Kay pulled up the Oracle website. It was sleek and well designed, dominated by black-and-white imagery with dashes of vibrant green highlighting key features. The logo was a stylized Green Man—a surreal head surrounded by unfurling leaves and vines—the symbol of predicting the future. Although, as far as she remembered, the Green Man had to have his head cut off before his abilities manifested. Not exactly a good sign.
The staff page was particularly unhelpful. No names were given, only roles, and the details focused on academic credentials, none of which were familiar. The only vaguely useful piece of information was an address near Green Park, very close to Westminster.
Kay sent a quick message to Ethan and Elizabeth, telling them what she’d found. A few minutes later, Ethan replied to suggest they visit the Oracle offices together when they came back from their trip to Wales.
Nothing else seemed even vaguely relevant after that. Eventually, she gave up and took a shower, ready for the day to be done with. Ethan’s shift would be over soon and she couldn’t wait to see him.
She was pulling her jeans on over her best red silk bra and knickers when someone knocked at her door.
She did up the button on her jeans and quickly pulled on a black T-shirt before calling, “Who is it?”
A gruff voice replied, “James.”
Damn. She had hoped to avoid him just for a few more days. One more week, and then she could tell him everything. But he knew she was there, and she didn’t have the heart to send her friend away.
“Hey, James. Come in.”
He pushed open the door and leaned casually against the doorframe, eyes resting briefly on her overnight bag. “Going somewhere?”
She paused. She wanted James and Zach to meet Ethan—soon—but more than that, she really wanted them all to get on well.
She didn’t want their first meeting to be while Ethan was figuring out where he stood with the Order, nor did she want James to try his big brother routine and threaten bodily harm, especially not with Ethan still feeling sensitive about their long friendship. But she also wasn’t going to lie.
“Yes. I’m going to see a new… friend. His name’s Ethan. He’s one of the paramedics I met in the ambulance the other day.”
James raised an eyebrow. “With an overnight bag?”
“Yes, well, that’s for Wales. I’m going to stay with Elizabeth for a couple of days.” Strictly speaking, they were both going. But James didn’t need to know everything, especially with the risk he might decide to join them and spend the entire weekend glaring at Ethan and not-so-subtly pointing out how many years they’d been friends. God. Imagine if James started talking about skinny dipping with her in the lakes.
James tilted his head to the side. “Didn’t you just see your gran?”
“Yeah, a couple of weeks ago.”
He stepped closer, shoving his hands in his pockets as he watched her. “Are you alright? You seem… I don’t know, jumpy lately. You know that I’m always here for you, Kay.”
She did know. Since that first day, he had been there for her. Even if they hadn’t seen each other much recently, James always had her back.
She forced herself to give him a genuine smile. “I’ve had a lot on my plate recently, and somehow I’ve got caught up in something with David and Elizabeth….”
James winced—he’d seen their tension firsthand—and squeezed her shoulder.
“I can’t talk about it at the moment,” Kay continued, “but as soon as I can, I’ll be knocking on your door, I promise.”
“Okay.” He smiled and she was finally able to smile back without feeling like she was trying too hard. But then he continued, “Actually I’m glad you mentioned this guy—I take it that Ethan’s who you’ve been spending so much time with recently?”
Kay tucked her laptop into her bag, partly listening. “Mm-hm.”
“I’m serious, Kay. How well do you know him? Is he in the Circle? How come none of us have ever met him?”
She slung her bag over her shoulder and gave him a reassuring look. “You’ll meet him soon, James. When he’s ready.”
“But is he even one of us? You know that you can’t reveal our secrets, Kay. The Council will eat you alive.”
She shook her head. What was she supposed to say? It wasn’t her secret to tell. “Don’t worry, James. It’ll be fine.”
James scowled, but he didn’t argue as he followed her out of her room and watched her lock her door. “Just look after yourself, Kay. We’re meant to be a team, and I feel as if you’re not telling me everything. Promise me you’ll call me if you need me.”
Kay swallowed. James was right, and she hated it. As soon as she could, she’d tell him everything. “I will, thanks, James. But I promise you Ethan’s a good man.”
