The Emperor (The Tarot Club 2)

Chapter Sixteen : The Orchestrations of a Witch

Corinne

I did absolutely nothing to untangle my legs from the sheets that remained wrapped around me. Instead, I simply lay there staring at my phone - at the photo of the ring on my finger.

As soon as Stepen had let himself out, Dimitri had dragged me back to our room where he proceeded to lay me down, allowing for a slower kind of enjoyment. He had since left me here to rest and recover while he worked from his office down the hall.

And I still hadn’t sent my mother the photo I had taken a few hours ago because I knew that once I hit send - once Emily Rand accepted that her daughter was finally engaged, my life as I knew it would change. I panted deep breaths as I staved off my hyperventilation, working through the challenge in my mind in steps.

There was nothing I could do to halt the storm that was Emily Rand, but I could control how I wanted that storm to impact me - I could at the very least prepare. That’s what people did ahead of blizzards and hurricanes, right?

I made a snap decision, pressing my phone to my ear as I waited for her to pick-up.

“Is there a reason you’re calling me in the middle of the day on a Tuesday?” Zoey tried to sound irritated, but even over the phone I could hear the way her voice lilted, indicating that she had a smile on her face.

“Why are Tuesdays important again? Remind me.”

“Because I have yoga.” She huffed, and this time I could visualize the way her eyes were probably rolling in her head.

“Corinne.” She spoke my name with equal parts annoyance, equal parts affection. “Just because you don’t crave exercise, doesn’t mean that some of us don’t see the benefits.”

My cheeks heated at her words, and I wondered if it hadn’t been that I had never craved exercise, it was that I had simply craved a different kind of exercise - a different kind of connection, and I hadn’t even known it.

Because how could I have possibly known that it was Dimitri I had been craving this entire time - it was him that was.

“Aren’t you missing your family?” I smiled as I spoke, knowing full well that Zoey would go berserk once I told her the news.

“Su-ure.” She dragged the word out, her voice filled with suspicion.

“And don’t you think it’s a long time overdue since you visited them?"

“I saw them last month.”

“But just think.” I couldn’t stop the small giggle that slid into my words. “By coming to New Orleans, you could visit them and me.”

“Hmmm.” Zoey hummed. She knew me well enough - knew that I was building up to the punch line.

“And while you’re here, you can help me plan the wedding.”

I was met with silence for only a heartbeat before she began screaming.

“I knew it! I freaking knew it!”

I laughed loudly, allowing all my joy and elation to seep into that sound.

“When is the wedding?”

“I have no idea, but once I figure it out, I’ll let you know.”

“Who else have you told?”

“I’m going to call Marie next, and then work through the list.” I grinned. Her joy for me was contagious, hell - my joy for me was contagious.

“You know Russians like to get married quickly, right?”

My silence spoke volumes, and her answering laughter did absolutely nothing to alleviate my panic.

“Speak to your fiancé, and let me know when I’m flying down.”