Page 107 of World's Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon

She spoke with pointed emphasis. “Andyou.”

“And me,” he agreed.

A troubled frown had beetled his brows, and for good reason. His proposal sounded risky as fuck, and she hated it.

She ticked off the problems on her fingers. “What if those demons aren’t willing to meet with a mere human? What if they don’t believe that I’m truly working on your behalf? What if getting enough of them on board takes too long and Josiah catches up with all of you? What if Death and the Fates find you before I’m done?”

“I realize the process may prove difficult, and the necessary wait time will risk the safety of everyone still belowground.” His tone was apologetic yet firm. “But I’ll do my best to protect the other oracles, and it’s the best plan I have. Unless you can think of a better alternative?”

She could, in fact. “Why don’t you take Jing-Jing and gather more demons yourself while I stay down here with the others?”

“Gwen.” The temperature of his body had flared again, his cheekbones blooming with ruddy color. “I know you’ll hate leaving everyone behind, but you need to go. Not for your own sake. Forme.”

When she stubbornly shook her head, his hot, careful hands cupped her face.

“Your disappearance a week ago shredded my sanity and turned my heart into a cold, dark pit in my chest. I’m genuinely not sure I’d survive losing you for good.” Pleading intensity had carved stark lines across his forehead. “I know I wouldn’t want to.”

His admission gripped her own heart like a fist.

She stared at him through a blurred glaze of tears, horror and happiness warring for supremacy within her. “Do you love me, Hugh?”

“Yes.” Immediate. Unequivocal. “Like darkness loves a spark. In your absence, more than I can bear.”

His stark declaration contained all the agony of a week spent uncertain of her survival, and tears of remorse filled her tired eyes, because she didn’t want him to suffer. Not ever, and especially not because of her.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, stricken. “I’ve upended your entire existence—”

“Gwen, no.” He was shaking his head. “Don’t—”

“—and ruined your reputation, maybe ruined yourlife—”

Ruthlessly, he interrupted her again. “Youaremy life, honey.”

There was only one good response to that declaration.

“I’ll leave first and get more demons.” Even if it gutted her to abandon the others. “If making sure I’m safe means that much to you—”

“It does.”

“—then Jing-Jing and I will go with Drake.” She nodded, resolute. “Right away.”

He exhaled slowly, his entire body relaxing beneath hers. “Thank you.”

“Hugh…” Her shaking hand flattened over his heart. “You can feel how much I love you too, right?”

The corners of his eyes crinkled with his small, shy smile. “Yes. Much to my joy.”

“Good.” Ducking her head, she rubbed their noses together. Then yawned loudly and directly in his face.

Hugh huffed out an amused breath. “You need rest, and so do I. Let’s turn out the lights and get some sleep, shall we?”

“We shall.” Clearing her throat, she mustered the most formal tone her post-kidnapping, post-sex, pre-escape exhaustion would allow. “Forthwith, my good sir.”

After flipping off the lights, he tugged the blanket over her and tucked her into the curve of his slim, hot body with a heartfelt sigh of contentment.

Already half asleep, she nuzzled into his neck. “Love you.”

“Love you too, honey,” he murmured, and planted a kiss on her crown.