“Of course the answer is both can’t and won’t. No prophecy has come to me regarding what might happen with Zara if we do this plan. Probably because of the sheer quantities of mights and ifs.”
“Then close your eyes, do your voodoo thing, and find the fucking prophecy!” Solar raked his hand painfully through his hair. He was losing his grip on the moment. On himself.
The Oracle’s eyes went soft, kind, and utterly annoying. “Solar, you know better than most the dangers of soliciting a prophecy.”
Solar picked up the cup of water and flung it to the side. Of course he did. He was still grappling with what he’d learned in his own fucking prophecy. He knew that. He would never want to burden Zara with a prophecy about her own life. It was hell knowing what was going to happen to you. It made your life into a cage. A one-way road. It trapped you into being a puppet in your own play. He’d never ask that of Zara. Or the Oracle.
“Solar,” Javi said, his voice low and calm. “The reason you’re already so upset about this is because you’ve accepted the logic of it. The fact that it really might be the only way.”
A strangled noise of frustration ripped its way out of Solar’s throat. “I can’t ask her to offer herself up like this without knowing I can protect her.”
Javi and the Oracle exchanged weighted glances. Neither of them liked seeing their leader and friend like this. Solar was rarely unhinged or out of control.
When O spoke, his voice was carefully monotone. The burden of his gift was, and always had been, to tell people what they didn’t want to hear. Mostly he chose a spoonful of sugar. Right now, he chose simple, clear, and inevitable. “Our future is defined by our choices. You know this. And asking for a prophecy is a choice. If we ask for this, get one, learn what’s going to happen, and then use it, we’ll be cementing the future in a way that becomes unchangeable. You know this, Solar. We’ve been through this before. There is no fate. There are only choices.”
“I won’t make this choice,” Solar said and stood, facing the two other men. “I will never make the choice to put her in harm’s way.”
“You won’t,” said Zara, her voice ringing clearly as she stepped into the hut. “But I will.”
Javi and Solar whirled to look at her. The Oracle merely smiled to himself.
“How did you-” Solar started.
She cut him off. “I was coming to see if you were done with your meeting and I overheard.” She threw her arms up in the air. “You can yell about that later. But let’s talk about the matter at hand.”
Zara turned to the Oracle. “I’ll do it. But we’d better act fast because the more time passes after my birthday, the less likely Dalyer is to believe that there’s still a chance to claim me.”
O nodded. “I figure that gives us about four days of wiggle room.”
“Wait a second here,” Solar cut in. “You two are acting like this is a done deal.”
“It is,” Zara said, barely inclining her head toward him before she shifted back to the Oracle. “What do you think is the best way for him to know where I am?”
“Well, the fertility scent thing you’ve got going on is our best bet, I think. And by the way, darling,” the Oracle said, leaning in. “Can I just say, you smell good enough to eat.”
“OKAY!” Solar shouted, stepping in between them. “Will everybody just slow the fuck down, please?”
Touching Zara calmed Solar. But not by a lot. He took a deep breath and turned to her. “Zara, why are you agreeing to this? It’s too dangerous.”
Her eyes clouded for a second and she dropped them to the ground. He hated that. Over the last few days he’d gotten mighty used to her looking him dead in the eye. “You don’t know what it was like, Solar. The Oracle was there. He saw how Ki- how Dalyer treated me. The things he made me do and say. The clothes he made me wear.” She shoved away from Solar. “I was his possession. Something he owned and bossed around and threatened. And the whole time I was just dreading the day I finally hit my fertility season. For me, it meant that my life would be over. Because I knew that no matter what I had to do, no matter what drastic measure I had to take, I’d never let him do that to me. Mate with me. Or claim me.”
Solar felt as if there wasn’t any air left in the room at her words. The thought of her taking the messy way out made his blood curdle in his veins. “Zara,” he started toward her, but she held up a hand, warding him off.
“No. Listen to me. I understand what you say about a global perspective. That this is about more than just our generation of dragon shifters. It’s about more than Dalyer. It’s about making sure his line dies out with him one way or another. I get that. I really do.”