Page 57 of Drown My Sorrow

Aspyn glances at me nervously. I can tell because she licks her lips and can’t hold my gaze. She looks beautiful today in a long purple skirt and a black singlet with a shawl. So innocent, so damaged.

She walks into the room, and I pause, listening. She jingles as she walks, and I realise she’s got tiny gold bells sewn into her clothing. In fact, her clothes look like something you might see in a theater or play.

She sits down while Keagan sits opposite her.

“I want you to calm your mind, let your thoughts wander, but, really, just let your mind go where it wants to go.”

She fans out a deck of hand-painted cards. I scowl at the cards. Surely not?

“When you hear a question in your mind, grab three cards and lay them in front of you. The first card represents your past, the second your present, the third your future.”

I scoff.

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Who believes in this drivel? They’ve convinced her she’s a psychic? Obviously, my omega has been massively suckered in.

We couldn’t be more different. How can she possibly be my scent match?

Keagan turns over the cards, and they get into a discussion about the cards and their meanings.

“You’re up next,” Shale says.

I shake my head. “I don’t believe in this crap.”

Aspyn looks away. I almost feel bad. I don’t want to hurt her, it’s the last thing I want, but I don’t believe in this at all, and I’m tired. Sick of pretending, sick of fighting. I just want to leave. I want to get back to the competition.

Pandering to her misbegotten beliefs is not going to help any of us.

“Just try it. Or are you chicken?” Beau murmurs as he passes me.

“Fine.” I advance over to the table and stare at her. Her gold eyes avoid mine as she gives me the same instructions she gave Keagan.

I pull my three cards and turn over the first one.

She leans forward, frowning. “A long road home.”

I stare at the card. It means nothing, it's generic and doesn’t mean shit. This isn’t real.

I don’t let her tell me anything but flip the next card.

There’s a picture of a cage hanging in a dark room. The word on the top is ‘Trapped’.

I flip over the third card.

Daane.

She leans forward, snatching that card up. “That shouldn’t be in there.”

“It’s all rigged. I don’t know how you did it, but it’s a con, and it’s not fair to be taking advantage of hard-working people by being deceitful to them.” I try to argue with logic, to break through their brainwashing.

Shale attacks faster than I can prepare for, slamming my head into the table and holding me there. His fierce growl actually has my stomach loosening in fear.

“Shale, don’t. He’s an idiot, and I don’t care what he has to say about my job.”

“I’m sick of the way they treat you!”

“So, let them go,” Aspyn screams at him. “Why are you making them stay? What’s the point?”

Shale stands up, letting go of my head. “How did you-”

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