Page 84 of The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck

“Everyone has to die someday,” says Willow in a gentler tone of voice.

“Not her,” insists Alistair in a stern voice. “Not right now.”

Willow sighs.

“How often are you wrong?” he asks, his head cocked. “Things like Lilah’s idiot of an ex cheating on her and missing out on the promotion seem pretty standard life events. Horrible, but nothing out of the ordinary. They could happen to just about anyone at one time or another. Though the lotto numbers were impressive.”

“Thanks,” says Willow dryly, flicking her silver hair over her shoulder.

“As for her and me meeting...it’s a hell of a coincidence. But you must guess incorrectly sometimes. Nobody’s right all the time, are they?”

“But I’m not guessing.”

“Let’s agree to disagree.”

Willow’s gaze moves to me. “Look at you, standing over there, quiet as can be. Are you going to let him do all the talking, Lilah? Is that who you are now?”

“No.I’m standing over here and staying out of it because I feel like we said everything we needed to the other day in the garden.”

“True enough.”

“But if I think of anything new, I’ll be sure to ask.”

“Glad to see you haven’t lost your voice. It happens so often to women in relationships with, shall we say, alpha types?” Willow’s answering smile is amused as she turns back to Alistair. “So, Prince Not-So-Charming, you want me to prove myself?”

Alistair’s gaze is arctic. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble...”

“Not at all. Lay your hands on the table.” Willow shifts in her chair, getting closer. “Palms up.”

“You’re going to perform some palmistry?”

“If you shut up long enough to let me.”

Alistair closes his mouth, though his expression remains conflicted. Half amused and half worried. Like he can’t quite believe this is happening. As if he hates how he’s not in control of the situation. How exactly had his choices in life led him here? And that makes two of us. He flinches when Willow’s hands touch his. Then he falls back on his usual frown, the one he definitely got from his father.

“No surprise,” says Good Witch Willow. “You’re a fire sign. That means you’re confident, ambitious, and passionate. But you can also be an asshole...thoughtless and tactless and so on. You might want to watch out for such behaviors.”

“That doesn’t sound like me at all,” says Alistair, giving me a brief smile. “What do you think, Leannan?”

I smile back.

“Your heart line is broken. Life hasn’t always been easy for you, has it?” Willow peers at him from above her glasses. “They shouldn’t have locked you in that cupboard. Children can be unspeakably cruel.”

Alistair’s lips part, but no words come out. And the emotion in his eyes isn’t one I’ve seen before. Not on him.

“And you were just a wee little thing. You were in there for hours, scared and alone. Nothing but the rank stench of old sporting gear to keep you company.”

“How do you know about that?” he asks, each word deliberate. As if he’s forcing them out, shoving each and every one past his clenched teeth. “I’ve never discussed it with anyone.”

“As I mentioned, I have gifts, Your Highness. An image appears in my head accompanied by feelings. Emotions that are not my own.”

Alistair swallows. “Keep going.”

“Quite an interesting fate line. Being born into those two families wasn’t helpful to your peace of mind or general happiness. But you’ve done your best to stay out of trouble. Within reason.” Willow glances at me. “Shall we jump to the juicy stuff?”

I am now throttling the strap of my purse. And it’s Gucci. “Sure.”

Willow snorts. “Let’s see... Alistair, you’ll marry once and have one child.”

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