Page 145 of Body and Soul

“This is... actually pretty good,” I admitted, taking a larger gulp. The heat pooled in my stomach, chasing away some of the anxiety that had been gnawing at me.

“Well, if you're going to worry in my home, at least let me entertain you while you do it,” Tatty said with a wry smile. She patted the seat next to her on the couch. “Come, sit. Let me read your palm.”

I hesitated, twisting my fingers together. “I don’t believe in that stuff.”

“Humor an old woman, darling,” she said, her green eyes twinkling mischievously.

Fuck it, why not? It's not like I had anything better to do while waiting for Shepherd to get back. I plopped down next to her, holding out my hand.

Tatty’s fingers were surprisingly warm as they traced the lines on my palm. I half expected some mystical bullshit, but her touch was gentle, almost clinical. She hummed softly, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“Your life line is strong,” she murmured, tracing a deep curve that arced around my thumb. “But see how it breaks here? You've faced great hardship, yes?”

I swallowed hard, thinking of the years I spent on the streets. “You could say that.”

She nodded, as if confirming something to herself. “But look, it continues on, even stronger. You are a survivor, Eli.”

Her nail skimmed across my palm to another line. “Your head line... interesting. It starts joined with your life line, showing caution in your youth. But see how it branches off? You've learned to think for yourself, to question things.”

I couldn't help but snort. “Yeah, that's one way of putting it.”

Tatty's lips quirked in a small smile. “It's a good quality. Never lose that curiosity.” She moved on, tracing a line that curved up towards my fingers. “Your heart line... ah, this is where it gets interesting.”

“Let me guess, I'm gonna meet a tall, dark stranger?” I drawled, trying to mask my growing unease with sarcasm.

Tatty's eyes glinted with amusement. “Not quite, smart ass. Your heart line is deep and curved, showing strong emotions and passion. But see these little branches? They indicate periods of emotional turmoil.”

No shit. My whole fucking life had been one emotional rollercoaster after another.

“There's a break here,” she continued, her nail tracing a spot near my pinky. “A recent heartbreak, perhaps?”

I tensed, thinking of that night in the factory where I accepted Keres, darkness and all. It hadn’t been easy. I thought I’d lost the man I loved, even if I wasn’t quite ready to put that label on it back then. “Something like that,” I muttered.

Tatty nodded. “But look, it continues on strongly after the break. You've grown from the pain, become stronger.”

I wanted to scoff, to brush off her words as New Age bullshit. But there was something in the way she spoke, a quiet certainty that made me pause. It was like she was reading a book only she could see, deciphering a language written in the lines of my skin.

“Your fate line is interesting,” Tatty mused, tracing a vertical line down the center of my palm. “It starts late, indicating a slow start in life. But it's deep and clear, showing a strong sense of purpose once you found your path.”

I thought about my years on the streets, drifting without direction. And then meeting Shepherd, finding a place with him and his alters. For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged somewhere.

“There's a fork here,” Tatty said, her finger tracing another line. “A major decision lies ahead of you, one that will shape the course of your life and the lives of others you hold dear.”

I swallowed hard, thinking of the chaos of the past few days. The cult, Shepherd's family drama, all the secrets and violence swirling around us. Yeah, I'd say some pretty fucking major decisions were looming.

Tatty's eyes met mine, sharp and knowing. “The path you choose will not be easy, malýsh. But it will lead you to your destiny, if you have the courage to follow it.”

A shiver ran down my spine. For a moment, the room seemed to fade away, leaving just me and Tatty in a bubble of... something. Not quite magic, but definitely not your averagefortune-telling bullshit, either. It was like she was tapping into some ancient wisdom, reading the story of my life in the lines of my hand.

The spell broke as the rumble of an engine cut through the quiet. Shepherd's SUV pulled into the driveway, gravel crunching under its tires.

“Well,” Tatty said, releasing my hand with a pat. “It seems our wanderer has returned.”

I jumped to my feet, nearly knocking over the end table in my haste to get to the door. My heart was pounding, a mix of relief and anxiety churning in my gut.

Shepherd emerged from the SUV, and my breath caught in my throat. One side of his shirt was soaked in blood.

“Holy shit!” I bolted down the porch steps, nearly face planting on a patch of ice. Shepherd stumbled out of the SUV, his face pale.

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