“Okay.” She took his hand when he offered it, much to his relief. That prophecy had felt like a fissure splitting the earth, separating them on an ever-growing divide. But touching her again mended part of the chasm between them.
They bid Finnigan farewell and made their way back to the lobby of the town hall. Calli seemed driven to leave and get to the seer as soon as possible, but Malcolm pulled her to a stop and grasped her shoulders gently.
“Hey…” he murmured as her amber eyes met his. “Whatever this is, we’ll figure it out. Maybe it just means I would destroy more of your pumpkins.” He tried to tease her, but her smile faltered and then faded.
“Malcolm, I’ve never trusted anyone like I want to trust you. You know now that I’ve never been in a serious relationship. I’ve never dared to open up to anyone before and now…the warlock that I could witch-lock with… you… I’m being warned could hurt me… and Moonstone Falls. You’ve got to see how scary this is for me.” Calli swallowed hard and Malcolm felt his own throat tighten in response.
“I know, honey. That’s why we’re going to figure this out, okay?”
She nodded but he could feel a little tremor in her body beneath his hands.
Fuck, he had to do something. He captured her mouth with his. That softly burning flame inside his chest grew, like a bonfire deep in a winter’s night, sparks catching on the breeze and flying up into the black starless sky. He knew the moment Calli responded to that connection between them. Her warm lips parted and he deepened the kiss.
Trust me… please, sweetheart.
He hoped she could taste the honesty in his kiss. They were so close to bonding, so close to locking to one another forever. Their magic felt like they were dancing closer and closer to that permanent bond. How could he hurt someone that the magic had deemed his matching half?
She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on to him as his earnest mouth softened into a leisurely lingering play of lips. Then at last he lifted his head from hers. Her eyes remained closed a moment longer before her lashes fluttered open.
He brushed her hair back from her face. God, she was so beautiful it made his entire body ache. “Let’s go see Zelda.”
They left the town hall and found Hades and Persephone waiting for them on the sidewalk. Hades was still carrying the kitten by the scruff of her neck, and Persephone’s pouting whiskered face made Calli chuckle. The sound of her light laugh gave him hope that not all was lost. Their familiars followed them as Calli led him to a shop with a crystal ball sign out front, which read: “Madame Zelda’s fortune-telling, tarot cards, and palm readings.”
The shop bookshelves were decorated with crystals, amulets, and various charms. There were books on the occult and spellcasting. Most of the shop was clearly designed to appeal to human tourists. Nothing in the front room had magical signatures attached to them. This was just a gift shop.
But toward the back was a heavy purple velvet curtain with a sign that read “Private.” Beyond that, Malcolm sensed powerful magic.
“Zelda?” Calli called out. “It’s Calli.”
A woman flung back the curtain and stepped out to greet them. She wore an almost comically stereotypical fortuneteller outfit with a turban and sequined red blouse and a black flowy peasant skirt. Despite the ridiculous outfit, Malcolm instantly recognized her as the woman who’d spoken the prophecy.
“Calli?” The woman removed the turban from her head, letting a mass of long dark hair spill down over her shoulders. So this was Zelda. She smiled at them. “What are you doing here?”
The woman was in her late forties, with the hint of crow’s feet at the corners of her bright, dark eyes. She spoke to Calli, but when her gaze roved over Malcolm, her lips curved into a charming smile.
“And who is this?”
“Malcolm Wellesley.” Calli grasped his hand and pulled him forward. Even though he had insisted on meeting the seer, he had a sudden dread that Zelda would say something about him, something terrible. He was just starting to like magic, and now it had turned on him again.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Malcolm.” Madame Zelda held out a hand to him. The second their hands touched, Zelda stiffened. She threw her head back and her eyes turned a glowing white.
No… no… not now…
He tried to pull his hand away from hers, to stop whatever she was going to say.
“No, don’t fight it,” Calli grasped his arm. “We need to hear this.”
Malcolm stopped fighting the seer’s hold. Her grasp on his hand tightened to the point of pain as she started to whisper in a raspy, eerie voice.
“Son of Salem… You have a blood vow… You must do your duty or you will lose all that you hold dear… Moonstone will fall.”
Zelda’s eyes turned back to normal and she cleared her throat.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” she asked Malcolm.
Calli’s lips parted as she stared at the seer. “Zelda, you just?—”
Zelda’s eyes narrowed as she looked between them. “I did it again, didn’t I?” She muttered. “I really hate when that happens. What did I say this time?”
