House of Blood and Beasts

15. Sharing Information

Sarai was silent as Blood Moon patrolled the Old Square. Today, they were working a few blocks around Luna's Temple. Sarai could see the black stone of the Oracle's temple as well, although they were steering clear of it. They weren't even going near the park that surrounded it.

"That place creeps me out," Holly said, drifting to Sarai's side. "What's it like inside?"

"Even worse than outside," Sarai replied. "It smells like sulfur and roasting meat. The smoke is so thick that it will give you a headache, and you can't see anything."

Holly wrinkled her nose. "Gross. What about the Oracle? What's she like?"

"Every bit as beautiful and terrible as they say." Sarai turned away from the temple, drawing a steadying breath.

She remembered every moment of her meeting with the Oracle. She remembered everything up until the demon attacked and her young mind erased it from her memories. Only in her dreams could she see the monster that had nearly taken her life. When she woke, her memories were blurred once more.

Holly flipped a dark braid over her shoulder and pushed her glasses up. "Is it true what they say about you?" Her voice was quiet, so that only Sarai could hear. "About the prophecy you were given?"

Sarai's cheeks burned even as she nodded. When a few Wolves had come to collect her from the hospital, Sarai had made the mistake of telling them what the Oracle said. It wasn't long before the whole of Moonwood knew about the walking doom they kept in their midst. That was one reason why it had been difficult for her to find friends growing up.

Nathalie had been the only one there for her after her parents died until Danika came along. The first time Sarai met Danika was when they were teenagers. Sarai had been cornered by a few older males who were taunting her. Danika saw what was happening and hurried to help her.

After the males were gone, Danika had turned to her and asked, "You're the cursed Wolf, aren't you?" Sarai had simply nodded, waiting for the usual string of insults to follow. Instead, Danika merely said, "Cool. I've always found curses interesting. Do you think you could share yours with me?" And they'd been friends ever since.

"Have you ever figured out what it means?" Holly asked, her curiosity unsated.

"I don't know anything more about it than what I was told," Sarai answered.

"Are you talking about Sarai's prophecy?" Lucas' head appeared between their shoulders and he draped a bronze arm around each of them.

"It's none of your business," Holly snapped. "You're always poking your nose where it doesn't belong."

His hazel green eyes sparkled with mischief. "That's because you won't let me put it where it does."

"You mean between Cassia's legs?" Sarai fisted her hand in his short brown hair and shoved him away. "No one has any objection to that. It shuts you up, after all."

Behind them, Cassia huffed indignantly while Willow snickered. Salem was wisely minding his own business. Rafe walked a few feet ahead of the pack and seemed to be ignoring them. Lucas used that to his advantage.

"It could be between yours," the male countered.

"Like Hel that will ever happen. I'm not interested in slimy sniveling assholes."

"Right, how could I forget? You'd prefer a male who's pining after a worthless half-breed slut or a perpetually shitfaced Fae."

Sarai rounded on Lucas, her fist already raised. Holly caught her by the wrist and gave a slight shake of her head. Cassia and Willow tensed, ready to take her down should she attack one of their own. Sarai bared her teeth and Cassia flinched. Willow, whether by courage or stupidity, snarled back.