Page 99 of Bonded By Tea and Tarot

My throat tightens, and I read the first line again. The gift I am to the world?

Aury squeezes my hand again, and I tighten my hold on him, feeling like my weight in the world is suddenly shifting. Claire rubs my shoulder, and Aury nudges closer to my other side. I’m not alone, and I think maybe that’s the scary part now. I’m so used to doing everything for myself, being on my own, that having this support and being seen in such a way…

Magical beings… is that me? Are they saying I’m the magical being? The granted wish?

The nasturtiums are bright pops of orange, yellow, and red, while the ranunculus are equally vibrate shades of pink, white, and yellow, creating a colorful display around the soft white of the dandelion in the center. The dandelion is one that has already gone to seed, and the puff of white is as big as my fist. It’s tempting, and I almost want to blow on it, make my biggest wish of all time and hope it comes true. But…

What if it already is?

I shake my head and Aury gives me a gentle pull to keep walking. I follow him, my steps more uncertain now as my mind whirls. My eyes are vigilant, darting up and down each driveway, and soon enough another figure comes into view. This one has bright purple hair, so I can tell from a distance who it is.

Sage holds another bundle of flowers and she’s vibrating in place as she stands on her toes waiting for me. I can’t help but smile, and I glance to the side to see Brooks in his work truck across the street, his eyes locked on her. Sage holds out the flowers, this one an even more colorful explosion of blooms than the last.

I take it without question, and she immediately covers her mouth with both hands. I narrow my eyes at her, wondering if I could get answers out of her. If anyone was going to cave, it would be⁠—

She darts away before I can decide, slipping into the front seat of Brooks’ truck and waving to me. I sigh and look down at the note with this bundle. Aury gently takes the other two from me so I can flip it over to read it.

These flowers are a symbol of what we see in you.

Gladiolus for strength. Violet for spiritual and psychic energy. Zinnia for magnificence.

My eyes tear up this time and I hold my breath, willing them away so I can read the note again. Then again. Aury drops a kiss on my hair, not rushing me, just reminding me he’s there with me. I lean into his warmth, glad for his easy presence. He wraps an arm around me and breathes deep, a quiet reminder, so I do the same, following his lead for a few breaths until I feel centered again.

This bouquet is wild, with tall sprays of every color shooting out in different directions. The colorful zinnias are interspersed with the smaller sprigs of violets to fill in the open space between the stalks of gladiolus. I suck in one more deep breath, then straighten my spine and snag Aury’s hand in mine. I’m the one to pull us forward this time, increasing our pace so I can either get home and demand answers, or get to the next step and hope for more clarity in the next note.

As I suspected might be the case, my final best friend, Bea, stands at the last corner on our route around the block. I shake my head at them, and they shrug with a warm smile, then hold the final bouquet out to me. I take it, and they pull me into a quick hug, then step back off the sidewalk.

I pass the previous bouquet off to Aury and quickly flip the note to read this one.

These flowers are a symbol of what we hope to provide for you.

Poppy for rest. Cosmos for stability and security. Rose for true love.

“Goddess,” I breathe, covering my mouth with my free hand. I look up at Aury, tears lining my lashes again. “True love?” I whisper.

Aury nods, then swipes a thumb beneath my eye, catching my tears before they can fall. He leans close, and whispers against my lips. “True love, Moonbeam.”

I swallow hard and borrow his strength for a moment, then sniffle back my tears.

“What am I going to find when we get back home, Aury?” I say, my voice wobbling with emotion.

Aury smiles. It’s such a gentle, knowing, loving fucking smile that my heart cracks right down the middle.

“Aury,” I beg. “I need you to tell me.”

“You’re going to find Hayden, and a vase of water. They’ll have a note for you.”

I shake my head, eyes wide, pleading for more.

“Aury,” I whisper.

“Moonbeam,” he says. “Siobhan, my love. You’ve got this. And we’ve got you.”

Chapter Fifty-Four

Siobhan

Sure enough, there’s a vase of water waiting for me on my entryway table, and Hayden’s car is in the driveway. As soon as I set the flowers in the water and untie the note from the vase, they’re there.