He looks up at me with a grin. “Would you like me to read your fortune?”
“Would I ever,” I say, sitting down across from him, wondering why my heart feels so sad that Duncan isn’t in here with me.
Chapter Five
Duncan
“Yeah. My parents swear by him so I took a chance and saw him. Here’s his contact information,” I say, showing the woman, whose name is Wendy, my phone. She quickly copies down the information with a smile.
“Thank you so much, Duncan. This is incredible,” she says, reaching out and touching my wrist. I startle at the touch. She purposely touches under my jacket, running her thumb over my skin.
Oh.
Oh my gods, I’m so stupid. Of course she’s flirting! We are literally at a matchmaker masked ball! But can’t she see I was already talking to someone?
I pull my hand away, tucking it into my pocket. Then I turn around, ready to apologize to Viktor for keeping him waiting. Except, he’s already gone.
“Fuck,” I murmur to myself, looking around and unable to find him.
“Oh,” Wendy says softly. “I didn’t realize. I’m sorry!”
“No, no. You’re fine. I just… did you see where he went?”
Wendy’s cheeks are red and she looks disappointed. Despite that, she points in the direction Viktor went. “I think he ducked into the fortune teller tent.”
“Thank you. It was really nice to meet you.”
She sighs. “You too.”
I hope she finds someone while she’s here. She seemed really nice, but she wasn’t Viktor. It startles me, how strong my feelings are coming on. I’ve just met Viktor but already, I feel like I wouldn’t be able to handle not getting to know him more.
I just have to break through all the anxiety thrumming through my veins so I can actually talk to the other man! This is supposed to be a matchmaking ball. I’m supposed to be meeting other people and maybe, if I’m lucky, even finding my mate! But getting over that bundle of anxiety trapped in my chest is easier said than done.
With a deep breath, I slowly duck into the tent. Gods, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.
Wendy was right, Viktor is here. He’s sitting at a table across from the fortune teller. There’s already a few cards laid across the table but as I duck inside and the fortune teller shuffles, one card flies out, landing in the center of the table.
“Well,” the fortune teller says, looking up at me. “The cards sure had something to say about you.”
“Shit. I’m so sorry,” I say, stumbling over my words. “I didn’t mean to fuck up your time, Viktor.”
Viktor looks over his shoulder, giving me a soft smile. “You can join me if you’d like.”
“Okay,” I say before I can think better of it.
The fortune teller holds up the card that went flying. “Look what popped up for the two of you. The World upright. This card represents completeness. It means there’s a new beginning in store for you that’s filled with fulfillment. Quite interesting, don’t ya think?”
My heart beats so loudly I can hear it in my own ears. My face is bright red but I can’t stop staring at the card. Completeness? Fulfillment? The start of something new?
I turn towards Viktor who’s already looking at me. That soft smile is back and my stomach feels like I might hurl but like, in a good way.
“That’s incredibly interesting indeed.”
The next card that falls out during the shuffle is the Ace of Swords.
“Oh, that’s fun,” the fortune teller murmurs. “You’re having a breakthrough that has to do with your mindset. Something has been holding you back but you’re on the right path to finally push past that. You’re finally finding some clarity.”
One last card flies out.
