Page 83 of Oracles Always Win

“Whatare you doing…?”Gage’squestion trailed off when he looked down at his exposed skin.Thetattoo was fading.Oureyes met.Myworry was reflected in his face.

“Itdoesn’t mean anything bad,”Isaid.Myeyes were stinging.

“Doesn’tmean anything bad at all,” he agreed in a gruff voice.Gage’seyes must have been burning too, because he blinked a few times as he pulled me into a hug. “Itmakes sense the markings would fade, so new ones can form in their place.”

“Shouldwe find out?”Iliked the idea of going back to bed with my sexy demon, andIwanted to confirm his theory.Ineeded to know the tattoos’ fading wasn’t an omen of anything bad.Hidingin the bedroom was also a great way to avoid all the shit we’d be slapped with the moment we went outside.Fromthe damage to the inn to the threat to my life,Ididn’t want to face any of it.

Butthis was probably just me avoiding reality again, just likeIhad for the last year whenever my visions hit.

“Iwish we could.”Gageshook his head. “ButIneed to talk to my team.They’vebeen protecting your drawing all night.Andnow that the sun is up, we should be able to see it more clearly.”

Right.HowcouldIhave forgotten about having a vision in the middle of the night?

“Ohno…DidIgo out there in my underwear?”Isquirmed at the idea ofGage’sfriends seeing me in my underwear.Myorange polar bear underwear.AtleastIhadn’t been wearing myBobRossones.Although…wouldthat have been worse?

“Yes, you did.”Gagescowled at the memory.

Didthat mean they’d discussed my underwear?Ihoped no one would comment, and we could all just forget that it ever happened.Icrossed my fingers.

IfIcould ignore the fire inVan’seyes or the wayHayden’seyes flashed when someone annoyed him,Icould pretend no one had seen me strutting around in my undies.

Actually, now thatIthought about it,Gage’seyes turned colors too.Didthat mean all supernatural beings had strange eyes?

“Doesanything happen to my eyes whenIgo all oracle?”

Gagelifted an eyebrow. “Notreally.Itjust looks like you’re staring off into space or daydreaming.”

“Howboring,”Imuttered asGagepassed me a couple of breakfast bars.Itore one open asGageopened the door to the outside.

Ichewed asIgave myself a silent pep talk.Everythingis fine.Noone saw my underwear.Everythingis fine.Noone saw my underwear.

Iwas right behindGageon the steps, admiring his broad shoulders, whenIrealized the chatter and noise outside was louder thanI’dexpected.Alot louder.Seeingall the people who’d gathered,Ichoked on the biteI’djust taken of the granola bar.Mycheeks bulged asItried to chew, andIwas pretty sureIwas doing a good imitation of a chipmunk storing nuts for later.

Amob of people turned to look at me.

Whywere all these people here?

Hadthey heard us when we’d… you know… been doing it?

Ofcourse they would have.Thewalls had about as much soundproofing as a sheet.

Wouldanyone notice ifIran back inside and hid inGage’sbedroom?

Becausethis was more embarrassing than knowingI’dbeen doing my mad zombie painter act while only wearing my skiing polar bear underwear.

HadImade loud noises?

Hadthe motorhome been a-rocking, so they didn’t come a-knocking?Igroaned.Whyhad my brain gone there?

Iinhaled sharply and bits of granola made a run for my windpipe.Fuck.Icoughed and chunks of granola spewed out in every direction, hittingGage’sback and the few unlucky people who were standing closest to me.Peopleshouted in surprise and stepped back.Itried to apologize but allIcould do was cough and wonder ifIwas dying.

Gagespun around, pulled me off the step, then whacked me on the back to dislodge more granola.

“Water…”Icroaked between more sputtering coughs.

Herushed inside and returned at lightning speed.Heshoved a water bottle in my face, then thumped me on the back a few more times.

AmanI’dnever met approached.Hewas sweet looking, like the boy next door… well, if the boy next door had black smoke curling up from his fingers, but whatever.