Page 12 of A Dagger in the Ivy

She traces the line below the head line. “This is your life line.”

I inhale deeply, bracing myself for what she’s about to say. I don’t even know if I believe in palmistry, but I might feel some relief if what she says is positive.

She glances up at me. “This shows your quality of life, not how long you will live.”

“Oh, all right.”

Her brow creases.

“What? What do you see?”

“It’s strange. See here how it runs deep? That usually means good health and power. But here in the middle it fades a bit and there’s this circle interrupting it.”

My heart beats faster as fear of what she might say creeps in. “What does that mean?”

“I think Margie called this circle an ‘island.’ It could mean an illness.” Nadya stops short, pressing her lips together. “But that could just be a battle wound.”

I tell myself that palmistry is just a fool’s game and not to put much stock in it. “A battle wound, yes. I cut my hand open a few months ago fighting off carnoraxis.”

Her smile seems forced. “That must be it. Let’s move on to your fateline.”

I push the worry out of my head, releasing a slow breath.

She bends my hand, nudging my thumb closer to my pinky and then releasing it. Touching my wrist and following the line that goes up toward my middle finger, she chews her lip. “Well, this makes sense. These broken lines show many sudden experiences. Changes and obstacles. Trials, secrets you come to reveal.”

I think upon my tumultuous life: my mother dying, and then my father. The battles I’ve fought in because some evil tsar decided to unleash carnoraxis into the world. Not to mention my struggle with manifesting my fae powers. “I’d have to say that was spot on.”

She shoots me a quick frown before focusing on my palm again. “And this is your love line.”

With everything going on in my life, love is the least of my worries, but I still can’t resist to ask, “How does it look?”

“This line reflects your journey of love and stable, sentimental relationships.” She smiles. “Just as I suspected: you have big, passionate love ahead of you. Swoon-worthy, in fact.”

I pull my hand away and playfully swat at her. “You’re such a liar.”

She lifts her chin. “I’m not lying. It’s what I see.”

“Well, as long as it isn’t wart-chinned Lord Marcos you see.” I give her a slanted smile.

“Who knows? Maybe he’s full of passion and fated to be your mate.”

My amusement only lasts a minute before I sober. I raise my head, gazing above me as if seeking out the gods to help me. “I can’t agree to either union.”

Nadya swings her legs off the bed, tucking her hands beneath her thighs. “What if they force you?”

“They probably will.” I let out a frustrated grunt. “I’m afraid I have no say in the matter. I mean, I do, but then I’m dooming my country. It’s utterly infuriating.”

She regards me for a moment. “What will you do, then?”

I sigh, throwing my head back. “I will choose Prince Torbin if I must. And I will insist that you accompany me. What’s a princesswithout her lady-in-waiting?”

“Me? In a castle? In the fucking Land of Ivy?” Nadya is giddy with laughter.

I grab her wrists and use my eyes to plead with her. “I won’t go without you.”

CHapter

Six

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