you two ever stop? We’ve got a job to do, in case you
forgot.”
“You’re just jealous,” Gray snarked with a toss of his head.
“You’re probably right, but it doesn’t change the fact that we were hired to do a job and
we need to get it done. Now, if you’ll hurry up maybe we can get this done quickly so I don’t
miss my shows.”
www.totallybound.com
JJ Black
67
Gray rolled his eyes. Heaven forbid Maddox miss a rerun of one of the numerous crime
shows he religiously watched. “We’d probably get done a lot quicker if you were heading the
right direction, don’t you think?” Gray asked smugly.
Jerking to a stop, Maddox glared at Gray over his shoulder. “You know, sometimes I
think I could kill you, hide the body and no one would be the wiser.” His voice was a
grouchy, low rumble.
Gray laughed. “You know that’s not true. Your parents would notice that I was missing
in less time than it would take them to realise that you were missing. They love me best.”
Maddox scowled. “You’re probably right.”
“There’s no probably about it. I’m loveable, they can’t help themselves.” Gray squinted
at his friend. “Maybe if you tried not being such a prick all the time, they would like you
more.”
“Yeah?” Maddox snarled. “Or maybe I just get rid of your obnoxious ass and they
would quit trying to make me be more like you, yeah?”
Laughing, Gray turned away and continued down the hall leaving Maddox and the rest
of his team to fan out around him in defensive positions. He doubted the president had
better security than he did. Thinking about it, though, it did kind of make sense. You could
always elect another president. Oracles, on the other hand, were basically an endangered
species. As they neared the dead king’s chambers, an unsettling sense of foreboding fell over
him. What had previously seemed like a mundane task, now took on an aura of menace.
“Something’s different.”
Dreo jerked to a stop, his eyes immediately going to Gray’s face. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know,” Gray murmured hesitantly. “It just feels…different. Like something’s
changed. I don’t know how to explain it any better than that.”
Dreo watched him, his jaw clenched and his expression serious. After a moment, he
straightened to his full height, determination replacing his previous concern. “It changes
nothing. We still have to get to the bottom of this and chose a new Lord of the Underworld.
Everyone will just have to be more vigilant. Hopefully, if we remain on guard, we will be
able to head off any danger.”
With that said, Dreo continued towards the royal chamber, his shoulders back, his
stance as regal as any king. Surrounded by his guards, he was a fearsome sight to behold.
www.totallybound.com
ASK THE ORACLE
68
Gray hoped that they were strong enough to face whatever evil was dogging their steps.
Following after Dreo, the sensation of unease grew stronger. As they approached the door,
Gray hoped he was just experiencing a bad case of nerves and not a prediction of things to
come.
www.totallybound.com
JJ Black
69
Chapter Eight
When they reached the king’s chamber, the team spread out, scanning the area for
danger. Maddox and Dreo went over and spoke with the same two guards, who were
stationed at the door. A few hushed words were spoken before the men came back.
“Colton said that no one has been by here since we left, let alone gone into the room.”
Dreo’s tone was cool, yet soothing.
“I don’t care what he says,” Gray answered dismissively. “There is something different.
Whether it was caused by a person, a thing or a phase of the moon, I don’t know. All I do
know is that something is different from when we were here last time. Darker. More
threatening.”
Dreo watched Gray before sparing a glance over at Maddox, who merely shrugged.
Gray fought a smile. His friend knew better than to dismiss one of
forgot.”
“You’re just jealous,” Gray snarked with a toss of his head.
“You’re probably right, but it doesn’t change the fact that we were hired to do a job and
we need to get it done. Now, if you’ll hurry up maybe we can get this done quickly so I don’t
miss my shows.”
www.totallybound.com
JJ Black
67
Gray rolled his eyes. Heaven forbid Maddox miss a rerun of one of the numerous crime
shows he religiously watched. “We’d probably get done a lot quicker if you were heading the
right direction, don’t you think?” Gray asked smugly.
Jerking to a stop, Maddox glared at Gray over his shoulder. “You know, sometimes I
think I could kill you, hide the body and no one would be the wiser.” His voice was a
grouchy, low rumble.
Gray laughed. “You know that’s not true. Your parents would notice that I was missing
in less time than it would take them to realise that you were missing. They love me best.”
Maddox scowled. “You’re probably right.”
“There’s no probably about it. I’m loveable, they can’t help themselves.” Gray squinted
at his friend. “Maybe if you tried not being such a prick all the time, they would like you
more.”
“Yeah?” Maddox snarled. “Or maybe I just get rid of your obnoxious ass and they
would quit trying to make me be more like you, yeah?”
Laughing, Gray turned away and continued down the hall leaving Maddox and the rest
of his team to fan out around him in defensive positions. He doubted the president had
better security than he did. Thinking about it, though, it did kind of make sense. You could
always elect another president. Oracles, on the other hand, were basically an endangered
species. As they neared the dead king’s chambers, an unsettling sense of foreboding fell over
him. What had previously seemed like a mundane task, now took on an aura of menace.
“Something’s different.”
Dreo jerked to a stop, his eyes immediately going to Gray’s face. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know,” Gray murmured hesitantly. “It just feels…different. Like something’s
changed. I don’t know how to explain it any better than that.”
Dreo watched him, his jaw clenched and his expression serious. After a moment, he
straightened to his full height, determination replacing his previous concern. “It changes
nothing. We still have to get to the bottom of this and chose a new Lord of the Underworld.
Everyone will just have to be more vigilant. Hopefully, if we remain on guard, we will be
able to head off any danger.”
With that said, Dreo continued towards the royal chamber, his shoulders back, his
stance as regal as any king. Surrounded by his guards, he was a fearsome sight to behold.
www.totallybound.com
ASK THE ORACLE
68
Gray hoped that they were strong enough to face whatever evil was dogging their steps.
Following after Dreo, the sensation of unease grew stronger. As they approached the door,
Gray hoped he was just experiencing a bad case of nerves and not a prediction of things to
come.
www.totallybound.com
JJ Black
69
Chapter Eight
When they reached the king’s chamber, the team spread out, scanning the area for
danger. Maddox and Dreo went over and spoke with the same two guards, who were
stationed at the door. A few hushed words were spoken before the men came back.
“Colton said that no one has been by here since we left, let alone gone into the room.”
Dreo’s tone was cool, yet soothing.
“I don’t care what he says,” Gray answered dismissively. “There is something different.
Whether it was caused by a person, a thing or a phase of the moon, I don’t know. All I do
know is that something is different from when we were here last time. Darker. More
threatening.”
Dreo watched Gray before sparing a glance over at Maddox, who merely shrugged.
Gray fought a smile. His friend knew better than to dismiss one of
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