Page 23 of Spellbound & Speechless
She taps her painted fingernail against the center card. “I guess heisthe knight of wands.”
“That’s not good, is it? That’s, like, the fuck boy card.”
“Not always! Here, it may mean he wants to pursueyou. You don’t really have to do the chasing with him.”
“Thank the goddess.”
She squints at the card. A look of understanding crosses her features. Her eyes glaze over. “But the quest for your love is not the only quest he is fighting. There is something more he fights for. Fights against.Strugglesagainst. Something darker.”
My pulse quickens. “What? What do you mean?”
Her words come out in a rush. “He is fighting against your destiny. It is a part of his battle.”
“Laurel! Stop!” My eyes widen. My fists clench. “I don’t understand.”
“The fool.” When Laurel meets my gaze, it’s as though she’s looking through me. She’s channeling from the spirits—from our gods.Aphrodite?“You will not be free to love until the burden lifts.”
“What burden?” I lean in.
“His. He is?—”
The front door swings open. Mac’s thundering presence fills the space. Laurel snaps out of her trance, and whatever message she had to share floats away along with the glazed look in her eye.
The difference in her features is clear, and I know she broke the channel. Being able to channel messages is a gift; it’s more than a basic tarot reading. My youngest sister may be a powerful divination witch after all.
She beams at Mac. “Hey! We were just talking about?—”
I shoot her a glare, and she goes quiet.
Mac smirks. “Talking about what?”
I pay them no mind. My attention shifts to the cards on the table—one rogue card hidden off to the side.
How did that get there? I hadn’t noticed flying cards when Laurel was shuffling. Flyers usually contain important messages. This one, hiding its face, represents something unseen… unknown…
I lift it. The imagery etched across the card makes my blood run cold—and hot—and I burst into nothingness. My spirit floats up to the ceiling. It’s as if I’m watching myself.
The lovers. Two hands clasped together, with a spirit watching overhead. A choice to make. Our destiny.
Chapter 9
Mac
My good hearingfucks me over more than it helps me. I don’t need to listen to this, and I don’t want to hear it. Tarot readings are a personal thing. They’re talking about Aspen and some man, and it’s none of my damn business.
I feel a connection with Aspen, but she doesn’t. That’s good. If someone else is distracting her, even better. I have things to keep me busy, too.
My wolf acts before I can tame him. I want to go the other way, to give them space, but I burst inside instead. The reading comes to a fast halt, and the guilt over being the one to end it arrives just as quickly. They were talking about something important. Even after I walk away, they don’t continue the reading.
There I go, ruining everything.
The rest of the day passes like usual.
I take my place guarding the door, and everyone gets to work.
My goddamn wolf is the only thing that keeps it from being a typical day. He’s on high alert, as heshould be. In theory, this should make me a better security guard. The wolf in me is stronger, faster, and protective…
Tooprotective, selectively protective. That’s the problem. He’s mainly concerned with keeping one witch safe.
