingthe drawing itself was equally disturbing.Itwas a reminder of just how vulnerableJakewas and how much he needed a tether.ButJake’svision needed to be preserved until we were sure we’d captured all of it.

“Alreadyon it, boss,”Isaacsaid.

Iglanced atNelson, who simply nodded. “We’vegot it covered.Youcan go back toJake.Heneeds you more than we do right now.”

Undernormal circumstances,Iwould have sent everyone on my team to bed and guarded the area myself.Butthese were not normal circumstances.Ihad my mate in my bed right now and allIwanted was to return to his warm soft body.Itmade the back of my neck itch to have him out of my sight.

SoInodded sharply and climbed back into the motorhome.WhenIgot to the bedroom,Islid the door closed as quietly asIcould.ThenIstared atJakein my bed, curled around my pillow.Helooked so peaceful.Ifit weren’t for the dark circles under his eyes and how his bones appeared too sharp under his thin frame,Iwould think he was untroubled.Butit was obvious his health was suffering under the weight of his oracle magic.