Fenris winked at me over her head.
“I wanted to let you know that I haven’t found the car scratcher, yet, and the word’s spreading that you’re looking for an oracle. I’m still keeping my nose and ears out for both.”
“Thanks.”
We left Fenris and merged with the flow of bodies heading toward lunch. Instead of going outside, we sat in one of the free rooms to eat our meals in peace.
“Seriously, Megan. What are you hoping to learn? Why an oracle?”
“First, I want to know if there’s an oracle even alive. Second, I want to find out where said oracle would live if said oracle is alive. Finally, I want the oracle to tell me what I will become or how I can control my temper. Both, if the oracle is willing.”
“I don’t know much about oracles, but I do know nothing’s ever free. You’ll need to give something to get something.”
“Your hugs are free. Oanen’s protection is free.”
“Nope. I take something from you with each hug. And, the bond is the price of Oanen’s protection.”
“What about your friendship? Is that free?”
“Nope. There’s a price there, too. You now carry the stigma of associating with the succubus who can’t feed.”
“My stigma doesn’t seem to bother Fenris.”
“That’s because he wants something. I just haven’t figured out what yet.”
I took another bite of my Oanen-made sandwich so I couldn’t answer if she asked me anything. She didn’t, though.
“How am I going to find out what I need?” I asked after I swallowed my mouthful.
Eliana shrugged. “Keep asking people, I guess. Word is spreading. Someone’s bound to know something.”
After we finished our lunches, we tossed the bags in the recycling near the door. A tingle of irritation ran up my spine, and my head whipped in the direction of the hall. Eliana immediately grabbed my hand. Neither of us moved as voices filtered into the room.
“She’s asking everyone.”
“I bet she is. Don’t tell her a thing. That bitch owes me a human. She has no idea what she stepped into.”
I recognized the second voice. The merbitch I’d kicked in the face.
“Why not tell her?” the first voice asked. “She’d never make it to the island without help.”
There was a moment of silence.
“You’re brilliant. This is far better than getting people to trash her car or trying to get her to fry her boyfriend.”
If not for Eliana’s hold, I would have flown out the door. Instead, all of the rage trying to pump into me slipped away before I could embrace it. Eliana held my hand until their footsteps faded. As soon as she released me, I ran out into the hall but found it empty.
Eliana watched me closely, no doubt trying to decide if it was backpack time.
“Where’s the island?” I asked.
“There’s only one lake. I’m guessing it’s there.”
The same lake where I’d kicked the merbitch in the face. If there was an island somewhere on that large body of water, I needed to find it. There were two ways to do that. A search by water or by air. Either one would take some time if I didn’t know a general idea of where to look. The lake was beyond huge.
“I need to go back to the library. I’ll see you after school,” I said absently, already thinking of what I would need to do.
“Behave,” Eliana called as I hurried away.
I took my phone from my pocket and started dialing Oanen’s number. Before I reached the second turn, I heard Adira’s voice and stopped. She was the last person I wanted to run into. I was still pissed as hell at her.
“I trust you’ll do well when you choose to leave,” she said. “Your parents and I understand that it won’t be until the bond is settled between the two of you. But when it is, there’s some important work we need you to complete.”
“I understand,” Oanen said. “I’ll do what’s necessary.”
I frowned and stepped around the corner. Both turned to look at me.
Adira smiled slightly.
“I’ll let you share the news.” She stepped back into her office and closed the door.
“News?” I asked.
“That meeting my parents wanted with the Council? It was for my mark. I didn’t know.”
A bubble of excitement burst inside of me.
“Let me see.”
He turned his head, and I saw a large trinity knot on the column of his neck.
“My mom had that on the inside of her wrist,” I said. I couldn’t believe that was the mark that would let us in and out of Uttira.
“Yeah. Location and size don’t matter. You can choose both when it’s time.”
“This is perfect, Oanen,” I said, stepping close and grasping his forearm. “You can take me to see my mom.”
His expression shifted slightly.
“I can’t. It was the one oath I had to give before they gave the mark. I cannot take you from Uttira until you have a mark of your own.”
I could feel my insides start to heat and quickly took two steps back from him.
He reached for me like he was going to close the space again, and I held up my hand.
“Don’t. I’m not even sure this is far enough.”
His expression changed to one of hurt.
“I’m not mad at you,” I said. “I’m mad at the Council. Why are they such assholes?”
“They’re trying to protect the humans. Without control, you could hurt a lot of them.”
“No shit. I could hurt a lot of people in Uttira, too. That’s why I need to figure out how to control this. I need the answers my mom can give me.”
I clenched my hands in frustration and glared at Adira’s door. Furls of smoke started to curl up from the wood door.
“I can try to find her,” he said. “Your mom. The Council never said anything to prevent that. Do you know where she might be?”
My gaze flew to him, and all my anger left me.
“Yes. I do.” I texted him our last address. “I think she’s still there. Maybe.”
“Good, and I’ll go right now on one condition,” he said.
“Sure. What is it?”
“You go home and stay there until I get back. Eliana will check up on you.”
“Done.”
He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me.
“We’ll figure this out, Megan. Together.”
When he nudged my head up, I didn’t think why.
His lips touched mine lightly, sending a zing of desire straight through me. Heat gathered in my middle once more. His tongue swept against the seam of my lips, and I opened with a small sound of need. The heat pooled under my skin. I gripped his shoulders and stretched taller, needing more contact.
He kissed me like he would never see me again, and I kissed him back just as desperately.
When we finally tore apart, his face was red, and he had two scorch marks on his shoulders.
I cringed.
“Don’t,” he said. “I loved every second of that. The fire of your kiss does more than burn me. It lets me know what you feel is real. That I really am the one you want to be with.”
“Of course you are.” I couldn’t believe he would ever doubt it.
“It’s sometimes hard to tell when you always smell like Fenris.”
“About that. He’s promised me to secrecy, but I swear to you there’s a reason for it that has nothing to do with his interest in me.”
Oanen studied me for a moment then nodded.
“Thank you. I trust you, Megan. And I trust him because you asked me to. But, it’s still not easy smelling him on you.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’ll ask him again if I can talk to you about it.”
“After I’m back. Hopefully, it won’t take long.”
I smiled and shooed him down the hall.
“Go. The sooner you leave, the sooner you’re back. And the sooner I can stop giving you second degree burns every time we’re together.”
He gave me one last kiss and strode away. Excitement coursed through me at the thought that all of our struggles might soon be over. I couldn’t wait to just hug him without worrying about hurting him.