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smiled, but there was no missing the warning in the dark eyes. She didn’t like Jaelyn arguing. “But denying your fate will not alter it.”
    â€œYou can see my future?”
    â€œNo, as I said, I am not a seer,” Siljar reminded her, “but I do know that you are a thread.”
    Jaelyn clenched her hands at her sides. “Is that why the Commission hired me to track down Ariyal?”
    â€œNo, when you were requested to bring the Sylvermyst before the Commission it was to question his intentions in remaining in this dimension rather than joining his brethren with their master.” A punishing energy swirled through the air as the demon’s eyes glowed with a sudden silver light before returning to black pools of mystery. “But the fabric of the future is changing and your destiny has been irrevocably entwined with Ariyal.”
    Shaken by the glimpse of power contained within the tiny demon, Jaelyn chose her words with care.
    â€œHow can the future change?”
    There was a long silence. As if the Oracle was debating the wisdom of sharing insider info. Then she gave a small shrug.
    â€œThere is always a certain measure of fluidity in matters of time, but it is more chaotic than usual.”
    â€œDo I want to know why, or is that one of those ‘curiosity kills the cat’ things?”
    â€œIt indicates that there will soon be a powerful flux in the universe.”
    Jaelyn grimaced, wishing that she hadn’t asked. Or that the demon hadn’t answered.
    Or...
    Hell. She scrubbed a hand over her weary face. She was tired, hungry, and wishing she could get a hold of Ariyal and kick his ass. This might not be entirely his responsibility, but she was willing to blame him.
    â€œThe return of the Dark Lord?” she hazarded.
    Siljar considered before giving a shrug. “It is impossible to say.”
    Yeah, sooooo not helping.
    She shifted her concern from the looming end of the world to her own looming end.
    â€œWell, if the future is in flux then maybe my elevation to being some mystical thread is nothing more than a cosmic glitch that will soon be forgotten.”
    Siljar cocked her head to the side, her expression curious. “I thought Hunters were fearless?”
    Jaelyn snorted. “Facing death is one thing; knowing I’m a part of destiny is quite another.”
    â€œIs it destiny that troubles you?” She flashed her pointed teeth. “Or Ariyal?”
    Was the woman trying to piss her off?
    â€œIt would seem they’re one and the same,” she muttered.
    â€œVery true,” the demon agreed with a shrug of indifference. Then she gave a lift of her tiny hands. “Well, I must go.”
    â€œGo?” Jaelyn took a hasty step forward. “Wait.”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œDo you intend to leave me here?”
    Siljar slowly blinked, like a lizard.
    â€œOh, did I not say?”
    â€œSay what?”
    â€œThe terms of our contract have been altered.”
    Oh ... crap.
    Why did she suspect that the alteration didn’t include a one-way ticket to Maui to hunt fire pixies?
    â€œYou no longer want me to capture the Sylvermyst?” she asked, ever the optimist.
    Or maybe it was sheer desperation.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œOh.” She didn’t bother to hide her relief. “Thank the gods.”
    â€œI want you to remain with him and keep the Commission informed of his movements.”
    Remain with him? Her brief moment of hope was crushed beneath a tidal wave of horrified disbelief.
    It was bad enough to hunt down the damned Sylvermyst and haul him to the Commission. But to become Hutch to his Starsky?
    Oh hell, no.
    â€œWhy?”
    Pinpricks of pain stabbed deep into Jaelyn’s flesh, effective reminders that nasty rumors whispered about the Oracles were well earned.
    â€œI have no need to explain.”
    â€œForgive me. I will, of course, do everything in my power to fulfill our contract.” She