“I am, but I also am here for your mate,” Oracle replied.
“Please come in,” Carson said, stepping out of the way. After Oracle passed, he seized his mate’s hand and whispered in his ear, “Are you still okay with Hunter and Fionn staying?”
“Yeah…what the hell is she talking about?” Remy mumbled.
“Not a fucking clue,” Carson answered. “C’mon, let’s go find out.”
Entering the living room with his mate by his side, Remy saw Oracle sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs, pouring herself a cup of tea. Leading his mate over to the sofa, he sat down, pulling Carson down with him. He looked around. Surely this was a joke; soon, someone would jump out from a hiding place, yelling ‘Gotcha! Ha, ha, she’s not really an Oracle.’ But when that didn’t happen, Remy was disturbed that an Oracle would mock his lack of magic.If she even is an Oracle!
Sensing how his mate felt, Carson squeezed Remy’s hand, hoping to reassure him everything would be all right. He waited until Oracle had taken a sip of her tea before saying, “Remy and I are confused by what just happened. Do the Fates have a gift for my mate, like they did for Dylon?”
Setting her cup down, Oracle smiled. “Thank you for the tea. After my long flight and the drive here, it is just what I needed.”
“You’re welcome,” Remy replied softly, moving closer to Carson.
“Before I begin, I must ask both of you if there are any objections to Hunter, and Fionn, hearing what I have to say.”
“No…no objections,” Carson said hurriedly.
“And what about you, Mr. Marchant?” asked Oracle.
Shaking his head, Remy murmured, “No… and call me Remy, please.”
“Very well,” Oracle replied. “To answer your question, Carson, I am here for you and Remy, but the Fates gave a gift only to you… the gift your mate received came from the gods.”
“Received?” Remy asked. “I’m sorry, you’re mistaken. Trust me, I haven’t received anything at all.”
“Has Carson claimed you?” asked Oracle.
“Yes, he…”
“And, have you claimed Carson?” asked Oracle.
“Yes, but…”
“And when you did, did Carson receive your mark?” asked Oracle.
“What mark?” asked Hunter, scanning his cousin’s face.
“Are you referring to the angel wing tattoo on my back?” asked Carson.
“I am,” Oracle confirmed.
“You have a tattoo? Oh boy, now Ki’s gonna want one more than ever,” Fionn giggled.
“I don’t understand any of this,” Remy said. “How did I give my mate angel wings? What kind of magic did that? Is that the gift from the gods?”
“The wings are given to the one who guards you. In this case, it is Carson…but I will get to that after I tell you about your gift. It comes from Hecate, the goddess of all magic. In the beginning, she gave the gift of magic to a few of her followers. Eventually, Zeus learned of what she did and became very angry, condemning her to death. He felt Hecate was misusing her magic in an attempt to alter the future of man, which only he had the right to do.
“When Hecate’s mother found out her daughter had angered Zeus, she sought out Athena, goddess of wisdom and begged her to save Hecate from Zeus’s wrath. Agreeing to help, Athena met with Zeus and, after lengthy negotiations, a compromise was reached: Zeus would allow Hecate to live and in exchange, she wouldrelinquish her magic to just one of her followers who would control the use of it on earth.
“There was another condition Zeus insisted on. The Fates would henceforth determine the selection of that follower—and all who came after. Bowing to Zeus’ demands, Hecate ceded her magic including her power of creating light spheres to the Fates—to be bestowed on those they chose to be Keepers—formidable magic allowed to no other magic user. And when the life thread of a Keeper of All Magic nears the end, the Fates choose a successor.”
Pausing to let what she said sink in, Oracle then turned to Remy and smiled. “You, Remy, are the chosen one.”
Chapter 31
“W-w-what?” Remy shook his head, sure he didn’t hear correctly.Keeper of All Magic? I can’t be…my parents would have told me.
