Page 106 of World's Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon

He raised his head. Met her gaze in the capsule’s soft white light.

“Gwen, honey,I’msorrier than I can possibly express for what Josiah and my mother have done to you.” His sharp jaw worked. “I have no idea how I’ll ever make it right or earn your forgiveness. I just hope to the gods and goddesses that you’ll let me try.”

“Hey.” Determined to puncture his solemnity and remorse, she booped him on the nose. “I don’t want your apology either.Youdidn’t hurt me, Hugh.”

He lifted a hand from her rump. Rubbed at his nose. “Did you just—”

“Yes, I booped you,” she confirmed. “Now stop apologizing and tell me everything that’s happened on your end in the past week.”

He shook his head at her but smiled a little as he complied.

His voice freighted with emotion, he described the frantic, terrified search he and Max had conducted for Gwen upon discovering her absence and their subsequent, entirely futile investigations. Even Thora hadn’t been able to unearth the exact location of the captives, and no one else seemed to know anything at all. Hugh had just about run out of ideas and hope when an elderly werewolf named Dottie appeared at his SERC office and claimed to have information he needed. With no other good leads to follow, he’d agreed to a meeting.

“I immediately believed her.” He gave a humorless laugh. “Inlarge part because I was growing desperate, but also because what she said made sense to me. As a SERC councilor, Josiah could potentially gain access to powerful oracles’ confidential addresses. Also, I’d never entirely understood what prompted our firm’s clients to return five years ago. My mother’s involvement in a fae bargain explained that shift in fortunes very neatly.”

Shifting to drape herself over Hugh, Gwen stacked her hands on his sternum and propped her chin on top. “What did you do after your meeting with Dottie?”

“Found a demon with a good reputation for reliability and discretion, had him sign an ironclad nondisclosure agreement, and paid him top dollar for his teleportation assistance. All of which took much longer than I’d hoped.” Even now, the frustration of that delay turned his face taut. “But he eventually teleported me to the location specified by the werewolf, with the intent to carry you out immediately.”

There was no mention of the other oracles getting carried out too—which was an omission they’d discuss once he’d finished his tale.

“But I wasn’t there.” She could only imagine how he’d felt in that moment. “No one was, despite ample evidence of our recent habitation.”

“Correct.” A vein at his temple pulsed faintly. “Given the consequences of trespassing in the Realm Below, the demon who carried me there didn’t wish to linger. I let him leave but asked him to teleport to the courthouse at dawn, in hopes I could find you in the meantime.”

So far, so good. But given the seemingly limitless expanse of the Realm Below—“How in the world did you find us?”

“I was hoping you’d ask that.” Looking pleased with himself,he used the tip of her braid to tickle her nose until she batted his hand away. “When you first arrived on my doorstep, I didn’t know what to make of your story, so I tried to read your emotions for assistance. And upon discovering that you don’t always express your wants or needs, I continued to stretch my limited talent in an effort to fill in that communication gap.”

A startlingly lascivious sparkle lit his amber eyes. “I also employed my ability while in bed with you. To fill in…other gaps. So to speak.”

She snorted. “Was that the first dirty joke you’ve ever made, Hugh Blacke?”

“Yes. Thank you for noticing.” He grinned, and the mingled pride and sheepishness in the expression made him appear remarkably boyish. “In short, I employed my empathic ability almost constantly during our brief time together, and doing so evidently strengthened my talent. At least when it comes to you.”

“No freaking way. Youtrackedme?” She stared at him in dawning wonder. “Using your empath ability?”

He nodded. “It led me to your second encampment. I figured there would be guards, so I tried to enter as quietly as possible. And you know the rest.”

“Oh, wow.” She patted his chest and beamed down at him. “That’s so impressive, Hugh.”

His chest puffed out a little. “Thank you.”

“So now we just have to find our way to the courtroom by dawn and hope the teleporter you arranged is waiting for us,” she summed up.

“He’d better be waiting.” Hugh’s expression turned stony. “The consequences of breaking our agreement would be unpleasant for Drake.Extremelyunpleasant.”

Which brought them to an even more fraught topic: “One demon can’t teleport nine beings, though, right? Even if he’s especially powerful?”

“No. Two, max.” To his credit, he didn’t hesitate, and he didn’t lie. “But I intend to get everyone else out too.”

Brows raised in mute question, she waited.

“Initially, Drake will remove you and one other oracle.” Hugh didn’t sound happy about his plan, but he did sound determined. “Whoever you feel is in the worst physical condition and least able to either run or defend themself.”

Wait. He intended to stay behind? “Hugh—”

“I didn’t have time to vet other demons before leaving with Drake to find you. Once you’re aboveground, though, I want you to contact Thora immediately.” His commanding gaze held hers. “She can’t act openly on my behalf, but in my absence, she will have been compiling a list of demons who owe me favors and duplicating Drake’s nondisclosure agreement for them. You’ll need to meet with the listed demons, convince them to offer me assistance, ensure they sign their NDAs, and get them to teleport the rest of the oracles out.”