A note and a packed lunch waited for me on the table when I came downstairs. Although his thoughtfulness warmed me, I would have rather had him present. Waking up alone in the bed had been a relief and a disappointment at the same time. But, the dual dents in my pillow and lack of charred sheets had helped ease some of the disappointment.
Grabbing the lunch, I headed out the door. I had no plans to spend the day stuck inside the library like Adira wanted. The time for patience was done. I wanted answers, and I wanted them now. The school was full of people who had grown up in Uttira. One of them was bound to know something about oracles. I should have asked Oanen last night, but the drama of us had gotten in the way.
Eliana was waiting for me when I pulled into the parking lot.
“Just the girl I wanted to see,” I said, opening the door.
“Me too. Oanen said that he wouldn’t be here today. I’m excited he’s finally giving me a turn.”
“You know you can hang out with us, too, right?”
“No way. Eew.” She scrunched up her nose at me.
“Why not?”
“With what you two are giving off each time you look at each other, do you really want me to turn into a black-eyed crush muncher and start feeding off my pseudo brother?”
“Point taken. Sorry I didn’t think of that sooner. You should come over tonight. I’ll tell Oanen to take a hike.”
Eliana laughed.
“Like he’d ever listen. You’re officially in bonded-male griffin territory. There’s no way he’s going to let you alone for any significant amount of time.”
“He’s gone now,” I said with a wry grin.
“He is. And I’m betting you have something planned that will probably upset him when he’s back.”
“Not really. I just want to find an oracle.”
Eliana shook her head.
“Do you even know what an oracle is?” she asked.
“Yes. Someone with answers. Who do you think would know anything about oracles? Like are oracles still alive? Where do they live? Is there one in Uttira?
“Well, Fenris was a good place to start last time,” she said.
A thread of annoyance wormed its way up my spine a moment before a laugh interrupted our conversation.
“Like wolf boy would know anything about an oracle.”
I turned to look at the girl. Her hair was a familiar mermaid green, which I tried not to hold against her.
“And you do?” I asked.
She smiled, showing a sharp row of small teeth.
“I do. I know a lot actually.”
I let my doubt show on my face.
“Okay. What do you know?”
A hard light came into her eyes.
“Oh, it’s not going to work like that, sweet fish. You want information; I want something in return.”
Her attitude was starting to annoy me.
“You took what was mine,” she said. “I want it back.”
I frowned. Confused.
“I haven’t taken anything.”
Any hint of humor left her expression.
“You took my human and kicked me in the face.”
Anger lit inside of me. This was the same mermaid? The one who’d tried to kill Ashlyn, and the one who’d watched Oanen and me at the pool? I fisted my hand.
Eliana’s fingers immediately closed over mine, and some of the building rage left me.
“What exactly are you saying?” I asked. “That you want Ashlyn back in exchange for information that you may or may not have?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“You’re sick in the head. There’s no way I’m handing over a human. Ever.”
“Suit yourself.” She smirked and continued on into the school.
I glanced at Eliana.
“Are you going to need to wear me like a backpack today?” she asked.
“Maybe. How much do you weigh?”
She grinned but didn’t let go of my hand as we started toward the school.
The loud rev of an engine and the spray of gravel had us both turning in time to see Fenris pull up. He was missing his usual her-herd. He spotted us before he even turned off the car and waved for us to wait.
His easy jog in our direction caught the eye of just about every female still lingering in the parking lot.
“Ladies. This is a sight. Tell me there’s more after the hand holding.”
I rolled my eyes, and Eliana released my hand.
“There might be. Someone trashed my car again last night.” I pointed at the long scratches.
Fenris frowned and went over to inspect the paint. He sniffed a few times and shook his head in disgust.
“It’s not the same person. I’ll find out who it is, though.”
“Thanks. This time let me do some talking, will you?”
He grinned widely. “Only if I get a hug.”
I opened my arms and wasn’t surprised to find myself pressed chest to chest with him before I could blink. He stuck his nose in my hair, breathed deeply, and made a quiet sound of disappointment before pulling away.
I tried not to smirk as he took my hand and lifted it to his mouth for an old-fashioned back-of-the-hand knuckle kiss.
“You need to work on your hugging skills,” he told me.
“Thanks for the tip. I’m sure Eliana will be happy to help me today, though. You just get me a name.”
“I’m on it, my wrath goddess.”
I grinned and watched him jog away. When I looked at Eliana, I found her watching me.
“What?” I asked.
“I think he’s trying to cause trouble between you and Oanen. Oanen’s going to smell him on you.”
“As you pointed out, Oanen’s not here today.”
She shook her head, and we walked inside, joining the masses in the halls.
“So why do you need to know about oracles?” she asked.
“Because I’m tired of bullshit answers.”
Eliana laughed.
“That’s all everyone here does. Why do you think an oracle would be any different?”
She had me there. But that didn’t change my plan. I asked everyone during our first session. Some gave me looks like I’d dropped a silent bomb in class. Some sniggered and smirked but said nothing. The second session wasn’t much different. I even asked Professor Flavian.
“Megan, oracles are dangerous creatures. It would be a better use of your time here if you returned to your studies in the library.”
“Nope. It wouldn’t. Been there. Read that. I need answers, and no one here wants to give them.”
“I’m sorry, Megan. I can’t help you.”
“You won’t help me. There’s a difference.”
I walked out of the room and straight into Eliana.
“I heard,” she said.
“It’s really starting to piss me off. You want lunch?”
She gave me a startled look then quickly hugged me. I laughed and hugged her back. My frustration immediately faded.
“That’s not what I meant, but I’ll take it.”
“Oh, you meant–”
“Now this is what I like to see,” Fenris said from behind Eliana. “Can I get in on that?”
Eliana pulled away and gave Fenris a scolding look. “I think you’ve hugged Megan enough. She’s with Oanen, and you know it. Stop trying to cause trouble.”
He gave her his best boyish smile.
“Does that mean you’ll give me a hug instead?”
Eliana shook her head and turned to me.
“Ready for lunch?”
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.
It wasn’t until he turned the corner that reality pooped on my rainbow. My mom had moved us often, and there was no guarantee that she hadn’t moved again. What if she wasn’t where I’d left her?
I sent off a quick series of texts to Oanen with all the prior addresses I could remember then went to the library. Even if he did find her, there was still no guarantee that she’d talk to me. After all, she’d left me here with no clue in the first place. I was tired of waiting. The information about oracles was a solid lead to get answers. And now, I also knew one lived on an island in the lake. Wouldn’t it be smarter for me to at least research what I could and know where she was if Oanen didn’t find my mom?
Researching in the library proved to be helpful for a change. On one of the lower shelves, there was a large book that had a hand drawn map of Uttira. The massive lake had a spell on it that reduced its size in the human world while maintaining its size within Uttira. It was easily half the size of one of the Great Lakes.
In the center of the water, the mapmaker placed a dot and called it the Isle of Woe. There were no other details and no other dots.
I headed out the door with the information and didn’t bother going to any of the other sessions. If I wanted to get to the island without Oanen’s help, I’d need a boat and some supplies. And a lot of real, practical advice about mermaids that I wouldn’t find in the books. I picked up my phone from the basket in the hall and sent a message to Ashlyn.
Do you have time to come over tonight? Or could I come to your place? I have some questions about the lake.
Sure. I’d rather you come to me.
I’ll be there by five, I replied.
Oanen would understand.
