Page 7 of Oracles Always Win

Rightnow, though,Ihad a different problem.

Myknees shook as the magic under me clung to my feet and impeded my steps.Ilet out a low curse.ThatpromptedIsaacto put his face in front of mine again.Whenhe reached out to put the back of his hand against my forehead likeIwas a sickly human child,Ismacked it away.

“Youokay, boss?YouandNelsonlook a little weird.”Isaac’seyebrows drew together as he studied us, seeming to realize the magic he was so giddy about wasn’t doing us any favors.Heglanced atNelson, and they had a not-so-subtle but silent conversation about me, even though the shadow jumper wasn’t doing any better thanIwas. “Ican look around on my own if you need to sit this one out.”

Igritted my teeth.

Theymeant well.

Ineeded to remember that.

AndIunderstood where their concern was coming from.I’dtasked them with killing me if—orwhen—my demonic magic snapped.Butthat wasn’t happening today.And, truthfully,Iwas getting a little tired of my team constantly trying to cover me in metaphorical bubble wrap.

“I’mfine.”Ishook my head, then looked atNelson. “Whatabout you?”

Nelsontilted his chin up.Hewas as determined to fight off this weakness asIwas. “It’llgo faster with three of us.I’mgetting used to it.”

Luckyhim.

Thisstrange magic was still clinging to me, butIcouldn’t tell them that.Itwould only amplify their unnecessary concern.Isent a pulse of my own magic into the dirt, hoping that would be enough of a greeting and acknowledgement to calm whatever latent energy was there.

Itentatively lifted my foot.Itmoved easily, so the pulse seemed to have worked.ThankMagicfor that.

Istill didn’t get any sinister impressions from the place.Infact, it all continued to feel rather benign and friendly as we walked toward the inn.Ihoped it wasn’t an elaborate hoax.And, if anything extraordinarily threatening was happening inWillowLake,Adrianwould have told me, right?

Asif my thoughts summoned him, my phone rang with the ring toneJeremyhad set up forAdrian.Ihadn’t figured out how to change it yet, soIquickly pulled out my phone before the opening chords ended andTheCrampsstarted singing about being a teenage werewolf.

“What?”Isaid, not bothering with a greeting.

“Sorryto call, boss.ButNelsonjust texted and said you were heading toWillowLakeInnandIshould join you.”

“Can’tyou people ever say hello like normal people?”Jeremymuttered fromAdrian’sside of the connection.Itwas obvious he was further away from the phone.

“Areyou coming over now?”

“Wewere out of town looking atRVswhen you called yesterday.Weleft right away, but the truck we borrowed fromAshbroke down on our way back.We’restuck.Ittook most of the night just to get help.”

Anew throbbing pain settled in my head at that bit of news.

“Doyou need us to come get you?”Ididn’t want to leave yet, butIwould if needed.

“Nah, we’re good now.”

“Tellhim how far we had to walk,”Jeremywhined. “Thoseare hoursI’llnever get back.Myfeet will never forgive me.Askhim if he can share his ability to make portals with us.”

“Thetow truck driver is finally coming to pick us up to get the truck,”Adriansaid, ignoringJeremy’ssuggestion. “Hopefullyit’ll be something easy to fix and we’ll be out of here soon.”

“Understood.Keepme updated.”

“Willdo.”

“Wejust got into the inn.Whatdo you know about the magic here?”

“It’sintense, right?Thewhole town is like that.”

“Whydidn’t you say anything?”

Therewas a pause. “Ithought you knew, since you metVanin town that day.”