Shadow Oracle by Laura Greenwood

Sixteen

"Here you go."Mathias sets down a steaming cup of coffee on my bedside table and returns to the machine for a second. "I'm so glad we got this."

"I guess I'm never getting rid of you now," I joke.

"Do you want rid of me?" He presses his hand over his heart and shoots me a fake hurt look.

I let out a small laugh. "I guess not, you've come in useful a few times."

His amused chuckle makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's a feeling he's becoming an expert at getting out of me.

Mathias makes his way over and sits on the bed next to me. "Did you choose a film yet?"

I nod. "But just one we've seen before."

"Ah, you want to spend most of it making out." There's an undeniable twinkle in his eyes.

I give him an exaggerated wink. The reality is that I've not seen him all day and I want to talk to him rather than focus on the plot of a film I've never seen before.

"How did your careers appointment go?"

"Well, I think. I told them that I didn't think the Reaper Guard was the right fit for me." I still haven't completely shaken the way I felt about reaping Cain. It didn't sit well with me and I don't want to put myself in a position where I have to do that again.

"Did you mention the Agency?"

"I did. They said that I stand a good chance of getting in if I keep my marks high and have a good recommendation. But that's not something I have to worry about for another few years."

He puts an arm around me and pulls me closer to him, keeping his other hand tightly around his mug so he doesn't spill his coffee. I could really do with another table on the other side of the bed instead of a wall. I shuffle to make it easier, resting my head against his shoulder the way I've done many times before.

"Good."

"What about you? Have you thought more about it?"

He shakes his head. "I'm conflicted. I wish I had your conviction."

I shrug. "We're only first years, we still have time to work these things out." And he hasn't had quite the same experience with the Supernatural Retrieval Agency as I have.

"Hmm true. But even Tobias knows what he wants to do."

"Of course he does, he's dating Juliet. She probably wanted to know for her ten-year plan."

"Does she have one of those?"

"I don't actually know," I admit. "But it feels like a very Juliet thing to have."

He laughs. "True."

"I think I might have found some photos of my parents from their academy days," I say when it becomes clear he isn't going to continue the career conversation.

"You have? That's great." Excitement fills his voice.

"Maybe. I don't know for sure. I'm still struggling to find anything about my father. Weston seems to be my mother's name. I'm not sure why he took it."

"I don't think that's something you'll ever know," Mathias says.

"I thought as much. But it's making tracking down his family hard. It seems like the reason they've never tried to track me down is because they have no idea I even exist."

"But that means you might have some family out there."

I nod. "If they want to meet me."

"Why wouldn't they?" He takes a sip of his coffee, reminding me of my own. It's probably a good temperature to drink now.

"I'm a reminder of what they lost? I'm honestly not sure, I'm still new to the family thing," I point out. "And I don't even know if they exist yet. I don't want to get my hopes up until I know for sure."

"Have you tried looking for reaper missing persons reports from when the City of Blood walls went up? I'm sure there must be an organisation looking for people now they've come down again. If you look for reports around the same time for a reaper called William, maybe you'll come across something," he suggests.

It takes me a moment to process his suggestion. "That's genius." I don't think I'd have ever come up with it. Probably one of the many gaps in my knowledge that comes from not growing up knowing I'm supernatural.

I grab my coffee and take a drink before setting it down on the table. Mathias hands me his mug and I set it down next to mine.

"What can I say? I'm not just a pretty face."

I snort. "I never said you were."

"Then you should make sure the rest of the world knows it too. Though I can understand why they'd be dazzled by me."

Amusement bubbles up within me. "Is there a reason you're trying to make yourself sound really hard done by?" I ask. "Last time I checked, you were doing well in classes, have a great number of bounty points, a fun family..."

"And a girlfriend who loves me." He grins. "You're right, I've got it pretty good."

"That seems like a bit of an understatement."

A serious expression falls over his features. He reaches out and cups my cheek in his spare hand.

My breathing hitches even though I know what's coming next.

"I love you," he whispers.

"I love you too," I respond instantly, meaning every word. I may not have been in love before, but I'm certain that's what I'm feeling. When I'm around Mathias, everything feels easy and nothing is impossible. He brings a sense of light and peace, even when there is none.

He leans in and presses his lips against mine, the taste of coffee impossible to ignore. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer, deepening our kiss. All thoughts and fears evaporate in an instant, leaving nothing but the way I feel about him and the certainty in something bigger than myself.

This is the kind of moment I plan on getting lost in again and again.

We break apart, both smiling slightly. He sits back and lifts up an arm so I can settle in with my head on his shoulder.

"One second," I whisper, my voice hoarse from our kiss.

I lean over and hit the spacebar on my laptop, letting the film begin to play before I lean back against him.

We sit in comfortable silence, enjoying the film, but more than that, each other's company. In a world full of chaos, cults, and danger, being in Mathias' arms gives me a sense of peace and belonging.

And that's something I hope to hang on to for a long time to come.