“Huh?”
“Ellison already went to see the Oracle because Ellison follows through and follows the rules.”
“Yeah, yeah. Ellison is the greatest.” I grunt. “What did the Oracle say?”
“She said, and I quote, ‘Tell Connor that he’s made his choice and now he must live with the consequences.’”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Your guess is as good as ours.”
Damn, being in trouble with the rest of the four is nothing compared to being in trouble with the Oracle. “Maybe I should go see her myself. Apologize. Ask her advice.”
Seb’s humorless grin grows wider. “You can’t.”
“Why not?”
“She’s in seclusion.”
“Seclusion?” I’ve never heard of the Oracle being inaccessible. She’s always in her sanctuary, reading the stars. She exists to see the future and guide our species.
“According to her acolytes, it’s a time to be cut off from the world and devote herself to prayer and connection with the creator.”
“How long does that go on?”
The way Seb licks his bottom lip, I know I’m not going to like the answer. “Anywhere from a week to a year, according to her acolytes.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, fuck.” Seb frowns.
“Well, she’ll have to come out of seclusion for Mason’s ascension to the brotherhood.”
“That’s three and a half weeks away.”
I scratch the stubble on my jaw. The part of my soul that is my dragon stirs, his voice low and coarse as he whispers in my head,This is good. It means more time with Fiona. Time we can use to win her over. To convince her to be ours. Claim her as our mate.
“Thanks for letting me know,” I say dismissively.
He brushes invisible lint from the arm of his sportcoat. “No problem. I, unlike some, take my responsibilities as a member of the four seriously.”
The barb raises my hackles, but I don’t take the bait. “What exactly do you expect me to do here?”
“It’s not for me to decide,” Seb says incredulously. “What areyougoing to do? As you keep reminding us, you’re calling the shots.”
Inside, I can feel my dragon smile wickedly.Yes, we are. “I’m going to stay here and guard Fiona while helping her recover. Roman is a smart boy, and resourceful. If he wants his fiancée back, he’ll answer our calls or have his daddy come out of hiding to do so. The plan is, we stay the course and protect our own.”
Seb bows. “I’ll let the others know. It should be fun watching Ellison’s head explode.”
Chapter Ten
CONNOR
If I learned even one thing from Seb’s visit, it’s that I have exactly three and a half weeks to make Fiona fall in love with me. That’s the length of my alignment and how long I’m in charge, the ultimate authority given that the Oracle is in seclusion. Once Seb takes the reins, nothing can stop him from removing her and sending her back to that bastard, or just moving her home. Nothing but a mating bond. No dragon would ever keep a mated pair apart. The sanctity of a completed mating bond has never been questioned, even with a human. Fiona might not know it yet, but our relationship is metaphysically predetermined. If she allows me in, it will click into place.
I text Zaire a list of things I think Fiona will need now that she’s recovering. I want him and Bones here too, to make it feel more like a home. She needs to feel safe. I want her to be comfortable.
So comfortable she never wants to leave.
