This might have been the single saddest thing anyone had ever told Adam in person, and he leaned forward, giving Emil’s hand a gentle squeeze. Despite the heat of the day, for once he longed for more of Emil’s warmth. “Whatever happens, you’ll have a friend in me. But it’s wrong to profit from people’s naïveté.”
Emil put his glass away and turned Adam’s hand in his. There were calluses on his palms, but their touch wouldn’t stop resonating throughout Adam’s body. “I’ll stop. Just for you. But you have to let me read your fortune. Free of charge.”
Adam exhaled. His eyes locked on Emil’s. In the dusky light, they had the depth of a primeval forest that opened up to him in invitation. He forgot that his body existed beyond Emil’s touch. “You’re kidding. I’m a priest.”
“It’s just a bit of fun,” Emil said, his charming smile back in place. The words sounded exactly like what the devil would have said to entice a man to get up to no good. But Adam wasn’t pulling away and just let Emil hold his hand as the birds outside sung cheerful hymns, as if they were welcoming their king.
“Oh,” Adam whispered, staring at the empty eyes of the skull tattooed on Emil’s arm.
Emil had promised to stop after this one last time. And wasn’t that what Adam was sent to accomplish here?
Long fingers ran over the lines in Adam’s palm. “I see a very strong fertility line, a confirmation of your male prowess.”
Adam rolled his eyes at that silliness. “Really? What else do you see in my future?” He took a deep breath when Emil’s forefinger trailed all the way to his wrist, leaving behind a line of fire.
But he didn’t move, his muscles lax, as if Emil’s body heat rendered them useless. They were so close a kiss would have been only a heartbeat away. A sin away. But he couldn’t pull back, hypnotized by the steady movement of Emil’s hand and the scent that would lull Adam to sleep tonight.
“A tall brunet?” Adam asked, trying to joke about it, even if the suggestion was inappropriate.
Emil grinned, his touch still testing Adam’s virtue. “Yes! How did you know? Tall, handsome…” Emil’s expression faltered, the smile gone in favor of slack lips. Before Adam could have asked was this was about, Emil’s thumb pressed on the inner side of Adam’s wrist, as if feeling his pulse. “No, it’s not a man. A goat.”
Adam laughed. “Are you saying Leia wants to be my bride?”
Emil shook his head. “This goat walks on its hind legs. Follows you wherever you go.”
Dread danced down Adam’s spine like a single drop of ice cold water. This wasn’t funny anymore. He recalled the sound of hoofs, which followed him when he first arrived in Dybukowo. He tried to pull his hand away, but Emil dug his nail into Adam’s wrist so hard Adam twisted, yelping as fear clutched at his flesh. The smoke on Emil’s right arm seemed to swirl, penetrating the skulls tattooed there too. This wasn’t possible.
Emil met his gaze, his eyes bright, as if the forest in his eyes were on fire. “I know you’ve never been hungrier in your life, but on the night of the Forefathers’ Eve you will feast on four meats. Pork, venison, even wolf and fox! Don’t hold back, you’re finally back home. Here, all is yours, and you are king.” Emil made a clicking sound with his tongue, and it imitated the dreaded sound of clopping hooves, knocking Adam out of his stupor
Adam ripped his hand out of the hard grasp, and as he stood, frantic with the need to get away, he gave the table a hard shove with his hip, sending the empty glasses to the floor. His chair fell over, but before he could have ran outside, Emil looked up with a startled expression.
“What happened to you?” he asked, pointing to Adam’s sore wrist. Emil’s nails must have torn a bit of skin, because blood was slowly pouring around the uneven cut.
Adam stared at him with heat boiling over in his skull. “What is wrong with you? It happens every fucking time. I give you a chance, and you act like a psycho!”
Even the hurt in Emil’s eyes couldn’t make Adam go back on his words.
Emil licked his lips, his shoulders curling as if he wanted to appear smaller. “I— I’m sorry. Okay, I shouldn’t have suggested a handsome man. I get it, you’re not gay. I was just playing around. My last fortune telling after all.”
There hadn’t been a cloud in the sky when Adam had come here, so the rumble of thunder made him flinch. He didn’t know whether Emil really didn’t remember what he’d said or was just playing dumb, but this visit was over, regardless.