Page 31 of Witch Upon a Star
She swallowed hard, keeping her eyes clamped closed. “What if it’s not the answer I want? What if the cards agree with my vision and it isn’t time for us yet?”
I shrugged, not really worried about it. “Then we become rebels and tell the universe to fuckoff.”
A breathy laugh forced its way out of her nose. “You really mean it, don’t you? Regardless of what the cards say, you still plan on taking me on a date tonight.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Taking you on a date tonight would just be the start, dear Winnie. A better statement would be, regardless of what the cards say, I am still claiming you.”
“There’s so much you don’t know about me.” It was a weak argument, and we both knew it.
I ducked my head and nipped my teeth against her earlobe. “Quit stalling and read the damn cards.”
She made a face before turning to place her back more firmly against my chest. I rested my chin on her shoulder, more curious than invested in what she was doing. As I told her, it changed nothing.
The deck was not a set of playing cards. At least, not one someone could play poker with. With practiced fingers, she separated the stack and carefully shuffled the deck. I estimated there were seventy to eighty cards in her hand, as the stack was bigger than a standard fifty-two deck. While the cards were not new, they weren’t old either. I only saw light wear and tear on them. It made me wonder what her good set looked like. Were they old, passed down from generation to generation, or were they brand new and kept in pristine condition?
She continued to shuffle. And shuffle. And shuffle some more. I made a show of looking at my watch, and still she kept shuffling. I had no idea if this was normal for a tarot reading, though something told me it wasn’t.
“Remind me not to play Texas Hold’em with you. Everyone would be drunk long before the first card is drawn.”
“Shhh,”she shushed me. “You can’t rush this. It’s based on feeling and instinct.”
“And a desire to stall,” I added pointedly.
She turned and stuck her tongue out at me. Fuck, the things I planned on doing with that tongue. I wasn’t just into one-sided anal play. I might never be comfortable putting something bigger than a finger inside my ass, but I enjoyed a good rim job from time to time.
I was pretty sure she kept shuffling for another minute just to make a point. Then she straightened her shoulders and put the deck down on the floor in front of her legs.
Though I had questions, I didn’t voice them. She looked more focused now, her breathing more even.
She flipped the first card over, placing it on the floor in front of the deck and to the left. Though the writing was small, I sawAce of Cupson the bottom. A bird was at the top, its beak facing the opening of a large golden cup in the center. Two streams of water flowed from opposite sides of the rim and the base of the cup sat on an open hand.
I looked at Calliope’s profile to see what she thought of this card. Her eyebrows were drawn down. I took it to mean that this card was not a good sign and mentally started to prepare for the battle ahead. I was not letting her go, nor was I willing to wait two years to claim her.
She drew the next card, placing this one directly above the deck.Four of Wandswas written at the bottom. A couple danced in the center with a medieval castle in the background. I both felt and heard Calliope’s breath hitch at this card.
Her hand shook as she revealed the last card, placing it to the right of the other two. My eyebrows shot up this time,because it didn’t take a genius to understand the meaning behind this card.The Lovers. It showed an angel at the top with a man, a woman, and a snake at the bottom. I assumed in the proverbial Garden of Eden, since there was also an apple.
She stared down at the cards on the floor for a long moment. I was feeling less and less like a battle was coming, but I also was not foolish enough to hope for an easy victory.
“Well?” I finally asked.
“I don’t understand it, but the cards contradict my vision. They’re saying I should be with you. Now,” she added for clarification.
Excitement filled my veins and I squeezed her tight around her waist. “Yeah? And how do you feel about that?”
“Happy,” she answered with no hesitation. “I don’t understand it, but I’m happy. It’s just…”
“What?” I inquired when she paused. There was no way she couldn’t feel my dick pressing up against her backside. I felt like I’d stuck my finger in an electrical socket.
“I’ve never been wrong before. My visions always come true, exactly as I saw them.”
I had a couple of smart ass things to say to that, but I could tell she was feeling true concern about this turn of events. Instead, I kissed her cheek and held her tighter to my chest. “Food for thought, but what if your vision isn’t wrong? What if you saw the date wrong or interpreted something wrong?”
She shrugged. “It’s possible,” she said, though I could tell she didn’t really believe it.
“You know, for being happy, you’re kind of being a Gloomy Gus. I’m trying not to be insulted,” I playfully pouted.
Calliope looked over her shoulder at me. There was concern on her face until she realized I was joking, and then smiled. “Iamhappy, Quinten. Really. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be confused too.”
