Page 86 of Gothikana

‘Oh god, he’s a senior, isn’t he?’ Jade grinned, her eyes glinting. ‘Tell me the sex is good at least.’

Corvina just smiled and Jade whistled. ‘He must be a god to put that kind of smile on your face. Damn, girl. I’m happy for you.’

Corvina took her friend’s hand, giving it a squeeze. ‘Thank you, Jade.’

Jade looked at her bag. ‘You have your cards with you?’

Corvina looked at her, puzzled. ‘Yes, why?’

‘I’m confused about whether I should go with Ethan.’ She picked some grass. ‘Do a reading for me,please.’

Corvina chuckled, opening her bag and taking the deck out. She made some space in the grass between them, took some water from her bottle, and sprinkled it around the deck like her mother had taught her. Taking the cards out, she began to shuffle them into her hands, feeling the familiar weight settle her mind and thoughts.

‘Should you go with Ethan to the Ball?’ she asked as one card fell down.

Corvina stopped shuffling, turned the card, and grinned. Ace of Cups. ‘That’s a most definite yes.’

‘Dude, you read tarot?’ Erica came from the side, plopping down by Jade, looking excited. ‘Will you pull a card for me, please?’

Corvina laughed. ‘Sure. Ask me a question.’

Erica thought for a second, before grinning. ‘Will Mr Deverell say yes to my advances?’

Corvina’s stomach tightened, the urge to punch Erica’s smile acute. She schooled her face, surprised by her own violent reaction to a girl coming on to him, surprised at the intensity of her possessiveness.

Jade gasped. ‘He’s a teacher!’ she hissed.

‘So?’ Erica wiggled her brows. ‘A one-time thing. No one will know. He’s hot, okay?’

Corvina shuffled her cards harder, biting the inside of her cheek, lest she truly did something. A card fell out. Three of Swords. Satisfaction zinged through her.

‘That would be a no, I’m afraid, Erica.’ Gleeful. She was gleeful. The universe had her back.

A few other students wandered to them, asking Corvina to pull a card, and Corvina was happy for the distraction, especially with something she loved and missed doing. Within an hour, a small crowd had gathered around her as clouds covered the sky, all of them either wanting to get a question answered or seeing the readings for others, including a few teachers.

It was such an odd moment for her — the odd girl from the woods with the odd eyes and the odd mother — to have people accept her in her natural form, just as she was. She realised she had actually stopped caring so much for social acceptance as of late, feeling less lonely and more whole, and it probably had to do with the way Vad accepted her. He was empowering her through their connection, making her realise she was lovable as she was, that she wasn’t an outcast, that she belonged somewhere precious. He was the catalyst for her acceptance of herself, of her understanding that she was different and that she was worthy of everything.

The Corvina from a few months ago who had shied away from even telling her roommate about her love for tarot was so vastly different from the Corvina right then, sitting in a garden surrounded by people, doing what she loved without feeling an iota of discomfort.

It made the warmth in her heart expand tenfold and put a smile on her lips.

And as though she’d summoned him, the crowd parted and he strode into the circle, his silver eyes on her, watching her do her thing. The pride in his eyes at seeing her in her element made somethinginside her burst with joy, straightening her spine a little more, tilting her chin a little higher, making her smile a little brighter.

She wanted him to be proud of her as she was of him, wanted him to look at her and see a talented, passionate girl and not the hot mess she mostly was. She shuffled with an extra flair, admittedly showing off a little for him, and from the little twitch on his lips, he knew.

A card fell down, and she looked at Dr Kari, who was waiting worriedly for her answer. It was almost comical. She turned his card. Nine of Cups.

‘I think you definitely should put an offer on the house, Dr Kari,’ she said and saw the relief on his face.

‘I’m glad. My wife has been hoping for it. Thank you, Miss Clemm.’

‘My pleasure, professor.’

Dr Kari went on his way and Corvina kept shuffling as the skies darkened more.

‘I have a question, Miss Clemm.’ The deep gravel voice made her insides clench as she looked up into his eyes. ‘If you’d be so kind to pull a card for me?’

‘Of course, Mr Deverell.’ She gave him a deliberate smile, one that he knew, one he’d seen on her face many times in bed. ‘What is it about?’

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