Danil’s Mate(73)

“Wow, stunner,” the Oracle said in such a way that Lucy knew he already knew that whole story. He leaned back around to see Lucy.

“Anyhow, I just revealed to Amos that I’m a member of that alliance as well. And right now Amos’s DNA is telling him to murder me for treason. Hence, the claws and the, you know, insanely intense anger.” He gestured to Amos’s tight demeanor.

“But basically, he’s grappling with that because he’s ALSO not loyal to the King anymore because of your pretty little ass. And I think that pretty much brings you back up to speed.” The Oracle leaned back in his chair as if he were exhausted.

“You brought her here because you knew how much she would mean to me,” Amos said tightly, putting the pieces together.

The Oracle nodded.

“You knew when you found her that she’s the only thing that would tear me away from guarding the King,” Amos continued.

“And you and the alliance needed Amos out of the way to be able to get to the King,” Lucy cut in.

Again the Oracle nodded. “Pretty much, yeah. You guys got it right on the nose.”

“Wow.” Lucy plunked herself onto the bed. “Wow.”

“Is she even a genetic match for the King?” Amos asked, his voice rising. “Or did you just bring her here to fuck with me and destroy the entire monarchy?”

“Oh no. Trust me. She’d breed strong with the King. But a lot of women would.” He looked her up and down before adding more. “But I have to say, your girl is an especially fertile one. She could mate with a rock and create a hatchling. We SUPER don’t want the King to knock her up. That would be bad news all around.”

Amos growled and threw his hands up in the air. Obviously torn between hating the Oracle and agreeing with his last statement.

The Oracle stood. “Which is why I’m here to help you.”

“How?” Lucy snapped, her nerves pulled tight like a bow string.

“Look, this whole ‘four more years, hide in the realm, and then rescue Zara mess’ you guys have planned is bullshit. It’s gonna get you both killed.”

Again, Lucy’s jaw dropped. “How did you…” she trailed off.

“Oracle,” the Oracle reminded her, pointing at himself. “I see alllllllllllll.” He waved his hands in front of his face. “Sometimes too much. Seriously, you guys need to give it a rest sometimes. Some of us are trying to sleep around here.”

“Jesus Christ,” Amos threw his hands in the air and paced away, obviously trying to put space between him and the Oracle.

“Get to the part about you helping us,” Lucy said.

“Oh, right. Well, basically, the night of the harvest moon, the alliance is going to break into the fortress and create a major distraction that will allow you guys to get through the portal without anybody noticing.”

“What major distraction?” Amos asked, his arms crossed over his chest like a vice.

“Well, we can’t try to assassinate the King while you’re still in this realm because it’ll trigger your super protection bodyguard mode thing you have going on. And we’re not dumb. We know we can’t compete with that. So that’s out.”

“Then what is it?” Lucy asked, totally exasperated.

“We’re gonna kidnap Zara.”

His statement was met with complete silence as Amos and Lucy’s brains whirred, trying to see the plan from different angles.

“What are you gonna do with her?” Lucy asked.

The Oracle’s voice softened a little bit. “Look, she’s a good kid. And she’s been dealt a shit hand. Amos and Solar have known her since we was born, practically.”

Amos nodded, confirming.

“Solar feels like a brother to her. He doesn’t want her to be condemned to being one of the King’s wives. So he wants to kidnap her from here and take her away, someplace that the King can’t get to her.”

“And while he’s at it, he can use her as a bargaining chip,” Amos muttered.

“What do you mean?” the Oracle asked.

“She’s the King’s favorite wife,” Amos said. “Sorry, hatchling.” He flashed her a grin that she had to meet.

“Anyway,” he continued. “The King would probably do almost anything to get Zara back. It’ll help draw him out.”

The Oracle’s jaw dropped in what seemed to be genuine surprise. “Are you helping make a plan for the rebel alliance? Even I did not see that coming.”

Amos dropped down onto the bed next to Lucy. She could feel the overwhelming tension roll off of him.

“The harvest moon is in two days. Are you guys prepared?” Lucy asked the Oracle.