Page 42 of Elmwood Inclusive Magic Academy
“Well…this card here,” Gwen indicates the card crossing the center card. “This usually means overcoming some sort of hardship, or a battle. Or theabilityto overcome something.”
They look at the other cards. I squint in the low light. One of the cards depicts a woman, with a small figure on her shoulder.
“The Devil,” Gwen mutters. “Hidden factors to consider.”
“Maybe her fated mate is a big asshole,” Persephone offers. “One of the panther shifters?”
“Or a dark witch, who worships the devil?” Hallie frowns. “There are no dark witches like that at Elmwood…at least, not that I know of…”
Gwen adds, “It could also be a bad influence, a betrayal, or…being trapped?”
I look down at the wooden ring between my fingers.
I’m not trapped, I’m just…I’m not sure…for the first time in my life, I’m not sure.
“What’s that one?” I ask, pointing at the last card.
“The outcome,” Gwen replies. “The High Priestess. She usually appears to tell you to follow your intuition and…”
“Listen to your heart,” Persephone swoons.
“So…you’re trapped,” Hallie summarizes. “And you’ve got a big battle to face. And the outcome is that you’ve got to follow your heart.”
“And my fated mate is?”
“Hmm…” Gwen frowns at the center card again. “The end of a chapter…someone who indicates something different, a new beginning…someone…”
Gwen’s face changes. Their dark purple eyes meet mine and they swallow.
“Someone new to our world.”
Hallie, Gwen, Persephone and I stare at each other in silence as we realize who my fated mate could be.
SCARS
Maggie
A soft knock wakes me.
I was dreaming…about candles, altars, and shadows lurking on the edge of the forest. It’s mid-day, but the autumn chill has properly infiltrated the castle. It tingles pleasantly on my skin as I sit up in bed.
I pull my cardigan on, rubbing sleep out of my eyes. They’re a bit puffy still. I was up late last night, thinking about how I completely blew it with Timothy. My one chance at normalcy, up in smoke. Maybe when we start at John Johnson together we can try again. If he’ll have me after everything’s that happened. More likely he’ll meet some wonderful girl in Rome and forget all about me.
Sighing, I try to push the image from my mind. Other than that, I’ve been settling into my routine surprisingly well. It’s been almost two months since I started at Elmwood Academy, but it feels much longer than that. It’s funny how the beginning of the year goes by so much more slowly than the end.
A knock again.
“Coming!” I stride to the door and open it.
“Hello, darling.” Lydia, majestic and imposingly awake, kisses me on the forehead. “See? Iknocked, instead of showing up in your dream! Idolisten to you, you know.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re the true pinnacle of motherhood.”
She ignores my comment, turning to look at the empty second bed. “No roommate?”
“No.”
The wolf shifter hasn’t spent a night here since I healed her. I must have hurt her somehow, or made her uncomfortable. Or she’s angry we put her in so much danger. I can’t blame her.
