But it was too late now. And I had to find a way to live with that.
As much as I hated the dog on my furniture, I knew I wasn’t in a place to make demands.
Even with my best efforts to make up for it, Spencer and Kiera hadn’t let up. Their anger was still palpable in most rooms. Especially sweet Spence. I’d never known her to hold a grudge. But like Lady on the jute sleeve, she was locked in.
Kiera stood up from the grass, moving closer to me with Lady in tow.
Once we were a few feet away, the dog rolled in the grass, putting her belly up in the sun as she looked between us for more attention.
“How’s the training?” She asked.
“Good before you got here.” I nodded toward the dog, rubbing her back on the dead lawn.
I deserved the eye roll from Kiera. Of course every snarky comment I made hit deeper now, and I was trying to stop but I couldn’t seem to cage all the rage I felt.
Despite my best efforts to make it up to Spencer and Kiera, they still couldn’t quite understand how bad of a position I was in from the second they walked into my life. I wasn’t given a choice, The Oracle dictated far too much of how I interacted with them, what I could reveal and what I couldn’t.
I was done with that. No more conciliation prize for The Oracle.
Just as I was about to try and snap Lady back into training, I felt a buzz from my pocket.
I threw the sleeve to the ground and pulled my phone from my pocket, swiping on the blocked number. “Yeah?”
Through the phone, a distorted voice mumbled to me. “The Oracle will see you now. Take the pilgrimage to Delphi.”
Before I could reply, the line went dead.
I stared at my screen for a moment, tapping the hunk of metal against my hand as I met Kiera’s bright green eyes. They were so vibrant in the winter sun, the green as vivid as spring buds.
“Well?” She pushed.
Holding her gaze, I nodded. “It’s them. They’re ready for us.”
70
KIERA
Ever since Domgot that text, my stomach hadn’t settled. We were going to see The Oracle — the shadowy force that had controlled my life for months now.
They hadn’t sent us an address, just directions to a nearby train station where tickets would be waiting for us. I didn’t realize that there was a train over in Cherry Hill, but at this point, I’d learned to stop questioning most of their cryptic orders.
They’ll probably send a fucking horse and carriage to come get us.
After lunch, I headed up to my room to get ready and was surprised to see a dress already laid out on my bed: a collared red dress with a keyhole neckline and an open back. The silk chiffon was layered like the petals of a flower, the deep red fading to black at the edges.
Running my hand over the fabric, I couldn’t help but furrow my brow.
A bit formal for a train station…
But before I could wonder any farther, a knock from the door turned my attention.
“Strict dress code tonight.” Leo leaned her elbow against the doorframe, her other hand just out of view. She was already dressed in a blue suit with a crisp white button down underneath.
“No kidding,” I laughed, my eyes flicking to her unbuttoned collar, where the hilt of her sword just peeked out. “Need help with your tie?”
“No tie tonight,” she stepped through the doorway, revealing a black velvet jewelry box from behind her back. “Just dropping this off for you.”
“You shouldn’t have…” I murmured, taking the box from her hand.
