Page 13 of Fortune's Favor

“Of course you don’t. You didn’t even know she existed.”

“Why is that? You’d think that if there was a dead human being stirring around me, I’d be able to feel them. I’m a psychic, for god’s sake.”

“Yes. Yes you are. But she’s an old soul and she’s very good at hiding.” She stops and her pale blue eyes narrow and then she nods.

“Yeah, she wants to go.”

“So tell her that I’m fine and I’d appreciate it if she’d just let me go, then let herself find whatever it is she needs.”

Then I pull up short, my eyes wide, panicked. “What happens to me if she leaves me?”

“You’ll be fine. I’ll stabilize you when it all happens so that you’re safe.”

“How are you going to call a snake demon out?”

She shakes her pale blond head. “Oh, he’s not a snake demon. He’s a god. Named Python. He was in Greek and Roman mythology. The priestess at Delphi was always his wife. The one that foretold the future on her throne over the hole at Delphi.”

“He’s a God. And he’s married to a priestess. I don’t remember anything like that.”

“Trust me. Now this is going to be tricky. You’re going to need to pretend to want to see him tonight. We’ll hold a seance. And when it all starts and he appears for his bride, I’m going to hold onto you and separate her from you. Giving you both what you want. You don’t want to be dead and away from the livingand she does. We’re going to give everyone what they want. But fair warning…”. Her face tightens. “Don’t think this is going to be easy. He wants it all. You and her. Both of you together have much more power. He wants those powers. So we’re gonna have to be really careful.”

“How are you going to keep that from happening?” I ask nervously.

“You two are.” She points at me and Alex. “You’re going to have to be stronger than ever before.”

“And he’s going to have to hold onto what he wants. You. His love.”

I snort. “Ummm. I think you’re getting mixed signals.”

She just shakes her head sadly. “You’re so good at reading other people but for yourself? You’re too blind to see what’s glaringly evident in front of you. Humans. So sad.”

Huffing, she walks into the kitchen and the attached open dining room. “This is where we’ll bait and set the trap. And it will work out perfectly. As long as you focus on each other and nothing else. I will take care of the rest of it.”

Alex looks over at me and this time I see something in his deep indigo eyes that I’ve never seen before. I just can’t tell what it is.

And I don’t think I’m ready to say for sure. It’s more dangerous than any snake God out there.

And it may be the end of me.

Chapter Eleven

ALEX

Pacing the room, I watch the shadows building outside. A storm is moving in and the clouds scuttle fast and furious, dark and boiling.

The white witch hums to herself, lighting a candle at the table and putting a dark black crystal alongside it. And then she adds more dark crystals and some pale pink ones. She smiles when she sees me looking.

“Obsidian and rose quartz. Protection and love. They’ll help along with some others to pull her free and help her transition.” She comes closer. I jump a little bit. The Chief said her name is Artemis but he called her Art. And she flushed when he did and bit her lip. I’d hazard a guess that these two know each other a lot better than they’re letting on.

She reaches out a pale hand and when I hold my own out she slips something inside it. A red and a black stone. Each one of them sits glowing in my palm and I stare at them, unsure what she wants. “The black stone is obsidian and it will protect you. It’s a strong barrier to obstacles. The other is garnet. Passion. That passion will hold her to you no matter what he tries. So hold on tight to them and her and don’t lose sight of them no matter what happens.”

I nod my head slowly, not really sure what the hell is going on. But she turns to Gypsy and offers her two stones as well. But one is a shimmering gray and one is a black. “Labradorite for resilience and courage and intuition. And onyx for focus, awareness and self-control. You need to keep your wits around you no matter what he does. Keep strong.” Her hands reach out to both of us and she grabs them, holding tight. “It’s almost time. I would wait until three in the morning which would make my magic stronger but it will also make him stronger so I don’t think that’s a wise idea.”

She nods to the table and we both sit down. Artemis looks at Gypsy and smiles. “Give me one hand and keep your other clasped with Alex, both of you holding the stones in your entwined hands. It will make it harder for him to pull them away from you.”

I nod my head and hold on tight to hers at the table, frowning when I feel heat and fire burning up my palms and all the way up my arms. But nobody else flinches so I sigh and settle back. The Chief steps away from the table. “I’ll be here if you need me but I think this has to be you three. The power of three is strongest.”

Frowning, I can’t quite believe his words. How does he know that? What the hell else is the chief hiding?

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