The Last Oracle Read Online Free Page B

with Amy and the Smythes. She also noticed a new couple who was sitting at their table.
    Alex stopped, suddenly wary. “Beautiful, why don’t we sit at a different table tonight? I thought we would give Caleb a bit of privacy with Amy on their last night together.”
    “Okay.” She shrugged, and he led her to a table near the entrance of the dining area. They feasted on wonderful South African wines, delicious wild game, and fantastically seasoned vegetables prepared al dente.
    One of the guides told a story in front of the campfire about a pregnant woman’s harrowing escape from her neighboring country and giving birth in a tree while the lions prowled below. As soon as the guide uttered the last syllable of the story, Alex stood.
    “Would you mind terribly if we called it a night? I still have quite a lot of work to do. But I’d like to make certain you get back to the room in one piece,” he said and hooked her arm. Just then, Valeria saw that the new couple, who had been sitting with Caleb and the Smythes, were walking toward them. Alex picked up his step and Valeria sensed the other couple picking up theirs as well.
    “Professor Morgan, so this must be your lovely fiancée,” the man said, loudly enough so that Alex couldn’t pretend that he hadn’t heard.
    Instead of stopping, Alex increased his pace even more, while turning his head slightly. He said over his shoulder, “Yes, Tom, I apologize but we are in a bit of a hurry.”
    Glancing at Alex, Valeria wondered what had come over him. So as to not be rude, she stopped and turned. Alex’s face fell slightly.
    “Hello. I guess you know, Alex. I’m Valeria.” She held out her hand to the man.
    “Yeah, I’m Tom and this is my wife, Liv.”
    Valeria glanced at Alex again. There was something odd about his reaction. She was certain the couple felt it, too.
    “You’re from the states,” she said, feeling the necessity to overcompensate for what seemed like rude behavior from her typically gracious fiancé.
    “Yes, Wheaton, Illinois, near Chicago,” Tom said.
    “Nice to meet you!” Liv gushed. “We’re so excited. This is our first safari.”
    “Wonderful. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it here,” Valeria said.
    “We never thought we would be coming to Africa. Then our daughter decided to marry our former youth pastor. He’s just taken a position in an orphanage here is South Africa and asked my husband to perform the ceremony in the wilderness.”
    “Tom, you…you’re a pastor?” Valeria’s eyes lit with excitement. She squeezed Alex’s hand, but she sensed him tense even more.
    “Valeria, Alex told us that you would be busy tomorrow, but I do hope you change your mind and join us. I’m certain Dave and Donna would love to have you there,” Liv said.
    With this discovery, Valeria’s heart sank as Alex’s jaw tightened. Opportunity had knocked and Alex had not only backed down, he was avoiding it. She noticed his frozen expression as the words sprang from his lips lacking his typical cordiality, “Thank you.”
    Liv went on, unaware of Alex and Valeria’s internal battles.
    “I’m certain you both have planned something better than getting married here in the wilderness, but for Donna, it is the wedding of her dreams.”
    “Yes. Thanks for the offer, Liv, Tom. I’m certain we will see you around the camp. Now, if you don’t mind, we really must be going,” Alex said as he grabbed Valeria’s hand and tugged her toward their hut.
    “Goodnight,” Valeria mumbled, still stunned. Although it was dark, she could now sense that she was being watched by several guards.
    The discovery that Alex was actually trying to keep her from meeting the pastor hurt. But she needed to put her hurt feelings aside and just ask Alex what was going on. It was a given that they would be married far away from their friends and family. Truly, she could do that. Even the previous year, when the plan had been to marry at the beautiful home in Greece, all she