She grimaced, handing me the card to look at. A man stood on a mountain, holding out a lantern, his face completely covered by the dark robes he wore. “Based on your dwindling magic…maybe a bad thing?”
“Excuse me?” I asked, eyes bugging wide before I remembered she could hear my thoughts when I held onto her deck.
“Apologies. It’s hard for me to tune out sometimes.”
I took a deep breath. “What about the other two?”
“Just extras.”
“Extras?” Atlas asked with a frown.
She reached up to grab them, putting them back into the deck before I could see much of anything. I only saw bits for a moment, the letters -cianvisible on the bottom card. The top had a woman clad in silver armor standing over a ferocious looking white beast that I couldn’t make out clearly.
I’d have to pull out Hazel’s deck later to look.
“Well, thanks for theenlighteningreading,” I said, standing quickly.
“You want a turn?” Ruby asked, looking up at Atlas. Her eyes glinted mischievously, and he bristled in response.
“I’m good, thanks.”
“Afraid of the cards?”
“No. I just struggle to believe how useful vague predictions really are.”
This was exactly why I could never tell him what Hazel had seen. He wouldn’t believe me. In fact, he’d probably take it as a challenge. I swallowed hard, the image of him on the ground covered in blood as I held him on our wedding day, playing in my mind.
“Wishing you a Goddess-blessed full moon,” I said, giving her a smile and a small nod.
“Same to you both,” she replied, not taking her eyes off us as we strode away.
“You okay?” Atlas asked. “I think I’m near ready to head back.” He ran his palm over Aspen’s spine, getting a contented mid-sleep sigh in response. “What do you think? Get this little one down in his crib before the Moon Goddess sits on her throne?”
“Um, sure, but I’m really thirsty,” I said quickly, trying to find a way to buy more time before we were alone and my Desire became a greedy slut. “Need me to grab you anything to take on the road?”
“Sure. If you’re heading to the bar, I’ll take a Dirty Devil.”
Weaving through the crowd, I made sure to smile pleasantly at the neighbors I knew, and didn’t know, hoping none of them came up to talk to me so I wouldn’t have to try and remember their names right now. I had enough overwhelming my sleep-addled brain.
“I’ll take two Dirty Devils, please, and make one of them a virgin,” I said to the bartender, a lust demon with magenta flesh, large bat-like wings, and copper-colored irises. “And a glass of water.”
He winked, pulling out a few dusky cups, then began to pour and blend the drink. “Coming right up.”
I bet he’d make a lot of magical deals tonight when everyone seemed to be eager for a salacious evening.
“Saw you had one of Ruby’s famous moonluck readings,” a soft, familiar voice came from behind. I didn’t turn my head, watching my three drinks float up from the bar before I slipped a few dollars on the counter as a tip.
“That the cause of your sudden thirst?” he continued, muttering over my shoulder. “Or is it that your ex is staying the night?”
“Nursing,” I replied, tone clipped. “Must stay hydrated.”
Lynx came up next to me and turned to the lust demon. “I’ll have two Headless Horsemen with an added shot of adrenaline elixir.”
Of course.He’d be up all night with hishusband. His equally handsome husband. Probably doing all sorts of things that—
My Desire fluttered to life in my belly like a butterfly bursting from its cocoon.Nope.No coochie flutters tonight.
None. At. All.
