Page 118 of World's Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon

Death merely yawned, not even bothering to cover his mouth.

“You’ll find out soon enough, dearie.” The bespectacled Fate gazed at him with a faint, malicious smile. “For everyone else, it’s redacted.”

The fae managed a single syllable of protest before his voice failed once more. And after another minute of conferencing with the Fates, Death rendered their remaining judgments.

“Your trespass is forgiven, oracle Wexloff, because you had no choice in the matter. As are your actions, guardian demon Blacke and Councilor Blacke, because your intentions were honorable and your hearts true.” His delicately arched nostrils flaredwith his long exhalation. “Which, frankly, is very unusual for demons of your wealthy upbringing.”

“Thank you very—wait. That reminds me.” Eloise turned to her brother. “Hugh, what do you plan to do about our parents?”

Death squeezed his eyes shut and visibly grappled for patience.

Hugh tipped his head meaningfully toward the Realm Below’s ruler and the impassive-looking Fates. “El, I don’t think now is—”

“Just answer the question.” An enormous pile of whipped cream appeared atop Death’s mug of coffee, and he eyed it resignedly before taking another sip. “It’s not as if my beachside mojito slushy hasn’t already melted. But make it snappy, so I don’t miss my spa reservation too. If I do, you won’t like the consequences. Trust me on that.”

Hugh winced and obeyed. “Josiah’s death might have freed our mother from her bargain, but it won’t free her from the legal consequences of her actions. Or the personal consequences, for that matter. I don’t intend to inflict her presence on either Gwen or myself from this point onward.”

Eloise’s eyebrows rose. “You’re going to cut off all contact?”

“With her, yes. Permanently. With our father?” Hugh paused. “Maybe.”

Gwen’s shoulders slumped in mute relief as the horrifying prospect of Hugh sharing family dinners and holidays with her freakingabductorreceded into oblivion. He shot a quick glance her way. Then he discreetly laced their fingers together beneath the table, where no one could see, giving her hand a warm, comforting squeeze.

Before Eloise could ask the follow-up questions clearly teeming on her tongue, Death sliced his own hand through the air.

“All right. Enough chitchat. I have a passion fruit body scrub and a very stern, very German massage therapist named Marta waiting for me.” Once Eloise reluctantly closed her mouth and subsided into her chair, Death directed his attention back toward Hugh. “I assume you’ll take care of the remaining conspirators and their plots-in-progress, Councilor? Because if our courtroom gets overrun by more murder victims in the near future, I may reverse our previous dismissal of your offenses.”

“Arresting the remaining insurrectionists and quashing their plots would be my pleasure.” Hugh’s forehead creased. “I am concerned about whether Gwen and the other oracles will remain in particular danger, even without Josiah at the alliance’s helm.”

The judge raised a single, inquiring brow at Goodling.

“Without the fae, our common human allies couldn’t competently wipe their own asses,” Josiah scoffed. “Which is why we fae are the rightful rulers of—”

“That’s the best answer you’re going to get, Councilor Blacke,” Death said. “You’ll find a signed and notarized transcript of this trial waiting for you at your office. Court dismissed.”

He shoved back his chair and got to his feet, stretching. “Oh, and get back to work, guardian demon Blacke. From what I hear, your charge is eyeing a cottonmouth with an alarming degree of enthusiasm.”

And then, in the space of an eyeblink, all four judges and Josiah disappeared.

35

Despite Death’s final warning to Eloise, the Blacke twins’ tearful reunion lasted untold minutes, and Gwen was glad for every extra second as she sat nearby and watched over them.

At long last, though, the bespectacled Fate appeared again on the dais and tapped a watch that hadn’t existed a moment earlier. The message was clear: Eloise needed to return to her afterlife assignment. Even if she might never meet her brother face-to-face again.

His face crumpling, Hugh wrapped his arms around his weeping sister, rubbed her back, and rocked her gently back and forth.

“You always worried that I was ashamed of you. You never said it aloud, but I could feel it.” His final words to her tumbled over one another, choked and desperate and heartfelt. “I’ve worried about you. Been aggravated and confused by you. I’ve grieved for you. Missed you with every heartbeat. But I’ve never,ever been ashamed of you, El. I am so incredibly proud of the demon you were and the guardian demon you’ve become.”

“Thank y-you, Hugh,” she whispered brokenly.

His lips rested on the dark crown of his sister’s head. “You have the biggest heart of any demon I’ve ever known, and I will always love you. Even if I never see you again after this moment.”

He pulled back an inch. “Will I?”

“Not in the Realm Below.” Eloise slanted a crafty look at the Fate, who was feigning profound hearing loss as she stared into the distance. “Aboveground, though…maybe someday. In the meantime, you’ll feel how much I love you”—she laid her palm over the center of his chest—“here. Forever, if I have anything to say about it.”

After one last, fierce embrace, Eloise stepped back. The siblings exchanged a look of mutual affection and understanding, matching trails of tears shining on their cheeks.