His job was to figure out the details of that little push and deliver it perfectly.
And if she was someone else’s mate?
He refused to think about that.
70—The One True Mate Prophecy
Sage blinked at what Canyon had in his hands as he came back through the front door: a carton of eggs, a pack of bacon, and a container of orange juice. She was starving but refused to eat anythinghecooked.
She gathered her courage and said, “You need to leave,” all in one breath.
He shook his head and continued into the kitchen, dropping everything on the counter, then he pulled a small jar of oil and a canvas packet out of his pocket and put them with the food.
“We can’t go. You’ll never be without awolvenguard again.” He opened the packet and it was full of tiny spice bottles. He chose three and put them near the stove.
Sage almost blurted out, “Anyone but you,” but she stopped herself, thinking that wasn’t quite true. She considered, then said, “I'll go with you. We’ve got to go somewhere else. If my aunts show up and find you inside the house…” She shook her head. She didn’t even want to think about it.
“Because we'revod,” Canyon said, grinning while putting a pan on the stove and pouring oil in it.
She looked at him carefully, cocking her head, not sure how much he knew.
“Vodvod, even,” he said.
She crossed her arms and scowled at him.
He held his hands up. “I know the words, but not quite what they mean.”
She didn’t respond, only shook her head, looking at the door, thinking if she just left maybe he would follow.
“Do your aunts know there’s a One True Mate prophecy?” he asked.
She nodded her head once, curtly.
“You can explain.”
Sage shook her head. There was no justification for inviting twovodvodinside afoxenhouse. “Where'd you hear the wordvod?” she asked.
“At the Crimstone Academy,” he said, his expression guarded. He pointed at Timber and said, “We found it. Me and my brother. We went inside, read some things.”
Sage felt like crying. She paced around the room. “Why'd you do that? Now it'll be shut down!”
“Just because a couple ofvodfound it?”
“Yes! You destroy everything you touch!”
She left the room, through the kitchen, grabbing a coat on her way out the back door. Cold air hit her in the face, and the stars stared down from overhead. She bundled warmer in the coat and dropped onto the steps.
The robot was there where she'd left it. His screen was lit, with words streaming by.
She sat down to read.
“In twenty-five years, half-angel, half-human mates will be discovered living among you. This is how you will rebuild. Warriors, all, with names like flora. Save them from themselves, for they will not know their foreordination. They will not be bound by shiften law, but their destinies entwine so strongly with their fated mates, that any not mated by their 30th year will be moonstruck. Those who are lost may be dangerous.
A pledged female will have free will that shiften know not. Never forget this or it will cause grave trouble. Her bodymay respond to any, until she is mated in a ceremony of her choosing, then she will acknowledge only one male, as he becomes her One True Mate, and she, his One True Mate. He shall be sworn to her in her life's purpose, to rebuild the shiften race, so that they may fight the evil Matchitehew and protect the humans from him, until the day he draws his last breath.”
“The One True Mate Prophecy,” Sage breathed. She’d never read the words before. Maybe the Vvyndicate knew the entire prophecy, but the rest of them only knew bits and pieces gleaned from rumor and gossip.
The prophecy disappeared and words appeared, also spoken out loud.
