“If she is a modern Carpathian woman, like her human sisters, she may well be running in the opposite direction of her arrogant lifemate,” Tora told the men.
“Only because she knows she has no business fighting vampires,” Tomas said. “He’ll put a stop to that immediately.”
Tora rolled her eyes. “He might think he can do that, but in this day and age, women have choices.”
“Not lifemates,” Lojos disagreed. “Human or Carpathian, they have to live under the same law. There is no choice.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, you Neanderthal.” Tora glared at him. “I hope your lifemate is the most modern of all women, not some babe you can shape with your silly ideas of men ruling. It won’t happen.”
“The lady is protesting,” Mataias said, “but I think a bit too much.”
Tora snapped her fingers in the air and the glass of water in front of Silke slid across the table to dump into his lap. At the last moment, Mataias halted the water in midair.
Benedek laughed. “All of you remember this moment when you’re rushing around the world looking for your lifemates. You’re searching for trouble.”
“Is Silke trouble?”
Benedek looked at his closest friend. Nicu sat in the shadows, his hooded eyes seeing everything. “Silke is always going to be trouble,” Benedek said.
“Is that true?” Nicu asked Silke.
“Absolutely,” Silke said. “I wouldn’t want Benedek to get bored.”
She turned her attention back to Mataias. They had managed to calm her nerves and she could breathe normally. She handed him the cards, knowing the goddess card wouldn’t react to his presence the way she sometimes feared when others touched the cards. Mataias was known to Tora, and it was Tora’s blood allowing the cards to stay fresh and to judge the one seeking answers.
“Think what you would like to get clarity on while you shuffle the cards, Mataias. A path you seek, a need, anything external or internal.”
Mataias nodded, all at once sober, indicating he took the cards seriously.
“Divide the cards into three stacks and then choose a single card from each stack. Put the card face down on top of its stack.”
Mataias did so, and Silke turned over the card he’d selected using a ladder layout as she placed it on the table. “The hermit. The hermit’s lantern shows that many others will help you along this treacherous journey. You must look inside yourself to know the correct path. Don’t let outside distractions change your focus. Follow the light you feel deep inside you.”
Mataias shook his head. “That’s the problem, Silke. There is no light in me.”
“I am telling you what the cards reveal. Hopefully, it will make sense when you are at those crossroads.”
Mataias rubbed the bridge of his nose and then nodded for the next card.
“This card may reveal a potential action you can take,” Silke said as she turned the card over and placed it carefully on the table. “The hanged man. The hanged man is about sacrifice. Yours. And those who appear along the way. You must be patient and pause. You want to move toward your goal or desire, but now is not the time, and you must accept that.”
Mataias looked up at Silke. “I don’t suppose you could tell the cards to be more direct.”
“I just read what’s there, Mataias,” she assured. “The card in this position can reveal actions that affect your outcome.” Silke was a little reluctant to turn the card over. There was danger surrounding Mataias and it seemed to her that his ultimate goal—finding his lifemate—might not have the best outcome. Since Mataias was a favorite, she didn’t care for the way the reading was going. Still, she did her best to keep her feelings and thoughts from the cards, not wanting to taint the reading.
Silke turned the eight of wands over. “Obstacles. You have much energy to move forward, but the faster you push, the more obstacles are thrown in your way. Don’t allow danger to force your hand.”
Mataias rose from the table with a courteous bow. “Thank you, Silke. I’ll think about the paths you have given me.”
She cleansed the cards and returned to the table.
Lojos sank into the chair opposite her, taking the cards from her and shuffling as she repeated the instructions. “Shuffle the deck, and as you do, think about what you hope to gain clarity on. A goal. A path. A need. It can be external or internal. It can be something you don’t realize is keeping you from seeing clearly. It may be holding you back. Divide the cards into three stacks for me, choose a card from each stack and place it face down on top of its stack.”
Lojos took his time shuffling. He placed each stack carefully and precisely on the table, studied them, and tapped the first stack, indicating he wanted the top card. He chose one from the middle on the second stack and the bottom card from the third.
Once again, she chose the ladder layout. It felt right to her. She turned over the first card at the top of the ladder. “The tower. A great evil has escaped.”
They all knew Justice had broken through the gate. No one knew where he was or where he was going. Silke didn’t like the feel of the card and feared it meant Lojos might be pitted against the legendary warrior.
